Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing

This Slow Cooker Sausage Herb Stuffing Recipe brings together everything you love about classic holiday flavors — savory Italian sausage, aromatic herbs, and perfectly soft-yet-crispy bread cubes — all made effortlessly in your slow cooker. No oven space needed! With golden edges, rich buttery flavor, and a satisfying blend of rosemary, thyme, and sage, this is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish or any-day comfort food that tastes like it’s been baked with love.


Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This easy slow cooker stuffing saves oven space and delivers incredible flavor with minimal effort. It’s made with fresh herbs, tender sausage, and hearty French bread, giving it that perfect texture — moist inside with crisp edges. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or prepping ahead for Thanksgiving, this foolproof stuffing frees up your hands while filling your kitchen with cozy, home-cooked aromas.

Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing

There’s something truly nostalgic about stuffing — the buttery bread, the aroma of herbs filling the kitchen, and that first savory bite that instantly says “holiday.” This Slow Cooker Sausage Herb Stuffing captures all those comforting flavors and textures, without the hassle of juggling oven space or over-drying the bread. With just a few simple steps and your trusty slow cooker, you can create a dish that tastes as though it baked for hours in the oven.

Slow cooker stuffing recipes are game changers for busy cooks, especially during the holidays. Instead of worrying about timing and oven temperatures, you simply mix, set, and let your slow cooker do the magic. The result? Bread cubes that soak up rich buttery broth, tender sausage, and fragrant herbs — transforming into a dish that’s moist, flavorful, and ready to steal the show on any dinner table.

What makes this version extra special is the balance between flavor and texture. The Italian sausage adds richness and depth, while the combination of fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage gives the dish a bright, woodsy aroma that perfectly complements the buttery bread base. The slow cooker ensures everything cooks evenly — keeping the interior soft while forming those irresistible crispy edges.

Another reason to love this recipe is how customizable it is. You can easily adjust the seasoning, use different breads like sourdough or whole wheat, or swap in mild sausage if you prefer less spice. You can even make it vegetarian by omitting the sausage and adding sautéed mushrooms for umami richness.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Sunday dinner, this dish pairs beautifully with roasted turkey, chicken, or even a simple salad. It’s hearty enough to stand on its own, yet versatile enough to complement any meal. And because it’s cooked in a slow cooker, it stays warm throughout dinner — ideal for serving guests or large family gatherings.

The aroma as it cooks is half the experience — buttery, herby, and utterly mouthwatering. It’s the kind of scent that draws everyone into the kitchen, eagerly waiting for the first spoonful. And when you finally taste it, you’ll get that perfect medley of soft, flavorful bread mixed with savory sausage and the freshness of herbs.

Making homemade stuffing in your slow cooker also means less cleanup and less stress. It’s as simple as sautéing a few ingredients, mixing everything together, and letting the slow cooker take over. The result is a dish that’s elegant enough for the holidays but simple enough for any cozy family dinner.

So whether you’re preparing for a feast or just want to enjoy a comforting side dish on a chilly evening, this Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing Recipe is the perfect blend of ease, comfort, and classic flavor. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to boxed stuffing again.


Servings & Time

  • Servings: 10–12

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes

  • Cook Time: 4 hours

  • Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes


Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes and left to dry overnight

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, diced into small cubes

  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 1 cup diced celery

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy)

  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely minced

  • 3 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped

  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley for garnish


Instructions

  1. Prepare the bread: Dice the loaf of French bread into cubes and let it sit uncovered overnight to dry.

  2. Cook the sausage: In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

  3. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, melt butter and add diced onion and celery. Sauté until softened and fragrant, about 5–7 minutes.

  4. Add the herbs: Stir in rosemary, sage, and thyme. Cook for another 1–2 minutes to release their flavor.

  5. Combine everything: In a large bowl, add the dried bread cubes, cooked sausage, and sautéed vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth and toss gently until evenly moistened.

  6. Season: Add salt, pepper, and parsley, mixing to combine. Adjust moisture if needed with a bit more broth.

  7. Transfer to slow cooker: Lightly grease the slow cooker insert and pour in the stuffing mixture, pressing down lightly.

  8. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or until heated through and the top is slightly crisp.

  9. Crisp up (optional): For extra crunch, uncover during the last 30 minutes or transfer to a baking dish and broil for a few minutes before serving.

  10. Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm alongside your favorite main dish.


Tips

  • Use day-old bread for best texture — it absorbs liquid without becoming mushy.

  • Add more chicken broth for a softer stuffing or less for a firmer texture.

  • Don’t skip the herbs — fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme add classic stuffing flavor.

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for best results.

 

 

 

Slow Cooker Sausage Stuffing

This Slow Cooker Sausage Herb Stuffing Recipe brings together everything you love about classic holiday flavors — savory Italian sausage, aromatic herbs, and perfectly soft-yet-crispy bread cubes — all made effortlessly in your slow cooker. No oven space needed! With golden edges, rich buttery flavor, and a satisfying blend of rosemary, thyme, and sage, this is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish or any-day comfort food that tastes like it’s been baked with love.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread cut into 1-inch cubes and left to dry overnight
  • ½ cup unsalted butter diced into small cubes
  • 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage mild or spicy
  • 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons fresh sage finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Prepare the bread: Dice the loaf of French bread into cubes and let it sit uncovered overnight to dry.
  • Cook the sausage: In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, melt butter and add diced onion and celery. Sauté until softened and fragrant, about 5–7 minutes.
  • Add the herbs: Stir in rosemary, sage, and thyme. Cook for another 1–2 minutes to release their flavor.
  • Combine everything: In a large bowl, add the dried bread cubes, cooked sausage, and sautéed vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth and toss gently until evenly moistened.
  • Season: Add salt, pepper, and parsley, mixing to combine. Adjust moisture if needed with a bit more broth.
  • Transfer to slow cooker: Lightly grease the slow cooker insert and pour in the stuffing mixture, pressing down lightly.
  • Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or until heated through and the top is slightly crisp.
  • Crisp up (optional): For extra crunch, uncover during the last 30 minutes or transfer to a baking dish and broil for a few minutes before serving.
  • Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm alongside your favorite main dish.

Notes

  • Use day-old bread for best texture — it absorbs liquid without becoming mushy.
  • Add more chicken broth for a softer stuffing or less for a firmer texture.
  • Don’t skip the herbs — fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme add classic stuffing flavor.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the oven for best results.

 

 

 

 

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