Table of Contents
- Why I Love This Sausage Stuffing Recipe
- Sausage Stuffing Ingredients
- How to Make Homemade Sausage Stuffing
- Pro Tips for Success
- Variations and Substitutions
- Serving and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Thanksgiving Recipes
- Watch How to Make This Sausage Stuffing Recipe
- Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
- Cheese & Bacon Stuffing Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Transform your Thanksgiving table with this irresistible sausage stuffing! Savory sausage, smoky bacon, gooey gouda, and hearty country bread come together with aromatic celery and onion to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor. This rich, crowd-pleasing recipe is a holiday showstopper you won’t want to miss.
Why I Love This Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Stuffing is one of those holiday indulgences I look forward to every year. With its simple ingredients and distinctive flavors, it’s always everyone’s favorite on the Thanksgiving table. I love this cheese, bacon, and sausage variation because it takes everything to the next level, with smoky gouda and crispy bacon adding incredible depth. The bacon provides a satisfying crunch, while the gouda melts into creamy pockets of cheesy goodness.
What I love most is how easy it is to reinvent this classic dish. Adding new flavors keeps it fresh and exciting, and this twist on the holiday tradition is sure to be a hit on your table.
Sausage Stuffing Ingredients
The ingredients that go into this sausage stuffing are simple but with a smoky touch, which is the entire concept of this unique Thanksgiving side dish.
- Bacon brings a smokey flavor to the stuffing while also adding variety to the texture.
- The onion acts as an aromatic base, softening during the initial cooking and then releasing its flavors to the rest of the dish.
- Celery complements the onion as a base aromatic, cooking down and imparting its flavor.
- Kosher salt seasons the dish and draws out moisture from the vegetables as they cook.
- Black pepper adds a hint of sharpness to the seasoning of the dish.
- Garlic provides a solid flavor to the dish, cooking slightly to bring out its flavor.
- Rosemary adds some peppery woodiness to the dish, further deepening the taste of the dish.
- Sage has a subdued, minty, and earthy flavor, bringing a holiday feeling to the dish.
- Thyme has an aromatic flavor that complements the other ingredients perfectly, balancing the fresh herbs.
- Sausage adds richness and spice to the dish, deepening the complexity of the flavors.
- Bread is the vessel for this dish, soaking up much of its flavor and giving it structure.
- Turkey stock soaks into the bread, providing moisture and flavor to the dish.
- Egg acts as a binder in the dish, pulling the dish together to make for a better consistency.
- Gouda is an unconventional yet powerful ingredient for this stuffing, bringing pockets of creaminess and smokey flavor.
How to Make Homemade Sausage Stuffing
There are four simple steps to making this recipe:
- Cook the vegetables
- Add flavor
- Assemble the dish
- Bake the dish
Step 1: Cook the vegetables. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Dice the onion and celery. Once the bacon has finished cooking, set it aside. Place the onion and celery in the bacon grease in the pan and season with salt and black pepper. Cook for ____ minutes over ____ heat until the mixture is softened.
Step 2: Add flavor. Mince the garlic and chop the sage and rosemary. Remove the thyme from the stem. Add the garlic and herbs to the vegetables. Add in the sausage, breaking it up. Cook until the sausage has browned.
Step 3: Assemble. Place the dried, cubed bread in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk the turkey stock and egg together. Pour over the bread. Chop up the bacon and add it to the bowl. Cube the gouda cheese and add it along with the vegetable and sausage mixture. Mix until combined.
Step 4: Bake the dish. Pour the stuffing into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Cover with tin foil and place in a preheated 350°F oven. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, removing the foil after 30 minutes. The top should become crispy and brown.
Pro Tips for Success
- Cook the vegetables in the bacon grease. This imparts a solid taste for the vegetables, building complex flavoring in the dish.
- Dry the bread in the oven instead of overnight at room temperature. The oven allows it to dry thoroughly, reaching the center of the bread and making for better stuffing.
- If possible, use homemade turkey stock. It provides the most flavor, soaking into the bread. This also complements the flavors of any turkey dish that may be part of a larger meal.
Variations and Substitutions
Stuffing is supposed to be a catch-all ingredient dish, so alter it however you need! It’s a great dish to experiment with. There are a few ways this dish can be changed:
- Switch out the gouda cheese for cheddar cheese. The cheddar will be less smoky and milder but will melt well and still provide creaminess.
- Instead of turkey stock, use vegetable or chicken broth/stock. Each will provide slightly different flavors but still give the dish the moisture it needs.
- For a bit of sweetness to cut the smokiness, try adding dried cranberries.
Serving and Storage
To serve: Serve hot or warm alongside other Thanksgiving side dishes like homemade green bean casserole, Grandma Alice’s mashed potatoes, roasted carrots with dates and pistachios, and cranberry sauce.
To store: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate. The leftovers will last at least 3 to 5 days in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
This can be common, depending on the leanness of the bacon. Simply supplement with unsalted butter or a high-heat neutral oil.
You can use whatever you prefer, but I enjoy a more rustic style. A country loaf or sourdough works great as they hold their form better than most breads.
Definitely! It can be assembled and placed in the refrigerator before the final bake.
Of course! Simply leave out the sausage and bacon, using a high-heat neutral oil instead of bacon grease. Then, substitute the turkey stock for vegetable stock.
Watch How to Make This Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Cheese & Bacon Stuffing
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 3 cups diced onion
- 2 ½ cups diced celery
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh sage
- ½ lb sweet or spicy bulk Italian sausage
- 12 cups bread cubes (about 1 large artisan country loaf cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 3 cups turkey stock
- 1 large egg beaten
- 8 oz smoked Gouda cheese cut into ¼-inch cubes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- Spread the bread cubes out on two baking sheets. Bake the bread until it is dry and beginning to toast, 45-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the heat to 350°F.12 cups bread cubes (about 1 large artisan country loaf cut into 1-inch cubes)
- Working in batches, cook the bacon in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until it is browned and crisp on both sides. Once cooked, chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces and set it aside. Drain the remaining bacon grease into a bowl. Measure 4 tablespoons back into the skillet. If needed, supplement with butter to achieve 4 tablespoons.8 slices bacon
- Heat the grease over medium and add the onion, celery, salt, and black pepper. Cook until they are soft and the onion is translucent, 4-6 minutes. Add the minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage, and sausage. Break the sausage into small pieces and cook until it is fully browned, 6-8 minutes. Remove from the heat.3 cups diced onion, 2 ½ cups diced celery, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme, 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary, 2 tbsp chopped fresh sage, ½ lb sweet or spicy bulk Italian sausage
- In a large bowl, combine the dried bread cubes, chopped bacon, cooked sausage mixture, turkey stock, beaten egg, and cheese. Stir together and pour it into the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake in the 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top begins to brown and is slightly souffléd, 20-30 minutes.3 cups turkey stock, 1 large egg, 8 oz smoked Gouda cheese
Made this today for early celebration. It was absolutely delicious and a different version but very savory. The Gouda smokiness was spot on as were all the herbs! We loved it!