This sourdough stuffing recipe is just sooooo good. Bits of roasted garlic, caramelized mushrooms, crispy pancetta, and lots of fresh herbs make this stuffing recipe a perfect classic addition to any Thanksgiving table!

Homemade bread stuffing is SO SO good, and if you’ve wondered if you could use sourdough bread for stuffing, the answer is a resounding YES.

The first time I had sourdough bread stuffing was one of our first Thanksgivings after we moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for chiropractic school. I’ve always loved stuffing, and the version I tried with San Francisco sourdough bread, butter-sauteed mushrooms and fresh herbs blew my mind.

It even converted my in-laws. One Thanksgiving I asked if I could bring stuffing and my mother-in-law said, “Oh, we don’t usually make stuffing. No one eats it.”

After I picked my jaw up off the floor I told her I’d make a really great version, and I brought some sourdough stuffing similar to this one.

Stuffing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner and, “worst” case scenario, I’d end up eating most of the pan myself. (heh)

There wasn’t a speck left, guys. (And I didn’t eat it all…)

How do you make homemade sourdough stuffing?

Making sourdough stuffing is more work than using a boxed kit, but it’s totally worth it. (Steve and I ate an entire pan by ourselves in one day while I was testing this out for you. True story. It’s that good.)

Like all multi-component recipes, it takes some time, but it’s not difficult and you can make a lot of the components ahead of time. (More on that below!)

There are three components:

1. Dry, cubed sourdough bread. You bake sourdough cubes in the oven to completely dry them out. This step is super important because if you don’t, your stuffing will be soggy. 1-inch cubes are fine, but if you’d like a more rustic stuffing, rip them into bigger pieces.
2. Sautéed vegetables. The onion, celery, and pancetta are sautéed in a large skillet over medium heat to create more caramelized veggie flavor.
3. Roasted mushrooms and garlic. You could saute the mushrooms, but I prefer to roast them because they’ll get a deeper flavor. Also, roasted garlic is the bomb.

These components are mixed with some broth and fragrant herbs and then, voila! Ready for the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why roasted garlic?

Roasted garlic seems like a fussy addition, but when you roasted it with the mushrooms and then smash it up with a fork it’s super easy.

The bits of roasted garlic are super delicious in sourdough stuffing and pair so well with the roasted mushrooms and pancetta, so don’t skip this part!

Substitution for pancetta?

Pancetta is like an Italian form of bacon. (Sort of) If you can’t find or don’t want to use pancetta, just use 4-6 ounces of chopped bacon.

You can also substitute the pancetta for 8-10 ounces of cooked bulk mild Italian sausage.

What fresh herbs do I in homemade stuffing?

Around October and November you’ll see more “poultry herb mix” at the grocery store that contain a few sprigs of rosemary, thyme, and sage.

A small box of the poultry mix is perfect for this recipe and will give you roughly 2-3 Tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs.

You can also use fresh parsley, if you like. I think parsley tastes like grass most of the time, so I leave it out.

If you absolutely can’t use fresh herbs, dried would be an OK substitute.

About chicken broth

If you happen to have some Homemade Chicken Bone Broth on hand aka liquid gold — definitely use that here! Using store-bought is totally fine, too.

Oh, and If you make your own and you don’t salt it, take that into consideration when salting your sourdough stuffing. (I added a note about this in the recipe.)

This recipe will make a full 9×13 pan full of sourdough stuffing. The amount of broth you use will depend on how dry and dense your sourdough bread is.

Dense, dry bread cubes will soak up more broth, so you may need to add more so your stuffing doesn’t dry out. You’ll want enough broth to have a little sitting in the bottom of your pan before you bake it.

If you have too much your bread will get super soggy and if you don’t have enough it’ll be dry underneath and scorch on the bottom.

Can you make sourdough stuffing ahead of time?

Yes! Here are a few options:

Make all of the components ahead of time (scroll up for make-ahead times for each component) and assemble/bake the stuffing the day you intend to eat it.

Here’s a basic overview with options for doing it ahead of time:

• Toast the bread cubes (5-7 days in advance)
• Roast the mushrooms & garlic (3-4 days in advance)
• Saute the pancetta and vegetables (3-4 days in advance)
• Combine everything along with fresh herbs and chicken broth (1-2 hours in advance)

Option #1: Assemble the stuffing in the baking dish the night before. (You may need to pour 1/2 cup or so of chicken broth over the top before you bake it since it may have dried out some.) Just add a few extra minutes of cooking time to make sure it’s good and toasty.

Option #2: Assemble the stuffing and bake it the day before and reheat it about 45 minutes before you plan to eat. Again, you may need to add 1/2 cup of chicken broth if it looks too dry. 20-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven should do it.

How do you know if your sourdough stuffing is done baking?

The top layer should have golden brown, crispy bits and the layer underneath should be moist — but no chicken stock should be sitting at the bottom of the pan.

If you check 2/3 the way through cooking time and the bottom is starting to get dark, drizzle 1/2 cup of chicken broth over the whole thing.

Stuffing vs Dressing

Depending on where you live in the US (I see you, South!), this might be called dressing.

Technically it IS dressing. Stuffing is cooked inside of the turkey and dressing is cooked separately. They’ve come to be interchangeable and since we’ve always called it stuffing, that’s why I kept the name.

More Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes

Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes from my site….

Dry-Brine Turkey with Orange & Rosemary Herb Butter — Dry-brining a Thanksgiving turkey is WAY easier than a wet brine! Check this turkey out — it even has a citrus herb butter that gets slathered under the skin.

Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes — You’ll never go back to making mashed potatoes on the stove. This is so much easier and saves precious stove space!

Wassailed Cranberry Sauce — Confession: I don’t like cranberry sauce on turkey. I’d much rather eat it on rolls, pancakes… ice cream… get my drift? This homemade cranberry sauce is filled with sweet citrus and spices that reminds me of a cup of wassail.

Grandma Inez’s Pineapple Pie — Hands down, my favorite pie in the whole world. Think lemon meringue, but with pineapple instead of lemon.

Perfect Gluten-Free Pie Crust — People don’t even realize this is a gluten-free crust, guys. It’s just as buttery and flaky as the real deal.

If you’re doing a low-carb or keto Thanksgiving dinner, check out my 10 Keto Thanksgiving Recipes!

---

If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!