Homemade Slow Cooker Stuffing
Slow cooker stuffing is a convenient way to prepare your stuffing, especially during the holidays. As the stuffing cooks in the slow cooker, all of the flavours meld together to form a delicious dish. Use chicken bone broth in it for a real authentic taste!
In this blog post, you will learn how to make slow cooker stuffing.
Why Make Your Stuffing in the Slow Cooker?
Homemade Slow Cooker Stuffing is my favourite way to make stuffing. The stuffing comes out moist but also has the crust on it that we love about stuffing a turkey or a chicken. I first made this because I was trying to make Thanksgiving Dinner and in Ireland the Irish supermarkets do not bring out whole turkeys until American Thanksgiving. As a Canadian, we celebrate Thanksgiving a month earlier than my American friends. I looked everywhere for a whole turkey but to no avail. I eventually had to settle on a turkey crown, but where do you put your stuffing in a turkey crown? In the slow cooker!
If you’re putting together a holiday spread, serve the slow cooker stuffing alongside my popular deviled eggs recipe for an easy and comforting side dish.
Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker
- You can make more stuffing than just relying on how much you can stuff into the turkey or chicken.
- With the slow cooker you can make the stuffing, turn on the slow cooker, and leave it.
- The stuffing comes out just as good as if it was made in the turkey.
How Do I Prepare my Breadcrumbs?
For your breadcrumb preparation, you will need to cube a whole loaf of bread including the end pieces. While stale bread is preferred, you can use a loaf of fresh bread. Because the stuffing is being made in a slow cooker the edges will crisp up and will not be soggy. It may seem like a lot of bread, but the bread does decrease in volume as it cooks in the slow cooker.
Want to make your own loaf of bread? Try my homemade Sandwich Bread Recipe.
Homemade or Store-Bought Chicken Bone Broth?
Homemade chicken bone broth offers a better flavour, nutrition, and customization but requires time and effort to prepare. Store-bought broth is convenient and consistent, but it may contain additives unlike homemade broths. Your choice really depends on the balance between convenience and quality that suits your needs.
While homemade chicken bone broth gives lots of flavour to your stuffing, the convenience of using a chicken stock cube is huge. Whatever is really easiest and the best option for you is what matters! Try making your own Classic, Chicken Bone Broth with this recipe here!
Stuffing can become mushy if too much broth is added. Add the broth gradually and make sure your bread is properly dried before combining the ingredients. Different types of bread absorb different amounts of liquid, so you may not need all of the broth.
Do I Need to Do Anything to My Stuffing While It’s in the Slow Cooker?
The stuffing can begin to stick to the sides of the slow cooker. About every half an hour I would recommend you stir it to keep the stuffing from burning onto the sides of the slow cooker and to promote even cooking. The beauty of making your stuffing in the slow cooker is that there is not a lot of maintenance or checking up on it so that you can devote your time to other dishes or tasks.
Can I Use this Recipe to Stuff my Turkey or Chicken?
While this recipe can be used to stuff either your turkey or chicken, a whole loaf of bread will not be able to fit inside either bird. You would need to decrease the amount of stuffing that you plan on making if you do not want to use a slow cooker and just stuff the bird.
How Would I Stuff my Chicken or Turkey?
If you choose to use this stuffing recipe to stuff your chicken or turkey, make sure that you fully cook the breadcrumbs before stuffing your bird. Make sure that the bird’s cavity is cleaned out and dry. Once the stuffing is cooked, you can gently insert the stuffing inside of the cavity leaving room for expansion. Avoid overfilling, as this can prevent the bird from cooking evenly. If you decide to stuff your chicken check out my Basil and Thyme Whole Roasted Chicken Recipe.
How to Reheat my Stuffing Leftovers?
Yes, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days after cooking it. To reheat, you can put it into a microwave safe dish and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Stir after each minute.
There are three ways that you can reheat your leftover stuffing.
- Stovetop Method: Put your leftover stuffing into a skillet or saucepan and add a splash of broth or water to keep it from drying out. Heat over medium-low to while stirring occasionally to keep it from drying out. This method lets you control the heat to prevent your stuffing from burning or drying out.
- Microwave Method: Transfer your stuffing into a microwave dish and cover with either a microwave safe lid or microwave safe plastic wrap with a vent in it for steam to escape. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through the reheating process.
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 350℉/175℃/Gas Mark 4. Place leftover stuffing in an oven safe dish and cover. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. You can remove the lid during the last 10 minutes if you would like the stuffing crispier on the top.
Make sure that the internal temperature reaches 165℉/75℃ so that it has been safely reheated.
Ingredients
Loaf of Bread: any type of bread can be used for this. I normally just get a loaf of white bread if I need to buy a loaf. You can use fresh bread or bread that has gone a bit stale.
Butter: the butter moistens the bread and adds a rich flavour.
Celery: celery gives the stuffing a bit of crunch, but it will soften while in the slow cooker.
Onion: the onion adds some extra flavour.
Thyme: thyme is used sparingly as a little gives you the desired savoury, flavour that you want,
Sage: sage gives the stuffing that flavour that we know and love!
Salt: salt is used for added flavour.
Black Pepper: black pepper adds flavour too.
Chicken Broth: chicken broth moistens the bread and gives the flavour to the dish that we want. You can purchase your broth or make your own Homemade Chicken Broth.
Tips
- Use your leftover stale bread to make this stuffing recipe. Stale bread absorbs the juices much better than fresh bread. It holds its texture better, and it is a great way to repurpose that loaf of bread and to prevent food waste.
- This size of recipe was made in a 2.5L slow cooker. If you have a bigger slow cooker, you can easily double this recipe.
- Before the stuffing was cooking and I just had poured it into my slow cooker, it filled my 2.5L slow cooker. The stuffing does lose bulk as it cooks so it will definitely decrease in volume. By the time mine was done cooking, it had gone from a full slow cooker to about 2/3 full.
Try these other great holiday recipes!
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
- Roasted Carrots
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Whipped Cream
- Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
- No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
Slow Cooker Stuffing
Ingredients
- Loaf of Bread cubed
- 1 c. butter
- 2 large celery stocks chopped
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 ½ tsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- 1 cup chicken broth plus extra for desired moistness
Instructions
- Cube your loaf of bread and put into a large mixing bowl.
- Melt your butter and add it to the breadcrumbs.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except for the chicken broth.
- Mix ingredients together well.
- Add your cup of chicken broth. Mix it into your ingredients and continue to add more chicken broth until you have your desired moistness.
- Transfer your stuffing to your slow cooker and turn it on to high heat.
- Cook your stuffing on high for 4 hours stirring every 30 minutes or as needed.
- After 4 hours remove from heat, let cool, and serve with a delicious Basil and Thyme Whole Roasted Chicken.
Notes
Author: Sarah Young
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make slow cooker stuffing ahead of time?
Yes! Slow cooker stuffing is a great make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish. You can prepare the ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate them until you’re ready to cook. If the stuffing has already been cooked, keep it refrigerated and reheat it thoroughly before serving.
What type of bread is best for slow cooker stuffing?
Day-old or slightly stale bread works best because it absorbs the broth and seasonings without becoming too mushy. White bread, French bread, sourdough, or a combination of breads can all work well.
Do I need to dry the bread before making stuffing?
Drying the bread helps it absorb the broth and seasonings while maintaining a good texture. You can leave cubed bread out overnight or lightly toast it in the oven before adding it to the stuffing.
Can I use store-bought stuffing cubes?
Absolutely! Pre-cut stuffing cubes are a convenient option and can save time when preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Choose plain or seasoned stuffing cubes depending on the flavor you’re looking for.
Can I add sausage to slow cooker stuffing?
Yes! Cooked sausage is a delicious addition to stuffing and adds extra savory flavor. Brown the sausage separately and drain any excess grease before mixing it into the stuffing.
Can I add vegetables to slow cooker stuffing?
Definitely! Celery, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and other vegetables can be delicious additions. Sautéing firmer vegetables first helps them become tender while adding extra flavor.
How long does stuffing take in a slow cooker?
Cooking times can vary depending on your slow cooker and the amount of stuffing. Generally, stuffing can be cooked on low for several hours until heated through and the center is fully cooked. Check your recipe for the exact cooking time.
How do I store leftover slow cooker stuffing?
Allow the stuffing to cool and transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. You can also freeze leftover stuffing for longer storage.