Easy Crockpot Stuffing: Your Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free Holiday Side Dish
This easy crockpot stuffing recipe is your secret weapon for a stress-free holiday meal. Made completely from scratch with dried bread cubes and a medley of fresh, aromatic vegetables, this recipe allows you to reclaim precious oven space during the busy holiday season. Prepare your family’s favorite side dish effortlessly in your slow cooker and enjoy a delicious, perfectly moist stuffing that will be the talk of the table.
Why This Slow Cooker Stuffing Recipe Is a Game Changer
When it comes to holiday meals, stuffing is often hailed as a quintessential side dish. But let’s be honest, juggling multiple dishes in the oven can be a significant source of stress. This Crockpot Stuffing recipe solves that problem beautifully, offering numerous advantages over traditional oven-baked versions and even store-bought boxed mixes.
First and foremost, homemade crockpot stuffing far surpasses any pre-packaged alternative in flavor and texture. Starting from scratch with fresh ingredients allows for a depth of flavor that simply can’t be replicated. Beyond taste, the slow cooker method frees up invaluable oven space, which is often at a premium during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any large gathering. Imagine your oven dedicated solely to the turkey or a prime rib, while your stuffing cooks to perfection, unattended, in the background.
This hands-off approach also means less active cooking time on your part, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal prep or, even better, spend more quality time with family and guests. Once you discover the ease and deliciousness of making stuffing in the slow cooker, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. We’ve successfully converted other holiday staples, like Crockpot mashed potatoes and Crockpot macaroni and cheese, to the slow cooker, and this easy crockpot stuffing is another triumphant addition to our stress-saving repertoire. Plus, slow cooker dishes are incredibly transportable, making them perfect for potlucks or when you’re contributing to a holiday dinner elsewhere.
Key Ingredients for Homemade Crockpot Stuffing
Crafting the perfect homemade stuffing requires a blend of simple yet flavorful ingredients. Below you’ll find a detailed look at what you need, along with helpful tips and substitution suggestions to make this recipe your own. For exact measurements and a printable recipe card, please scroll to the end of this post.
Ingredient Details and Expert Substitution Ideas
Let’s dive deeper into the components that make this slow cooker stuffing so incredibly delicious:
- Bread: The Foundation of Your Stuffing
The type of bread you choose significantly impacts the final texture and flavor of your stuffing. Almost any variety works well, from classic white sandwich bread to heartier options like brown bread, sourdough, or Italian bread. You can even repurpose hamburger or hot dog buns if that’s what you have on hand, as long as they are dried and cut into cubes. For the best results, we recommend a slightly more structured bread that holds its shape well, rather than a very fluffy or airy bread that might become too mushy.You can easily substitute homemade dried bread cubes with store-bought unseasoned bread cubes. If opting for store-bought, I typically add an extra cup or so, as commercial cubes tend to be smaller than those you’d cut at home, and a higher quantity helps achieve the right bread-to-liquid ratio.
- Unsalted Butter: The Flavor Carrier
Butter is essential for sautéing the vegetables and infusing a rich, savory flavor throughout the stuffing. Using unsalted butter gives you better control over the overall sodium content of your dish. If you only have salted butter, simply reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe. - Yellow Onion & Celery: The Aromatic Base
These two vegetables, often referred to as the “holy trinity” in many savory recipes, create the foundational aromatic layer for the stuffing. When sautéed in butter, they become tender and sweet, releasing their flavors to mingle with the bread and seasonings. Chop them finely and uniformly to ensure they cook evenly and integrate seamlessly into the stuffing. - Seasonings: The Soul of Your Stuffing
A thoughtful blend of herbs and spices is what truly brings stuffing to life. Our recipe features:- Sea Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.
- Dried Thyme: Offers a warm, earthy, slightly floral note that is classic in poultry dishes.
- Poultry Seasoning: A convenient blend typically containing sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and sometimes nutmeg or black pepper. It provides that signature Thanksgiving flavor.
- Ground Black Pepper: Adds a subtle kick and depth.
Feel free to customize your herbs! Marjoram, sage, rosemary, and fresh parsley are all fantastic additions that pair beautifully with homemade stuffing. You can experiment with adding a pinch of allspice or nutmeg for a hint of warmth.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: The Liquid Gold
Chicken broth moistens the bread and infuses it with savory flavor. Using low-sodium broth allows you to control the salt level, preventing the stuffing from becoming overly salty. You can easily substitute with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version or turkey broth if you have it on hand, especially around the holidays. - Large Eggs: The Binder
Whisked eggs act as a binder, helping the stuffing hold its shape and preventing it from becoming too crumbly. They also add a slight richness to the texture.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Perfect Crockpot Stuffing
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Prepare Your Slow Cooker: Begin by spraying the base and sides of your Crockpot with a non-stick cooking spray, or grease it thoroughly with butter. This crucial step prevents the stuffing from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Set it aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In a medium-large pan or skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped yellow onions and celery. Cook them gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become softened and translucent but not browned. This process coaxes out their sweet, savory flavors. Once cooked, remove the pan from the heat and allow the vegetables to cool slightly to prevent them from scrambling the eggs later.
- Season the Bread Cubes: In a very large mixing bowl, combine your dried bread cubes. Sprinkle them evenly with sea salt, dried thyme, poultry seasoning, and ground black pepper. Toss gently to ensure all the bread cubes are lightly coated with the seasonings.
- Incorporate Vegetables and Butter: Add the slightly cooled sautéed onions, celery, and the residual butter from the pan to the seasoned bread cubes. Mix everything thoroughly but carefully. You want to distribute the vegetables and butter evenly without crushing the bread cubes.
- Moisten with Broth: Gradually add the low-sodium chicken broth. Start with 2 cups, mixing gently until the bread cubes begin to absorb the liquid. Then, add the remaining ½ cup, continuing to mix until all the bread is uniformly moistened. The goal is for the bread cubes to be wet but still hold their distinct shape, not turn into a soggy paste. Be gentle to maintain the desired texture.
- Add Eggs and Transfer: Pour in the two whisked eggs, mixing carefully one last time to distribute them evenly throughout the mixture. The eggs act as a binder, helping the stuffing hold together. Once combined, transfer the entire bread cube mixture into the prepared Crockpot base, spreading it into an even layer.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover your crockpot and cook on HIGH for an initial 30 minutes. This burst of higher heat helps to get the cooking process started quickly. After 30 minutes, reduce the heat setting to LOW and continue cooking for an additional 4 hours. The long, slow cooking process ensures the stuffing is thoroughly cooked, moist, and infused with flavor.
- Final Touches: Once cooked, give the stuffing a gentle fluff with a fork. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding any additional salt and pepper if desired. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for an aromatic and visually appealing finish.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Crockpot Stuffing
Drying bread is a simple yet crucial step for the best stuffing texture, preventing it from becoming soggy. You have a few options:
- Air Dry (24 hours): Slice your bread into 1-inch cubes and spread them in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Leave them uncovered and exposed to air at room temperature for at least 24 hours, or even up to 2-3 days, until they are noticeably stale and firm.
- Oven Dry (Quick Method): For a faster approach, preheat your oven to a low temperature (around 250°F / 120°C). Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes, tossing occasionally, until they are dry and crisp but not browned. Similar to making homemade croutons, but without the color. Keep a close eye on them to prevent toasting.
The key is to remove moisture, creating a sturdy base that will absorb the flavorful liquids without falling apart.
Absolutely! Preparing elements of your crockpot stuffing ahead of time is a fantastic way to minimize stress on a busy holiday.
- Aromatics: Sauté the onions and celery in butter a day or two in advance. Let them cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to assemble the stuffing, a quick zap in the microwave will remelt the butter, making them easy to incorporate.
- Bread Cubes: Dry your bread cubes (using either method above) up to several days in advance and store them in a large, open paper bag or a breathable container at room temperature.
- Herbs & Seasonings: Measure and mix your dried herbs and seasonings ahead of time in a small bowl or airtight container.
These small steps can significantly reduce the workload on the day of your holiday feast, ensuring a smoother cooking experience for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Yes, absolutely! Adding cooked crumbled sausage is a wonderful way to introduce even more savory flavor and heartiness to your stuffing. Simply cook your preferred sausage (pork, turkey, or even a spicy Italian sausage) in a skillet, breaking it into small crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat, then add the cooked sausage directly to the bread cube mixture along with the sautéed vegetables before transferring it to the crockpot. This is a popular variation for a reason!
Store any leftover slow cooker stuffing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, you have a few options:
- Oven: For best results, reheat in the oven. Place stuffing in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil (to prevent drying out), and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through. Uncover for the last 5-10 minutes if you prefer a slightly crispy top.
- Microwave: For individual servings, microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Slow Cooker: If you have a large amount, you can reheat it on LOW in the crockpot for 1-2 hours, adding a splash of broth if it seems dry.
The consistency of your stuffing largely depends on the bread-to-liquid ratio and the drying of the bread.
- Too Mushy: This usually happens if your bread wasn’t dry enough or if too much liquid was added. Ensure your bread cubes are thoroughly dried before mixing. When adding broth, be mindful not to over-saturate; the cubes should be moist but still somewhat firm.
- Too Dry: If your stuffing is dry, it might be due to not enough liquid, or perhaps your slow cooker runs hotter than average. Next time, you can add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup of broth or ensure the lid is sealed tightly to trap moisture. You can also add a splash of warm broth when reheating.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Variations
This easy crockpot stuffing recipe is incredibly versatile, serving as a perfect base for all sorts of delectable additions and customizations. While delicious on its own, it’s also a canvas for your culinary creativity.
Consider enhancing your stuffing with additional ingredients such as:
- Hearty Add-ins: Beyond crumbled sausage, try sautéed mushrooms, diced apples, dried cranberries for a touch of sweetness, or toasted pecans/walnuts for a nutty crunch.
- Extra Vegetables: Finely diced carrots, leeks, or bell peppers can add more color, flavor, and nutrients. Sauté them along with the onions and celery.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic, added to the pan with the onions and celery, will deepen the aromatic profile.
- Fresh Herbs: While dried herbs are convenient, a handful of fresh chopped herbs like sage, rosemary, or parsley stirred in at the end can elevate the flavor and add a beautiful freshness.
This savory side dish is, of course, a star alongside your roasted turkey, ham, or chicken. It’s an indispensable component of any holiday spread, pairing wonderfully with other classics like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. Don’t limit it to just holidays; it also makes a comforting side for a Sunday roast chicken or pork chops.
More Essential Thanksgiving Recipes
Planning a full holiday feast? Here are more of our favorite recipes that will complete your Thanksgiving or Christmas table:
- Perfectly Roasted Turkey
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
- Classic Homemade Green Bean Casserole
- Fluffy Homemade Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
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Crockpot Stuffing
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1 large yellow onion chopped small, about 1 1/2 cups
- 3 ribs celery chopped, about 1 cup
- 1 loaf bread dried and cubed. a standard size loaf of bread should yield about 10-12 cups of dried cubes
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 large eggs whisked
Things You’ll Need
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6 qt Crockpot
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Large skillet
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Large mixing bowl
Before You Begin
- Feel free to toss in some cooked crumbled sausage for even more flavor!
- To dry your bread, you can either slice it into cubes and let it rest on a baking sheet (uncovered and exposed to air) for around 24 hours. Or, for a quicker alternative, you can follow the same process that you would when making homemade croutons which is drying the cubes out in the oven. However, you’ll want to be careful not to brown the cubes, you simply want to dry them out. Keep an eye on them in the oven.
- From white, brown, sourdough to Italian bread, just about any kind of bread works well for making stuffing. You can easily substitute with store-bought unseasoned bread cubes. I typically like to add a cup or so more if using store-bought cubes as they’re typically smaller than homemade cubes.
- You can play around with the herbs you add to this dish. Marjoram, sage, rosemary, and parsley all pair beautifully with homemade stuffing.
Instructions
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Spray the base of the Crockpot with non-stick spray (or grease with butter) and set aside.
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Melt butter in a medium-large pan and cook the onions and celery for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow them to cool slightly.
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Add bread cubes into a large bowl and season with salt, dried thyme, poultry seasoning, and black pepper.
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Add the cooked vegetables and butter to the bread and mix well again.
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Start by adding 2 cups of stock to the bread, mix well, then add the remaining ½ cup and mix until all the bread is wet. The bread cubes should still hold their shape so be gentle when mixing.
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Add the two whisked eggs in, mixing carefully again, then transfer the bread cube mixture to the Crockpot base.
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Cook on high for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook for an additional 4 hours.
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Season with fresh thyme and any additional salt and pepper if desired.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make Ahead – You can sautee the onions and celery in butter, allow it to cool, then transfer it to an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator a day ahead of time. Of course, you can also dry out your bread cubes and prep your herbs and seasonings ahead of time as well. When ready to assemble, pop the veggie and butter mixture into the microwave to remelt the butter and continue with the recipe as you would normally. These little steps will remove extra work the day of, especially if you’re making this stuffing for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.