Pumpkin Cornbread Stuffing with Country Sausage and Sage is hands down the best stuffing I’ve ever had. The flavors are phenomenal, and to be honest, when you’ve got a dressing like this, you don’t really need the turkey at all!
I had to do it, I had to make another batch of that PUMPKIN CORNBREAD just to see if it could knock it out of the park as a stuffing and man, did it ever. This was fabulous, and I’m not even a stuffing kind of person.
The appeal of plain stuffing has always been lost on me. But when you substitute homemade cornbread enriched with pumpkin, molasses and a little brown sugar for those brittle dried breadcrumbs in the bag, then add country sausage and fresh sage, you can’t help but get something special. You could easily make this a vegetarian stuffing, just replace the sausage with some roasted mushrooms, add in a few walnuts, and use veggie stock. I think dried cranberries would be nice, too.
I cut my cornbread in large chunks so it wouldn’t completely fall apart as the stuffing is mixed. I crumbled the larger pieces as I added in the liquid to get a combination of textures. I also cut the onion and celery in relatively large dice, so they are recognizable in the final dish; you can taste them and they still have some crunch..
The peppery country sausage and the fresh sage gives this pumpkin cornbread stuffing so many layers of flavor.
TIP: Fresh sage is well worth it, the flavor is far superior to the dried. If you have extra leftover, I’ll show you HOW TO DRY HERBS IN THE MICROWAVE, it’s a fabulous technique for preserving extra fresh herbs.
This beats the dried packaged mixes by a mile, I hope you give it a try!
I guess I’m going to have to call myself a stuffing person from now on.
I love all the extras on a holiday menu, and I have lots more side dish inspiration on the blog ~
Maple Candied Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Butter Pecan Pumpkin Souffle
Buttered Rutabaga
Easy Crock Pot Cranberry Butter
Pumpkin Cornbread Stuffing with Country Sausage and Sage
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Pumpkin Cornbread get recipe here
- 8 oz country sausage the kind that comes in a tube, or from the butcher
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 onion chopped (2 big handfulls)
- about 6 inner stalks of celery leaves included, sliced (2 big handfulls)
- salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 4 Tbsp chopped fresh sage leaves
- more butter for dotting
Instructions
- Set oven to 350
- If you have the time, let the cornbread sit on the counter overnight to dry out. Then cut it in large bite sized cubes. Set aside.
- Crumble the sausage into a large heavy bottomed pot. Brown the sausage, continuing to break it up into small bits as it cooks. When it is completely cooked, remove from the pan and set aside.
- Melt the butter in the same pan and sautee the onion and celery for several minutes until the onion starts to turn translucent.
- Add the sausage back to the pan.
- Turn off the heat and toss in the cornbread cubes and fresh sage. Add salt and pepper, and stir briefly to combine.
- Lightly beat the eggs in a measuring cup, and then stir in the stock. Pour this mixture into the stuffing pan, stirring lightly as you add the liquid. Break up any extra large chunks of cornbread as you mix. If it seems dry to you, add a little more stock, but not too much or the stuffing will get mushy. When it is all combined, but not overly mixed, turn into a buttered baking dish or casserole.
- Dot with butter, and then bake for about 30 minutes until hot and browned on top.
Make it your own ~
- You can bake this stuffing in well buttered muffins cups for individual portions…
- As I said above, this can be made vegetarian/vegan with just a few tweaks.
52 Comments
Meredith
November 25, 2019 at 4:46 amHi again – Also, I wanted to mention that last year I tried cooking it in the crockpot because we needed the oven space. It worked great! It didn’t get the super crisp top, but it actually wasn’t mushy or anything like I worried might happen from the crockpot. I’m planning to cook it the same way this year too.
Sue
November 25, 2019 at 4:47 amWow, that’s great to know, I always worry that the crock pot makes everything into mush ;)
Meredith
November 25, 2019 at 4:44 amHi! I’ve been making this stuffing for the past 4 or 5 years for Thanksgiving and it is what I most look forward to! I use the Jimmy Dean sage breakfast sausage for some extra sage flavor and it is absolutely delicious! The first year or two I was using Trader Joe’s boxed pumpkin cornbread mix, but then they discontinued it. Since then I’ve been using your pumpkin cornbread recipe on here, but substituting pumpkin pie spice for the spices you list (using same total quantity, but using the pumpkin pie spice). So yummy! Thank you for this wonderful recipe that has become a staple on my Thanksgiving table.
Sue
November 25, 2019 at 4:46 amI’m thrilled to hear this Meredith, have a happy holiday this year!
Kara
November 18, 2018 at 9:09 amHow many days in advance could you make the cornbread?
Sue
November 18, 2018 at 11:21 amHey Kara ~ you can make the cornbread way in advance, up to a week I’d say, because it doesn’t have to be fresh.
Megan
November 15, 2018 at 4:48 amHi! The link to the pumpkin cornbread no longer works. Can you redirect me or is there anywhere else that I can find a comparable recipe to use for this? Thank you in advance!
Sue
November 15, 2018 at 4:52 amShould work now Megan, and here it is, as well: https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/pumpkin-cornbread/
Shelley
November 1, 2018 at 4:37 pmCan this be made in advance and baked the next day?
Sue
November 1, 2018 at 5:39 pmThat should work fine.
Gillian Halicki
November 2, 2017 at 1:36 pmI am going to make this stuffing as it looks and sounds so good. Really though, I was hoping to be able to tell you how much I respect and emulate your style of cooking. I read a lot of cooking blogs and time after time, I go back to yours! I learn so much from you and Love your photography as well as your shares from your home front/experiences…
Sue
November 2, 2017 at 3:40 pmThanks for making my day Gillian ~ and I hope you enjoy this stuffing as much as we do ~ happy (almost) holidays :)
pam
November 28, 2016 at 7:21 amI made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit! Several people asked me for the recipe!
Sue
November 28, 2016 at 7:27 amYay ~ that’s the ultimate compliment!
Brittany
November 15, 2016 at 11:22 pmI can’t access the pumpkin cornbread link? I have to make this looks wonderful! Can you help?
Barara
November 24, 2015 at 7:35 amCan this be cooked in a crockpot?
Sue
November 24, 2015 at 7:52 amI can’t say for sure Barbara since I haven’t made stuffing in a crock pot, but I suppose if you make it the way the recipe says, and then instead of the oven, put it in the crock pot, it should work, although the texture would be a lot moister and softer.
Susan
November 24, 2015 at 6:16 amThis looks absolutely divine. Can you please tell me roughly how many this will serve? Thank you!
Loretta Reams
November 28, 2013 at 8:40 amI’m making this gluten free and adding apples and cranberries. I am excited to try it. Happy holidays.
Sue
November 28, 2013 at 9:11 amSounds yummy—Happy Thanksgiving Loretta!
Debbie
November 24, 2013 at 3:46 pmI am going to try this for Thanksgiving this year. Can this be made ahead and reheated without effecting the quality?
Sue
November 24, 2013 at 4:02 pmI personally think stuffing better when freshly made. You could make it ahead and leave out the liquid, and then mix and bake when you’re ready.
Miss Wix
November 24, 2013 at 2:52 pmGoing to make this with veggie sausage as our vegetarian main instead of turkey! So excited!
Miss Wix
November 24, 2013 at 2:54 pmoh, and going to add roasted mushrooms as well.
Miss Wix
November 24, 2013 at 6:56 pmOne question! If I’m making this as a main for 7 adults, you think this is enough, or should I double it?
Connie
November 21, 2013 at 12:18 pmI was wondering if this could work using part pumpkin cornbread and part ciabatta or other bread? I want a more savory flavor and less sweet. Thanks this looks yummmm.
Sue
November 21, 2013 at 1:04 pmI’m sure that would work, Connie.
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti
October 27, 2013 at 4:12 pmThank you, Sue! I was looking for a good gluten free stuffing to make for Thanksgiving and this is will be it, substituting gluten free cornbread, of course.
Julie@teachinggoodeaters
October 26, 2013 at 6:15 pmThis looks absolutely amazing! I’m thinking it would make a great breakfast!
Sue/the view from great island
November 22, 2012 at 2:22 amHi Mirkat— Thanks for visiting, and you can do this either way. I meant the dish to be baked in the oven, but many people like to have their stuffing inside the turkey. You would put it in before the turkey goes in the oven, and when it comes out, your stuffing should be thoroughly cooked. Some people like to make sure by checking the temperature with a thermometer. The stuffing should be about 160 degrees to be safe. Then, as you slice the turkey, spoon out the stuffing to serve alongside.
Enjoy!
Annalisa
November 10, 2013 at 3:02 amHow much fresh Sage are we suppose to add? Maybe I missed it, but I don’t recall seeing an amount in the recipe (and I’m making it right now). :-(
Annalisa
November 10, 2013 at 3:09 amI see it now. I guess I was confused, because it mentioned “Turn off the heat and toss in the cornbread cubes and fresh sage.”, but the sage amount was listed below it (in the following steps). Got it!
Mirkat
November 20, 2012 at 3:12 amhi! greetings from buenos aires, i’m making your stuffing on thursday for our thanksgiving celebration (it’s a group of us studying abroad here) .. one question.. i’ve never actually stuffed a turkey, so instead of baking the stuffing in the oven, in its own casserole, should I just stuff it in the turkey when the egg is still raw? will it cook? or should I cook the stuffing first in the casserole, and then put it in the turkey. also when the turkey is finished, do i remove the stuffing and serve it fresh out of there?
grace
November 16, 2012 at 8:25 pmokay, so in this instance, i might be okay with a little pumpkin action. what a pretty batch of dressing!
Sue/the view from great island
November 22, 2012 at 2:19 amYes!
Happy Turkey Day Grace!
Magnolia Verandah
November 16, 2012 at 6:08 amI love a bit of stuffing and I would be happy to eat pumpkin every day so this is a great marriage – just have to skip back and find out how you made that cornbread, something we never seem to make downunder.
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:55 pmCome to think of it, I guess cornbread is a traditional American food, but I hope you try the pumpkin version, it’s wonderful!
Rosa's Yummy Yums
November 16, 2012 at 7:33 amThat stuffing looks amazing and ever so scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:55 pmThanks Rosa!
Mary
November 16, 2012 at 12:24 amway to go, Sue! I love playing with unusual recipe ideas. I had a cornbread stuffing idea I was thinking about for this year too, but I’m not sure I’ll be that creative after all. I may just try yours instead!
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:52 pmI’d love to see your take on stuffing, I’m imagining it might include jalapenos?
Amy
November 15, 2012 at 7:54 pmYes! I was hoping you’d go with the option of making the cornbread into a stuffing. I’ve honestly never even had cornbread stuffing before (my family’s is so very traditional and plain), but it looks too good not to try. Although I don’t think I could get away with making it on Thanksgiving, I should try it some other time. Why save stuffing just for one day of the year?
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:50 pmWe always had plain stuffing, too. I think that’s why it never wowed me. But that’s the thing about Thanksgiving, traditions die hard!
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
November 15, 2012 at 7:42 pmMmmmm! This sounds so earthy and comforting. All requests in my house this year are for cornbread stuffing, so this has really given me inspiration. Delicious, Sue. :D
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:57 pmI’d love a seat at your Thanksgiving table, Heather…!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
November 15, 2012 at 6:01 pmI’m not even a stuffing kind of person either but my hubs is. This is SO up his alley! Gorgeous pics of it, too!
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 3:58 pmI’m only a stuffing person one day a year, I think. I think of it like bread pudding…maybe good once in a long while, but not for everyday.
Anonymous
November 15, 2012 at 5:20 pmNo offense, but I really don’t get why people ask if they can substitute the main ingredient in a recipe.. obviously, you can use whatever you want, but what makes this special is the pumpkin cornbread. If you want to use something else, why not just find a standard sausage stuffing recipe instead of butchering this one?
I am looking forward to trying it, as written. Thanks for the idea!
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 4:02 pmI don’t mind when people ask about substitutions because it opens up the discussion to new ideas and variations. In this case, It got me thinking about new directions for it myself. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you try it!
Tabitha
November 15, 2012 at 4:52 pmI love any kind of sausagey stuffing, I’ve nver even seen cornbread before, I’m intrigued, do you think I could put some other kind of bread in it instead?
Sue/the view from great island
November 16, 2012 at 4:00 pmHey Tabitha—the sausage really makes this stuffing, for me anyway, so I’m sure it would be good with any other kind of bread. But I would try fresh bread cubes, not the dried ones from a package, to get a similar consistency. You just inspired me to imagine this with pumpernickel bread…yum…but without the pumpkin component ;)
Anonymous
November 18, 2012 at 11:22 pmHow many people does this serve?