Get ready for Thanksgiving with The Fountain Avenue Kitchen’s Slow Cooker Stuffing

Tender stuffing with crispy edges is 100 percent possible in a slow cooker, freeing up precious oven space. The classic flavor is sure to please, and the optional add-ins and prep-ahead tips offer something extra for everyone. (Gluten- and dairy-free suggestions are included so that all may enjoy!)

Growing up, stuffing was always my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal. The recipe my mom and grandmother always used was basic but bursting with flavor—not to mention the ideal balance of tender bread with crispy edges.

My mom never varied the recipe. My grandmother, however, liked to try everything at least once. Accordingly, her classic recipe was occasionally studded with extras such as chestnuts, sausage, mushrooms, or dried fruit. (Thankfully for some around the table, oysters made just one appearance!)

One thing that never changed was the delightful interplay between the crisp, golden-brown surface and the tender insides. Though a slow cooker offered certain appeal—namely freeing up oven space and the ability to keep the finished dish warm—I avoided it for many years because I figured the crunchy layer would be lost.

Meet Ann Fulton, the recipe developer and cook behind The Fountain Avenue Kitchen where she has been sharing time-tested recipes for the last 12 years.

This recipe proved that assumption wrong and has now become my family’s preferred stuffing. A slow cooker can, in fact, create those beloved crispy edges.

By nature, slow cookers hold in moisture, sort of like cooking it inside the turkey. But while the insides and surface of the stuffing stay tender with this method, the sides and bottom—the areas that are in direct contact with the walls of the cooker—do become toasty and lightly crisp. (Tip: Coating the cooker with olive oil or cooking spray amplifies this crispness.)

For my own recipe, I settled on a variation of what my mom and grandmother used to make, combined with the convenience and inherent benefits of a slow cooker.

To enhance the traditional flavor, I add more herbs, which can be dried or fresh to suit what you have on hand. So all can enjoy, the recipe also provides worthy gluten- and dairy-free adaptations.

From The Fountain Avenue Kitchen: Slow Cooker Stuffing

Ingredient List

Fig Notes: We’ve added a few Lancaster City stops where you can grab your supplies locally.

• 2 pounds hearty white bread, diced into ½-inch cubes (about 20 cups) — find it at Thom’s Bread at Lancaster Central Market
• 1 teaspoon of each: fresh black pepper, poultry seasoning, dried sage, dried thyme, dried marjoram (may sub ¾ teaspoon dried oregano for the marjoram) — find them at The Herb Shop at Lancaster Central Market
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt — find it at The Herb Shop at Lancaster Central Market
• 2 large eggs — find them at Breakaway Farms at Lancaster Central Market
• 2-3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided use — find it at Crowded Kitchen at Lancaster Central Market
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter — find it at Maplehofe Dairy at Lancaster Central Market
• 3 cups diced yellow onion — find it at Green Circle Organics at Lancaster Central Market
• 2 cups diced celery — find it at Barr’s Farm Produce at Lancaster Central Market

For the full recipe, visit The Fountain Avenue Kitchen.

For those who need to supplement a traditional stuffing recipe or simply prefer portion-controlled servings, these easy-to-make Stuffing Balls are a fun addition to the menu.

Ann’s Tips

• Every 1 pound of bread will yield approximately 10 cups of bread cubes.
• I keep the crusts on, not only to make use of all the bread, but I think it adds interest and good texture.
• If you prefer to roast a stuffed turkey: a stuffing recipe calling for 1 pound of bread is generally enough to stuff a 12- to 15-pound turkey. As an option, the recipe could be used to stuff a turkey, with half going into the turkey and the other half baked in a casserole dish or smaller slow cooker.
• The stuffing recipe may be cut in half and cooked in a smaller slow cooker or casserole dish according to the oven instructions. Variations abound and are listed in the recipe notes.

For added convenience, the linked recipe mentions several prep-ahead steps, which are always helpful, but especially when getting ready for a holiday meal!

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