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Best Crispy Sage and Sausage Stuffing: 5 Easy Holiday Side

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A bold and textured holiday side dish featuring toasted bread cubes, savory Italian sausage, and fresh sage, baked to achieve a golden, crunchy crust and a soft, juicy interior.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf stale sturdy bread (sourdough, ciabatta, or country white), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 large bunch fresh sage leaves (approx. 2 tablespoons chopped, plus extra for garnish)
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3–4 cups low-sodium chicken stock, warmed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • Optional: Dried cranberries, chopped pecans, or diced celery

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread bread cubes on baking sheets and toast for 15-20 minutes until dry and lightly golden. Let cool completely.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage, breaking it up, until browned and crispy (8-10 minutes). Drain excess grease, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan. Transfer sausage to a large bowl.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté diced onion for 5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and chopped sage, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour over the sausage.
  4. Add toasted bread cubes to the bowl with the sausage and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together beaten eggs, warm chicken stock, salt, and pepper. Pour over the bread mixture and toss to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes to absorb liquid.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Transfer stuffing mixture to the dish and press down gently.
  7. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Check top; if pale, bake another 15-30 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  8. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh sage leaves.

Notes

Toast bread thoroughly to ensure crispiness. Warm the stock before adding to help absorption. Brown the sausage well for flavor. Let the stuffing rest before serving to allow it to set. Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffing, sage, sausage, holiday, Thanksgiving, crispy, bread, side dish, easy recipe

Find it online: https://shimmersnack.com/best-crispy-sage-and-sausage-stuffing-5-easy-holiday-side/