Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2024)

posted by The Bewitchin Kitchen on October 4, 2017

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Homemade stuffing is just as easy to make as the boxed stuff, but the results are so much better! Extra savory from pork sausage and veggies, my grandma’s easy stuffing recipe is sure to be a hit. And, it makes enough to stuff the bird and cook some on the side, so everyone will be pleased.

Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (1)

Savory Homemade Stuffing

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Growing up, my mom and my grandma made the same recipe for homemade stuffing. It takes very little time to prepare, and it always tastes like home and the holidays.

Seasoned bread cubes, pork sausage, and veggies are combined with cream of celery soup and poultry seasoning for a classic flavor combination that can’t be beat!

If it’s your first year hosting the holiday meal, pleasecheck out my post onhow to cook a turkey for all the best tips and tricks. I promiseyou’ll be a pro by the end of the tutorial.

Why You Will Love Oven Baked Stuffing

  • Classic flavors – a savory complement to roasted turkey
  • Easy prep – just mix everything together and bake
  • Serves 10 – plenty for guests or leftovers
  • Make ahead – chill until it’s time to cook
Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2)

How To Make Old Fashioned Sausage Stuffing

This sausage stuffing recipe makes A LOT. There is enough to stuff the turkey and cook a whole separatepan at 350 for (about) an hour.

If you would rather prepare your homemade stuffing entirely outside of the bird, you will need to divide the mixture between two large baking pans.

Mix the Old with the New

I am aware that the point of making homemade stuffing is so you don’t need to purchase boxed stuffing. My grandma always added a box of Stove Top to her sausage stuffing recipe, so I did too.

Feel free to leave it out if need be. Just be sure to replace it with extra bread cubes and seasonings.

I typically use Stove Top for Chicken, which would mean more of the poultry seasoning. Dried rosemary and sage is another great combo that’s often used in turkey stuffing.

Make Your Own Bread Cubes

Sometimes, it happens — you can’t make it to the store until the last minute, and all of the bread cubes are sold out!

Don’t stress. It’s easy to make cubed bread for stuffing, and it takes less than an hour.

  1. Grab your favorite loaf (French, sourdough, or even white sandwich slices!) and cut it into small, evenly sized cubes.
  2. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet, then toss with some olive oil and dried herbs.
  3. Bake at 225 degrees F for about 40 minutes, or until dry and golden brown.
Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (3)

Prep Ahead Tip

I find it best to prepare this easy stuffing recipe a day ahead, that way you just need to stuff it in the bird and go!

There is nothing worse than scrambling around the kitchen and trying to prepare a bunch of different dishes on turkey day. Get as many things prepared in advance as you can, including this old fashioned sausage stuffing, so you have more time to spend with your loved ones.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sausage Stuffing Recipe

Is stuffing better with or without eggs?

It really comes down to preference. Eggs can help give homemade stuffing extra structure and a fluffy texture.

I prefer to make my old fashioned sausage stuffing without eggs — the cream of celery soup holds everything together just as well, and the results are plenty fluffy.

Can I make gluten free oven baked stuffing?

If you’re looking for a healthier option with fewer processed ingredients, try my gluten free stuffing recipe! It’s just as simple to make with homemade gluten-free bread cubes, pork sausage, apples, and vegetables.

Keep in mind that my gluten free sausage stuffing recipe is baked entirely outside of the bird, so you’ll need plenty of chicken or turkey stock for moisture.

Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (4)

Storage and reheating

Allow leftovers to cool before transferring them to a covered container. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days and warm individual portions in the microwave or on the stove.

If the stuffing seems a bit dry, you can add a splash of water or broth for moisture.

Can you freeze leftover stuffing?

Yes! Oven baked stuffing will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store in an airtight container, then reheat at 350 degrees F until warmed through. No need to thaw it first!

Prepare this easy stuffing recipe as directed, then cover and freeze instead of baking. I recommend storing it in an aluminum baking dish so it can go straight in the oven.

Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (5)

More Turkey Dinner Side Recipes:

How To Make Turkey Gravy

Blue Bayou Scalloped Potatoes

Curried Cauliflower (my mom always has this as a side dish)

Balsamic Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Homemade Stuffing Recipe

Homemade stuffing with pork sausage and veggies is moist, savory, and simple to make! My grandma's easy stuffing recipe is a holiday favorite.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword dressing, homemade stuffing, stuffing, turkey dressing

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 315kcal

Author The Bewitchin Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of cubed bread crumbs
  • 1 tube frozen pork sausage thawed
  • 1 box of stove top
  • 1 can of cream of celery soup
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1-2 stalks of celery diced
  • 2-3 carrots grated
  • 1 tbsp Poultry seasoning I eyeball this. I usually add it until it smells just right.
  • Salt and pepper to taste

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • You’ll need either one big bowl, or two medium bowls to mix this together.

  • Add all of the ingredients together and mix well (I find it's best to get in with your hands, it helps mix the pork up).

  • Reserve the amount of stuffing that you will use to stuff the turkey.

For the rest:

  • Put in a baking dish and bake at 350F for one hour. At the half hour mark, take out and give a stir.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 1187mg | Potassium: 406mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2153IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg

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Homemade Stuffing Recipe | The Bewitchin' Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

Why do you 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.

How moist should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Why does my stuffing come out mushy? ›

You'll need day-old loaves to get stale so that the stuffing doesn't get too mushy. Don't cube that bread! Ragged, imperfect pieces of bread have more surface area; it's those nooks and crannies that give you good texture. Speaking of texture, that's what stuffing is all about--you want a mix of crispy and soft pieces.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

Cornstarch. This is our binder! Cornstarch makes a great egg substitute in vegan baked goods. Turns out it's great for making an eggless stuffing as well!

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

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.

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

Make-ahead stuffing can be prepared and stored in the freezer or refrigerator. "Make-ahead stuffing freezes well and can be made as much as two months early if stored in the freezer properly," Tiner says. "Stuffing that is made ahead and only refrigerated should be used within seven days."

Why is turkey stuffing so good? ›

That's the main reason to cook stuffing inside a turkey: The bread cubes soak up roasting turkey juices and transform into incredible-tasting flavor bombs.

How to know when stuffing is done? ›

The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

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 mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

Is stove top stuffing bad for you? ›

Like many convenience foods, Stove Top stuffing has gotten a bad rap in recent years, especially from people who have *opinions* about what is healthy to eat. It's got too much sodium, there are weird ingredients that you can't pronounce, and it's just better to make your own stuffing. But “better” is subjective.

What is the proper way of stuffing poultry? ›

If stuffing a whole turkey, chicken, or other bird, spoon the stuffing in loosely - about 3/4 cup of stuffing per pound. The stuffing should be moist, not dry, because heat destroys bacteria more rapidly in a moist environment.

What are the two main differences in dressing and stuffing? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes. "Making stuffing ahead saves time, allows stove and oven space for other things, and making it ahead gives time for the flavor to fully develop," Chef David Tiner, Director at Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge, tells Southern Living.

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