What is the best bread for stuffing?

Name: Slow-Cooker Stuffing
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter; 1 cup chopped celery; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1 package (12 oz) seasoned bread stuffing cubes (about 8 cups); 1 1/2 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

Kitchen Tested

Slow-Cooker Stuffing

Prep time:15 min
Total time:3 hr 15 min
Ingredients:5
Servings:10
Calories per serving:200

By Created by Joanna(Opens in a new tab)Updated 08/13/2025

Slow-Cooker Stuffing

Prep time:15 min
Total time:3 hr 15 min
Ingredients:5
Servings:10
Calories per serving:200

Stuffing is a savory side dish that is traditionally paired with a holiday turkey. Also known as dressing, stuffing typically contains seasoned bread cubes or crumbs, herbs, and other ingredients.

These days, we don’t recommend stuffing this dish into a turkey cavity before roasting as it’s hard to make sure it cooks to the proper temperature. But baking it separately can be a problem if you’re out of oven space during the holidays. That’s where this slow-cooker stuffing recipe is a real lifesaver!

With just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes of prep, this best slow-cooker stuffing practically cooks itself and frees up your oven for other dishes.

This simple recipe for slow-cooker stuffing is even easier than the classic recipe—but don’t just save this amazing recipe for special occasions! This family favorite is equally delicious next to roast chicken or beef, skillet pork chops, or even meatloaf.

Recipe Ingredients

This simple slow-cooker stuffing recipe comes together with a handful of classic ingredients that bring comfort and flavor in every bite. Here’s what you’ll need.

Seasoned Bread Stuffing Cubes: These are the base of the dish, providing the classic texture and flavor of traditional stuffing with built-in herbs and spices.

Chicken Broth: This adds moisture and savory depth, helping the bread cubes soften and absorb flavor as they cook.

Butter: Rich and flavorful, it helps sauté the vegetables and infuses the entire dish with comforting, holiday-worthy taste.

Other Ingredients: Celery and onion are a must for adding savory flavor and texture to each bite; they’re classic stuffing staples for a reason. Sautéing them in butter brings out their natural sweetness and softens them just enough to blend perfectly with the stuffing. A quick coat of cooking spray helps prevent sticking in the slow cooker, so the finished dish keeps its shape and is easier to serve and clean up.

How to Make Slow-Cooker Stuffing

These simple steps will outline just how easy it is to make our best slow-cooker stuffing recipe. Follow along with the recipe below for all the details.

1. Spray the Slow Cooker

Use cooking spray to spray the slow-cooker insert. This is done so none of the stuffing ingredients will stick and ensures the cooked stuffing is easy to serve without leaving any behind.

2. Cook Celery and Onion

Melt the butter in a skillet, and cook the onion and celery, stirring it occasionally until crisp-tender. Don’t skip this step and place the raw onion and celery straight in the slow cooker. Partially cooking the veggies before adding them with the other ingredients is necessary for everything to be done cooking at the same time. It also mellows the onion flavor and adds a rich buttery flavor.

3. Mix, Set It, and Forget It

Mix the cooked veggies together with the bread cubes and broth right in the slow cooker. Set your slow cooker on Low, and let the stuffing cook all on its own. Don’t be tempted to lift the lid for a peek; each time you open the slow cooker, it releases some of the heat. This can add as much as 30 minutes to the total cook time each time you open the lid.

4. Stir and Serve

Use a large spoon to lightly stir the stuffing before serving to redistribute the ingredients equally throughout. Move the stuffing to a serving dish, or serve it straight out of the slow cooker to keep it warm.

Slow-Cooker Stuffing Variations

Want to make this stuffing your own? Try any of these flavor-packed variations to give this stuffing your signature spin.

Sausage Stuffing: Add extra flavor as well as heartiness to the stuffing by adding cooked and crumbled bulk sausage. One pound of sausage is the perfect amount to add. Try bulk sausage, such as hot Italian, sweet Italian, pork sausage, or even turkey sausage. Cook it in the skillet over medium-high heat, 6 to 8 minutes or until it’s no longer pink. Remove it from skillet before cooking the veggies in the same skillet in step 2

Herb Stuffing: For a sensational fresh punch of flavor, add this earthy herb combination to the stuffing: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh marjoram leaves, and 3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves with the bread cubes. Or, if you like to use dried herbs, add the fresh parsley, but use 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves, 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves, and 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves instead.

Cranberry Stuffing: For a sweet and savory stuffing, stir in 1 1/2 cups sweetened dried cranberries with the bread cubes.

Nutty Stuffing: For stuffing with a bit of crunch, after cooking it, gently stir in 3/4 cup of toasted pecan halves, chopped walnuts, pine nuts, or blanched almonds. They’ll upgrade your stuffing with a new layer of flavor.

Storing and Reheating Slow-Cooker Stuffing

For the best results, serve stuffing right after it’s freshly made for the perfect level of moistness and flavor. But reheated leftovers can be a welcome addition to any meal you want to get on the table fast. Here’s how to store and reheat leftover stuffing.

Refrigerator Storage and Reheating

Spoon the stuffing into an air-tight food-storage container. Refrigerate up to 5 days. To reheat, place a serving of the stuffing in a microwavable bowl. Cover and microwave on medium-high (70%) 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until stuffing is heated through. If the stuffing is dry, toss it with a sprinkling of water to add moisture back. Cover and microwave about 30 seconds longer.

Freezer Storage and Reheating

Spoon the stuffing into air-tight freezer-proof food storage containers. Store in freezer up to 3 months. To reheat, place a serving of the stuffing in a microwavable bowl. Cover and microwave on low (30%) about 2 minutes or until thawed. Microwave on medium-high (70%) 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. If the stuffing is dry, toss it with a sprinkling of water to add moisture back. Cover and microwave about 30 seconds longer.

We don’t recommend reheating leftover stuffing in the oven as it will dry out before it has a chance to heat completely through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because this stuffing recipe is made in the slow cooker, it needs the sturdiness and dryness of bread stuffing cubes. If you try to substitute fresh bread or breadcrumbs, you’ll end up with a gloppy mess, because the textures of these types of bread can’t hold up to the long cook time. If you’d like to make another stuffing or dressing with different ingredients, check out these amazing stuffing recipes, each created with the perfect balance of ingredients, cooking time, and cooking method.

Slow-Cooker Stuffing

Prep time:15 min
Total time:3 hr 15 min
Ingredients:5
Servings:10
Calories per serving:200

Ingredient

1/4 cup butter
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 package (12 oz) seasoned bread stuffing cubes (about 8 cups)
1 1/2 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

Instructions

Step 1
Lightly spray 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

Step 2
In 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat.

Step 3
Add celery and onion; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender.

Step 4
Place bread cubes, celery mixture, and broth in slow cooker; toss to combine.

Step 5
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Step 6
Stir before serving.

Recipe Tips

For more moist stuffing, stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons chicken broth after cooking.
Make a more classic, stovetop stuffing in the slow cooker with our Easy Sausage Stuffing recipe. Make it ahead of time to ease your Thanksgiving cooking list.
Is chicken-flavored stuffing your family's favorite? Try this Quick and Easy Stuffing for a side dish that works for holidays and everyday dinners.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
200
Total Fat
6g
Protein
5g
Total Carbohydrate
31g
Sugars
3g

Servings: 10

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Amount Per Serving Calories : 200

Nutrition Facts
Food Component / Nutrient	Amount	% , Daily Value*
Total Fat	6g	10%
Saturated Fat	3g	15%
Trans Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Monounsaturated Fat	1g	% Value Not Available
Polyunsaturated Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Omega-3	0g	% Value Not Available
Cholesterol	10mg	4%
Sodium	740mg	31%
Total Carbohydrate	31g	10%
Dietary Fiber	2g	10%
Soluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Insoluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Sugars	3g	% Value Not Available
Protein	5g	% Value Not Available
Vitamin D	Value Not Available	0%
Calcium	Value Not Available	4%
Iron	Value Not Available	8%
Potassium	40mg	1%
Vitamin A	Value Not Available	4%
Vitamin C	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin E	Value Not Available	0%
Thiamin	Value Not Available	0%
Riboflavin	Value Not Available	0%
Niacin	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B6	Value Not Available	0%
Folic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B12	Value Not Available	0%
Pantothenic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Phosphorus	Value Not Available	0%
Magnesium	Value Not Available	0%
Zinc	Value Not Available	0%
Manganese	Value Not Available	0%
Selenium	Value Not Available	0%
Copper	Value Not Available	0%
Beta-Carotene	Value Not Available	% Value Not Available
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Exchanges

Starch 1&½,
Fruit 0,
Other Carbohydrate ½,
Skim Milk 0,
Low-Fat Milk 0,
Milk 0,
Vegetable 0,
Very Lean Meat 0,
Lean Meat 0,
Medium-Fat Meat 0,
High-Fat Meat 0,
Fat 1,
Fruits 0c,
Vegetables 0c,
Grains 0oz-eq,
Meat & Beans 0oz-eq,
Dairy 0c,
Fats & Oils 1tsp

Carbohydrate Choice

Carbohydrate Choice2

Loading component...

Try These Next

Loading component...

Family-friendly meals made easy!

Make everyday family moments count, with easy recipes that everyone will love. Join our email community to receive tested recipes and tips.

Recipe Ingredients

This simple slow-cooker stuffing recipe comes together with a handful of classic ingredients that bring comfort and flavor in every bite. Here’s what you’ll need.

Seasoned Bread Stuffing Cubes: These are the base of the dish, providing the classic texture and flavor of traditional stuffing with built-in herbs and spices.

Chicken Broth: This adds moisture and savory depth, helping the bread cubes soften and absorb flavor as they cook.

Butter: Rich and flavorful, it helps sauté the vegetables and infuses the entire dish with comforting, holiday-worthy taste.

How to Make Slow-Cooker Stuffing

These simple steps will outline just how easy it is to make our best slow-cooker stuffing recipe. Follow along with the recipe below for all the details.