Moist Sausage Dressing

Sausage Dressing
Sausage Stuffing or Dressing. Photo Credit: Diana Rattray
  • 45 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins,
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 10-12 Servings
Ratings (56)

By Diana Rattray

Updated 10/23/17

Sausage, onion, and celery give this seasoned bread dressing great flavor, the sausage adds extra moisture. Use fresh or canned chicken broth — preferably low sodium — in this recipe, along with fresh herbs if at all possible. Dried herbs are fine, too.

This dressing is excellent with a roast turkey or turkey breast, and it goes well with a pork roast or a roasted or baked chicken dish as well.

The dressing can also be used to stuff a turkey or chicken, but use a food thermometer to make sure it has reached the safe minimum temperature. Remove stuffing from the bird after the resting time and refrigerate it within 2 hours after cooking. The center of the stuffing must reach at least 165 F (74 C). Even if the turkey or chicken has reached the minimum temperature, it must be cooked until the stuffing is done.  For more on stuffing safety, visit this page: Turkey Basics: Stuffing the Bird Safely

What You'll Need

  • 1 pound mild or sage breakfast sausage
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) butter
  • 2 medium onions, chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups chopped celery
  • 10 cups cubed French bread or white bread
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried leaf sage, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups chicken stock, low sodium
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • dash freshly ground black pepper​

How to Make It

  1. Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C/Gas 4).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up and stirring frequently, until it is fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove the sausage to paper towels to drain.
  3. Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel and place it over medium-low heat. Add the butter and heat until it has melted. Add the chopped onion and celery and cook, stirring, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  1. In a large mixing bowl, toss the bread cubes with the herbs and seasonings. Add the vegetables with the butter and the drained sausage. Add the chicken broth and stir until well moistened, but not mushy. Pack gently into the prepared baking dish and cover it tightly with foil.
  2. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and broil for about 3 to 4 minutes, or just until browned on top.

Tips and Variations

  • The stuffing may be made a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Take it out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before baking.
  • Add 1 grated or julienned carrot to the skillet with the onion and celery.
  • Sausage and Apple Stuffing - Add 1 1/2 cups of chopped Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples to the stuffing mixture. Add about 1/2 cup of dried cranberries, if desired.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 183
Total Fat 15 g
Saturated Fat 7 g
Unsaturated Fat 5 g
Cholesterol 40 mg
Sodium 526 mg
Carbohydrates 6 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 6 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)