• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

Join my free recipe email club!
Free eBook
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • ABOUT JO
  • Contact
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Dinner Ideas
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • One Pot
  • Desserts
Home / Recipes
2 hours 20 minutes
4.45 from 40 votes
17 Comments

Sage Sausage Stuffing

Jump to RecipePrint RecipeJump to Video
  • 573
by: Joanna Cismaru
07.21.20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Sage Sausage Stuffing is a classic sausage stuffing recipe that’s a must have side dish on any Thanksgiving dinner table. Super easy, delicious and a total crowd pleaser!

Sage Sausage Stuffing in a plate with a casserole dish in the background

If you’re not yet tired of Thanksgiving recipes, here I am again with a stuffing recipe. I’ll be the first to admit that growing up I hated stuffing, I was strictly a turkey leg and mashed potato kinda girl and skip all the other fluff.

If you’re like me, hear me out. If you use ingredients you like then stuffing isn’t all that bad, it actually tastes pretty good. So that’s what I did here. The main ingredients here are herb sausages, which I really love, a nice crusty bread all cubed and baked until crispy and dry and eggs, so if you look at it this way, it’s sort of like a bread pudding.

Stuffing Vs. Dressing

Technically the name of this recipe should be dressing because stuffing is actually used to stuff the bird with. This is really just sage sausage dressing.

I never stuff my turkey, and neither did my mom. I think I remember her stuffing a turkey once and nobody really liked it. There are a lot of real health hazards such as making sure the stuffing is completely cooked. Plus it makes your turkey cook slower.

Sage Sausage Stuffing in a casserole dish ready for baking

Ingredients

  • Sausage – Pork sausage chopped up with the casings removed, 2 entire links.
  • Bread – French bread or sourdough bread cubed up to be incorporated into the dish to offer some chew and some tang.
  • Onion – We want something that will cook down nicely like white or yellow.
  • Butter – Unsalted as we want to control the sodium content of our dish.
  • Celery – Diced up for some crunch and dimension.
  • Craisins – For some sweetness and chew.
  • Garlic – Use as much or little as you like.
  • Broth – We’re using a bit of low sodium chicken broth today, it will give us lots of flavor and will also give the pieces of bread something to absorb to ensure the stuffing isn’t dry.
  • Eggs – We’re using 3 entire eggs today to bind our stuffing and ensure it bakes properly outside of the bird.
  • Herbs – Fresh sage and parsley – fresh is a must. If dried is all you have on hand just keep in mind that 1 teaspoon dried equals 1 tablespoon fresh.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste.

What Sausage Is Best?

I strongly recommend using a spicy Italian sausage with herbs if you can find because it really does give the dressing a nice flavor, but if you cannot find any or do not like spicy food, choose a garlic and herb sausage.

sage Sausage Stuffing in a casserole dish fresh out of the oven

How To Make Sage Sausage Stuffing

  1. Preheat oven to 275 F degrees. Spread bread cubes evenly over a baking sheet. Bake about 45 minutes or until bread is completely dried. Increase oven temperature to 350 F degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. Cook the sausage: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add sausage and break with a wooden spoon or potato masher, into fine pieces. Cook until sausage is no longer pink.
  3. Saute the sauteables: Add onion, celery, garlic, sage and craisins; cook for about 10 minutes, until vegetables have softened. Remove from heat.
  4. Combine the stuffing: In a bowl whisk eggs, parsley, garlic and broth. Season egg mixture with salt and pepper. Add the sausage mixture to the eggs and gently fold in the bread cubes until evenly mixed.
  5. Bake: Transfer stuffing to prepared baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until golden brown and the top is crispy, for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Some Tips

  • Use a good bread like a sourdough or a French baguette. Toast the bread until it’s completely dry, this way it will absorb the stock better and hold its shape.
  • If you have fresh chicken or turkey broth, used those instead. Homemade broths are loaded with more flavor and will make your stuffing taste even better.
  • I love the leftover stuffing. I bet you want to know why so I will tell you. The next day throw some in a pan, crack a couple eggs over it and you’ve got yourself the best hash you could ever have for breakfast!
  • If you like a bit of crunch, add some toasted pecans or walnuts.
overhead of Sage Sausage Stuffing in a white plate

How To Serve

If you’re scratching your head over what exactly to serve alongside your turkey this year, try out some of these.

  • Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Turkey
  • Warm Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
  • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • Soft Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
  • Creamy Garlic Parmesan Mushrooms
  • Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
  • Brandy Glazed Carrots

Leftover Ingredients?

If you end up with leftovers from this stuffing recipes, there are so many things you can do with it. You can turn it into a breakfast casserole or stuff an acorn squash with it and then bake it. A favorite of mine is to make bacon wrapped stuffing bites, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re to die for.

Other ideas include leftover stuffing muffins, perfect for grab-and-go for breakfast or lunch. Break out your ramekins and make baked stuffing and egg individual breakfast. Just add some stuffing to the ramekin and then crack an egg on it, bake it and voila!

Storing Leftovers

You can either make this recipe ahead or store it for days after, either work just fine! Store leftover sage sausage stuffing in an air tight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

FREEZER

Freeze leftovers in a freezer bag or air tight container for up to a month. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before bringing back up to temperature.

Craving More Thanksgiving Recipes? Try These

  • Port Infused Nut Stuffing
  • How To Roast a Turkey
  • Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Crockpot Honey Mustard Glazed Ham
  • Brined Roast Turkey Breast
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Instant Pot Corned Beef
  • Roasted Green Beans

Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram

side view shot of stuffing in a bowl

Sage Sausage Stuffing

4.45 from 40 votes
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 8
Print Pin Rate
This Sage Sausage Stuffing is a classic sausage stuffing recipe that’s a must have side dish on any Thanksgiving dinner table. Super easy, delicious and a total crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf bread cut into cubes, I used a French baguette
  • 4 tablespoon butter unsalted
  • 1 pound pork sausage casings removed
  • 1 onion chopped (white or red)
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 1/4 cup sage fresh, chopped
  • 1/2 cup craisins
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 275 F degrees. Spread bread cubes evenly over a baking sheet. Bake about 45 minutes or until bread is completely dried.
  • Increase oven temperature to 350 F degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add sausage and break with a wooden spoon or potato masher, into fine pieces. Cook until sausage is no longer pink.
  • Add onion, celery, garlic, sage and craisins; cook for about 10 minutes, until vegetables have softened. Remove from heat.
  • In a bowl whisk eggs, parsley, garlic and broth. Season egg mixture with salt and pepper. Add the sausage mixture to the eggs and gently fold in the bread cubes until evenly mixed. 
  • Transfer stuffing to prepared baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until golden brown and the top is crispy, for another 15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let cool. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. I strongly recommend using a spicy Italian sausage with herbs if you can find because it really does give the dressing a nice flavor, but if you cannot find any or do not like spicy food, choose a garlic and herb sausage.
  2. Note that I did not use a lot of salt and pepper because I find that the sausage is salty enough for my taste and it’s really flavorful, but feel free to add as much as you want. 
  3. Use a good quality loaf of bread like a French baguette. The bread is even better if it’s a day old. When you toast the bread it should be nice and crispy so that when it’s mixed in with the egg mixture it doesn’t become soggy.
  4. Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days and frozen for up to 1 month.
  5. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 513kcal (26%)Carbohydrates: 51g (17%)Protein: 20g (40%)Fat: 25g (38%)Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)Cholesterol: 117mg (39%)Sodium: 1111mg (48%)Potassium: 402mg (11%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 10g (11%)Vitamin A: 570IU (11%)Vitamin C: 6.5mg (8%)Calcium: 162mg (16%)Iron: 4.4mg (24%)
Course:Side Dish
Cuisine:American
Keyword:sage sausage stuffing, stuffing
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!

Originally published Nov 2014.

  • 573
  • 1

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

30 recipes from around the world cover.

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

pieces of cornbread stacked on a plate with honey being drizzled over them
Previous Post
Easy Cornbread Recipe
overhead shot of sweet potato turkey meatballs in a bowl
Next Post
Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate Recipe Cancel reply

Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Helen Whitsitt says

    November 23, 2019 at 11:22 am

    Do you have a recipe for stuffing for a porketta.?

    Reply
    • jo says

      November 23, 2019 at 11:34 am

      Sorry, I don’t, not yet.

      Reply
  2. Rita says

    November 23, 2019 at 7:40 am

    Hi Jo love your recipes! So easy to follow! What size baking dish to use for this stuffing recipe?

    Reply
    • jo says

      November 23, 2019 at 11:22 am

      Thanks, Rita! A 9×13 baking dish should be fine. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Julia Stearns @ Healthirony says

    March 26, 2019 at 2:26 am

    5 stars
    This sage sausage stuffing looks so zesty and tasty! Absolutely love your creative idea! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Anne says

    October 1, 2018 at 8:48 pm

    Can u make ahead and freeze? Thanks

    Reply
    • Nicole Beaulieu says

      October 2, 2018 at 10:55 am

      Yes you can! Make sure it’s in an airtight container to avoid freezer burn.

      Reply
  5. Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky says

    December 14, 2017 at 9:24 am

    5 stars
    Definitely your sage sausage stuffing is awesomeness! It would be perfect breakfast! I found your post from Pinterest! I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Lisa Huff says

    November 24, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Such a great idea, yum!

    Reply
  7. Stephanie Torbiak says

    October 5, 2017 at 8:10 am

    HI I am an old fashion kinda gal and like to stove my turkey . Will this recipe work for the inside of the turkey? I am not afraid of stuffing my bird we all did it for many many years .

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      October 5, 2017 at 12:19 pm

      Yes, I think this would be great for stuffing your bird.

      Reply
      • Judith says

        November 22, 2017 at 4:22 pm

        I (German) always wonder why the “stuffing” is not stuffed inside the bird. It is for safety reasons? Why? I think stuffing even makes the bird cook more evenly… I am confused! 🙂

  8. Lili says

    November 24, 2016 at 2:47 am

    5 stars
    We’ll see how this tastes. Where do you buy “herb’ sausage. I went to organic, regular, specialty grocery stores and I asked the butcher for herb sausage…I swear They looked at me like ai had 3 eyes. I ended up buying Chicken sausage with apples and fire roasted tomatoes. That was the only sausage that had was not Italian etc. pretty easy recipe…all your recipes are easy and very yummy. Thanksgiving is tomorrow so I prepared the SagecSausage Stuffing, Green bean casserole the crockpot cheesy mashed potatoes I will make tomorrow. I’m just going to heat up these dishes, as I have already “baked/cooked them’ as the turkey is resting. Going to be a delicious feast using all your yummy recipes! Thank you for making recipes so easy especially for non-cookers as myself. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours@

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 24, 2016 at 3:57 pm

      My pleasure! Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  9. Maureen says

    October 21, 2016 at 7:45 am

    5 stars
    We’re having “FriendsGiving” this weekend and I can’t wait to make this. PS: I just realized today that you’re from Calgary, too!
    #YYCLove

    Reply
    • Fenne Kieken says

      October 21, 2016 at 9:20 am

      Sounds great. I like the FriendsGiving you are having. A friend of mine did “HoboChristmas” which I think is similar where her friends who didn’t have family would get together and have traditional Christmas dinner…. Have fun at your FriendsGiving and enjoy the Sage Stuffing.

      Reply
  10. Carol at Wild Goose Tea says

    November 26, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    This year I am charged with bringing the dressing to the feast along with some appetizers. I LOVE sausage dressing, but we have 1 vegetarian in the group. So instead of having 2 separate dressing this year we are going to suck it up and only have the one.
    Sigh.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More…
cover for the big book of jo's quick and easy meals.

My Cookbook

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe and get a FREE dinner recipes ebook!

Sign me up

Dinner Favorites

black pepper chicken on a bed of rice on a black plate.

Black Pepper Chicken

a slice of pastitsio on a black plate.

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

side view shot of a piece of eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce in a white plate garnished with parsley and a piece cut out and held by a fork

Eggplant Parmesan

side view shot chicken souvlaki skewers with a little tzatziki on a plate

Chicken Souvlaki

yakisoba noodles with chicken and vegetables in a large serving platter.

Yakisoba

pouring lemon sauce over fried chicken.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

a chicken gyro wrapped in paper and topped with lots of tzatziki sauce with another gyro in the background

Chicken Gyros

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Air Fryer Recipes

a roasted chicken on a serving platter along some roasted root veggies.

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

apple pie bombs on a white plate with the top one cut in half.

Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

3 cooked chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

air fried chicken drumsticks in a basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

cooked chicken thighs in the basket of an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

eggs inside an air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

lobster tails on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Lobster Tails

hands pulling apart a mozzarella stick with the rest in the background

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

freshly made bread in air fryer on a cutting board cut into slices.

Air Fryer No Knead Bread

bacon wrapped water chestnuts on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Jo Cooks...

Flavors from around the world

No matter what household we have all grown up in, there is something that has brought us all together here and that is a love and appreciation of food. Food that is from cultures and cuisines across the world has always been a staple of the blog. I'm excited to bring you all a taste of each corner of the earth, every last bite seasoned to perfection and served up with love - from my kitchen to yours.
asian green beans in a wok.

Asian

overhead shot of a spoon taking a bite of italian meatball soup

Italian

freshly made pozole rojo in a dutch oven.

Mexican

mititei on a plate with mustard and french fries.

Romanian

a stack of roti wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.

Indian

freshly made hummus drizzled with olive oil and garnished with tomatoes cucumbers and olives.

Middle Eastern

Trending Now

overhead shot of oven baked chicken breasts in a baking dish

Baked Chicken Breast

overhead shot of oven baked chicken thighs in a pan

Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

roast chicken with roast potatoes on a roaster.

Roast Chicken

a prime rib roast sliced on a plate

Prime Rib Roast

Browse All
  • Easy Dinners
  • Instant Pot
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Recipe Index

Featured On

today logo.
huffpost logo.
the washington post logo.
jezebel logo.
countryliving logo.
good housekeeping logo.
lifehack logo.
buzzfeed logo.
mashable logo.
woman's day logo.
health logo.
better homes & gardens logo.
delish logo.
healthline logo.
nbc news logo.
blogloving logo.
university of washington logo.
shape logo.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter YouTube
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • About Jo
  • Contact
  • visit my other site: Craving Home Cooked
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
© 2022 · All Rights Reserved · Back to Top
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and get a free dinner recipes ebook!