Instant Pot Stuffing Recipe with Sausage

Make stuffing quickly and easily in your Instant Pot! Great way to free up oven space this Thanksgiving. This traditional side dish is savory and packed with flavor and texture. Don’t limit yourself to making it just on holidays. It’s a great any-time complement to any meal!

The first time I joined my husband’s family for a Thanksgiving meal, I was in complete disbelief about the size of the pile of stuffing Dan heaped onto his plate. It was the biggest pile I had ever seen! He loves his stuffing! Since learning this about him, I’ve experimented a bit with different types and flavors and also different cooking methods.

Since I’m mildly obsessed with my Instant Pot, combining the two was inevitable this year. I love the idea of freeing up kitchen space by allowing sideline recipes to cook without nudging other recipes out of the oven or off the stove. This recipe was 100% experimental because I’d never attempted pressure cooking anything like this before. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it had a delicious outcome!

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT STUFFING

Set Instant Pot to saute. Cook 1 pound of sausage until it is no longer pink. Add the celery, mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper.

Cook for 3 minutes, or until fragrant.

Scrape bits from the bottom of the pan with a spoon. Add the bread cubes and pour 1 can of chicken broth and 1/2 cup of water over the top. Give the mixture a stir, making sure the bread absorbs some of the liquids in the pot.

Cover and cook on high pressure (pressure cook setting) for 2 minutes. It will take the pot approximately 15 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking. Do a quick release.

When cook time is up, remove the lid and transfer to a serving dish. Serve immediately!

RECIPE NOTES

• If you have turkey broth on hand, replace chicken broth with it.

• Be careful not to stir the mixture too much before cooking. If the bread cubes get pushed down all the way to the bottom of the pot, they will get squished by the other ingredients and will become mushy. You’ll want the bread to absorb some of the liquids in the pot, but not be entirely covered.

• Replace the sausage with your choice of ground meat. Turkey, chicken or beef taste great, too! Or consider using chopped cooked bacon or ham to make it super flavorful.

• Add 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or sage to the mixture, if desired!

STUFFING TOPPING OPTIONS

In addition to the traditional ingredients (bread cubes or crumbs, celery, onion, butter and spices such a sage, salt and pepper), consider adding any or all of these to your next batch!

• Chopped toasted pecans or walnuts.

• Dried fruit such as cherries, blueberries, cranberries or raisins.

• Diced apples or pears.

• Finely chopped cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts or carrots.

• Finely chopped kale!

• Cubed butternut squash or sweet potatoes.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STUFFING AND DRESSING

The only difference is that technically “stuffing” is stuffed and cooked inside an animal’s cavity such as a turkey. So technically, you’re looking at some delicious pressure cooker dressing!

HOW TO MAKE DAY OLD BREAD FOR STUFFING

If you don’t have the time to set your bread out to dry for a day or two, consider speeding up the process by using your oven! Place the bread cubes in single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 300-degree oven for 45 minutes or until the pieces are totally dried out.

DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES

• 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!

• 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!

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!

BEST RECIPES TO MAKE IN AN INSTANT POT

The list of recipes you can make in an Instant Pot is endless! It can act as a slow cooker, saute pan, steamer, rice maker, yogurt maker and pressure cooker. It can cook soup, chili, pasta, meat, potatoes, veggies, cake, beans and so much more. Here are a few of my favorite Instant Pot recipes:

• Goulash – Make comforting, hearty Goulash in your Instant Pot! This American version of Goulash could not be easier or more delicious. It cooks perfectly every time and is done in only 30 minutes. Perfect easy dinner any night of the week!

• Chicken Noodle Soup – Make a batch of comforting Chicken Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot! Using a pressure cooker will save you time and will produce the most perfectly cooked soup you’ll ever taste. Great, quick meal for any night of the week or for your next gathering!

• Chili – Chili made easy in your pressure cooker is THE BEST! This recipe is the absolute perfect comfort food, packed with flavor, texture, color and a tiny bit of spice. Perfect dinner or party food!

• Chicken Tortilla Soup – This Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is the BEST! It is packed with flavor, it is super easy to make and it tastes like it’s been cooked low and slow all day long. Throw it together for your next family dinner OR your next big gathering. Either way, it’ll get devoured!