Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
A hearty stuffing blending sweet cornbread and savory sausage with herbs, capturing regional Mid-America comfort food flavors. This american-inspired comfort food ready in about 65 minutes pairs crumbled cornbread, casings removed Italian sausage, medium, finely diced yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 cups, crumbled cornbread
- 1 lb, casings removed Italian sausage
- 1 medium, finely diced yellow onion
- 2, finely diced celery stalks
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh sage
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter and add 1 lb Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add remaining 2 tbsp butter, 1 diced medium yellow onion, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine 6 cups crumbled cornbread, cooked sausage, sautéed onion and celery, 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage, 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 4: Gradually pour in 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, stirring gently until the mixture is moist but not soggy.
- Step 5: Transfer the stuffing to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crispy. Serve warm as a classic regional side dish.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing take to make?
Total time is about 65 minutes (15 min prep + 50 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep crumbled cornbread from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Midwestern Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing?
American comfort food like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
