Discover the ultimate comfort food with Instant Pot Stuffing! This classic dish, filled with savory flavors and hearty bread, is now easier than ever to prepare thanks to your Instant Pot. Whether making a family roast or a Thanksgiving stuffing for the holiday season, this easy stuffing recipe is sure to be a pleaser!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Time-Saving: The pressure cooker cuts down the cooking time for this holiday staple.
- Foolproof Method: Ensures evenly cooked, moist stuffing mixture with a delightful crispy top every time.
- Flavor Packed: This easy Instant Pot stuffing recipe is full of classic flavors that complement any main dish.
📋 Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps sauté the onion, enhancing its sweetness.
- Yellow Onion: Gives a savory depth to the stuffing, balancing the bread's blandness.
- Dried Bread Cubes: Crusty bread forms the base of the stuffing, soaking up the flavorful broth and spices.
- Nature’s Seasonings/Mixed Herbs: Fresh herbs add a blend of flavors that gives the stuffing its classic, comforting taste.
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper: Enhance the natural flavors of the other ingredients.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle, aromatic flavor that complements the other ingredients.
- Chicken Broth: Moistens the bread and infuses the stuffing with a savory, meaty flavor.
- Freshly Chopped Parsley: Provides a fresh, bright counterpoint to the rich, savory stuffing.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Bread Alternatives: Swap out traditional white bread for whole grain, gluten-free, or even cornbread to vary the texture and flavor profile of your stuffing.
- Protein Boosts: Add in cooked sausage, bacon, or even diced turkey for an extra layer of savory flavor, transforming it into a hearty main dish.
- Herb & Spice Adjustments: Enhance your stuffing by using a blend of fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, and parsley. For a different twist, add a pinch of dried cranberries or nuts for texture.
- Broth & Moisture Options: Experiment with different broths—chicken, turkey, or vegetable—to subtly alter the taste. You can also stir in a bit of cream or a drizzle of olive oil for added richness.
🔪 How To Make Instant Pot Stuffing?
Step One: At least 24 hours before cooking your stuffing, cut your white bread into cubes. Lay them out on a flat surface to dry evenly. Preheat your oven to 350°.
Step Two: Turn your Instant Pot onto sauté mode. Once hot, add butter and allow it to melt. Then, add the chopped onions and cook for about three minutes to caramelize them.
Step Three: After caramelizing the onions, turn off the Instant Pot and add the bread and seasonings. Mix well to distribute the seasonings and onions proportionately among the bread. Pour the chicken stock over the bread and mix gently to ensure the broth covers each cube without breaking the bread.
Step Four: Place the stuffing in a lightly greased 13 x 9 baking dish and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Check periodically, especially after the 20-minute mark, as ovens vary in temperature.
Serve Five: Once the stuffing is finished, allow it to cool slightly, top with a little bit more parsley and serve. Enjoy!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Sauté the Aromatics: Start by using the Instant Pot’s sauté mode to cook diced onions, celery, and garlic in a bit of butter until softened. This builds a flavorful foundation for your stuffing.
- Toast the Bread: For added texture, lightly toast your bread cubes in the pan or oven before adding them. Stale or toasted bread holds up better and absorbs more of the savory broth.
- Infuse with Rich Broth: Replace water with chicken or vegetable broth, and enhance with herbs like thyme, sage, or rosemary. A splash of white wine or apple cider can also elevate the flavor profile.
- Layer Thoughtfully: Combine the toasted bread with the sautéed aromatics in the Instant Pot, then pour the hot broth mixture over the top. This layering ensures every bite is infused with flavor.
- Quick Pressure Cooking: Seal and cook on high pressure for about 5 minutes, followed by a quick release. This short cook time allows the flavors to meld without turning the bread mushy.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs: Stir in freshly chopped parsley or additional herbs just before serving to add a vibrant finish and a burst of freshness.
💭 FAQs
Traditionally stuffing is a dish made of bread or cornbread, rosemary, onions, stock, and other food items. The dish is sometimes called a dressing or stuffing mix.
The main difference being stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is stuffed into the cavity of another food, for example, the Thanksgiving Turkey, whereas dressing is more of a side dish usually cooked in a dish in the oven.
The first part of this recipe is made in the Instant Pot, however, we bake the stuffing rather than pressure cook on high pressure to avoid the stuffing getting too soggy. Even with a quick release of pressure, these bread crumbs would become too soft.
After cooling, transfer the Instant Pot stuffing to an airtight container and refrigerate. Seal tightly to maintain freshness and prevent odors from entering the fridge. Freeze the stuffing in airtight containers or bags, removing air to prevent freezer burn. Label it with the date and store it for 2-3 months.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Stuffing:
We love stuffing with Turkey, check out this recipe for Texas Smoked Turkey Breast!
- Cranberry Sauce: A zesty burst of citrus complements the savory stuffing perfectly.
- Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts: Crispy edges and cheesy goodness make these a delightful pairing.
- Glazed Carrots: A touch of sweetness adds a contrasting flavor to the savory stuffing.
- Herb-Roasted Potatoes: Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside – a classic favorite.
- Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes: A velvety side dish that complements the heartiness of stuffing.
🍜 Related Recipes
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The Best Instant Pot Stuffing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 12 cup dried cubed white bread
- 1 tsp. Nature’s Seasonings or mixed herbs.
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. black pepper Ground
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 ¾ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp. parsley freshly chopped
Instructions
- At least 24 hours before cooking your stuffing, cut your white bread into cubes. Lay out on a plate or cutting board to dry. Try to leave out on a flat surface so that the bread is evenly on a hard surface.
- Preheat your oven to 350°. Turn your instant pot onto "sauté" mode. Once your instant pot becomes hot, add your butter.
- Allow the butter to completely melt then add in your chopped onions. Cook for about three minutes to caramelize them.
- Once your onions are cooked, turn off your instant pot by pressing cancel. add in Your bread, and seasonings. mixed together well so that all of the seasonings and onions are distributed proportionately amongst the bread.
- Pour the chicken stock over your bread and mix well. Be careful to not mix too much or your bread will start to break. Just mix enough for the broth to cover each cube.
- Place your stuffing in a 13 x 9 pan, lightly greased. place in your oven for about 30 minutes. At the 20-minute mark, periodically check your stuffing every five minutes as some ovens are warmer than others.
- Once your stuffing is completely finished, allow it to cool slightly, and serve up.
Notes
Nutrition
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