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Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing
A longtime family favorite for the holidays, this easy sausage and herb stuffing uses store-bought stuffing cubes, eliminating the step of slicing and drying out the bread.
I used to host elaborate Thanksgiving celebrations, where I’d cook and prepare for days on end, only to be completely exhausted by the time my guests arrived on Thanksgiving day. After one glass of wine, I’d be nodding off at the table, dreaming of my pillow! I finally wised up by simplifying my menu and recipes. This delicious sausage and herb stuffing, for example, relies on store-bought stuffing cubes, which eliminates the step of slicing and drying out the bread. Believe me, when you are using a pound of sausage and an entire stick of butter, the bread does not matter much!
What you’ll need to make The Stuffing
I’ve made this recipe using plain ol’ stuffing cubes from the supermarket (pictured above, usually made by Arnold or Pepperidge Farm) and “fresh” dried stuffing cubes from Whole Foods — both work well, although if you can get the ones from Whole Foods (they are sold in a plastic bag and labeled “stuffing cubes”), they do add a bit more texture.
As for the sausage, try to find bulk Italian sausage, which is simply sausage without the casings. If you can’t find it, just buy regular Italian sausage and remove the casings; the best way is to cut straight through the sausages with kitchen shears and then peel the casings off (this is much more efficient than trying to squeeze the meat out).
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by melting a stick of butter in a large sauté pan. Add the chopped onions and celery.
Cook until soft, about 8 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook a few minutes more.
Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. In the same pan, cook the sausage until browned.
As it cooks, use a metal spatula to break it apart into small pieces.
Add the sausage to the stuffing cubes and veggies.
Then add the broth, egg, herbs, salt and pepper.
Mix well.
Transfer the contents to a buttered 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
Bake for 65-75 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crisp. Enjoy!
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Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing
A longtime family favorite for the holidays, this easy sausage and herb stuffing uses store-bought stuffing cubes, eliminating the step of slicing and drying out the bread.
Ingredients
- 8 cups (14 oz) store-bought unseasoned stuffing cubes
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 1-1/2 cups diced yellow onion (from 1 large or 2 small onions)
- 1 cup diced celery (from 3 large celery stalks)
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage (i.e., sausage with the casings removed) -- see note below
- 2-3/4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped sage
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Place the stuffing cubes in a large mixing bowl.
- In a large sauté pan, melt the butter. Add the onions and celery and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more. Add the vegetables to the stuffing cubes. (Don't wash the pan but scrape out every last bit of vegetables, otherwise they will burn in the next step.)
- In the same pan, cook the sausage over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, until browned and cooked through, breaking up the sausage with a metal spatula while cooking (the largest pieces should be no greater than 1/4-inch). Add the browned sausage and fat to the bread cubes and vegetables.
- Add the chicken broth, egg, rosemary, sage, parsley, salt and pepper to the bread cube mixture and mix until the bread is soft and moistened. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish and bake for 65-75 minutes, uncovered, until deeply golden and crisp on top.
- Note: If you can't find bulk sausage, simply buy regular sausage and remove the casings.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This dish can be frozen, after baking, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve it, defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours then reheat it, covered with foil, in a 325°F oven until hot. You can also make the stuffing ahead and refrigerate it until you're ready to bake, up to two days in advance.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (10 servings)
- Calories: 467
- Fat: 28 grams
- Saturated fat: 10 grams
- Carbohydrates: 40 grams
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Fiber: 6 grams
- Protein: 15 grams
- Sodium: 1,063 mg
- Cholesterol: 57 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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I like the sound of this for a roast dinner I am planning for my friend’s 92nd birthday, next Sunday. We are in the UK. Just so I understand the ingredients, are the stuffing cubes the same as ‘croutons’? I don’t think we can get stuffing cubes here. I was thinking I could cube and dry some little pieces of baguette and use that. Do you think that would work? I realise this recipe is for winter really, but I’m cooking a leg of lamb with lots of spring vegetables and new potatoes, and because my elderly friend loves stuffing, I thought I would give this a try. I’d be very grateful for your help. Thank you.
Hi Rebecca, Croutons will definitely work but if they are salted, I’d cut the salt in the recipe in half. If you want to use a baguette that you cube and dry, that would work too. Hope your friend enjoys! 🙂
Thank you very much for replying. I’m going to give this a try!
Pretty bomb recipe! I had a huge Costco bag of seasoned sour dough croutons sitting in the pantry for some odd duck reason. So glad I found your recipe. I didn’t use the herbs because of the seasoned croutons. I cooked everything down in my 10” cast iron skillet, mixed everything together, poured it back into my already hot buttered, flavored skillet and cooked it for an hour in my June oven. This was really, really good. I can totally see making this again as well as trying different meats, spice heats, bread crumbs and additions like others mentioned like raisins or other goodies. Thank you for the inspiration.
First ever attempt at stuffing and I followed this easy to read recipe and procedure. It’s in the oven as I write. Thank you, I’ll let you know how it works out.
Hi Jenn,
I’ve just made your quick stuffing, but have not baked it yet. I am making it today to serve tomorrow. I haven’t baked it yet. Do you mean that it can be left in a bowl (fully mixed in with broth and all) overnight and then bake it tomorrow? Is it better to bake today and reheat tomorrow?
thanks!
Yes, that’s correct. I would assemble it completely today, refrigerate overnight, and bake tomorrow. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn, I’m so excited to make this as every recipe I’ve made of yours turns out amazing!!! Quick question, can I make this using gluten free croutons? Thanks in advance for your help xo
Sure! 🙂
Thanks so much for your reply! I’m only able to find Herb & Garlic GF croutons (garlic, oregano and parsley). Could you please tell me what changes I would need to make to the recipe? Also if I double the recipe, do you recommend I make it in 2 different baking pans or one big one? Thanks in advance once again for your help 🙏
Hi Mounira, If you use seasoned croutons, you’ll just need to cut the added seasoning and salt in half and then add more to taste if needed. And if you double the recipe, for even cooking I’d use two 9×13-inch baking dishes. (It may take about 10 minutes longer in the oven.) Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
Thanks again so much for your reply 🙏
I made this for Thanksgiving and I used homemade cornbread (in cube size pieces) for half of the stuffing cubes. It came out great! Everyone loved it! I highly recommend this recipe. Thanks so much, Jenn! This is now my go to stuffing recipe.
My brother-in-law makes sausage stuffing on Thanksgiving. I’ve found it’s now a necessity for me, even if I’m not with family with Thanksgiving. Bought some stuffing and sausage and hoped for the best. Came across this recipe, it was easy, gave it a try. This stuffing was thre star of my Thanksgiving dinner. It was so delicious, in fact, I just made another batch 3 days later. Love this! Thank you for posting. Perfect and savory with a little bit of crisp. It’s fantastic!
Wow! Amazing flavors! Delicious! This recipe is what I ended up using to Make my 1st attempt Ever at homemade stuffing. I was nervous about how it would turn out but the easy-to-follow instructions made it a breeze to make. It was such a hit that my family requested I make a second batch 2days after Thanksgiving! Also- it was so good that my teenage daughter literally got mad that I ate the very last of the leftovers. It was a fight over who got to eat the last serving. (I won!) Lol! Thankyou for this awesome recipe, our family will certainly be using it for years to come.
😂
Hi Jenn, I can’t get stuffing cubes and will need to trim baguettes. About how many ounces do you think? Still 14. I love this recipe and all of the those in Once Upon a Chef cookbook! All are no fail and our guests love every one.
Hi Denise, yes, you’ll still need 14 ounces of cubed baguette. So glad you’ve had success with the recipes-hope you joy enjoy this one as well!
Do you think this recipe can be done in a crock pot?
Hi Justine, I don’t have a crockpot so I can’t say for sure how it would impact the recipe. But if you’d like to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you try it in a crockpot!
I made this recipe for the first time and it was AMAZING! Great flavors, perfectly moist, just never enough stuffing! Also made your sweet potato casserole, and cooked the turkey like you said at 450 til it was 160 degrees. I was skeptical but it was gorgeous and so delicious. I recently saw on a cooking show to turn the bird upside down after it comes out of the oven to get more juice into the breasts. Will always do this from now on!! Thanks Jenn for contributing to all the yummy mmms and lip smacking at my table!
I hate stuffing and always just make it for others so don’t put any effort into it. This year I decided to try something different so we didn’t have to throw away all of it. I am not a stuffing eater at all but I had to try it and I actually ended up going back for seconds. Everyone loved it! They didn’t have sweet italian sausage at Earthfare so I used Japaleno cheddar sausage and it really had a great taste. This will become a standard staple at my Thanksgiving table every year.
Can you use the non cubed pepperidge farms stuffing?
Sure Sharon, that will work. But if it’s seasoned, you’ll need to cut the added seasoning and salt in half and then add more to taste if needed. Enjoy!
absolutely delicious. I Usually put my stuffing in the bird. This is the first time that I’ve ever cooked it this way, The only thing I added was just a little bit of poultry seasoning. And I did use the sage and onion flavored Pepperidge farm bread cubes.
However I did put half of it into my bird, with A tribute to my mother which is to put butter and garlic powder mixed together inside the bird and then stuff it.
Both ways came out fantastic!
This was really an excellent recipe
This stuffing recipe is the best! My husband and I are typically not huge stuffing fans, but we really enjoyed this and will be making it part of our Thanksgiving tradition. I made it vegetarian using Beyond Meat Italian Sausage and Better Than Bullion No Chicken Broth. Thanks for a great recipe!
When our Thanksgiving host got sick and we divided up dinner the night before, I got stuffing and was a bit nervous. I never made stuffing before. This was so easy and so delicious. The house smelled fantastic. Made this along with your cornbread stuffing and our additions were a hit!
So, so, so delicious! I toasted it the day before and baked day-of. It was the best stuffing we’ve ever had at Thanksgiving and it was my first time making it. That only shows it’s a perfect recipe!
Loved this RECIPE when I made it last year, I cooked it in muffin tins to speed up the cooking time. My tip to share though: the next morning I wanted it crispy again, I broke out my waffle maker! I added a raw egg and made stuffing waffles and they were FANTASTIC! We had dinner for breakfast and threw leftover turkey and gravy on top. The left over waffles (later that day and next) just popped them in the toaster. We were so bummed when the stuffing was gone as it was our favorite part of our Thanksgiving meal. This recipe is SUPERB and I don’t even bother trying another one. THANKS FOR A GREAT STUFFING RECIPE!
I purchased soft cubed stuffing. Should I let them dry out overnight before using
yep 🙂
I just made this today. It is awesome!
Added some red pepper flakes. Used 12 cups of stuffing bread from the bakery.
Wonderful flavor! Yum!
What is a good sub for the unseasoned stuffing cubes, can’t find them!
Hi Pieri, You can make your own; here’s a recipe.
Thank you! If I use 1 loaf of french bread are the measurements for the rest of the ingredients the same?
Hi Pieri, It depends on how many cups of cubed bread that comes out to (the recipe calls for 8 cups). If the bread generates about 8 cups, then you won’t need to make any changes.
Can you use this to stuff your turkey?
Yep, just reduce the broth by 1/2 cup. Enjoy!
I usually cook stuffing inside the turkey, but this time I just needed to make stuffing to take to a party. This recipe came out as good as that cooked inside the turkey. Loved the taste of it!!
My store only carried the herb seasoned cubed stuffing. Do I need to change the recipe when using these.
Yes, Sb, just cut the added seasoning and salt in half and then add more to taste if needed. Enjoy!
Quick question, I made this up last night… I did not cook it-just threw it in the freezer. Planned to unfreeze & cook it on Thanksgiving… will that be okay?? Thanks!
Typically, I’d suggest freezing it after baking, but it should still turn out nicely.
I am making this recipe now.
Can I refrigerate the stuffing instead of freezing it for consumption tomorrow?
Yep — hope you enjoy!
This is my husband’s favorite dish for Thanksgiving…your recipe no one else’s. I make it as is and love it! He actually requests it throughout winter as a stand alone dish. Which is probably hilarious but as long as he is eating my cooking I’m happy. Thank you! Making this tonight for tomorrow.
What are the herbs to add?
Hi Gina, you’ll need rosemary, sage, parsley, salt, and pepper. See the last several ingredients in the recipe to see the amounts. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
I’m getting my own fresh bread cubed at the bakery for this. Do 8 cups equal one loaf of bread?
Hi Colleen, It really depends upon the loaf of bread, so it’s hard to say for sure – sorry I can’t be more helpful!
I made this recipe last year and we absolutely loved it. I am so glad I bookmarked this recipe to use again. I don’t recall what I used for stuffing cubes however this year I bought potato bread cubes so we will see how it turns out.
Do you alter any of the ingredients if you do not use sausage? How do you prepare day old bread to use instead?
Hi Karen, If you don’t want to use the sausage, I’d suggest this recipe instead. (The sausage plays a really important role here as it adds a ton of flavor.)
Hi Jen,
Two questions: 1. Do I use a 2qt baking dish for this and 2. Can I put this together the night before and refrigerate it before cooking it or so I cook it and then Refrigerate and reheat the next day? I am worried about the cubes getting soggy.
Hi Sara, You actually need a 3-qt baking dish for this recipe. And, yes, it’s perfectly fine to prep ahead, refrigerate, and then cook the next day; it will crisp up in the oven.
hello. can I make my own stuffing cubes out of day old bread?
Sure, Jean; I’d let them dry out in a low oven. Enjoy!
Great recipe! I made a vegetarian (not vegan) version. I used 1 pound of Morningstar sausage patties cut into small crumble pieces, and simmered the crumbled sausage in vegetable broth made with Better than Bouillon premium vegetable stock. Better than Bouillon Vegetable Stock is a godsend for making great tasting vegetarian dishes, as long as it is premium version, not the watery low sodium version. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
My wife and I are debating on preparing all the ingredients tomorrow night and serve on Thursday. I know some have asked this question I just need your answer to ease our stress. Thanks this sounds so good first time making it though
Hi Will, You should absolutely prepare it ahead of time; that’s what I’m going to do!
I just made your dressing tonight and will freeze it for 2 days then thaw on Wednesday for about 24 hours. I assume that I should thaw in the fridge and reheat at 350 degees for about 30 mins. Does that sound about right? Thank you!!
Hi Jenna, I’d actually reheat it at 325°F, covered. And I would guess it would take about 30 minutes as you mentioned. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn. Great recipe. My aunt used to make something like this but I think using hot Italian sausage. I would like to have some kick to it if possible. Would this work with both hot and sweet sausage?
Yep, definitely. 🙂
I love your recipes when I am looking for something and Once upon a chef comes up I don’t look any further. I bought good white bread to dry will that change the texture?
So glad you like the recipes, Barbara! Your white bread will work as long as you dry it out to the consistency of croutons (you could toast it in the oven, too).
Can you used herb seasoned bread stuffing cubes?
Yes — just cut the added seasoning and salt in half and then add more to taste if needed. Enjoy!
After reading such great reviews I really want to give this a try. I thought I purchased plain cubed stuffing but it is Pepperidge Farm Herb seasoned. Can I use this instead?
Yes, but you’ll need to cut the salt and herbs in half. Just add more to taste if necessary. Hope you enjoy!
Hi 🙂 I can’t wait to try this for Thanksgiving! My question is, can I substitute apple sauce for the large egg? If so, how much apple sauce would you suggest?
Yes, Ali, I think you could use applesauce in place of the egg (make sure it’s unsweetened). You’ll need about 1/4 cup. Please LMK how it turns out!
This sounds like a recipe my mother made. But she used a combination of ground beef and pork sausage. I want to try it. Do you suggest using one pound of each? Also, she did not precook the meat. Instead, she mixed it all up and baked into a casserole dish. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Hi Rose, I think all sausage will give you the best flavor but if you wanted to try half ground beef, it will work. I would cook them both first though.
What about venison sausage bulk?
That will work 🙂
I forgot to rate this in my last comment. It is 5-star plus!!! The last stuffing/dressing recipe you’ll ever need to search for. I sometimes sub the Italian sausage for breakfast sausage, both are amazing. Thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe that now is a part of our family tradition!
I plan to make this for thanksgiving this year, but I was wondering if I could ditch the celery?
You could just omit it or replace it with something else — some nice options are peeled and diced apple or diced fennel. Hope you enjoy!
Made this recipe for our family Thanksgiving this weekend and everyone loved it. I doubled the batch as we had 8 adults and 4 kids. I also added a pound of bacon as well and everyone said it had great flavor. Next time I might used powdered garlic or already minced garlic because it stunk up my house and was kinda messy to handle. But this one will definatly go in the must use again recipes. Just make sure you have plenty of time to prep, as stuffing from scratch takes a while to prepare. Thanks for sharing.
Morning Michele, I was wondering if I could use sage sausage? Dot
Sure, Dorothy – just omit the sage in the recipe. Enjoy!
Hello – this recipe sounds great and similar to what I typically make, but I have not yet tried it. I was just wondering if it would be ok to use croutons (I have Chatham Village sea salt and butter) instead of the stuffing cubes? I don’t see why not, but do appreciate your opinion!!
Hi Kathy, Croutons will definitely work but if they are salted, I’d cut the salt in the recipe in half. Hope that helps!
Can you use dried herbs?
Hi Wendy, You can use 1 teaspoon each dried sage and rosemary. I wouldn’t use dried parsley though; you can just leave that out if you don’t have it. Hope that helps!
i am planning on using this recipe ..and then i read way down on the comments! it said.. NOT sourdough bread!.. yikes..i just bought 2 big bags of them from Costco .. one for house and one for church donation! why not recommended? anything i can do to correct a flavor if not good to use?
thanks Nora
Hi Nora, I wouldn’t worry – the sourdough will still be good without any changes. I saw the comment you’re referring to and I was just trying to suggest something that would be closest in flavor to the unseasoned plain stuffing cubes. Hope that helps!
Hello,
I am planning on making this. Is the egg absolutely necessary?
Hi Rebecca, The egg moistens the stuffing and binds it together, but it will still work without it. Hope you enjoy!
One of our family members always made sausage dressing for holidays, it was always the talk of the dinner But after finding this recipe I believe I now hold the top honors for the best dressing on the holidays. 🤓
can this recipe be used to stuff the turkey?
Yes, but I’d reduce the broth by about 1/2 cup so it isn’t too soggy (the turkey’s cavity will add moisture to the stuffing). Hope you enjoy!
Would this recipe be good with adding sun-dried tomatos? If so would you do anything special and how much would you add?
Thank you!
Sun-dried tomatoes sound like an unconventional addition to this, but I suppose it would work. If they are dried, you’d want to rehydrate them first. If they’re packed in oil, I’d drain off any oil. Either way, I would dice them before incorporating. 🙂
I hope this isn’t too late for my question.
Could I use Italian turkey sausage rather than pork sausage without making a huge different in the flavor?
By the way, thank you for the many wonderful, never-fail recipes. Many of them have become staples for my family.
Happy Thanksgiving
So glad you like the recipes, Mary! It’s perfectly fine to substitute turkey sausage without any other adjustments. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello! Could I use seasoned stuffing instead of plain stuffing?
Yes, Briana — I would cut the salt and herbs in half, then add more to taste before baking if necessary.
How about breakfast sausage in this recipe?
That would work – hope you enjoy!
I really wanna make this for Thanksgiving but want to use dried herbs instead. How much dried herbs of each should I use instead of fresh?
Hi Mandi, I’d recommend about 1 teaspoon each of the rosemary and sage, but I’d recommend sticking with the fresh parsley. Happy Thanksgiving!
This stuffing is amazing. I never cared for stuffing and I have made this twice for my family and my mother in-law called me last week and said for my to make the stuffing this year again!
How do you feel about adding apple to the recipe?
I think apple would be a great addition! 🙂
Could you elaborate and tell where to add apples? Sounds delicious
I’d dice and add them in with the onions and celery so they can all be sauteed together. Please LMK how it turns out if you make it with the apples!
Hi Jen,
I usually make stuffing and add raisins, do you think it would work well with this recipe ?
Thanks, N.
Sure, Nazela – I don’t see why not. Hope you enjoy!
I made this recipe last Thanksgiving for my nephew who did not like our traditional meat stuffing. He loved it and so did the rest of the family, so this recipe will be used every year with our Thanksgiving feast! Thank you for the all the recipes you share with us!
Hi, this recipe looks wonderful and I am going to try it this year for Thanksgiving. Thanks for posting it. Can I substitute some dried cornbread cut into small pieces for half of the stuffing cubes? I would use the same amount of dried bread ingredients just substitute corn bread for half of it.
Sure, Rhonda, that will work. You may also want to take a peek at my cornbread stuffing. Hope you enjoy whatever you make!
I just realized that the Pepperidge stuffing I bought is not cubed. (…yikes!). I’ve not opened the package but it seems more like crumbs. Will this be a problem? (It says Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing).
Hi Gabe, that stuffing will work — just omit the salt and sage from the recipe and season to taste. Hope you enjoy!
I have used this recipe the last 2 thanksgivings and plan on using it for many years to come. I even had someone tell me they don’t usually eat stuffing because it’s soggy and flavorless; but they loved this one. I definitely prefer The Whole Foods stuffing cubes for the texture. I used a food processor for my onions, celery, and garlic… I also add a carrot for a little sweetness.
Hi Jenn, I cannot wait to try your sausage and herb stuffing but I have two questions: 1) Can I make this ahead of time? and 2) if I decide to omit the sausage would that alter the recipe any? Thank you!
Hi Anna, Yes, you can make this ahead of time but the sausage in the recipe adds a ton of flavor, so you want to omit it, you may want to check out this recipe instead.
Hi jenn,
I am also interested in making this ahead of time (the day before) since I will be traveling to celebrate with family a couple hours away. How do you recommend reheating it the next day without drying it out?
Hi Deb, Reheat it, covered with foil, in a 325°F oven until hot. (The foil will keep it from drying out.) Enjoy! 🙂
So do you recommend baking it first and then refrigerate- then cover and reheat the next day? I am making tonight for a 6:00 pm dinner tomorrow! Thanks!
Ideally I would prep it tonight, refrigerate, and bake it tomorrow. But if you’re not able to do that, I’d bake it tonight, refrigerate, and reheat tomorrow. Hope that helps!
Can I stuff the turkey with this recipe? It sounds delicious, my nonna made a similar stuffing. Can’t wait to try.
Sure, Barbara – it will work. Just reduce the broth by 1/2 cup so it isn’t too soggy (the turkey’s cavity will add moisture to the stuffing). Hope you enjoy!
Hi! I would like to make this for Thanksgiving but am a little confused by the measurements for the bread cubes. It says 8 cups or 14 oz……….isn’t 8 dry cups 36 ounces? Can you please clarify? Thank you so much!!
Hi Nancy, 14 oz is correct (it’s referring to the weight of the cubes, not the volume). Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Can I cook this recipe in the crockpot?
Hi Stacie, I don’t own a crockpot so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. But if you’d like to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you make it!
I absolutely love this recipe! It has become the only stuffing that I make now.
But I just made it with a 12 oz. bag of cubed stuffing, but never cut back on the chicken broth.
I don’t think the bags come in 14 oz. any longer.
What should I expect???
Thx
Hi Michele, Glad you like this! I’ve heard the same thing from some other readers. I’d cut the broth back to 2 cups to account for the change. 🙂
I’m looking for a stuffing recipe that isn’t dry after it is baked but more on the moist side. How would you rate the moistness of this stuffing?
Hi Diane, The stuffing is pretty moist, but if you get concerned that it’s drying out, you could cover it for the last few minutes of baking. Hope you enjoy if you make it!
I plan on making this for a Friendsgiving but already bought seasoned stuffing cubes and normal (not low sodium) chicken broth. If I omit the additional salt do you think that’ll be okay or still too salty?
Hi Hannah, I think it should still work – I’d just omit the salt and sage. Please LMK how it turns out!
Hi Jenn… I’m planning on making your stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving. I’d like to make a portion of the ingredients and freeze them to minimize my prep time. Can I combine the cooked vegetable mixture with the cooked sausage, freeze the combination and then add the thawed combination to the stuffing cubes, broth, and eggs just prior to cooking?
Hi Joan, I’ve never done that, but I suspect it should work. You can also fully prepare and bake the stuffing and then freeze it if you’d like. See the bottom of the recipe for freezer-friendly instructions.
I also could only find herbed seasoned. Ingredients included rosemary extract. It just mentioned spices, did not mention sage. Should I still include the rosemary and also add the sage? I will be using dried herbs.
Hi Karen, I’d leave out the herbs to start and then just taste before adding to the baking dish. If you think it could use more flavor, add them then.
Can this be cooked and frozen? Thawed and reheated day of?
Yep — see freezer-friendly instructions at the bottom of the recipe. Hope you enjoy!
It looks like Pepperidge Farm stuffing cubes come in 12oz bags now (6.75 cups). Would omitting 2oz of cubes make a big difference?
Hi BK, it should be fine with 12 ounces of bread cubes; just cut the broth back to 2 cups. Hope you enjoy!
I have a large group for Thanksgiving and not all are turkey lovers. I am making both a small turkey and a pork crown roast. I only want to make one stuffing. Would this recipe work for both meats or is there a better choice? Substitute ground pork for Italian sausage?
Hi Joan, I think this stuffing would work for both meats (and I wouldn’t swap out the sausage for ground pork). Hope everyone enjoys!
Oops…I meant pork sausage. But probably stick to the Italian right? Pork sausage may be too much like breakfast. 🙂
Actually, Italian sausage is usually made with pork, so I’d just stick with the recipe. 🙂
I love your recipes. This Thanksgiving I’m going to have my butcher butterfly and debone three turkey breasts and stuff them with an Italian sausage dressing and this one sounds wonderful and just what I need. Do you think this will work? How long and what temperature would you use? Virginia Carter
Hi Virgina, I have a very similar recipe, so I’d follow the baking time and temperature from that one. Hope you enjoy and have a great holiday!
Hello, love your recipes, would it be ok to add brocolli?
I wouldn’t recommend broccoli here – sorry!
I used broccoli stems instead of celery and it turned out amazing. But I didn’t cook them before adding them so they wouldn’t get too mushy 😄
Hi Jen. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipes. If I decided to halve this recipe,what size pan should I bake it in and for how much time? Thanks for your help
Glad you like the recipes! A half recipe of this should fit in an 8 x 8 dish. The baking time should be about the same, but keep an eye on it. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
How would I adjust the herbs if I wanted to use Bell’s poultry seasoning?
Hi Sharon, I’m not familiar with Bell’s poultry seasoning, so hard to say for sure, but if it contains salt, I would definitely reduce the salt in the recipe.
Hi Jenn! I’m in a panic. I made your Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing and didn’t notice that since I used seasoned stuffing cubes (and didn’t adjust the salt or herbs) I’m afraid it’s going to be too salty and too strong on the herbs. I baked it and put it in the freezer…what can I do when I reheat it on thanksgiving to be less salty and milder herb flavor? Or should I just start over again? Thank you!
Hi Melinda, whether or not you start over depends on how much of a perfectionist you are. 🙂 You can serve this as is – – it won’t be inedible — people just may find it a bit salty.
Do you bake this first and then refrigerate to reheat on Thanksgiving? Or do you just assemble, refrigerate, and then bake on Thanksgiving.
Hi Liz, you can go either way on this one, so just do whichever is most convenient. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
I need to double this recipe. Do I need to alter anything? What size pan would you suggest?
Hi Nancy, You don’t need to alter any of the ingredients, but for even cooking, I’d use two 9×13-inch baking dishes. (It may take about 10 minutes longer in the oven.) Hope that helps!
Hi Jen. I would like to prep this ahead of time for Thanksgiving so that the only step left would be to bake it, however, I am concerned that by combining all of the ingredients it may turn out soggy. What do you suggest? Maybe I should just bake it and refrigerate then reheat it?
Thanks!!!
Hi Mike, you can go either way, but I think the better way to go is to assemble it in advance and bake it right before dinner. (It won’t get too soggy.) Hope you enjoy!
I’m planning to make this for thanksgiving but need to make it a day ahead. Should i bake it halfway or not at all? Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Hi Lisa, I’d refrigerate it unbaked and then fully bake it before the meal. Hope you enjoy!
This was absolutely delicious and everyone raved about it!
I didn’t have any fresh herbs so I used 1/2 tsp of dried thyme and 1.5 tsp of dried sage. It was amazing. The only problem is that if you don’t have two ovens it makes the timing difficult. I recommend cooking it for only an hour in advance. Then microwave it to warm it right before you take out your turkey. Then when you take out your turkey broil it to get it browned and crispy on top.
Turned out amazing and I am definitely not a cook. This will forever be my staple stuffing!
I’m planning to make stuffing with and without sausage. Does the recipe work as is without the sausage? Will I need to modify? Thank you
Hi Blanca, the sausage plays a really important role here as it adds a ton of flavor. If you want a vegetarian option, I’d suggest this recipe instead.
Question- if I’m making day before, do i cook the sausage before putting in fridge? Or is everything uncooked? Thanks
Yes, you would complete all the steps in the recipe with the exception of putting it in the oven. Hope you enjoy!
Hello
I live in Montreal and I can’t find the Pepperidge farms cubed stuffing. What other kind of bread could I use?
Hi Louise, Arnold also makes a version if you can find those. If not, you can substitute your own bread cubes – I would suggest an Italian loaf (anything but sourdough). Hope that helps!
Hi again,
I was able to find some unseasoned cubes (croutons as we call them here) one package is 150 grams. How many packages should I use? Can’t seem to understand the conversion into cups!
Hi Louise, You’ll need 3 packages. 🙂
Hi! I’ve made this for the holidays the past few years and it’s been a big hit! This year I have someone coming who is allergic to celery. Is there anything you think would be a suitable substitute for it in this recipe?
Hi Mallory, several readers have commented that they’ve used a peeled, diced apple in place of the celery. Diced fennel would also work nicely. Hope that helps!
Can this be made in a crockpot?
Hi Heidi, I don’t have a crockpot — I’ve haven’t tried this in one so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. That said, if you want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you make it in a crockpot!
Hi Jenn….I love your recipes! I need all the space I can in the oven on Thanksgiving. Can this recipe be adapted to a slow cooker? And if so, do you have any suggestions as to timing etc.?
Hi Janis, I’ve never made this in a slow cooker so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out – sorry! If you do want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. I’d love to hear how it turns out if you try it this way!
Tried..too salty using bagged seasoned cubes. Plain bread is better, unfortunately.. I hate the step- the bread takes so long but tried one package of Pepperidge farm and people loved it but said it was way too salty ..I’ll go back to using my plain white bread dried out… Always have poured like 3/4 of a cup of a bag seasoning cubed mix in but never just used it completely.
I plan to have Janksgiving with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. And since my Thanksgiving attempt at stuffing was awful, I’m going to try your recipe instead. Quick question though, in reading the reviews it appears thyme is one of the ingredients. Yet in reading the recipe, I don’t see it in the list of ingredients. And I love thyme, so I was planning to add it anyway. 1 TBSP? like the rosemary and sage? or is it more like the parsley? 1/4 cup?
Thanks.
Leslie
Hi Leslie, Thyme would definitely be a nice addition here (and like the rosemary and sage, I’d add 1 Tbsp.). Hope you enjoy! 🙂
This was an easy recipe and tasted great. Keeping this in file for another time!
I made dressing/stuffing for the first time using this recipe and got rave reviews! A winner.
I want to make this but all I have is maple sausage. Would that work?
Yes definitely!
Another question…are stuffing cubes the same as stuffing croutons?
Thanks!
Yep!
Hi,
My son is allergic to eggs. Can I just leave out the egg or should I substitute something else?
I’m really excited and nervous about making stuffing for the first time!
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia, You need the eggs for moisture so I would use an egg substitute. Enjoy!
An egg substitute like milk or yogurt, apple sauce? What do you think would work best?
Thx!
I think applesauce would be a good choice.
I made this stuffing at Thanksgiving and it was delicious and so easy to make. In addition was able to make a gluten free version for a family member with celiacs by substituting the stuffing cubes with some made from gluten free bread.
I need to 1/2 this recipe since there will be only 3 of us for dinner. and I only have dried herbs. Can you tell me how much of the dry herbs (sage and rosemary) I put in? I also have frozen my parsley and what amount would that be as well. THanks
Hi Liz, I’d recommend about 1/2 teaspoon each of the rosemary and sage. And if your parsley is fresh, then you’d need 2 tablespoons. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you
I’ve made this stuffing and it is delicious! I was going to make it for Christmas. I had wanted to make 1.5 times the recipe. Do you think that it would be OK for me to use 1 pan, or 2? If I could use 2, should I increase the baking time? Thx!
Hi Michele, glad you like this stuffing. You can get away with making 1.5 times the recipe and baking it in the same dish. It’s likely to take a bit longer (I’d guesstimate about 10 minutes, but keep an eye on it). Hope everyone enjoys!
This stuffing is awesome! A staple here in New England is Bell’s seasoning, it makes all the difference in the world! I hope you can find it where you live.
Hi there- just wanted to send a quick note letting you know that I made this and it was fantastic! My boyfriend wanted a savory stuffing for his birthday meal and this was both simple and delicious. He enjoyed every one of his three servings 🙂 It was my first time making this and it won’t be my last. Thank you.
I wanted to come back to let you know this dressing was a hit!! I took it to a family gathering of over 40 people(I made 4 batches) and there wasn’t any left. Everyone who ate it loved it! I am making again today for our home only turkey dinner. The only thing that was changed was I used the classic crumb style bread because they were out of cubes. Really a great recipe!
I made this dish only one day ago. My husband was in love and so was I! I still sliced and cubed my own bread but only because I felt like it. Thank you for bringing a new staple to our holiday!
We are having an ‘after Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner’. None of the grocery stores in town carry unseasoned stuffing cubes – only seasoned. What would be the best way to alter the recipe using the seasoned cubes?
Hi Linda, I would cut the salt and herbs in half, then add more to taste before baking if necessary.
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit! I added a little more broth to make it more moist. The top came out with a wonderful crunch that was softened on the inside. The flavor with the fresh herbs was amazing. I will make this next year!
This recipe is perfect, the low sodium works perfect (still plenty of salt); however, I did add an extra pound of sausage (since I made 2 trays).
I enjoy fresh veggies and cutting them up them up but next time I’m getting one of those choppers.
Thanks so much Jenn and Happy Thanksgiving !
I’ve been building the stuffing for this day, for the last ten years, always trying a new recipe. I made it 50% larger, and there was only one serving left, family of eight. Huge success! I did, however, add a yellow and orange bell pepper. Thankyou for sharing.
One more question- I have regular bulk italian sausage, will that work or do I need the sweet?
Thank you
That will work fine! Hope you enjoy. 🙂
This was by far the best stuffing I’ve ever made or eaten. The only thing I did different was used 1 teaspoon sage rub in place of fresh sage. Also, I used half cubed breadcrumbs and half crushed. Amazing flavor and consistency. Will only use this recipe from here on out. Thank you so much for sharing!!
As a widower who cannot cook this recipe was fabulous, easy to follow and tasted great.
Making this today ! So excited. What do you think about adding a can of cream of chicken ?
Hi Rae, I think the stuffing has plenty of flavor as is and really don’t think it’s necessary. Hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
do you have to use cubed- i have a “classic stuffing”- cornbread- dry mix- would that work as well? any adjustments to be made with that type?
Hi Eve, If it’s a mix of regular bread and cornbread, that should be fine.
Hi there! Do you think I can stuff a turkey with this?
If not have you ever made ahead and then just popped it into the oven to reheat while the turkey rests?
Hi RK, Yes, you can stuff a turkey with this; While it depends upon how moist you like your stuffing, I’d suggest reducing the broth by about 1/2 cup since the juices from the turkey will add quite a bit of moisture. Enjoy!
Do you think of adding mushrooms would be a good idea?
Sure, Sandra – I think they’d be good in this.
Making this for a Friendsgiving for the 2nd year in a row because it turned out so good last year. Making 2 of them though as it was a big hit last year and didn’t result in any leftovers.
Can this be cooked inside the turkey?
Sure 🙂
Recipe calls for unsalted butter I only have salted butter, is this ok to use?
Sure, Ann – a stick of butter has about 1/4 teaspoon salt so just reduce the salt accordingly.
Hi Jen,
I’m making this today but not sure if I should refrigerate over night and bake it before dinner or partially bake today and finish tomorrow?
Thanks!
Amanda
Hi Amanda, Ideally, I’d refrigerate overnight and bake before dinner — but it’s also fine to bake ahead and reheat.
I couldn’t find unseasoned 14oz package of stuffing mix, do you think 12oz will be okay?
Yep, just add a touch less broth.
I would like to add a granny apple when cooking veggies. How much diced would you add? ( made this last year without apples – was a huge hit!) thanks!!!
Hi Cindy, I think one large apple would be perfect. Please let me know how it turns out.
Hi! Recipe looks great , making it tonight for our Thanksgiving! My supermarket was out of unseasoned cubes stuffing so I am wondering if a bad of ‘classic stuffing mix’ would work the same?
Thanks!
Sure, Monique – I don’t know how seasoned the bread cubes are so I would cut the salt and herbs in half, then add more to taste if necessary before baking.
Hi, stuffing tastes terrific, but it’s too early! Can I freeze it unbaked and bake on Thanksgiving or should I bake before freezing?
Hi Patty, I would bake it first and then freeze it. See the bottom of the recipe for freezer-friendly instructions. Happy Thanksgiving!
We just found out our 16 month old granddaughter is Type 1 Diabetic. Needless to say, this brings a whole new level of prep for my thanksgiving dinner. I would love to make this stuffing, but wondered if you have the nutrition guide for this by chance? I need jto count her carbs and I believe by the looks of the yummy ingreddients… it will be high… 🙂 🙂
Sincerely,
Nikki
Hi Nikki, sorry to hear about your granddaughter’s diabetes diagnosis! I’ve just added the nutritional info for the stuffing. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
what temp do you bake this at?
Hi Kat, this gets baked at Preheat the oven to 350°F. Hope you enjoy!
Hi,
I can’t wait to make this stuffing recipe. Just one question: does it call for 8 cups of bread cubes which is 64 ounces? The recipe reads 8 cups /14 ounces.
Thank you
Hi Amy, 14 oz is correct (64 would be liquid oz; the weight of the cubes is 14 oz).
My wife is not a fan of rosemary what can I put in its place or just leave out.
Mike
Hi Mike, I’d replace it with more thyme.
Hi! Looking forward to making this delicious recipe on Thursday. Just a quick question. Is it 2 and 3/4 cups broth or 2-3/4cups(1.5 total)? Not sure why I am having trouble figuring that out lol. Thanks in advance!
Hi Amy, It’s 2 and 3/4. 🙂
Thank you so much !
Can u bake it in a casserole dish and double the reciepe or do you still recommend using two 9×13
Hi Jenn, I’d use two 9×13-inch baking dishes. (It may take about 10 minutes longer in the oven.)
Hi,
I’m in charge of cooking this year but my dad is allergic to all poultry. Would it be ok to substitute the Chicken broth for beef broth or would it totally ruin it?
Thanks!
Sure, Kayla, that should work. Hope you enjoy!
Has anyone made the stuffing with “hot” sausage?
Hot Italians, Johnsonville, really gives it a kick.
I have been playing around with stuffing for 45 years. My stuffing is not for the faint of heart or someone watching their cholesterol. I used Johnsonville Hot Italians, two pounds, easy. Two sticks of butter, no margarine. I use poultry seasoning because I could never figure out the Thyme Rosemary thing. Garlic gets tossed in the mix. Onion, Celery, Chicken Stock are a given. I used italian and some wholesome bread which is sitting on my kitchen table under the ceiling fan getting stale. No fruit. I am not making Thanksgiving this year, praise Lord, but word is, I have to do the stuffing. And I stay far away from Green Bean Casserole. The onion thingies are good but….Nopers. Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Be safe.
Try Jimmy Dean Hot Bulk Sausage. Only one I use.
Yep, I only use hot sausage….. it’s great
I have read some of your comments, why not sourdough bread???
Hi Kathy, I’m not crazy about the flavor of sourdough in this stuffing — I think neutral is best.
Hi Jenn, thank you so much for sharing this easy to make stuffing recipe with us! I made it yesterday for my son’s school 6th grade Thanksgiving Feast and they loved it! I have never tasted stuffing before believe it or not, I thought it was a little salty for me! It tasted great though! I am going to make it on on Thanksgiving, but will not be adding the salt part of the ingredients! Happy Thanksgiving to you amd your family!
Sue T
Hi Jenn: I have made this stuffing recipe in the past and it is so delicious! Thank you for sharing it. This year we will be traveling to my daughter’s house (a 20 minute drive away.) We will be eating within about 45 minutes to an hour after arriving. Wondering if you think it would be better to bake the stuffing for the full 65-75 minutes and then reheat when we get there, OR if it would be better to bake it partially at home and then the rest of the way when we arrive? Would one way or the other be better for keeping the stuffing moist, etc
? I tried to review your previous responses, but didn’t see anything for this type of scenario (sorry if I missed it.) Thanks so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Barb, I’d bake it for an hour at home, then finish cooking/reheat (for 15-20 min) when you get to your daughter’s house. Hope that helps and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for your quick response! I can imagine it is no small task to answer all the questions you get….(an incredible number for each and every recipe!). You are always so kind and patient in taking the time to respond. Thank you, Jenn.
You’re so welcome, Barb – have a great Thanksgiving! 🙂
Hi this sounds delicious! Could I substitute my own bread cubes? Would it be 8 cups of my own bread cubes? Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hi Christine, you can definitely substitute your own bread cubes – I would suggest an Italian loaf (anything but sourdough). (And, yes, you’d need 8 cups/14 ounces.) Enjoy!
This is similar to my mom’s traditional stuffing (minus the sausage). I’ll be making yours this weekend- just curious though if the egg is necessary. I don’t think my mom normally puts one in hers.
And- ps- love, love, love all your recipes. Thank you!
Glad you like the recipes, Shannon! 🙂 The egg moistens the stuffing and holds it together, so I would recommend keeping it in there. Hope you enjoy!
Would it be possible to bake this stuffing recipe in a crockpot instead of the oven? Do you have any suggestions for doing that and would a 4 quart crock be large enough? Thank you!
Hi Joan, I don’t have a slow cooker — I’ve haven’t tried this in one so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. That said, if you want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. (And yes, it would fit in a 4-quart slow cooker.) If you try it this way, LMK how it turns out!
Hi Jenn, I love your cookbook and recipes. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us. Would this recipe work with a box of the Williams Sonoma Focaccia Stuffing seasoned stuffing and then cutting the salt and herbs in half?
Hi Mary, I’m not familiar with that product so it’s hard to say but this recipe is very flexible and forgiving, so my guess is that it will work.
I am wondering how fr in advance I can make this. Would you cook it, refrigerate and then warm up before serving?
Hi Barbara, You can go either way, but I generally assemble and refrigerate it unbaked and then bake it before serving. You can do this up to 2 days ahead. Enjoy!
My husband could not find the cubes so got the classic mix(I had shoulder surgery recently so I do not shop). He got enough for us to feed 40 people on Thanksgiving. Will the classic mix work with your recipe? It sound sdelcious.
Sure, Mary – just start by cutting the salt and herbs in half and add more to taste if necessary. Hope that helps!
Going to make this can I also add in some cornbread cubes as well? It Sounds so delicious. Cannot wait to try it, Peggy
Sure, Peggy – but I wouldn’t use too much. I’d replace just 1/4 of the bread cubes with cornbread. You might also want to check out my cornbread & sausage stuffing recipe.
If making this for someone with a dairy allergy, what would you substitute for the butter? Vegan butter, Olive oil, refined coconut oil? Does it matter?
Hi Kathryn, I think I’d opt for vegan butter but anything will work. Enjoy!
If I double this recipe, do you recommend cooking them in 2 9×13 pans or would it all fit in one pan? If one pan, do you think it will require longer cooking time? Thanks and based on the reviews, I cannot wait to try it this Thursday.
Hi Sarah, I’d use two pans — and you’ll need to increase the cooking time just a bit. Enjoy!
Going to make this stuffing this year but want to add toasted, chopped hazelnuts and looking for thoughts and quantity ideas, maybe half cup or a little more
Hi Johnny-O, I think that would be a nice addition and 2/3 cup sounds about right. Please come back and let me know how it turns out. 🙂
Hey jenn, it’s been a bit difficult trying to find a unseasoned stuffing mix. I was wondering if the recipe will still work with seasoning herb mix stuffing and do I still add the chicken stock.
Sure, Janet – I’d cut the salt and herbs in half and add more to taste, if necessary. You’ll still need the chicken broth.
How did it come out with seasoned bread? Did you adjust the herbs? Making today!
So glad this question was asked. Idk what it is but this year no one has the unseasoned here in NY and my mom in NC couldn’t even find it!
First time making Can i substitute thyme for the rosemary
Yep, that’s fine. 🙂
Hi Jenn
Love the taste of this stuffing, however, I am such a texture person and found the bread too soggy for my liking. Couldn’t find store bought bread cubes so I made my own with regular white bread using the link you recommended and maybe I did something wrong there but they did come out golden brown and dry. Do you think I could use something like a French bread stick or a more dense bread? I also substituted the celery with one cup of cubed green apple. I have always made the Silver Palate stuffing that uses an assortment of breads, but wanted to give this one a go, they are actually quite similar.
Hi Kathy, You can definitely use a denser bread but I would also cut back on the chicken broth if it’s too soggy for you. Just add the broth gradually until you’re happy with the texture. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much for your quick response Jenn. I am definitely going to give this another go and cut back on the broth because the flavour is delicious. I am also going to add some nuts next time as someone else was asking and you recommended it. Your book is an absolute delight, I have given it as gifts on many different occasions, Christmas will another one!!
☺️
Hello! This recipe looks and sounds delicious and I’m going to try it for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m a little worried that it will be too dry because I’m at a high altitude, do I need to add more chicken broth or should this be enough?
Thank you.
Hi Allison, I don’t have any experience cooking at high altitudes so, unfortunately, I don’t have any wisdom to share – I’m sorry! You may find these tips helpful though.
Ok thank you.
Hello! This stuffing looks terrific!
I have an important question. There are people in my family who don’t eat pork sausage. If I Substitute it for Turkey Sausage would the change taste big time? Any suggestions would help if I need to add more particular spices to help the taste . 😅
Hi Chris, Perfectly fine to substitute turkey sausage without any other adjustments. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi, I want to try this recipe for thanksgiving as it sounds fabulous, and I was wondering if you could give me direction on how to do this with real bread? What kind of bread do you recommend I use, and how should I “dry it out”?
Full disclosure: This will be my first time making stuffing from scratch so any advice you have I am all ears 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Jeanette, If you want to make the stuffing cubes yourself, I would use an Italian loaf (anything but sourdough). Simply cut it into small cubes and place in a single layer on a sheet pan (you may need two). Dry it out in a 250°F oven for 45 to 60 minutes. Hope that helps!
Just curious, why anything but sourdough?
Sourdough is pretty strong in flavor, and I just prefer a more neutral tasting bread for this.
Thank you!
I’m looking forward to making your recipe. Planning to double it. Would you double all ingredients? Two sticks of butter and two pounds of sausage grease seems like a lot of fat! What do you think of mixing unseasoned bread with corn bread?
On another note…. your beef stew with carrots and potatoes (made with red wine) is perefection. Thanks for sharing your talent!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Greta, Yes you would double all of the ingredients. I know it seems like a lot of fat but the recipe makes a lot. I haven’t tried this recipe with cornbread but it should work if you want to mix in a bit — maybe just sub 1/4 of the bread with it.
Hello Jenn,
Thank you for sharing your recipe and I plan on making it for my family’s Thanksgiving lunch. Can you suggest an alternative to the store bought bread cubes, such as toasted Italian or French bread? If so, approximately how much should I prepare?
Maryanne
Hi Maryanne, An Italian or French loaf (anything but sourdough) will both work. Enjoy!
Jenn,
What do you think the best way to cut this recipe in half? We are having so many other sides that I do not need to have the whole recipe. I made it last year and it was wonderful but need a little less this time.
Hi Carol, You can just cut all of the ingredients in half (just use the whole egg if you don’t want to bother halving it) and bake in a 2-qt (or 8-in square) pan. Hope you enjoy!
Make the whole thing, take out half for your dinner, and then freeze the rest in sizes to fit your need for “just you’ dinners 🥰! It will be deliciously waiting for you!
Hi Jenn! If you cut the recipe in half would the cooking time change?
Thanks!
No, Sandy, it should be about the same. Enjoy!
This is the first time making this recipe I was wondering can u use green onions instead of yellow
I’d stick with yellow onions here, Walter. Sorry!
Can I make the stuffing ahead of time, up to the point of cooking it in the oven and then just refrigerate for a day, then cook it? Will it come out the same?
Yes and yes. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Should the raw egg be in the mix before it is cooked? I am making my stuffing a day ahead of time and was a little concerned about this.
Yes, Elle – it should be added raw. It will be fine. 🙂
I saw another recipe that suggests adding white wine to stiffing do you think it would taste good if I put it in this recipe?
Sure, I’d go with about 1/2 cup and add it after the garlic cooks, then let it reduce by half. Please lmk how it turns out!
I can’t find sweet Italian sausages but I can replace it with chicken sausage . What flavor of chicken sausage should I use ?
Yes, Janet, chicken sausage will work here. Any flavor that you enjoy will work.
Hello! Have you ever tried to make this gluten free? If so, would you just substitute gluten free stuffing cubes? Also, can you make the stuffing without onions?
Hi Alexis, I haven’t tried this with gluten-free stuffing cubes, but I think it should work. And I think the onions add a lot of flavor, but that they could be omitted. If you don’t mind the taste of onion, I’d suggest adding about 1.5 Tbsp. onion powder along with the salt and pepper. Also, feel free to add an additional cup of celery to fill the onion “void.” Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jenn!
You’ve been my go-to site for recipes that I had to get your cookbook! I am also going to use your recipes for Thanksgiving as well and wanted to know if this can be assembled the day before then placed in the fridge overnight. If so, if there anything additional I need to add to the stuffing (ie. Chicken broth or butter)? And I’m guessing the cooking time may be longer as well?
Thanks for the amazing recipes!! Keep them coming!
Tamara
Hi Tamara, so glad you like the recipes (and thanks for purchasing the cookbook)! ❤️
You can definitely assemble this a day ahead and refrigerate with no modifications needed. It may take a hair longer in the oven, but the difference won’t be significant. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Jen,
Just a clarification. Are you saying make it all and place in the buttered dish, do not bake, cover it and put it in fridge. Next day, warm to room temperature and cook 350 for 65-75 min or make it day before and bake day before. Cool and refrigerate and then reheat at 325 until hot?
Hi Sarah, you really can go either way here, but typically when I’ve made it in advance, I’ve assembled and refrigerated it and then baked it before serving. Hope that clarifies!
Can I bake this at 400? Everything else is being baked at 400 and wanna make my life easier. Thanks!
Sure, Tabytha – that’s fine.
This sounds perfect. However, my family likes Rachel Ray’s method of “stuffin’ muffins” made in muffin tins. I’m guessing this should work fine just shorter cooking time?
Yep!
Hi, this looks fantastic! Do you think a bit of dried cranberries would be a good addition? Thanks!
Definitely!
Can I use seasoned stuffing mix instead of plain? If yes, how do I modify the recipe so it’s not salty ?
Sure, Wendy – just cut the salt and herbs in half and then taste before baking. If it needs more of either, add to taste.
This recipe looks amazing and I’m planning on cooking it for Thanksgiving. I wanted to cook it along with my turkey, which will be baking at 325 degrees. Can this stuffing be cooked at 325 degrees and if so, will the length of time be longer?
Hi Kim, Yes and yes. 🙂 I’d start checking at 80 minutes.
This looks delicious but my family doesn’t eat sausage and some family members are vegetarian. Have you made this without the sausage and did it work? Any suggested replacements?
Hi Sarah, this recipe kind of screams for the sausage as it adds a ton of flavor. So you may want to check out this this recipe instead.
Hi there. Your recipe looks wonderful and think I might try for T day. I love mushrooms and would like to add them in to this, do you think this would taste ok? If so, how many mushrooms would I add to recipe you have here?
Thank you for sharing.
Hi Michelle, I think mushrooms would be a nice addition here! I’d suggest about a cup of diced mushrooms and I’d saute them along with the other veggies. Hope you enjoy!
Could I use minced garlic instead of whole garlic cloves?
Sure, Tina, that will work. Enjoy!
Second year in a row making this and got amazing reviews for last weekend’s Friendsgiving!
I followed recipe exactly except: (1) I inadvertently ended up with regular chicken broth vs low sodium. Per your suggestion, I cut the salt about in half (I used kosher salt) and it was fine, (2) I dotted about 2T cubed unsalted butter on top before baking, (3) I covered tightly with foil first 30 minutes, baked uncovered last 40 minutes (I don’t like ‘crispy’ stuffing), and (4) I used mild italian sausage instead of sweet.
I used the Pepperidge Farm Unseasoned Stuffing Cubes (weighed out 14 ounces) and assembled the enire thing the night before. This recipe is so easy and such a crowd pleaser; I will never use another stuffing recipe again. Thank you!
Hi Jenn,
I’m reheating my turkey on Thanksgiving day at 250 to 300 degrees. Can I pre-cook the stuffing the day before and then reheat with the turkey in the oven at the same time? How long should the stuffing be reheated at 250 or 300 degrees? I don’t want it to be dry. Thanks!
Sure, Julie – I’m guessing it will take 35 to 40 minutes at 300.
Hi, if I doubled the recipe, how would the cook time differ? Thank you!
Hi Diana, It should take about 10 minutes longer to bake. Hope that helps!
I brought this to a pot luck and got rave reviews. This year I plan to serve it with my Thanksgiving dinner. However, I have one oven and a very large turkey, so its not going to be possible to cook the stuffing and the turkey at the same time. Would it be better to reheat the cooked stuffing while the turkey rests or keep it warm in a slow cooker? Is cooking it in a roaster oven an option?
By the way, I love your book!
Hi Julie, Glad you like the book! 🙂 I think it’s best to reheat the stuffing while the turkey rests – the timing should work out perfectly. By cooking it in a roaster, do you mean cook it with the turkey?
Hi Jen, thanks for your reply. By a roaster I mean a counter top roasting oven.
Hi Julie, I’ve never used a roasting oven, but I think it should work. (This recipe is pretty forgiving.) Hope you enjoy!
Hey Ms. Segal, can I use chicken stock instead of broth? Thanks!
Sure, Luke. 🙂
Ms. Segal, my mother and I are making this for thanksgiving. Thank you for making and posting this recipe. I was wondering if I could use chicken stock instead of broth? Also, after the vegetables are done, should I pat them dry from the butter? Or should add everything to the bread cubes? Thank you!!
Sure, Luke, chicken stock will work. There is no need the pat the veggies dry – just go ahead and add everything to the bread cubes. Hope it turns out well! 🙂
can I freeze it without cooking until thanksgiving day?
Sure, Edna – that’s fine.
Hello Jen, just came across your stuffing recipe. Looks so good and I can almost taste it! Can this recipe be made in a slow cooker? Have a Friends-giving to go to and would like to keep stuffing warm while the oven is being used. Thanks
Hi Tracy, I’ve haven’t tried this in a slow cooker so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. That said, if you want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. If you try it this way, LMK how it turns out!
Hi,
This recipe looks delicious and will be my first time making this. I cannot seem to find the cubed bread crumbs in my area. Can I use a regular white loaf of bread and cut it into cubes myself?
Hi Nicole, Sure! I would suggest an Italian loaf if you can find it (anything but sourdough will work). Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
First of all, you are my favorite place to come for recipes. They never disappoint!
Have you ever tried this recipe with the prepackaged cornbread stuffing? I want to make an easy cornbread stuffing so I thought I’d alter this and use a bag of that instead of regular. What do you think?
Hi Danielle, I haven’t tried it but think it’d work fine. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it that way. 🙂
For make-ahead, is it better to bake and reheat or assemble, refrigerate overnight and then bake?
You really can go either way here, Sue, but I’ve generally assembled and refrigerated it and then baked it before serving. Hope you enjoy!
I can hardly wait to make this recipe. Although it is the middle of summer, at my age , and with an overcrowded brain I have to ask questions immediately lest I forget. I would love to stuff the turkey with part of this stuffing but have read that it can be unsafe bacteria wise. What is your opinion on this
I agree with what you’ve read, Carole – I do not recommend stuffing a turkey. I also think the stuffing is more delicious baked separately, as it doesn’t get soggy. Hope that helps!
I have always followed my mom’s recipe getting up very, very early in the a.m., preparing a basic bread stuffing, then stuffing the turkey and putting it in the oven for outstanding results. This past New Years Eve, I was hosting my husband’s extended family with 3 big turkeys… time to check out Jenn’s recipes! I made 2 of the turkeys the day before following Jenn’s high heat/Safeway suggestion with excellent results. While the 2nd turkey was cooking, I doubled this easy recipe (actually very close to Mom’s with the addition of sausage), substituting Argentinian sausage for the Italian (great flavor) and using a multi-grain bread instead of cubes. Baked it as soon as the 2nd turkey came out of the oven. Homemade Gravy? Yep…Jenn’s recipe!! Next day, only 1 turkey to cook (again the high heat method) so no need to get up at the crack of dawn and easy reheating following Jenn’s instructions. The dinner was outstanding with rave reviews! Thanks Jenn for this wonderful website!!!
the addition to the sausage stuffing recipe.would be simply to add either a cup of cranraisins or rainsins. it adds to sweet taste.
What a great recipe I made this for 20 people and not a single left over I would recommend this to everybody
If I were to use dried herbs, what would the amounts be? I know dried are supposed to be more intense flavor?? I’m looking forward to how this turns out- looks delicious 🙂 Merry Christmas
Hi Melissa, Yes that’s correct. You should use 1/3 the amount of dried herbs. Hope that helps!
Can’t wait to try! Question. I have a few guests that are sensitive to fennel. Can I substitute breakfast pork sausage? If so, regular, hot, or sage sausage?
THANK YOU!!
Sure, Drew – that’ll work. 🙂
Thank you!!!!!
Hi Jenn,
If I omit the sausage will it change the recipe dramatically? If not, would I have to adjust the seasonings at all?
Thank You!
Hi Joy, Unfortunately, I don’t think this recipe will work without the sausage. Sorry! You might like this recipe instead.
Hi Jenn,
I wanted to make this stuffing for Christmas Eve dinner and I had a question. If I omitted the sausage (I will have some vegetarian guests) will I have to adjust the seasonings at all. If so, what would the adjustments be?
Thank you!
Hi Joy, This recipe is really centered on the sausage and all the flavor it adds, so I’d recommend using a different recipe for a vegetarian stuffing. This one is wonderful.
Hi Jenn,
Are the stuffing cubes dry like croutons, or fresh? Stuffing cubes here are usually fresh, sold in the bakery section.
Thank you,
Hi Debbie, For this recipe they are dry like croutons. If you buy fresh, you can always dry them out in the oven.
Can you make it, bake it, refrigerate it, then warm it in a stereo tray????
Hi Rikilynn, I’m not sure what a stereo tray is – did you mean over sterno?
I made prepped this stuffing the day before Thanksgiving and refrigerated it (uncooked)overnight. I was worried it would be too soggy or too dry by the next day but it turned out perfect and took a lot of prep off my plate on the big day. Just popped it in the oven an hour before meal time. Try it!
Ok, so this recipe is absolutely wonderful. I made it exactly as specified with the exception of using dried parsley for fresh, since I had a “cheap moment” in the grocery store. We all loved it. I so enjoyed watching my family and friends’ eyes widen as they tasted how good this was. My daughter loves stuffing so she was a little concerned when I told her I was trying a new recipe. She loved it… no worries!! So good and very easy!
Making stuffing for the first time seemed like a daunting task for me going into it, but this recipe was very simple to follow and the result was amazing. I literally couldn’t have gotten more compliments at the office when I took this in for our department Thanksgiving lunch. My favorite thing about these recipes is the attention to quality ingredients and this stuffing was no different. I swear I woke up the morning after making this expecting the Thanksgiving Day parade to be on the television…the herbs and sausage in this recipe made the house smell heavenly!
This stuffing recipe is hands down one of my favorite. I have tried a new stuffing every thanksgiving and nothing compares to this one. MUST MAKE! Made it in the morning and reheated it for Thanksgiving Dinner and it was perfectly moist and delicious.
Sounds great! Can this stuffing be used unbaked to stuff a pork loin? Also, would I still need to use the egg?
Yes and yes 🙂
I know you said you can reheat at 325 degrees but can you cook it (the first time) on 325 because my turkey has to cook at 325. If so, how long do you suggest
Sure, it should take longer but not significantly; I’d check it for doneness at 75 – 80 minutes. Enjoy!
Can this stuffing be cooked in bird? How so?
Hi Charnel, Plenty of people do cook stuffing in the turkey, but it will be mushy if you cook it inside the bird. I definitely prefer it baked separately in the oven which makes it crisp and toasty on top. That said, if you do want to cook this inside the turkey, I’d suggest reducing the broth by about 1/2 cup because the turkey will add moisture to it.
I have been using this recipe for 5 years now and won’t use any other recipe. This is the most delicious stuffing ever!!! I never make any changes to the recipe and I never have any left-over stuffing after Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Made this dressing for Thanksgiving last week and it was so easy and so delicious! I omitted the celery (hubby hates it), but I threw in some extra leeks that I had on hand. Wonderful! In fact, my Thanksgiving menu was almost all courtesy of your recipes and everything was devoured heartily 🙂
I made this for Thanksgiving & everyone loved it! I used larger sized bread cubes this year. Yummy & easy!
Easy sausage and herb stuffing was just the right old fashioned flavor I needed for my contribution to the family Thanksgiving. Everyone expects something wonderful from Grandma’s kitchen and this dish fulfilled everyone’s wishes. The fresh herbs appealed to modern tastes.
I have made this recipe numerous times. I’ve made it without the sausage, with the sausage and with seasoned stuffing cubes (picked up the wrong stuffing cubes). It came out perfect every time. This is my go to recipe for stuffing. I’ve also made other recipes and all have turned out amazing. I can’t wait to buy your new cookbook! Thank you Jen!
Hi Susan, when you made the stuffing without sausage did you adjust the amount of seasonings used?
-Joy Temple on December 19, 2017
I would not alter this recipe. My advice is to stick to the recipe as published since this recipe can be easily ruined by too much sodium. Use the low sodium broth as she suggests and the exact amount of salt. This stuffing was perfectly delicious!
I don’t know what happened – last year I made this and it was perfect…this year for some reason the flavors were too strong – too much sausage, too much sage. I’m thinking maybe I miscalculated the amount of stuffing cubes? Last year I used a 12 oz bag and eyeballed the rest, this year I actually measured out the 8 cups. I think it could have used more cubes to even out the taste. Will try again, of course, because it was so good last year.
Hi Sheri, Did you by chance use seasoned stuffing cubes instead of unseasoned?
I just made this tonight. I had celery but my husband threw it out the night before! We used fennel stalks and a granny smith apple and it was fantastic. I ended up buying a bag of Franz croutons with a stuffing seasoning packet, then throwing out the packet. I couldn’t find any other unseasoned cubes. This was so great, I’d make it again and again, no holiday required!
First words out of my huband’s mouth when he tasted this “Oh my.” Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
Fantastic! I used everything straight from the recipe. I won’t change a thing the next time I make it! (And there WILL be a next time!) Perfect just as is.
I made several mistakes—and embarrassed as I am to admit them, I will share them to spare others a failure like mine. First, I used already “seasoned” cubes. Then, I used regular chicken broth, not low-sodium as the recipe indicated. Next, I used a “mild” Latin American sausage that is closer in flavor to chorizo than it is to Italian sausage. Finally, instead of exercising restrain with the salt and tasting to see what MY changes had done to the overall recipe, I added the full amount as listed. The results: a gorgeous-looking pan of stuffing that had amazing texture and smelled divine, but was inedible because of its saltiness. USER ERROR!
ALL MY FAULT! It would be unfair to rate the recipe after I changed so many things and ruined it, so I will make it again for New Year’s dinner and come back with a fair review. The recipes on this site have never failed me, so I expect to have great results next time.
We had this stuffing for Thanksgiving and it was fabulous!
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving today and it was a huge hit, everyone loved it and it was definitely our favorite dish of the night! I have a family member with an egg allergy so I left out the egg and added just a bit more stock and it still came out plenty moist and delicious. Thanks for the great recipe, I will be making this one year after year.
I made this for Thanksgiving and loved it! I used Pepperidge Farm Unseasoned Stuffing cubes, assembled the entire casserole Wednesday night, refrigerated overnight, and baked Thursday. The only thing I did differently was before I baked it, I dotted the top with about 2T cubed butter. I also covered with foil for the first 30 minutes of baking, and baked it uncovered for the remaining 40 minutes.
This turned out perfect! I went for the spicy Italian sausage and it was a hit! Thanks for this recipe, it will be my tradition.
Excellent. Loved by all and very tasty. I used gluten-free stuffing cubes from Whole Foods, ground pork, turkey stock and a little extra on the spices. It turned out great! Thank you!
Did not like this recipe at all. Too much sage. The sausage made itspicier than expected.
I have to pack several meals to go so I’d like to bake this in muffin tins. How much time would you recommend? Regular size muffin tins.
Thank you,
Jamie
Hi Jamie, I think you could get away with muffin tins for the stuffing. I’ve never baked these that way, so I’m not sure how long it will take — I’d start checking them at about 15 minutes (but keep an eye on them)!
I too bought seasoned cubes. You mentioned omitting salt and sage. Would chicken broth that’s 33% less sodium still be too salty?
Hi Sharon, No worries – I think the chicken broth will be just fine. You may still even need some salt; just season to taste. Happy Thanksgiving!
I only have 12oz of stuffing. How big of a deal is that?
It should work fine, but I’d cut the broth back to 2 cups. Enjoy!
It says 8 cups or 14 ounces but those are much different. Is it 8 cups or 14 ounces? Thanks for your help!
Hi Leann, It’s always best to go by weight. I use the 12-oz Pepperidge Farm stuffing bags; each one measures about 7 cups so I use a little more than one bag.
Hi Leann,
Ounces are both a unit of volume and weight. In the case when someone sees the unit “cup,” which is a measure of volume, next to an ounce equivalent, it can be construed that you are referring to ounces in volume rather than weight. You may want to qualify this in the recipe above to avoid future confusion.
Hi ,
I an to make this for a side dish but i am bringing it to a house thats serving dinner. Can i cook it the night before and frigderate it then reheat? How should i plan that ?
Thanks,
K
Sure, Kara – see the reheating instructions at the end of the recipe. Hope everyone enjoys it!
Can this be made with Italian sweet TURKEY sausage instead of pork? If so, would any adjustments be needed?
Sure, Karen – I don’t think you’ll need to make any adjustments but just be sure check the seasoning before baking.
Can i prepare this the night before and refrigerate….cook the morning of thanksgiving?
Yep, definitely!
I’m thinking of swapping out the Rosemary for thyme. Should I do the same amount? Also, if I dried my own bread cubes, would a 16 oz loaf give me about 14 oz dried?
Yes and yes – Hope you enjoy! 🙂
I’ve been making this for several years now and it’s one of the best ever. The first year I made “as is” but since then I’ve added apples and pecans, made my own bread cubes (sourdough, challah, a mix of both) … it’s the kind of recipe that you can be creative with in a variety of ways. Thank you — !!
Can this be made the day before?
Definitely – hope you enjoy!
Will this recipe work well if I substitute fresh oysters for the sausage? Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Carol, I think oysters would be nice here. You may need add more seasoning to the dish though because the sausage has a lot of flavor. Hope you enjoy!
Would this recipe be good if substituted with cornbread?
Yes, Jane, I think it would work. I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Would this receipe be enough to stuff two 16 lb turkeys? Or should I double it?
Hi Sandy, Unfortunately, I really don’t know how much stuffing you’d need to stuff two 16 pound turkeys; but keep in mind that a 9 x 13 pan (like the one called for in this recipe) holds 14 cups. If you’re uncertain that will be enough, you could always double the recipe and just bake whatever doesn’t fit in the turkey in a separate baking dish. BTW, I’d just reduce the broth for the stuffing by about 1/2 cup so the stuffing isn’t too soggy (the turkey’s cavity will add moisture to the stuffing).
Thank you! I guess after reading my question what I really needed to know was how much this makes. Thank you for clarifying this.
I love dried cranberries in my stuffing. How much would you recommend for this recipe ?
Thank you I’m going to make this today.
Best regards and happy holidays
Feliciana
HI Feliciana, I’d suggest 1/4 – 1/2 cup of dried cranberries. Hope you enjoy and happy Thanksgiving!
I couldn’t find unseasoned cubed stuffing. Bought Pepperidge farm country style with “select seasonings”. Should I still use the same amount of fresh herbs in your recipe?
Hi Kerry, the seasoned stuffing will work; just omit the salt and sage and season to taste. Hope you enjoy!
Can I bake it covered with foil and uncover last 20 to 30 min to crisp top. I’m thinking it would be real dry if I bake uncovered the whole time?
Hi Debbie, You could but I promise it isn’t dry when cooked according to the recipe. 🙂
Can I add sage, cranberries, and apples to this?
Yes, yes, and yes 🙂
Hi I want to make this but would like to add chopped spinach and plus I have half Italian mild and half Italian hot. Also would
Like to add ground beef. I accidentally bought the herb seasoned bread cubes. Do you think this combo will be good?
Hi Carolyn, I think the chopped spinach would be fine, using the half mild and half spicy sausage would work, and adding ground beef would work as well. Typically, if you’re adding something like ground beef, I’d say you should add more seasonings as ground beef doesn’t have much flavor on it’s own. But… because you’ve got the seasoned bread cubes, that should balance everything out. Hope you enjoy!
I need to double this stuffing recipe, would you recommend using a bigger pan or just using two seperate pans?
Hi Julie, I’d use two separate pans. Hope you enjoy it!
We can’t buy stuffing bread cubes where I live. Are croutons considered the same thing? Or should I dry my own bread?
Hi Lisa, Since croutons are often cooked in some sort of fat, they aren’t quite the same as stuffing cubes. You can definitely just dry your own bread — I recommend this method.
Hello,
I am going to try to make your sausage stuffing recipe for the first time. My question is can I prepare the stuffing ahead of time and then bake it later at moms.
Thank you
Sure, Walter – you can prepare it up to two days ahead. Happy Thanksgiving!
Do you add use the grease from the sausage?
Hi Scott, yes and thanks for catching that – I will update the recipe.
It was a huge hit! Thanks for the recipe👍🏻
Hi! I made this dish last weekend for a Friendsgiving and it was a hit! I’m planning to make it again for thanksgiving. My question is my father loves more moist “dressings.” Is it possible to add a bit more liquid to this recipe to accomplish that? Thanks for a great recipe!!!
Sure, Rachel – it won’t hurt. Glad it was a hit!
good recipe
Hi Jen,
Can I use dry herb replace fresh, if I can, how many should I use ?
Hi Polly, You can use dried sage and rosemary (1 teaspoon each) but you’ll need fresh parsley.
Thanks for the recipe. I am new to this. How would I add the stuffing into the bird? Or should I keep separate? Thanks!!
Hi Megan, If you like your stuffing a little drier, I’d use a baking dish. If you don’t mind it being moist, you can bake it in the turkey. (I’d reduce the broth in the stuffing recipe by about 1/2 cup to compensate for the moisture the turkey will add.) If you do put it in the turkey, don’t overstuff it or it will be too dense. There is both a big cavity and a much smaller (neck) cavity that you can put the stuffing into. If you have extra stuffing, put that in a separate baking dish. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to keep the stuffing in (and the turkey will cook more evenly that way). Hope that helps!
Is it ok to assemble and bake 2 days later even with the raw eggs?
Hi Tara, Yes that’s fine.
HI this recipe looks great! I want to make it the day ahead and refrigerate uncooked, but am worried about the bread getting soggy. If I bake it completely, I worry about it being dry if I reheat it on thanksgiving! What is best?
Also, my mother used both beef and sausage. Would it matter much if I added 1 lb ground beef? Just asking.
Hi Rose, Either will work, but if you have the oven space, I’d prepare it ahead and bake on Thanksgiving day. I promise it won’t get soggy! And I think it’s fine to add ground beef; just keep in mind that you’ll need to increase the seasonings. Hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi! Is the cook time the same in a metal dish?
Yep!
Sorry for the stupid question, I’m pretty new to Thanksgiving and preparing in advance. If I refrigerate it, do I bake it for the same amount of time and at the same temperature when I take it out of the fridge?
Hi Sara – not a stupid question at all! You’re right that it will take a little longer to cook cold out of the fridge. Count on an additional 5 minutes or so. Happy Thanksgiving!
Can I use a slow cooker? if yes, how long and what heat, high or low should I use? recipe looks great. cant wait to try it.
Hi Dorthea, I’ve haven’t tried this in a slow cooker so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. That said, if you want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. If you try it this way, LMK how it turns out!
My family isn’t a big celery fan, would it be a bad decision to substitute the celery with a peeled honeycrisp apple?
Not at all, Kaylie – I love that idea. Please lmk how it turns out!
Complete success!! Every year my sister makes an out of this world dish with sweet potatoes and bacon, but I think I finally found a contender for the family’s favorite dish with this stuffing. I made it with 2 honey crisp apples in place of the celery and it was perfect. I bought “fresh” bread from Stop & Shop. It was in small rectangular pieces and only 12 oz, but I followed advice from another review not to purchase the additional bag and I think the 12 oz worked fine. Everyone loved it and named it as their favorite dish of the night! I didn’t even have leftovers, it was devoured with seconds and thirds. I was asked to make this every holiday and in between. Thank you for this one, such a hit!
So glad it was a hit — thanks for the follow-up!!
For those who don’t like celery, you can just “zap” the called for celery in a food processor so it is well “smushed”, then continue with the recipe…wonderful flavor, can’t find any celery chunks! 🤪
Hi, I really want to make this but suffer from IBS .. I can’t have most breads but sourdough is fine. Could I cut a sourdough loaf into cubes to use instead?
Sure, Emma – I think that’d be fine. Happy Thanksgiving!
I have not made this stuffing previously and would like to increase to feed 12-14 people. Could you advise of the measurement increases in the recipe. Thanks
Hi Joni, for 12 – 14 people, I’d suggest making 1 1/2 times the recipe. Hope everyone enjoys!
Hi. I made this last year and loved it. Since then, I started only using Earth Balance “butter”. Do you think I can use that with this stuffing recipe? Thanks!
Hi Marla, I think it’s better with real butter but Earth Balance will work too if that’s the only option. Hope that helps!
Made this in advance for friendsgiving tomorrow, looked and smelled like it is going to be delicious! My one concern is that the top is already a little extra crispy/ borderline burnt. Is there anything I should do to prevent burning it when I reheat it?
Hi Sam, Just cover tightly with foil – should be fine. Happy Friendsgiving!
Hello! I am excited to try this recipe. I’ve only made stuffing once before (with apples and dried cranberries) and although it tasted good, it was dry dry DRY. It disassembled on everyone’s plates. I’m nervous if I prepare the dish on Wednesday night and bake it Thursday, it’s going to be dry. Also, is it bad to use regular chicken broth rather than low sodium? (I bought the wrong one but don’t want it to be overly salty).
Hi Stephanie, It shouldn’t be dry if made ahead. And it’s fine to use regular chicken broth; I’d just cut the salt back to 1/4 teaspoon and then season to taste. Hope you enjoy it!
Jenn,
Just made this stuffing. Can I freeze it unbaked and then thaw and bake Thanksgiving day? It already tastes great. Thanks
Sure, Linda – it should freeze well.
I have guests who don’t eat pork. Do you think I could make this with a poultry sausage?
Sure, Jen – any type of sausage will work well.
Making your stuffing recipe. Big mistake. I bought herb seasoned stuffing. (not cubes) will this work or do i need to get cubes?
Hi Phyllis, No worries – just omit the salt and sage and season to taste.
Hi there. I can’t find unseasoned stuffing cubes.Should I change any of the ingredients if I am using seasoned stuffing cubes. And I don’t plan on using sausage. Thank you very much for all your great recipes!
Hi Rose, Just cut back on the added salt (add it to taste) and omit the sage. Enjoy!
Thanks for previous reply. Just curious, why omit the sage? Thanks!
Hi Rose, Most seasoned stuffing cubes are already flavored with sage. 🙂
I always make everything but the Turkey and the mashed potatoes in advance, and freeze the dishes, including the dressing, which turns out fine. I am thinking of trying your recipe this year, but do not want to refrigerate (space issues). I’m assuming freezing will still be okay?
Thanks so much.
Yep 🙂
I’m stuffing and cooking a turkey for the first time this Thanksgiving. Can I use this same recipe as a turkey stuffing instead of serving in a baking dish? If so, what do I do differently in terms of cooking it and keeping it moist in the turkey?
Hi Dana, Yes, you can stuff a turkey with this; While it depends upon how moist you like your stuffing, I’d suggest reducing the broth by about 1/2 cup since the juices from the turkey will add quite a bit of moisture. Enjoy!
I made this last year and my family loved it. This year I would like to try using this to stuff my turkey, however I never stuffed a turkey before.
Do I need to make any adjustments to this recipe of using to stuff a turkey with?
Hi Jessica, I’d probably reduce the broth by about 1/2 cup since the juices from the bird will add quite a bit of moisture. Hope that helps and please lmk how it turns out!
Hi Jenn,
Would this be good with dried cherries and diced apples? If so, how much would recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Katy, I think it’d be delicious – I’d start with one large apple and a cup of dried cherries. Please come back and lmk how it turns out if you try it that way. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. Do you think it’s possible to make two days in advance (fully assembled but not baked?) or better to make the day of (one day in advace isn’t an option). Thanks!!
Hi Rachel, you can get away with assembling it two days in advance and baking it on Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
I have a son who is highly allergic to eggs. Can i make this without the egg? Thank you in advance.
Hi Sarah, The egg moistens the stuffing and holds it together, but it will still be good without it. No adjustments necessary. Enjoy!
You might try a flax meal egg substitute in this case – mix 1T ground flax meal mixed with 3T water, and let sit for a few minutes before adding to your recipe. It has a binding effect similar to egg and adds moisture. I haven’t tried it in this recipe but I’ve used it plenty and it seems like it would work well here!
Looks delish! I want to add chestnuts (jarred). Will I need to adjust the measurements in the broth or seasoning? Also, what do you think of using Al Fresco apple, maple chicken sausage?
You could add chestnuts here without any additional adjustments. And I’d recommend sticking with the bulk Italian sausage here; the fat from the sausage adds flavor and moisture to the dish. Hope you enjoy!
Could this be cooked in a slow cooker?
Hi Michelle, I’ve haven’t tried this in a slow cooker (I never use a slow cooker) so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. That said, if you want to give it a try, here are some conversion tips that may help. If you try it this way, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I made this last year and my family loved it! For this year though, I was thinking about using homemade bread for the bread cubes. What kind of bread would you recommend and how would I dry it out? Could I do this the day before I assemble it?
Hi Haley, Glad your family enjoyed the stuffing! I’d suggest a basic French or Italian bread for this. And to let it dry out, dice it into small cubes and let it sit out on the counter until it reaches a crunchy texture. Enjoy!
So does anybody know how much you needed to stuff a turkey? Did it need to be doubled for a 20lbs turkey or not? Thank you
Hi Sheila, I’m not certain how much stuffing you’d need for that size turkey, but keep in mind that a 9 x 13 pan (like the one called for in this recipe) holds 14 cups. If you’re uncertain that will be enough, you could always make 1 1/2 or 2 times the recipe and just bake whatever doesn’t fit in the turkey in a separate baking dish. BTW, I’d just reduce the broth for the stuffing by about 1/2 cup so the stuffing isn’t too soggy.
This was absolutely AMAZING! My husband declared it was not only the best STUFFING he had eaten had but the best THING he had ever eaten. I prepared it two days in advance and baked it the day of. This is a keeper recipe that I will be making again and again. Thank you!
Love this recipe!
This recipe is GREAT! What made it exceptional…..I used an Italian loaf and made the bread stuffing cubes from that. ALSO…I let it sit prepared ready to cook in the fridge overnight.
What is the easiest way to prepare this the night before without ruining anything?
Thank You!
Hi Whitney, If you’d like to prepare this ahead, you can either assemble & refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it — or fully prepare and refrigerate it. To reheat, cover with foil and place in a 325°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until hot.
Will the bread get too soggy if you prepare it a day ahead before baking?
No– that’s perfectly fine. Hope you enjoy!
SOOOO delicious, we couldn’t stop eating it. I used dry herbs because I didn’t have fresh on hand, and also used artisan bread cubes for something different. I will probably use this recipe for the rest of my life, as we love sausage and bread!
What would the measurements be for dry herbs?
Thanks!
The rule of thumb is to use 1/3 of the herbs called for when using dried, so for this recipe, I’d use 1 tsp. each of rosemary and sage and about 1 1/2 Tbsp. of the parsley.
This is the most tastiest stuffing ever. I sent the link to my daughter and she made it for her family, and they all raved over it.
This is my go to for Thansgiving!!!
I am a busy mom and lawyer and never write reviews. But I felt compelled to write one for this recipe. This is the best stuffing EVER! I served it for Christmas Eve and my family was fighting over who got the last bites of it. Everyone wanted the recipe! Thank you!
How many cups are in a 300 gram bag of bread cubes
Hi Anne, It will vary depending on the bread but I’d say between 5 to 6 cups.
Hi. I have seasoned bread cubes(sage and onion). What modifications should I make? Also I have mild Italian sausage not sweet is this ok?
Hi Michelle, The sausage will work great. So will the bread cubes – just omit the sage and cut back on the salt by half (you can always add more to taste if necessary).
Hi. I don’t have sweet Italian sausage just mild sausage. Is this ok? Also I have seasoned bread cubes( sage and onion). What modifications should I make with these cubs?
Can I use regular bread crumbs for the sausage stuffing?
Hi Margaret, I think you’ll get the best results with bread cubes instead of bread crumbs– sorry!
Confirming you don’t cook the stuffing cubes just mix the ingredients together before putting it into a baking dish?
Yep, they are already dried.
Wow! This is a seriously tasty stuffing and no one guess the bread cubes come from a bag! I cooked the sausage the day before for easier prep. The stuffing passed the approval by my mother law in law which is no easy feat. I will never stress out over fresh made stuffing again!
Made this a couple weeks ago for Thanksgiving. It was my first time making stuffing and this recipe was easy to follow and turned out delicious. I added a small amount of diced walnuts and pecans, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. This stuffing was a huge hit with my family. Thanks for the recipe!
It was so good for Thanksgiving that I’m cooking it again now to have for lunches during the week 🙂
Used this recipe for thanksgiving last week and it was delicious! Made it following the directions with no tweaks. Another great recipe!
I made this for Thanksgiving 2016 and it was a huge hit. This was my first time making stuffing and the recipe was very easy to follow. I prepped it the night before, cooked it for an hour on Thanksgiving day and ended up having to reheat it in the oven for 20mins prior to the meal. I used one full bag and about 1/4 cup of stuffing cubes but I probably would have been fine with just the one bag. I will now be using this recipe every year.
I made this for Thanksgiving this year and it was delicious. The only thing I added to the recipe was two diced apples, which I sauteed with the celery and onions. Other than that I followed it as written and everyone loved it.
This is what I did too! Added a finely chopped Granny Smith apple. Thanks for the suggestion it took it to a new level. Perfect recipe!
This is the second year I made this for Thanksgiving and it’s a huge hit. So easy to make! I doubled the recipe (two separate pans), prepped it on Wednesday, and baked it on Thursday – perfect! Thinking about adding mushrooms next time for a little variety.
Hello
How many people does this recipe serve?
Thank you
Christine
Hi Christine, It serves between 8 and 10 depending upon how large you cut the pieces.
This stuffing was my family’s favorite part of our very tasty Thanksgiving dinner!
Thanks for a great recipe! I substituted hot Italian sausage for sweet and it was so good that way too!
Great! We loved it! Making it again for our second family get together on Saturday.
Horrible!!! Completely ruin the thanksgiving dinner
Sorry to hear it but hard to imagine as I’ve been making this stuffing for years (which everyone loves) and this is a good, accurate recipe. Hope it didn’t really ruin the dinner and you nevertheless enjoyed the day!
Oh and ofcourse. Happy Thanksgiving ??? ?
Hello. I made this last night and getting ready to cook now. I forgot to include butter at the bottom of the dish. Will that have an effect on the cooking or it sticking to the bottom of my glassware dish?
It may stick a little, Ajac, but it will be okay. Enjoy!
Maybe I missed it, what temperature of the oven?
Thank you,
Sandi
Hi Sasha, the stuffing gets baked at 350°F. Enjoy!
I love the way you lay out the steps in picture form, with captions. I am visual, and for me, your way of describing a recipe is the best I’ve ever seen. I can grasp the whole thing in my mind in no time at all. And i love that you show the ingredients in the very first pic. Why doesn’t everyone do this??? Keep up the good work, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Marian! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Just put his together and stuffed my turkey! Jenn it looks delicious !! I can’t wait to try it ….I did add some cut up granny smith apple to it also …
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving !!
The store nearby in the mountains ran out of sage and rosemary… will it still taste okay without it?
Hi Caleb, It will be fine. Feel free to add some dried thyme or sage if you have any in your spice cabinet.
I just made this recipe!!! I live in Italy and just bought sausage that looked like the one in the picture. I also used Focaccia classica bread and broke it up as we dont have the bagged bread bits here. It was delicious!! Grazie
Good morning I just made this recipe and added cut up hot links with the cooked sausage. I have doubled the recipe I,m expecting a big crowd.my question .I mixed all the ingredients together and put them in a baking tray and covered if with Saran Wrap and put it in the refrigerator.Is that okay to leave there and bake let later today? It taste yummy not even cooked.I,ll bet it will be a hit
Yes, that will be fine. Happy Thanksgiving!
Can I prepare this tonight and bake tomorrow?
Yep!
So I didn’t have the size pan in the recipe, so I’m using something larger. Will the cook time still be the same ?
Could be a little less, Patti. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get too crispy.
Hello, Is this recipe able to be made on the stove top instead of baked in the oven? Also, need to make without the egg, hoping it’ll still work out!
I think that will work, Laura. This recipe is hard to mess up!
I bought plain ground pork instead of Italian sausage. What spices would you recommend adding so that it’s not too bland? Fennel seed? Black pepper?
Yes, yes, and salt!
Hi Jenn,
Your recipe calls for rosemary but some of the reviews mention thyme. Which spice is it or is it both? If it is Thyme, how much do I use?
Hi Tani, I use rosemary and sage — no thyme. Enjoy!
What temperature should the oven be set on when you put the stuffing in
It should be set to 350°F. Enjoy!
Hi!!! I’m excited to try this recipe. I don’t have the fresh herbs can I substitute dry herbs and how much should I use?!!!
Thank you,
Krista
Sure Krista, The rule of thumb is to use 1/3 of the herbs called for when using dried, so in this case, I’d use 1 tsp. each of rosemary and sage and about 1 1/2 Tbsp. of the parsley.
Hi! I want to make this but I need to omit the egg due to an allergy. Will this change the recipe too much? Is there something I should tweak with the other ingredients?
Hi Nyma, The egg moistens the stuffing and binds it together, but it will still be good without it. No adjustments necessary. Hope you enjoy!
My bag of Pepperidge Farm cubes is 12 oz. How much chicken broth should I use?
Hi Mary, I think you could cut it back to about 2 cups.
Hi,
I am making this with 2 boxes of stove top stuffing mix instead of 14 oz breadcrumbs. I’ll omit your spices of course. Any other adjustments? Also…I want to add 2 lbs of sausage instead of 1 lb. Any adjustments?
Hi Shelley, I would omit the salt and just add it to taste. And, not adjustments necessary if you’re going to double the sausage. It will just be a very sausage-y dish!
noticed I only have herb seasoned bread cubes–will that still work should I cut down on any of the seasoning? thanks
Hi Joanne, Yes, that will still work. Just cut back on the added salt (just to add it to taste) and omit the sage. Enjoy!
I used dried rosemary is that okay? I saw you said to replace it with thyme.
Sure– it will still be delicious!
hello, I have already cut up regular white bread into cubes as my family prefers this method. we normally cook stuffing in bird but this year I’m going to go pan route.
question: since using regular white bread should I do anything special to it? use same amount of liquid? I don’t want it to be too soggy so I’m assuming not covering it to bake wold help….would love your thoughts
Hi Shannon, You may need a little less liquid — I would add it a little at a time until it seems right. And yes leaving it uncovered will definitely help.
Hi I am planning on making this stuffing for thanksgiving but I was wondering if I use stove top stuffing that already has chicken broth should I still add more chicken broth to it
Hi Elizabeth, I’m not sure I understand the question. Is your Stovetop stuffing already prepared?
Well it says on the box that it has chicken broth already so I am wondering if I still add more chicken both
Ah, I see. Yes, go ahead and add more.
Can this stuffing mix be assembled two days ahead of time, and then refrigerated, or should it be frozen?
Hi Karen, It fine to make 2 days ahead and refrigerate.
Hi Jenn,
I would like to make this for Thanksgiving but my son cannot eat onions. I can use onion powder in place of the onions, how much should I use?
Hi Tani, I think you could get away with that. I’d use about 1 1/2 Tbsp. of onion powder. Also, feel free to add an additional cup of celery to fill the onion “void.” Hope you enjoy!
Hello! I am making this dish this week. Someone asked that I add bacon to the stuffing. Do you think this would be a complimentary addition flavor-wise, and would I need to tweak any other ingredients? THANK YOU!
I think bacon would work here and don’t think you’d need to tweak other ingredients. (I would cook the bacon first before adding it.) I’d love to hear how it turns out!
Can you put this sausage dressing inside the turkey and cook it that way?
Yes Kathy you can. I’d just reduce the broth by about half so the stuffing isn’t too soggy. Enjoy!
How much would you reduce the broth in this case?
Hi Trish, I’d cut the amount of broth you’re using in half.
Hi Jennifer, do you use the crust of the bread in your stuffing?
Best, Janelle
Hi Janelle, this recipe calls for stuffing cubes as opposed to bread, but if you are using bread, you can go either way with the crust; it’s more of a personal preference.
How many servings is this
This serves 8 – 10.
Yes, that works!
Hi, I would like to add shredded carrots, how much do you think would be a good amount? Thanks in advance, the recipe looks amazing!!
I think a cup would be a good amount here. Would love to hear how it turns out with the carrots!
Hey, Jenn!
I am SO excited I found your site! I am most definitely making this for Thanksgiving. However, I am wanting to half this recipe and perhaps fit it in an 8×8? What would be your recommendations for cooking time? (And any other tips you have for halfing it) Thanks!!
Hi Marah, I’m glad you came across the site! If you halve the recipe, it should just fit in an 8 x 8 dish. The baking time should be about the same, but keep an eye on it. Hope you enjoy!
I have the following question
is it 2 and 3/4 cups of low sodium chicken broth or 2 3/4 cups of low sodium chicken broth?
Please let me know.
Thank you
It is 2 and 3/4 cups. Sorry for any confusion!
That will work perfectly fine, Crystal. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn. I’m an American expat hosting Thanksgiving dinner in Scotland. Do you think this recipe could work with a box of Stovetop Stuffing (chicken flavor) as opposed to the diced stuffing cubes? Would there need to be any adjustments? Thanks in advance!
Hi Katarina, you can get away with using Stovetop stuffing. I’d just reduce the salt in the recipe and add it to taste. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi!
How would you change the cook time if prepared in a muffin pan?
(Everyone wants crispy edges, so my solution this year is a muffin pan).
Thanks!
Kelly
Creative solution! I’d start checking them after 30 minutes. I’d love to hear how they turn out!
The stuffins were a huge hit! Thank you for the recipe and the advice!
I baked them for 30 minutes, then broiled them for 5 minutes.
So delicious!
Everyone has asked me to make them again for Xmas!
Thanks again!
If I fully cook this the day before, how long and at what temp should I warm it up for? Thanks so much!
Hi Maegan, I’d reheat in a 325°F oven for 15-20 min, or until hot. Enjoy!
Thank you so very much for responding, happy Thanksgiving!!
This recipe says 8 cups of stuffing cubes which is 64oz . The recipe is saying 8 cups(14oz) of cubes. Please clarify. Have not made this yet can’t rate it but want to make this week for thanksgiving
Hi Andy, the 14 oz. bag is based on weight, so you’ll want to stick with the recipe and purchase a 14 oz. bag of stuffing (which is the equivalent of 8 cups). Happy Thanksgiving!
The baking time seems long….my oven cooks fast…is it okay to reduce cooking time? Does stuffing become dry?
Thanks so much!
Sure Jodi, you know your oven best, so if you think the time needs to be reduced a bit, trust your gut. The stuffing is pretty moist, but if you get concerned that it’s drying out, you could cover it for the last few minutes of baking.
Can I use dried seasonings/ herbs instead of fresh and if so how much?
Sure Gail. The general rule is to use 1/3 of the herbs called for when using dried, so in this case, I’d use 1 tsp. each of rosemary and sage and about 1 1/2 Tbsp. of the parsley.
Trying this for the first time, I am serving vegans and meat eaters, for the vegans was going to substitute veggie broth for chicken broth and apples for sausage any thoughts of other spices I should add for the vegans. I thought of using tofu but am at a loss for how I would cook and add that
Hi Denise, I might suggest my Challah, Wild Mushroom and Herb Stuffing instead (substituting vegetable broth). It’s wonderful!
Would you bake it the day before and just reheat or would you assemble and then bake the next day?
Hi Allyson, Ideally, I would assemble and then bake the next day but you could really do either – the difference is minimal so whatever is easier for you!
Hi! I’m thinking of trying this stuffing receipe. I always like the flavor of adding diced (lightly cooked) apples. How many would you say would be sufficient for this receipe?
Thank you!
Hi Katie, I think 1 large or 2 small apples would be great. Enjoy…and pls lmk how it turns out!
do you need to fry sausage first or can it be baked raw in the stuffing?
Hi Karen, It should be cooked first. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for answering my question about the amount of stuffing for my turkey. I do want to say how lucky we all are to have you and your site. You are really a gift. I have loved everything I have made and look forward to so many more of your delicious recipes.
I hope you enjoy the holidays. I will because of your delicious recipes !!
Thanks Char 🙂 I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site and Happy Holidays to you too!
Can I use cornbread instead of the breadcrumbs?
Yes PC, I think cornbread would work here. I’d love to hear how it turns out this way!
If I were to stuff a 15 or 20 pound
turkey would this be enough to stuff the turkey ? Also would I change the amount of broth. Thanks
Hi Char, I’m not certain how much stuffing you’d need for a turkey of that size, but keep in mind that a 9 x 13 pan (like the one called for in this recipe) holds 14 cups. If you’re uncertain that will be enough, you could always make 1 1/2 or 2 times the recipe and just bake whatever doesn’t fit in the turkey in a separate baking dish.
Hi! I am making this stuffing for Thanksgiving . If I omit sausage, should I use all the same ingredients?
And do you have to bake 60-70 minutes??? I have boxed stuffing cubes 14 oz. Thanks
Hi Carol, You don’t need to adapt the recipe in any way if you omit the sausage. And boxed stuffing is fine; just cut back on the added salt (just to add it to taste) and omit the sage. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn! I’m going to try and make your stuffing for the first time this Thanksgiving. I have a few questions though. I’ve already bought “Herb” seasoned bread cubes—-Will this be ok? And can I still use fresh parsley? Also, I would like to add raisins and walnuts– Do I have to sauté them or can I throw them in the bowl before mixing? Thank you in advance! And wish me luck!!
Hi Kim, Herbed bread cubes would be fine; just cut back on the added salt (just to add it to taste) and omit the sage. Using the fresh parsley will work. And regarding the raisins and walnuts, you can just toss them in the bowl before mixing. Hope you enjoy!
Could I use seasoned stuffing or would that be too much?
Hi Kim, You can use it, but I’d cut back on the salt in the recipe (you’ll have to add it to taste) and omit the sage.
Do you really need to use the egg? If so, what is the purpose, just a binding agent?
Also, I like stuffing really dry while my husband likes it moist. So, should I cut back on the broth for a happy medium?
Hi Sharyle, The egg moistens the stuffing and binds it together, so I would recommend including it. And regarding the texture of the stuffing and making both you and your husband happy, maybe you could reduce the broth by about 3/4 of a cup. Hope you enjoy!
Hi, I made this for Thanksgiving last year and it has been requested for this year again. This year I have more people coming and I don’t have enough baking trays, so I was wondering if I could cook this in a disposable aluminum tray? Would it affect the taste? Thank you.
Hi Kristin, I think that would be fine and don’t think it would affect the taste. Hope everyone enjoys!
Hi Jenn! Thoughts on making this in a slow cooker? I cooked my stuffing in the slow cooker last year and it turned out very nice. I am trying to open up oven space here in my NYC apartment.
I found an article on how to adapt a stuffing recipe for the slow cooker and here are the tips mentioned:
-If it does not contain eggs, add one and a half large eggs per loaf of bread used.
-Cut back on liquid by 25%.
-Cook on low heat for four to six hours.
-Make sure to butter the inside of the slow cooker to prevent sticking.
Let me know your initial thoughts. Either way, ill report my results back here for others.
Hi Renee, I must admit that I almost never use a slow cooker, so I’m not certain. That said, it sounds like the tips above are on target. Here are some additional general tips on adapting recipes for the slow cooker. I’d love to hear how it turns out!
If I make this without sausage, do I need to reduce the amount of chicken broth or alter any of the other ingredients? Thanks!
Hi Suzanne, No, you don’t need to adapt the recipe in any way if you omit the sausage. Hope you enjoy!
Just wondering – why did you choose to cook uncovered? Every other stuffing recipe I’ve read calls for it being covered to keep moisture in and uncovered the last 10 min for a crispy top. Is that why you account for a large amount of liquid? Just want to make sure I do this right!
I’ve read some reviews about the recipe being soggy – should I reduce liquid a little – or perhaps they cooked it covered?
Hi Cecilia, I bake it uncovered so it gets extra crispy. And I wouldn’t suggest reducing the liquid.
I couldn’t find stuffing cubes so I purchased a loaf of Italian bread from Whole Foods. How would you recommend making the stuffing cubes with the cut up bread? Thanks!
Hi Kerry, I’d suggest just cutting the bread into small (about 1/4 inch cubes) and lightly toasting them to make them a bit crunchy. Hope you enjoy!
Great recipe! I used my homemade smoked sausages for the meat and it turned out awesome!
I went to the store last night and I forgot to get Rosemary or dried thyme, would it be alright without either of those or is the taste going to be off?
Thanks in advance. Trying this for the first time to take to my in-laws.
Amanda
Hi Amanda, No worries, it will still have plenty of flavor. Hope everyone enjoys it 🙂
Hi, thank you so much for your response and for such a great recipe!! I made it without the Rosemary or thyme and it was a hit!! Thanks again!
Best stuffing ever. First time making it and it turned out great. I now have to make it all the time for special occasions and roast dinners.
I didn’t add garlic as I’m not a big garlic lover. The Italian sausage gave it that little kick.
Thanks
Thanks. Merry Christmas!
Is there a reason it says 2 3/4 cups of broth instead 1 and 1/2 cups?
Hi Randi, I’m not sure I understand your question. Are you looking to use less broth? Thanks for clarifying!
I think Randi read that as 2x 3/4 cups. not 2 &3/4 cups…
What is the right amount of broth
Mary, you’ll need 2 and 3/4 cups of broth. Enjoy!
Looks terrific! If I want to double this recipe, would I double all the ingredients (salt, butter as well?) Thanks.
Yep, that will work 🙂
How much chicken broth. 2 cups plus 3/4 of a cup? How many ounces?
That is the equivalent of 28 ounces. Hope you enjoy!
2 cups + 3/4 cup
= (2) x (8 oz.) + (3/4) x (8 oz.)
= 16 oz. + 6 oz.
= 22 oz.
I think! 😉
You are so right- it is 22 oz.- sorry for the math error!!
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was a HUGE hit – our new family favorite! We were having a crowd and I knew my husband would want leftovers, so I doubled the recipe, put slightly more than 2/3 of the mixture in a 1/2 chafing pan for the holiday meal, and put the rest in a pyrex for later use. Glad I reserved some – the whole tray went! I left the mixture uncooked in the fridge for two days and baked it on Saturday – just as delicious as the first time!
Thanks for your amazing recipes – have loved every single one that I’ve tried!!
My Thanksgiving stuffing is a holiday staple, however, this year was particularly chaotic leading up to the holiday and I decided that I needed a quicker recipe but didn’t want to compromise on taste. I found this recipe and it was a HUGE hit! So much so that my family has said that this is the stuffing they want now for future Thanksgivings. Very tasty and came together quickly.
This is probably a dumb question… Do I drain the sausage grease? Or does it go into the stuffing?
Hi Elaine, you don’t need to drain the grease unless you choose to. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Elaine, I know this comment is coming to you almost a year late, but I had to tell you this. My mom used to ADD the sausage grease to the stuffing and though it was delicious, I would get horrible stomach aches & gas from it as did a few other family members. When we kids grew up and started doing our own cooking we told her to omit the sausage grease and it did not affect the taste, and we had no more stomach aches, my personal suggestion would be to omit the sausage grease.
Have always made my mom’s bread stuffing. Your Easy Sausage and Herb Stuffing absolutely delicious – rave reviews from all on Thanksgiving. Your recipes I have tried get 5 stars.
I had some comments below, but as an update: Less liquid is a fine idea – maybe closer to 2 cups? I will add a little broth to my leftovers! Fuyu persimmons and green apples (chopped to 1/2 inch dice or so) are a great addition!
This is similar to recipe we have used for several years. I just used the breakfast sausage in the fridgerated section. But this year I had some Ciabatta bread from a few days ago, cubed into quarter-inch and use it for half of the breading. It added so much texture. My husband couldn’t stop raving about this recipe.
I’m sure this recipe is great as is, but I made a couple adjustments. I substituted chicken broth with turkey giblet stock, and removed the salt because it would’ve been too salty with the stock. The recipe turned out perfect! And I loathe stuffing ^_^ Thanks for an amazing recipe, Jen!
So glad it turned your into a stuffing convert!
Perfect timing. We are having our meal today. Just finishing cooking the turkey. Perfect amount of time to let the turkey cool.. Thank you Jenn.
I made this for Thanksgiving this year. My family said this was the best stuffing I ever made! I have to agree!!
Made this for Thanksgiving this year and my sister and brother in-law said it was the best stuffing they’ve ever had. Thank you for your crowd pleasing recipe!!!
My son wanted a stuffing with challah bread so I made this recipe, but did the challah croutons from your challah stuffing recipe instead of buying the croutons. I followed the rest of this recipe exactly and it was absolutely amazing. There wasn’t one bit left. I’m a little sad that there aren’t any leftovers for tomorrow. Next time I’m making double.
Nice recipe. I look forward to making this in about four hours. Question. I’ve prepared turkey giblet stock. What are your thoughts on using the stock as opposed to chicken broth? Do you feel I should reduce the amount of stock used in the recipe? Thanks! Josh
Hi Josh, I would definitely go ahead and replace the chicken broth with turkey stock in the same amount. Happy Thanksgiving!
Can I out this together and refrigerate overnight then bake in the morning
Hi Lisa, Yes or you can bake it ahead of time and reheat.
This recipe was so easy and soooo good!! I was looking for a simple sausage stuffing and am glad I found your recipe! We made it tonight and I added a small can of sliced mushrooms which was a good addition for us. Of course we had to taste it so ended up having for dinner since it’s for us and doesn’t need to travel anywhere tomorrow .
Forgot to rate this! So good!
Hi! I’m planning on making this for Thanksgiving. I see a few people saying it was to much liquid and then some saying it was perfect. What are you doing that it’s turning out to mushy and what are the rest of you doing that it turns out perfect?
What temp do you bake it on?
Hi Lori, It gets baked at 350 degrees.
Sounds great , when I make something similar I bake with turky wings on top for more flavor
Sounds delicious and different Nancy!
Hello there, I browsed through the comments here but didn’t see any answer to my question so here goes: I accidentally bought a bunch of chicken stock instead of broth! Would it ruin the recipe if I used chicken stock? I’m finished with all of my Thanksgiving shopping and I’d prefer not to have to go out again…so let me know if you can think of any solutions for this! Thanks in advance
Cassie, You could definitely use chicken stock here. The end result may taste slightly richer than if you were to use broth.
Thank you, Jenn!!! Every stuffing recipe I see uses chicken broth, so I wanted to make sure I could switch it out. I appreciate your quick response
This looks delicious !! I am stuffing a 22 pound turkey, should I double this ??
Thanks
Yes, I would double it. You may have some leftover that you can bake in a separate dish.
thanks for your reply ! It worked great and was delicious !!!!
WHAT CAN BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE PORK SAUSAGE?
Hi Grace, Any type of sausage would work well here.
Do you bake covered or uncovered?
Yvette, you keep it uncovered for baking. -Jenn
Hello! I bought the seasoned cubes by mistake. Should I omit anything from this recipe? I also bought the sage sausage. Thank you!
Hi Dina, I would cut back on the salt (you’ll have to add it to taste) and omit the sage.
Can dried herbs be added instead of fresh? If so, what is the ratio?
Hi Elly, It’s fine to use dried herbs; use about half the amount and replace the rosemary with thyme. Enjoy!
Okay, Miss Jen, I am a true, blue southerner, I love and usually make cornbread dressing. Can I sub for the unseasoned stuffing cubed? Also, do I then omit the salt? Thanks.
Sure, Willa. But I wouldn’t omit the salt; maybe just cut in half. Please let me know how it turns out.
If I’m using Jimmy deans sage sausage should o still put on fresh sage? Thanks!
Hi Jen, I would omit it — good call.
Glad that Jen asked this question, as I’m going to use that same sausage! Planning to also add some chopped apples and persimmons 🙂
Hi! Great recipe, would I be able to substitute the bread for stove top stuffing? Should I cook the stuffing first and then bake it? Should I also follow the measurements as given in your recipe for the substitution? Thank you!
Carrie, The recipe does call for stuffing cubes, so you should be fine using Stove Top stuffing and sticking to the instructions. I may suggest decreasing the salt a bit though. Enjoy!
Can this stuffing be stuffed in the bird
Hi Connie, Yes, but you might reduce the liquid just a bit to compensate for the moisture from the bird.
We made this tonight and liked the flavor, but the bottom was way too mushy. How much would you recommend cutting the broth by?
Hi Michelle, Sorry you found it a bit mushy. Maybe try reducing the broth by 3/4 cup?
Could it be the butter in pan?
Can you stuff the turkey using this recipe?
Hi Mary, Yes, that should work.
Could it be from butter on pan?
Everyone loved this!
Do you think this would work in the crockpot and if so, how long and at hi/low?
Thank you!
Hi Julie, I wish I could be more helpful but I haven’t tried this recipe in a slow cooker. Sorry!
Can this be pre made and frozen? If so would you freeze it raw or cooked?
Thanks
K
Hi Kathleen, Yes, I would freeze it cooked.
2 3/4 cups of liquid? way too much. I baked it for an additional 1/2 hour and it’s still wet. Ate it but will make adjustments next time.
Hi Jenn. This recipe looks and sounds absolutely divine! However, I cannot eat pork. Can I use a beef or turkey sausage in place of the sweet Italian? Any recommendations? Also, would it be o.k. to add shrimp or oysters to the dish as well? Thanks!
Hi Aminah, Yes and yes 🙂 Any type of sausage will work just fine; and shrimp or oysters would be a nice addition.
I made this and your sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving this year. Both were delicious. Glad I recently found your site!
The herb stuffing is now my my must make stuffing for Thanksgiving. I have made similar recipes in the past but this was so easy and good!
Made this according to directions. Came out great. Might consider using Jimmy Dean sage sausage next time and adjust other herbs accordingly.
Hi
I just wanted to let you know..your sausage and stuffing recipe was amazing!! My family and friends loved it!! I had none left over..will have to make 2 pans of it next time. Thanks again..for sharing all these wonderful recipes:)
Roshnee
Sorry forgot to rate the recipe.
Great recipe! Was a hit. Super delicious. I will make it again for sure!
Made this stuffing recipe for thanksgiving this year, one pan with sausage and one without and they both turned out beautifully. Delicious and flavorful and exactly what you want to taste in a traditional stuffing. I’ll be using this again!
Just made this for Thanksgiving the family loved it great job Jen can’t wait to see what you have in store for next year
I bought a bag of stuffing said 12 oz. but when I measured out 8 cups it was even less than the whole bag. How much should i use? Stick with the 8 cups?
Hi Alison, I would stick with the 8 cups. Hope you enjoy it!
I made this for Thanksgiving this year and I can’t wait to try it. I was wondering if you could add oysters to it? If so, how would you incorporate them? Thanks Jen for this amazing site and for your wonderful recipes!
Hi Deb! You could definitely add oysters to it. Just toss them into the mix (either chopped or whole) after you add the cooked sausage. I would also use the juice from the can to add flavor; just use a bit less chicken broth to make up for the added liquid. Hope your family enjoys and Happy Thanksgiving!
Just made this for Thanksgiving and snuck a bite…so delicious and flavorful!! Thanks, Jenn. This one’s a keeper!
Hi Jenn. Can you use this recipe if you are stuffing the turkey?
Hi Mary, Yes, but I’d cut back on the chicken broth by about half, otherwise it might be too mushy.
Can dried herbs be used instead of fresh? If so, how much? Thanks. Absolutely love your recipes!
Hi Vicki, Glad you’re enjoying the recipes! It’s fine to use dried herbs; use about half the amount and replace the rosemary with thyme.
I make a very similar stuffing that is from the mother of an Italian friend of mine. We don’t use packaged bread cubes but dry out Italian or ciabatta bread. The only other change is to add fresh swiss chard…it’s absolutely delicious. I’m making it tomorrow to take to a dinner…can’t wait!
Thanks for sharing so many great recipes with us, Jen. I’ve tried quite a few, and they’ve all been great. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Does it have to be pork sausage or I can use chicken sweet Italian sausage? Some of my guests don’t like pork.
Many thanks.
Hi Olga, Chicken sausage would be just fine. Enjoy!
Hi! This looks amazing. Where I live, I can’t get ready-made stuffing cubes. So, I’m wondering, are they toasted like croutons? If so, could i just cut up a loaf and stick in the oven? Or what would be the best homemade substitute? Thanks!
Hi Shelly, Yes, that’s all they are. Just cut up a loaf or two and dry out the cubes in a 300°F oven 🙂
Would this stuffing work well without the sausage or is there some other type of protein I could use in place of sausage. Several folks do not like sausage.
Second- love your peanut dressing but wonder how I might thin it down a bit – this is the best recipe ever!!!
Hi Ellen, This recipe really relies on the sausage for flavor. You might try this stuffing instead — it’s one of my favorites 🙂
https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/challah-wild-mushroom-herb-stuffing.html
Sorry forgot respond to the second part of your comment. You can thin the peanut dressing with a little lime juice or water.
I like to make stuffing in muffin tins so everyone gets a crispy portion. (A certain nameless relative scrapes off the top otherwise) How would that affect the cooking time/temperature?
Hi Brian, I like that idea. I’d start checking after 30 minutes. Please come back and let me know how it turns out.
I’m using a friend’s recipe that’s very similar but she doesn’t add the egg or the extra herbs since she buys the flavored stuffing and adds Craisins. So yummy! I suggest adding them. They add great flavor. Love that you can prepare ahead and just heat it up the day of Thanksgiving.
I have a question about this recipe but first wanted to give a huge thanks to you. I’ve been subscribed to your site for a while (have never commented), and every recipe I have ever made has been outstanding! I have become a better cook because of you. I have dishes that family & friends repeatedly request which creates tradition & memories.
So my question about this recipe is simple – do you think I can make & assemble it the day before & then just bake it the day of?
~Lynn
Hi Lynn, Thank you for the wonderful feedback. So glad you are enjoying the recipes! Re. the stuffing, it’s absolutely fine to make and assemble it the day before and bake it the day of. Hope you enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Jenn, This looks delicious. However, so long in the oven. Could I skip the egg and cook it for a shorter amount of time? Thanks. =)
Hi Virginia, You can cook it for less time but the top won’t crisp up — and that’s partly what makes it so good. The egg doesn’t affect the cooking time, but you can leave it out if you wish.
Thanks, Jenn! It’s going on our menu 🙂 Have a fabulous Thanksgiving.
Does anyone know what temp. to put the oven on and if this can be made the night before?
Hi Stephanie, The oven should be set to 350°F/175°C. And, yes, this can be assembled the day before and baked before serving, or baked ahead and reheated prior to serving. Hope you enjoy!