How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed stuffing mix taste like it’s made from scratch. Quick, flavorful, and versatile!
How do you make box stuffing mix taste better?
These 5 easy tricks are sure to make that stove top stuffing mix taste like made-from-scratch dressing.
- Add fresh ingredients. Using fresh vegetables such as onion, celery, and garlic keep the boxed mix from being too rich and heavy.
- Add texture. Stirring in crunchy pecans and chewy dried cranberries breaks up the mushy texture that stove top stuffing often has.
- Add spices. Sprinkling in a few dried herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme is an easy way to bring out those classic Thanksgiving flavors.
- Add flavor. Cooked sausage is a great way to add tons of savoriness to the boxed mix.
- Bake it. Baking the stuffing creates a golden, crunchy exterior that is often missed when using stove top!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Sausage – you’ll need 1 (16 oz) roll. Feel free to use sweet, mild, maple, sage, or hot. We like Jimmy Dean. If you’re not a sausage fan, try 1 pound cooked bacon or 1 pound chopped turkey. Use 1 pound chopped mushrooms for a meatless option.
- Veggies: Onion, Celery, and Garlic – yellow, white, or red onion are fine. Shallots will even work. Feel free to omit the celery if you’re not a fan. Use pre-minced jarred garlic for quick prep!
- Spices: Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Salt, and Pepper – we use dried herbs to keep things quick and easy, but feel free to use freshly chopped herbs, if desired.
- Dried Cranberries – any dried fruit (cherries, raisins, dates, etc.) will be fine. Finely chopped apples or pears might also be nice.
- Pecans – or walnuts add a great crunch. Omit for nut allergies.
- Stuffing Mix – you’ll need 2 (6 oz) boxes stuffing mix. We used a generic Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix, but any flavor chicken, cornbread, etc. should be fine.
- Broth – you’ll need 1 (14.5 oz) can broth: chicken or vegetable. Water may also be used, but then you’ll likely need to add additional seasoning.
- Butter – adds additional moisture, richness, and flavor, so I don’t recommend omitting. A plant-based variety may be used to keep this dairy free.
- Eggs – helps bind everything together, but if you’re in a pinch you may be able to get away with omitting… it’ll likely just be more crumbly.
Pro tip
I don’t think Stove Top makes a vegetarian boxed stuffing, so check out my Crockpot Vegetarian Stuffing if you’re looking for a meatless recipe!
How to make
- Cook sausage, veggies, and spices together in a large sauté pan until the meat is no longer pink.
- Stir together in a large bowl with dried fruit, nuts, stuffing mix, broth, butter, and eggs.
- Spread evenly into a greased 9 x 13″ baking dish and bake at 350°F until warmed through.
What to serve with stuffing
I love serving stuffing with a holiday protein (ham or turkey are my favorites) and other easy holiday sides!
- Crockpot Ham
- Ham with Pineapple Sauce
- Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Corn Casserole
- Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
- Pear, Blue Cheese, Candied Pecan Salad
- Rhodes Rolls (How to Make Frozen Rolls Better)
How to store
Leftover stuffing will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then bake or microwave to warm.
– Jennifer

How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better
How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed stuffing mix taste like it's made from scratch. Quick, flavorful, and versatile!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 16 people
Equipment for this recipe
(equipment shown are affiliate links)
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) roll sausage use sweet, mild, hot, sage, etc.
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons dried ground sage
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste, if desired
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pecans roughly chopped
- 2 (6 oz) boxes stuffing mix we used Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey
- 1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- 2 large eggs beaten
Instructions
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Place sausage, onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt and pepper into a large non-stick pan and cook, breaking up the sausage as you go, until the sausage is cooked through and the veggies are cooked to your liking.
- Pour sausage mixture into a large mixing bowl and mix together with cranberries, pecans, stuffing mix, broth, butter, and eggs until combined.
- Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish, then preheat oven to 350 degrees F (this allows time for the stuffing to soak up some of the moisture).
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the interior is hot and the top is golden brown and slightly crisp.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:3-4 Days
Freezer:1 Month
Reheat:Thaw, if frozen, then bake or microwave to warm
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better
Amount Per Serving (1 scoop)
Calories 279 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 663mg29%
Potassium 185mg5%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 270IU5%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 40mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Keywords: classic thanksgiving recipe, easy holiday recipe, easy holiday side, easy thanksgiving recipe, easy thanksgiving side, how to make boxed dressing better, how to make stove top stuffing better, how to make stuffing better, how to make stuffing mix better, sausage stuffing, thanksgiving side
Anonymous United States
Kathy Toppenish, Washington
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Anonymous Oakes, North Dakota
Anonymous Woodward, Oklahoma