How many calories are in stuffing?

USDA numbers for prepared cornbread stuffing mix per 1/2 cup and per cup, with the sodium, the macro split and how to log a holiday plate.

By the Cal.AI Team · Published November 10, 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer 100 g of stuffing has 179 calories (USDA). A typical serving, 1/2 cup (100 g), has about 179 calories with 2.9 g protein, 22 g carbs and 8.8 g fat. A full cup doubles that to about 358 calories, before any gravy.

Stuffing is a holiday side that rarely gets measured, and USDA's entry for cornbread stuffing made from a dry mix lists it at 179 calories per 100 g. In this data a 1/2 cup weighs exactly 100 g, so the per-100 g numbers are also the numbers for one 1/2 cup scoop. The common mistake is logging whatever lands on your plate as a 1/2 cup without checking, then forgetting the gravy poured over it.

Calories in stuffing per 100 g

According to USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy entry “Bread, stuffing, cornbread, dry mix, prepared”), 100 g of stuffing contains 179 calories (749 kJ), 2.9 g of protein, 22 g of carbohydrates and 8.8 g of fat.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Amount
Calories	179
Energy (kilojoules)	749 kJ
Protein	2.9 g
Carbohydrates	22 g
Fiber	2.9 g
Sugars	0 g
Total fat	8.8 g
Saturated fat	1.8 g
Sodium	526 mg
Cholesterol	0 mg
Potassium	62 mg
Calcium	26 mg
Iron	0.9 mg
Vitamin C	0.8 mg

Calories per serving

Per-100 g numbers are only useful once you know your portion. Typical servings of stuffing:

Serving	Calories	kJ	Protein	Carbs	Fat
1/2 cup (100 g)	179	749	2.9 g	22 g	8.8 g
1 cup (200 g)	358	1,498	5.8 g	44 g	18 g

Macro breakdown

By energy, stuffing is about 49% carbohydrate, 7% protein and 44% fat (using 4 kcal per gram of protein and carbohydrate and 9 kcal per gram of fat).

Fat supplies nearly as much energy as carbohydrate, which is more than you might expect from a bread-based side, and protein is low at 2.9 g per 1/2 cup. Sodium is the standout: 526 mg per 1/2 cup and 1,052 mg per cup, almost half of the 2,300 mg FDA Daily Value.

How stuffing compares with similar foods

Food (per 100 g)	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat
Pasta	158	5.8 g	31 g	0.9 g
French toast	213	7.4 g	32 g	6.1 g
Corn tortilla	218	5.7 g	45 g	2.9 g
Pancakes	227	6.4 g	28 g	9.7 g
White rice	130	2.7 g	28 g	0.3 g

Is stuffing good for weight loss?

At 179 calories per 100 g stuffing is moderate in energy density, lighter per gram than a dinner roll at 310, but it is easy to take a large helping. A 1/2 cup at about 179 calories is a reasonable side, while a cup is about 358, and 1/4 cup of turkey gravy (59.5 g) adds about 30 more. Protein is low, so filling more of your plate with turkey and vegetables and keeping stuffing to 1/2 cup is a simple way to keep a holiday meal in check. If your mix calls for butter or margarine, using less than the package suggests lowers the fat.

How to log stuffing in Cal.AI

Search "stuffing" in Cal.AI and log 1/2 cup (100 g) per scoop, tapping the serving + control for seconds, or photograph your plate with Scan Food and check each item in Fix Results. Homemade stuffing with sausage, butter or nuts can differ a lot from this USDA mix, so rename it or swap ingredients in Fix Results to match what you made. The common mistake is logging the stuffing but not the gravy, so add the gravy as its own item.

Scan it instead of searching it Cal.AI is free on iPhone, Apple Watch and Android. Snap a photo, scan a barcode or search any food, then fix anything the AI gets wrong.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a cup of stuffing?

A cup of prepared cornbread stuffing from a dry mix (200 g) has about 358 calories in USDA data, with about 5.8 g of protein, 43.8 g of carbohydrate and 17.6 g of fat. A 1/2 cup (100 g) is about 179 calories. Homemade recipes with sausage or extra butter can be higher, so adjust the entry for what you made.

How much sodium is in stuffing?

USDA lists 526 mg of sodium per 100 g of prepared cornbread stuffing mix, so a 1/2 cup has about 526 mg and a cup about 1,052 mg, almost half of the 2,300 mg FDA Daily Value. A 1/4 cup of turkey gravy adds about 343 mg more. Low-sodium broth and unsalted butter lower the total in homemade stuffing.