This delicious crock pot stuffing is going to make your life so much easier! The perfect complement to turkey or ham on a holiday table, it’s a favorite even for those who don’t love stuffing. The addition of leeks and sausage makes it unique and flavorful! Easy to prep, this side dish is great served with any meal any time of the year.
Original recipe posted: February 2016 | Recipe updated: October 2019
What are your favorite dishes that have to be represented at a holiday meal? I know that for our family, one of them is stuffing. Along with potatoes and any new creative recipes, of course. This delicious slow cooker sausage and leek stuffing recipe kinda fell into my food blogging abyss. Which is truly a shame because it was fabulously tasty. So tasty that I made it twice in the same week.
I hit a home run with this one. The flavor is amazing and the crockpot did all of the work for me. Making it this way opened up oven space, a precious commodity during a holiday meal, am I right? And who can resist a recipe with leeks? I love ’em.
I love having my side dishes and the majority of my cooking done before the table is set and the guests arrived. The dishes I prepare can be kept warm and don’t need to be made immediately prior to eating. But this also makes your mouth water as the steam rising out of the stuffing and other dishes make you wish it was time to dig in!
HOW TO PREPARE A PERFECT HOMEMADE STUFFING DISH
Let this slow cooker stuffing recipe shine for your Thanksgiving day meal!
STEP 1
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until no longer pink. Drain grease and add onions, celery, leeks, mushrooms, salt and pepper to skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until veggies are soft and fragrant.
STEP 2
Place a cooking liner in a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour dry bread cubes evenly into bottom of slow cooker and top with sausage-veggie mixture from skillet. Pour the chicken broth and water over the top, covering the entire surface.
STEP 3
Stir slightly and cover crockpot. Set cook time to for 4 hours on Low heat, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.
RECIPE TIPS
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The broth amount could vary by up to a cup or more, depending on the type of bread you use. You want the cubes to be moist but not mushy as the onions/celery and other additions will also add a bit of moisture to the stuffing, so keep that in mind. Start by adding 1/2 cups of broth if your mixture needs extra moisture.
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Be sure to use a slow cooker liner. It has the added benefit of keeping the stuffing super moist as well as easy clean up!
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Swap out the sausage for turkey sausage for a little healthier version.
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Making your own bread cubes is easy if you have some around the house you’d like to use up. Any good white sandwich bread works if it is on the dry side. Any kind of bread works, so feel free to mix in a whole wheat slice or some leftover hot dog buns! Cut the bread into 1″ cubes, and add them to a baking sheet. Put them in the oven for about 30-35 minutes at 300 degrees F.
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Replace the leeks with a chopped yellow onion, if desired.
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This isn’t just for Thanksgiving! It will go great with any meal, any time of year.
DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING DINNER SIDE DISHES
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This is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoes recipe. It is the BEST and goes great with any main dish, any time of year. You’ll never need another mashed potato recipe again!
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This is the BEST Homemade Cranberry Sauce! It is super easy to make and way surpasses the canned version in flavor. Be sure to use whole berries to your sauce to make this a delicious side dish for your Thanksgiving or holiday table!
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are creamy, smooth, delicious and easy to prepare. No boiling or saucepan/stovetop cleaning required with this side dish. The Instant Pot gets this easy mashed potato recipe done in 30 minutes!
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This Classic Sweet Potato Casserole is great on your Thanksgiving table and also a perfect side dish that can be enjoyed any time of the year. It is filled with a delicious sweet potato mixture and topped with crunchy pecans and marshmallows.
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This is the Best Green Bean Casserole for your table! It is a traditional holiday staple, yes, but also great any time of the year as a delicious side dish.
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This delicious Crockpot Stuffing with Leeks and Sausage is made easier in a slow cooker! The addition of leeks and sausage makes it unique and delicious. Don’t limit this to Thanksgiving fare. It is a great side dish to any meal, any time of the year.
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Tater Tot Hotdish is the perfect comfort food. Whether it’s the main dish or a side, everyone at the table will be satisfied. This Midwestern staple is easy to make and fills everyone up. Great for your Thanksgiving table or any time of the year!
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If you really love to have low carb options available, try this Cauliflower Stuffing recipe! It’s an easy, healthy side dish for your next holiday meal! Cauliflower stuffing is a low carb, gluten free recipe that does not lack in flavor. Add this delicious dish to your next Thanksgiving spread!
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Check out my friend Bernie’s recipe (from at A Gouda Life): Traditional Bread Sausage Stuffing recipe.
If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a photo and tag it @pipandebby + hashtag it #PIPANDEBBY I’d love to see what you create!
Easy Crockpot Stuffing with Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground sausage
- 4 stalks celery sliced
- 1 leek thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
- 8 oz. package sliced mushrooms
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 14 oz. bag dry bread crumbs
- 14 oz. can chicken broth
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage until no longer pink. Drain grease and add celery, leeks, mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper to skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until veggies are soft and fragrant.
- Place a cooking liner in a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour breadcrumbs evenly into bottom of slow cooker and top with sausage-veggie mixture from skillet. Pour the chicken broth and water over the top, covering the entire surface.
- Stir slightly and cover crockpot. Cook on Low heat for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.
Notes
Be sure to use a slow cooker liner. It has the added benefit of keeping the stuffing super moist as well as easy clean up!
Swap out the sausage for turkey sausage for a little healthier version.
Making your own bread cubes is easy if you have some around the house you’d like to use up. Any good white sandwich bread works if it is on the dry side. Any kind of bread works, so feel free to mix in a whole wheat slice or some leftover hot dog buns! Cut the bread into 1″ cubes, and add them to a baking sheet. Put them in the oven for about 30-35 minutes at 300 degrees F.
Replace the leeks with a chopped yellow onion, if desired.
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