This is truly the Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing recipe. It is my mom’s decades old recipe that has been on our table every Thanksgiving. The stuffing includes sausage, onion, celery and fresh herbs. We love the crunchy top and the soft and buttery middle.
A tried-and-true family favorite stuffing recipe that is incredibly delicious and simple to make for the holidays! As a child, I was always the one who would sneak a small piece of the turkey straight out of the oven (and I still do!).
Now that I know mom always makes extra, we will always have leftover stuffing! As I write this, a casserole is baking, filling me with memories of a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and smelling like home! I can’t wait to dig in! This is the recipe my mom taught my dad to make. It then became our Sicilian Stuffing recipe and he added his magical touches every holiday.
This Thanksgiving will be different this year—there won’t be a party with over 20 Italians—but mom will be making this stuffing, so I couldn’t wait to share this delicious recipe with all of you! I wanted to share it again with all of you.
I am obsessed with my mom’s stuffing recipe. This is the recipe my mom learned to make from her Italian family and friends when I was a baby, so these are my kids! It is the one recipe she makes for certain each and every Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food! And what Thanksgiving feast is complete without a flavorful and satisfying sausage stuffing?
Today we’ll explore two fantastic sausage stuffing recipes. each with its own unique twist:
Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing from Once Upon a Chef:
This recipe is a classic, focusing on simplicity and ease. It utilizes store-bought stuffing cubes, eliminating the need to slice and dry your own bread. The addition of Italian sausage, fresh herbs, and a generous amount of butter creates a rich and savory stuffing that perfectly complements the Thanksgiving turkey.
Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing from Savoring Italy:
This recipe delves into the world of Italian flavors, combining sausage, onions, celery, and fresh herbs for a truly aromatic and flavorful stuffing. The recipe emphasizes the importance of using dry bread and provides detailed instructions for achieving the perfect golden brown crust.
Comparing the Recipes:
Similarities:
- Both recipes feature Italian sausage as the star ingredient, adding a savory and flavorful punch.
- Fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, and parsley play a crucial role in both recipes, infusing the stuffing with a bright and aromatic touch.
- The use of butter ensures a moist and flavorful stuffing, while the addition of broth helps to bind the ingredients together.
Differences:
- Bread: The Once Upon a Chef recipe uses store-bought stuffing cubes, while the Savoring Italy recipe emphasizes the use of dry bread, which can be made from leftover bread or purchased pre-made.
- Vegetables: The Once Upon a Chef recipe includes onions and celery, while the Savoring Italy recipe focuses solely on onions.
- Egg: The Once Upon a Chef recipe incorporates an egg, while the Savoring Italy recipe leaves it out.
Choosing the Right Recipe for You:
If you’re looking for a quick and easy option:
The Once Upon a Chef recipe is perfect for you. It’s simple to follow and requires minimal prep time, making it ideal for busy cooks.
If you prefer a more traditional Italian-inspired stuffing:
The Savoring Italy recipe is a great choice. The emphasis on dry bread and the use of fresh herbs create a truly authentic and flavorful experience.
No matter which recipe you choose, you’re sure to enjoy a delicious and satisfying sausage stuffing that will be the star of your Thanksgiving table.
Additional Tips for Making Sausage Stuffing:
- Use high-quality Italian sausage: This will ensure the best flavor for your stuffing.
- Don’t overcook the sausage: Overcooked sausage can become dry and crumbly.
- Taste and adjust seasonings: Don’t be afraid to add more salt, pepper, or herbs to your liking.
- Let the stuffing rest before serving: This allows the flavors to meld and the stuffing to set.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can I use different types of sausage?
A: Absolutely! You can use any type of sausage you like, such as chicken, pork, or even vegan sausage.
Q: Can I make the stuffing ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can make the stuffing up to a day in advance. Simply store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it.
Q: Can I freeze the stuffing?
A: Yes, you can freeze the stuffing for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Q: What are some other ingredients I can add to the stuffing?
A: You can add a variety of other ingredients to your stuffing, such as mushrooms, cranberries, nuts, or cheese.
Q: What are some good side dishes to serve with sausage stuffing?
A: Some good side dishes to serve with sausage stuffing include mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.
Sausage stuffing is a delicious and versatile side dish that is perfect for Thanksgiving or any other special occasion. With a little planning and effort, you can create a flavorful and satisfying stuffing that will impress your guests.
What is the best sausage to use for stuffing?
I like to use mild Italian sausage for this stuffing. You can use sausage made from pork or turkey, but I usually use turkey since it cooks up with less grease.
The steps are very easy:
- Prepare the bread cubes (you can use cornbread, French, Italian, or even a multigrain boule or baguette).
- LIGHTLY COOK-lightly brown the sausage
- SAUTE veggies and herbs in oil and butter.
- ADD in broth.
- COMBINE everything together in a large bowl.
- BAKE until golden brown.
The most important step to get the stuffing together is dry bread. I prefer having my own dry bread. Alternatively, you could use the stuffing bread cubes that are available at any grocery store during this season. I used a nice baguette (it was lightly multi-grain)and cut into 1-inch cubes. You could also tear the bread into small pieces. I toasted them in the oven for about 7 minutes.
If you happen to have a day-old boule, baguette, or any other white bread on hand, you could cut it into cubes and keep it overnight on the baking tray. When you’re ready to make the stuffing the following day, you could briefly dry it in the oven.
To get the best stuffing with those irresistible crispy golden edges, it’s best to use dry bread. I like to toast up my day old bread in the oven. When you are toasting the bread it should be to the point where it’s just beginning to brown. You don’t want brown, hard chunks of bread.
Once your bread is ready, gather up all the rest of the ingredients. When I cooked the onion and celery, I used about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and a small pinch of salt. The sausage is very salty and so is the vegetable broth, so it really didnt need more salt. But some people like extra salt, so taste it and add more to your liking. My mom adds no salt at all the stuffing recipe.
Remove it from the casing and begin to break it into smaller chunks. You could use a wooden spoon or a fork. If you like a little heat, feel free to use a spicy sausage. Whatever sausage type you choose, you’ll want to remove it from the casings or buy bulk sausage.
Remember, you aren’t fully cooking it, as that would make the sausage too dry. It will continue cooking in the oven with the stuffing.
While the sausage is browning, in another skillet, cook up onions and celery in olive oil and butter. And in a small sauce pan, heat up the broth.
Add the sausage, onion mixture, and fresh herbs to the bread cubes. Combine it all together with a cup of the broth. Add in the whisked egg. Add a bit more broth at a time to make sure its wet enough.
Spoon it all into your baking dish.
PIN for later!
Seriously…dive right in! It almost makes you forget the turkey!
Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing
I know that there are SO many recipes out there in the food blogging world. especially for stuffing! But believe me when I tell you that this is your mother’s recipe for the Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing, and it’s definitely worth a try! If you know my mother, you know she’s an amazing cook with tried-and-true comfort food recipes!
This stuffing recipe is ideal for your juicy Instant Pot mashed potatoes, all the side dishes, and your soft turkey with gravy. Don’t forget the no-knead dinner rolls (fluffy every time and so easy to make!).
You don’t even need to add salt to the recipe. The sausage and the broth are salty enough. Unless you like a little salt like some of my friends and family. So be sure to check the salt. But we added just a small bit of salt to the onions and celery when theyre cooking up.