Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (2024)

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This easy Stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage is my favorite stuffing recipe! It is savory, delicious and always a hit with everyone! Save this to Pinterest so you can make it!

Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (1)

I’ve never been a big lover of stuffing – even my grandma’s. But, this stuffing…this delicious, savory Stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage is incredible and the one we will forever make each holiday season. It’s my go-to Thanksgiving side dish and the one dish that truly marks the celebration for us.

What is stuffing?

So, let’s get this out of the way. Technically, stuffing is what gets stuffed inside of the bird. If you want to be really technical about it, this is “dressing”. But no one in United States really uses that correct vernacular. So for the sake of simplicity and vocabulary, we are going to call this a Stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage.

Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (2)Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (3)

Stuffing always got a bad rap

Now back to business…As I mentioned stuffing has never really been my thing. I always felt it was too dry with not enough flavor. If I was going to eat a holiday dish full of carbs that was sure to fill me up, I was sure it was going to be the pasta that we always eat before the main course even reaches the table.

But save room for this one, friends. This Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage just might be the dish that makes you pop open the top button on your pants. And you will be happy about it too. 🙂

This Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage is filled with flavor in each bite. It’s moist and it’s really one of those classic dishes that will stay with your heart.

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Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (5)

So, what makes stuffing good?

For me, I really want the flavors to kind of sing together. Every now and then I come across one that’s too herb-y, or has some odd herb in it that makes me strongly dislike it. I don’t want it to be too soggy or dry either.

This Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage hits all the high notes for me. It combines fresh herbs like parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme along with some of my favorite savory ingredients. The Italian Sausage really helps here too and you can use your favorite kind. I tend to use Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage. While it probably doesn’t make the recipe seem overly sophisticated, it’s easy to find in almost any grocery store and it’s a flavor profile many people already enjoy. However, if your family has another favorite, I strongly suggest using that so you love this recipe just as much as I do.

Combined with eggs and chicken broth to help keep it all moist, the stuffing recipe with Italian sausage will become a fast family favorite.

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Tips for making this Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage

  • Use an Italian Sausage you love and that your family loves. Whether it’s from another brand or a local butcher.
  • Buy the French Bread ahead of time, let it sit for a day. Then cut the French Bread a few hours before you need it. If you don’t do this, you will need to dry out the bread a bit before cooking the stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage. If this is the way you decide to do it, put it in the oven at 300 for about 15 minutes. Flip it once and bake another 15 minutes.
  • Use sea salt instead of table salt. It will add a lot more flavor and help the dish feel well-rounded.
  • You can make this the day before Thanksgiving and then just warm it up the day of. See full instructions for that in the stuffing recipe with Italian sausage below.
  • You need a Dutch oven to make this before baking it. I have this one {HERE} from Le Creuset and I love it. I make everything in it from pastas to soups to bread and more.

Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes?

If you are looking for more Thanksgiving recipes, try these!

  • Butter Herb Turkey {HERE}
  • Honey Roasted Carrots and Beets {HERE}
  • Green Beans with Almonds {HERE}
  • Creamy Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes {HERE}
  • Lemon and Herb Baby Potatoes {HERE}

Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you love my Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage. You can find a full, printable for my easy pumpkin bread recipe below with all the ingredients and steps. Happy Eating!

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Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (7)

Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (8)

Stuffing Recipe with Italian Sausage

This Stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage will forever be your go-to recipe for Thanksgiving!

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Italian Sausage Stuffing recipe, Stuffing recipe with Italian Sausage

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Author: Rachel

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or large pot

  • Baking pan

Ingredients

  • 1 package Italian Sausage I use mild Johnsonville Italian Sausage.
  • 1 1/2 loaves French bread, cubed or torn
  • 1 stick butter, salted
  • 2 1/2 cups yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cups celery, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups Italian parsley, chopped
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, minced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh sage, minced
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 1 tsp. black pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Instructions

  • If you need to dry out your bread, do this first. Preheat oven to 300. Add the bread cubes to a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Flip and then bake again for another 15 minutes.

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  • Brown the sausage in a large Dutch oven or a large pot. You can see mine above in my Dutch oven that's about 5 quarts.

  • When the sausage is almost brown, add the butter, onion and celery. Cook for about 5 more minutes until the onions begin to soften.

  • Turn off the heat.

  • Add in the bread cubes and then add in all the herbs plus the salt and pepper. Gently mix everything to combine it. Don't worry if you can't fit all the bread cubes right at that moment. As the mix cooks down, you can add in a few more pieces.

  • Drizzle half of the chicken broth over the mixture and mix lightly.

  • Whisk the eggs and the other half of the chicken broth together. Pour over the stuffing mix and fold everything together.

  • Grease a baking dish with the olive oil.

  • If you have any remaining bread cubes that you have not combined yet, add them to the bottom of the baking dish.

  • Add the stuffing mixture to the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

  • ****If you want to make this the day before Thanksgiving and then heat it up on the day of, stop here for now and put the stuffing in the refrigerator with the foil on.****

  • Remove the foil and bake for about 45 minutes.

  • Serve immediately with additional salt and pepper to taste and additional fresh parsley and thyme.

Stuffing recipe with Italian sausage (2024)

FAQs

Why put eggs in stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing but? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Can you prepare uncooked dressing ahead of time and refrigerate? ›

Do not refrigerate uncooked stuffing. If stuffing is prepared ahead of time, it must be either frozen or cooked immediately. To use cooked stuffing later, cool in shallow containers and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Use it within 3 to 4 days.

Why can't you make stuffing ahead of time? ›

You haven't said whether you are going to cook the stuffing inside the bird or out, but it's fine to make almost any stuffing a few hours before you'll need it. The important thing is to keep it properly chilled so that bacteria won't have a chance to grow in it.

Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

Can stuffing be made the day before and reheated? ›

YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner. Baking it twice allows the flavours to meld even more so this side dish is sure to be a star at the table.

Is stuffing better, moist or dry? ›

You want your stuffing moist but not soggy and certainly not dry. The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix.

How many days is homemade stuffing good for? ›

Stuffing may be refrigerated for up to three or four days, or frozen for longer storage. The same timing applies for stuffing that is cooked separately, too. Be sure to reheat any leftover stuffing and use a food thermometer to make sure it reaches 165°F once again before eating it.

Can you mix up your dressing the night before? ›

Yes! You can absolutely make stuffing ahead of time. It's a great way to get a jumpstart on Thanksgiving cooking and it frees up much-needed oven space.

Can you eat raw sage and onion stuffing? ›

Warnings: Do not consume raw. Only the neck end of the poultry should be stuffed. Cooking times for stuffed meat and poultry must be based on the total stuffed weight.

Can cooked stuffing be left out overnight? ›

If turkey, stuffing, or gravy is left out at room temperature (40 to 140°F) for over 2 hours it may no longer be safe to eat. Bacteria prospers at this temperature, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

Why is stuffing not healthy? ›

Nutrition Notes

Stuffing is essentially bread, salt, and butter, so it probably comes as no surprise that it isn't the healthiest food served on Thanksgiving.

Can you reheat sausage meat stuffing? ›

These traditional sausage meat stuffing balls provide the perfect accompaniment to roast poultry – especially at Christmas. You can cook them ahead and freeze them and reheat as many as you need.

What is the purpose of adding eggs? ›

What Eggs Do in Baking Recipes. Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

What can I use instead of egg to bind stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Why do people put eggs in flour? ›

When combined with flour, they add to the structure and texture of cakes, cookies, and breads. Egg wash is the secret ingredient for beautifully caramelized pie crusts and challah; it can even be used as a kind of edible glue for slivered almonds or sesame seeds.

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

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