Crockpot Stuffing With Apples Best Ever Well Plated

Not only is stuffing made in a slow cooker more low maintenance than traditional stuffing cooked in the oven (the same can be said for Crockpot Mashed Potatoes), there’s a strong argument that it actually tastes better. Crock pot stuffing stays more moist in the center and has more surface area for the delightfully crispy, golden edges. Plus, outsourcing the stuffing to the slow cooker means your coveted oven space will be free for other endeavors on Thanksgiving and beyond. And by “endeavors,” I mean whiskey pecan-topped Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Homemade Scalloped Potatoes, Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole, and Brussels Sprouts Casserole. I suppose you might want to squeeze the turkey in the oven too.

Crock Pot Stuffing – An Oven Space Saver!

Whenever someone tells me that they don’t care for Thanksgiving stuffing, a negative pronouncement I’ve heard with surprising frequency considering that the recipe’s primary ingredient is also one of the world’s most popular foods (bread), it makes me a little bit sad inside. It also makes me want to demand in a tone that conveys shock-bordering-on-horror “HOW DO YOU NOT LIKE STUFFING???” I do have a flair for the dramatic. Nine times out of 10, anyone I’ve met who doesn’t like stuffing has only experienced the boxed stuff. I have nothing against a quality shortcut every now and then, but boxed stuffing and real-deal, from-scratch stuffing couldn’t be more different. Any of the boxed stuffing mixes I’ve tried are hard, dry, micro bread cubes that are doused in chicken stock, mixed with a bland spice packet, and emerge from the oven in one of two states: bone dry or unappetizingly soggy (and you can’t fix soggy stuffing). No, thank you. My limited Thanksgiving stomach real estate is better allotted elsewhere. Homemade bread stuffing, however? Now THAT is a completely different story!

How to Make Crock Pot Stuffing

The beauty of homemade stuffing is all of the different, delicious ways you can elevate its flavor.

Baking stuffing inside the bird is generally not recommended, as the turkey tends to dry out before the stuffing reaches a safe temperature to eat…and because if your family is anything like mine, the tiny bit of stuffing that fits inside the turkey is not going to be nearly enough to feed the crowd.So, if you want to be technical, this recipe should be called “crock pot dressing” not “crock pot stuffing”. The two terms are used quite interchangeably, however. I grew up saying “stuffing,” and the habit stuck.

I’ve made a dozen different stuffing varieties over the years: Chestnut Stuffing, Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing, Stuffing Muffins, and Cornbread Stuffing. I adore each, but today’s crock pot stuffing is the combination of ingredients I return to again and again.

The Ingredients

Bread. High-quality artisan bread can make all the difference in a homemade stuffing recipe. Whole grain rustic bread or sourdough bread is the best bread for stuffing. Pecans. I love adding pecans to this stuffing recipe. They add a wonderful nutty flavor and crunch.

Celery. Crisp and fresh. Herbs. Fresh sage and thyme add a cozy, subtle earthiness that tastes like pure fall goodness. Apple. For the ideal texture, choose a crisp apple like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Pink Lady.Dried Cranberries. I love the touch of chewy sweetness that dried cranberries add to the stuffing.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate stuffing in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F. You can also keep stuffing warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting. To Freeze. Freeze stuffing in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make Crock Pot Stuffing

Slow Cooker. A must-have in every kitchen!Baking Sheets. Getting the bread cubes nice and toasty first is critical, and these baking sheets are perfect for the job. Non-stick Skillet. No more stuck-on bits of food with this skillet.

Just be sure to watch the capacity of your crock pot. You may need to cut down on the other mix-ins a bit to ensure it doesn’t overflow.