Make your holiday meal unforgettable with this Crock Pot stuffing recipe. It's buttery, flavorful, and perfectly moist without ever touching the oven. Sautéed onions, celery, and savory poultry seasoning give every bite that classic holiday taste everyone loves.
Everyone always requests this stuffing in the Crock Pot recipe every year for the holidays, and there are never any leftovers by the end of the night. The mix of buttery onions, crisp celery, and savory herbs creates that cozy holiday flavor everyone loves.
Using the slow cooker gives it the perfect texture and frees up oven space for the rest of your meal, making it a true holiday win. Looking for more hands-off holiday side dishes? Try my Crock Pot Brussels sprouts or Crock Pot green bean casserole.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple to Prepare: Everything comes together in one bowl and cooks right in your slow cooker, making holiday prep stress-free.
- Full of Flavor: A blend of buttery onions, celery, and savory herbs gives this Crock Pot dressing that classic homemade taste everyone loves.
- Crowd Pleaser: Loved by both kids and adults, this Crock Pot dressing recipe is the kind of side dish everyone asks for year after year.
- Perfect for the Holidays: It frees up oven space while delivering that warm, comforting flavor that's perfect for a Thanksgiving in a Crock Pot meal. For a sweet finish, add dessert to the menu with my Crock Pot apple crisp.
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Ingredients
- Dry Bread Crumbs: You can use store-bought bread crumbs or make your own by toasting cubed bread until golden and dry. Using a mix of white and wheat bread adds great flavor and texture.
- Vegetables: Onions and celery add a classic savory flavor and aroma to the stuffing. Dice them evenly so they cook at the same rate and blend smoothly into the mix.
- Poultry Seasoning: A blend of sage, thyme, and rosemary that gives the stuffing its signature holiday flavor. If you don't have any, you can easily make your own with equal parts of these dried herbs.
- Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Moistens the breadcrumbs and infuses them with rich flavor without making the stuffing soggy.
- Seasonings: A combination of dried rosemary, salt, and black pepper enhances the overall flavor of the dish, balancing out the richness of the butter and broth.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add Mushrooms: Sauté diced mushrooms with the onions and celery for an earthy, umami flavor that pairs well with turkey or chicken.
- Different Breads: Swap the standard bread crumbs for French bread, sourdough, cornbread, or brioche to give the stuffing a unique texture and flavor profile.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked sausage, diced chicken, or crumbled bacon for a heartier version that doubles as a main dish. For an easy all-in-one option, check out my Crock Pot chicken and stuffing recipe.
- Fruity Twist: Mix in dried cranberries, chopped apples, or raisins for a hint of sweetness that complements the savory herbs.
How to Make Stuffing in a Crock Pot
Making a Crock Pot turkey dressing is a simple way to get a flavorful, hands-off side dish while saving oven space for the rest of your holiday meal.
- Step 1: Sauté the Vegetables. In a large skillet, melt the butter and cook the diced onion and celery with the poultry seasoning, salt, rosemary, and pepper until the onions are soft and fragrant.
- Step 2: Mix the Eggs and Broth. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and chicken broth until smooth. This will help bind the stuffing together.
- Step 3: Combine Ingredients. In a large bowl, add the bread crumbs and pour in the vegetable mixture. Slowly stir in the egg and broth mixture until the bread crumbs are evenly moistened.
- Step 4: Cook in the Crock Pot. Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, transfer the stuffing mixture, and cook on high for 3-4 hours. For a lightly crispy top, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking. Pair it with a slow cooker turkey breast for a stress-free holiday feast.
Expert Tips
- Choose the Right Bread: Use slightly stale bread or toast your fresh bread cubes before making the stuffing. This helps the bread absorb the broth without turning mushy.
- Sauté for Maximum Flavor: Cooking the onions and celery in butter before adding them to the stuffing brings out their natural sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Adjust the Broth: Depending on your bread type, you may need slightly more or less chicken broth. You want the mixture to be moist but not soupy.
- Storage Tips: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven to maintain texture and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this slow cooker stuffing as a cozy side dish for your holiday meals. Pair it with a brown sugar pineapple ham in the Crock Pot and easy glazed carrots for a complete festive meal.
- It's perfect for family dinners or potlucks when you want a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that's easy to bring along. Pair it with my easy slow cooker pot roast for a hearty meal.
- If there are any leftovers, they work well for breakfast the next day. Try it alongside scrambled eggs or in a slow cooker breakfast casserole.
Crock Pot Stuffing Recipe FAQs
Use slightly stale or toasted bread and add the broth gradually until the mixture is moist but not wet. Avoid lifting the lid too often while cooking, as this can release steam and affect the texture.
Yes, slow cookers are great for keeping stuffing warm. Simply cover it and set the slow cooker to the warm setting, keeping the lid on. If the stuffing seems a little dry, stir in a splash of chicken broth to rehydrate.
Yes, just use gluten-free bread crumbs and chicken broth to make a delicious gluten-free Crock Pot stuffing.
Yes, you can assemble the stuffing the day before, cover it, and store it in the fridge. When ready to cook, allow it to sit at room temperature for a bit, then transfer it to the slow cooker and follow the recipe instructions.
More Delicious Crock Pot Side Dish Recipes
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Crock Pot Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 cups dry bread crumbs (see recipe notes to make homemade bread crumbs)
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cups celery (diced)
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, rosemary, and black pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent.
- In a medium bowl whisk eggs and chicken broth together and set aside.
- In a very large bowl, add bread crumbs and vegetable mixture. Fold in to the dry bread crumbs while slowly adding in chicken broth. (see notes below)
- Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with a non stick cooking spray. Add stuffing and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
Notes
- Toast or use slightly stale bread to help the stuffing absorb the broth without getting soggy.
- Sauté the onions and celery in butter before adding to the bread crumbs to boost flavor.
- Add the egg and broth mixture gradually so the stuffing is moist but not watery.
- For a lightly crispy top, remove the slow cooker lid during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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