Air Fryer Stuffing

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Air Fryer Stuffing is my new favorite way to make homemade stuffing. It’s made similarly to traditional stuffing, with sausage meat and a bread mixture.

It’s one of my favorite holiday dishes, but I also love to pair it with Air Fryer Turkey Legs as an easy weeknight supper or my Air Fryer Whole Chicken for a Sunday roast dinner. 

This stuffing recipe comes together quickly with very little prep work. Simply combine bread cubes and sausage meat with onions, celery, and your favorite herbs and spices.

Adding raw onion and celery gives this recipe a bit of crunch. If you prefer, you can melt butter and brown onion and celery before adding to soften it and make it a bit sweeter. 

Whether you serve this side dish as a Thanksgiving stuffing along with Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes and Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts, or with your weeknight roast dinner, your family and dinner guests are sure to love it.

Air fryer stuffing really is one of those delicious, easy-to-make air fryer recipes that go with just about everything. And it’s a great way to free up precious oven space during your holiday cooking too!

Why Make This Recipe

• Perfect Crunch – If you love the crunchy parts of stuffing, air fryer stuffing is absolute perfection! 
• Quick Prep – Toss together the ingredients in just minutes, then air fry the stuffing in an instant! The cooking time is under 15 minutes.
• Serve With Any Meal – This stuffing recipe is an easy air fryer recipe that goes with any meal. It’s one of my favorite side dishes. 

Ingredient Notes

• Italian Sausages – Use mild, sweet, or spicy Italian sausages. 
• Bread – Cube crusty bread into small, bite-sized pieces or use croutons.
• Celery and Onion – Finely chop the celery and onion. You can use sweet or red onion. 
• Chicken Broth – You can also substitute beef or vegetable broth. 
• Butter – Use unsalted butter and melt it for easier mixing. 
• Dried Cranberries – Dried fruit adds a touch of sweetness and a nice texture. 
• Seasonings – add garlic powder, dried onions, and Italian seasoning. Substitute your favorite seasoning blends as desired. 
• Sage – Fresh sage is a traditional flavor for stuffing that also pairs well with the sausage.

Ready to make this stuffing in air fryer? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Air Fryer Stuffing

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees.
2. Place the Italian sausages into the air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minutes or until cooked. Turn halfway through cooking. 
3. Remove the sausages and allow them to cool slightly.  Discard the casings and chop the sausage into small pieces. 
4. In a large bowl, combine the sausages with the bread, vegetables, melted butter, cranberries, and seasoning. 
5. Slowly add the broth, mixing the ingredients until the mixture is just moist but not wet. You may need additional broth, up to one cup total. 
6. Place the stuffing mixture into an air fryer safe baking dish. Place the dish into the air fryer for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown and heated.

Pro Tips 

• Make sure you have a dish that fits inside your air fryer basket. 
• Air fry the sausage before adding it to the mixture. 
• Cube the bread into small, bite-sized pieces. 
• You can sauté the celery and onion before adding to the stuffing if you prefer it to be a bit more tender. 
• Make the stuffing mix in advance for easy meal prep later. 
• Melt the butter before adding it to the stuffing mixture. 
• If the stuffing is dry, add more chicken stock. 
• Serve with sweet potatoes for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner. 
• Spritz the top of the stuffing with olive oil or cooking spray to help it brown better in the air fryer. 

Delicious Variations

• Swap The Dried Fruit – Instead of cranberries, you can add dried apples, raisins or golden raisins to your air fryer stuffing. 
• Make Air Fryer Stuffing Balls – Especially fun for a weeknight dinner, stuffing balls are a great way to customize this stuffing recipe. Simply roll the stuffing mix into balls and place them into the air fryer basket. Air fry stuffing balls until warmed through and crispy on the outside. You may need to add a bit of extra chicken broth, so they hold their shape. 
• Change The Seasoning – You can use your favorite dried herbs instead of Italian seasoning. I also like to season with salt and ground black pepper. 

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Prepare the bread stuffing mix in advance and store it in a bag, bowl, covered jar, or another airtight container. Add the onions, celery, butter, and chicken broth just before placing the stuffing into the air fryer. 
• Store – Let the stuffing cool before placing it in an airtight container in the fridge. Consume within 3-4 days.
• Freeze – Mix your stuffing and freeze it for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and cook as directed. Add a bit more chicken stock if the stuffing seems dry. 
• Reheat – Reheat stuffing in the microwave or air fry until warmed through.