Easy Stuffing Recipe (2024)

This Easy Stuffing Recipe will complete just about any meal!

Celery and onions are cooked with butter, herbs and seasonings. It’s all tossed with dried bread cubes and broth, then topped with a bit more butter and baked until hot and golden.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (1)

I love mashed potatoes, but homemade stuffing is easily my favorite thanksgiving side dish.

Ingredients for Stuffing

Bread – You can use almost any kind of dry bread for stuffing or purchase dry bread cubes. I prefer to use half white bread and half wheat bread and set them out to dry for a few days before making this stuffing recipe.

Celery/Onions – These add lots of flavor to this recipe and should be cooked in butter until tender.

Seasoning – Poultry Seasoning is my first choice for this turkey stuffing recipe. It is a blend of savory spices like sage, thyme, and rosemary and it adds delicious flavor to soups, stews, and casseroles. You can replace poultry seasoning with ground sage if needed.

Broth – Chicken or turkey broth adds moisture and the amount needed will vary based on the type of bread used and how dry it is. See the recipe notes for more details.

Additions – I think a simple classic stuffing recipe is the best stuffing recipe, so the add-ins are kept to a minimum however you can add shredded carrots, raisins, dried cranberries, or even cooked sausage.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (2)

Bread for Stuffing

The key to making this homemade stuffing recipe the right consistency is to ensure that the bread is really dry before adding broth. This allows it to soak up the broth (and flavor) without becoming soggy.

If possible, purchase the bread a few days (or even weeks) early, tear it or cut it into cubes, and let it dry for a few days on the counter. Any kind of bread will do (like sourdough bread or half cornbread), I most often use a combination of brown and white.

You can use dried bread cubes from the store, they’ll work just fine in this recipe although they may require a little bit of extra broth.

How to Dry Bread for Stuffing

In a pinch, you can dry fresh bread cubes in the oven. Place them in a single layer at 300°F for about 10 minutes (be sure not to brown or toast it). If you dry fresh bread in the oven, you may need less broth.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (3)

How To Make Stuffing

I prefer to cook my stuffing in a casserole dish (which would technically make it dressing) or to make Crock Pot Stuffing. Cooking the turkey and stuffing separately ensures that they both reach the right temperatures without overcooking.

Make ahead – Stuffing can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge in a casserole dish.Prepare the stuffing without baking and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance. You may need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time.

Stuffing a Turkey – You can use this stuffing to stuff a turkey. Ensure that the stuffing has cooled in the fridge for at least 45 minutes.

Do not stuff the turkey until just before roasting or it can sit at an unsafe cooking temperature for too long. If stuffing a turkey, the center of the stuffing should reach 165°F as the drippings from the bird enter the stuffing.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (4)

To Make Ahead

Stuffing is a great side as it can easily be made ahead of time! Simply prepare as directed, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

To bake, remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Prepare as directed (you may need to add a few minutes extra if it’s still cold from the fridge).

How To Freeze Stuffing

Everyone loves turkey dinner leftovers. Turkey dinner stacksor hot turkey sandwiches are my personal favorite ways to enjoy them, but sometimes you can’t get to them by the time they will go bad. Fear not, as turkey stuffing freezes well! Just pop it in the freezer and it should last several months.

To reheat stuffing, pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes with a little broth on it to keep it from drying out.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (5)

4.99 from 2247 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Easy Stuffing Recipe

This classic stuffing recipe will complete just about any meal! Celery, onions, and butter are tossed with dried bread cubes, then topped with broth and baked until hot and golden.

Save

ReviewPrint

Easy Stuffing Recipe (6)

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Easy Stuffing Recipe (7)

Servings 12 servings

Easy Stuffing Recipe (8)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 2 small yellow onions diced
  • 4 ribs celery diced
  • cup butter
  • 1 ½ teaspoons poultry seasoning or ½ teaspoon ground sage
  • black pepper
  • salt to taste
  • 12 cups dry bread cubes
  • 2 to 4 cups chicken broth see notes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dry parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs sage, thyme, and/or rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dry herbs

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and poultry seasoning (and rosemary if using). Reduce the temperature to medium low and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly.

  • In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, onion mixture, parsley and fresh herbs.

  • Pour 1 cup of broth overtop and toss the cubes. Add the remaining broth, a little bit at a time until cubes are moist (but not soggy) and gently toss. You may not need all of the broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Place the bread mixture in a baking dish, dot with additional butter if desired, and cover.

  • Bake 35 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Video

Notes

Herbs: Use a total of 1 tablespoon total of fresh herbs. If using rosemary in the herbs, cook it along with the onions/celery. Fresh herbs can be substituted with 1 teaspoon dry herbs (total).

Bread: On average, you will need 13-16 slices of bread (can vary a bit by the type of bread) to make 12 cups. The bread should be measured after drying as you will lose about 20% volume once dried. If using purchased dried bread cubes, measure 12 cups of cubes.

Drying Bread:Cut the bread into cubes and dry it on the counter for 2 to 3 days. Alternatively, place the bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake it at 300°F for 10 minutes or until dry. Cool before using.

*Broth: Add the broth a little bit at a time. If drying bread cubes at home, you may need closer to 2 to 3 cups depending on the type of bread. If using purchased dried cubes, you may need closer to 3 to 4 cups of broth. Add a little bit and let it rest for a few minutes, then add a little bit more as needed.

To Stuff Turkey: Stuffing must be cooled completely in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes. Stuff the turkey just before cooking, do not stuff the turkey ahead of time.

To Make Ahead: Prepare as directed without baking. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

To bake, remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Prepare as directed (you may need to add a few minutes of extra baking time if it’s still cold from the fridge).

4.99 from 2247 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 185 | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 175mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Easy Stuffing Recipe (9) Course Dinner

Easy Stuffing Recipe (10) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

REPIN this Super Stuffing Recipe

Easy Stuffing Recipe (11)
Easy Stuffing Recipe (12)
Easy Stuffing Recipe (13)

Categories:

Casseroles, Christmas, Easter, Main Dishes, Recipes, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving

Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!

Follow us on Pinterest

Easy Stuffing Recipe (14)

Recipes you'll love

30 Minute Dinner Rolls

Side Dishes

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Side Dishes

Copy Cat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

Casseroles

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

Cabbage and Noodles

Pasta and Pizza Recipes

Broccoli Rice Casserole from Scratch

Casseroles

About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
See more posts by Holly

Follow Holly on social media:

pinterest facebook twitter instagram

Easy Stuffing Recipe (22)

Free eBook!

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Latest & Greatest

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Side Dishes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Side Dishes

Easy Ambrosia Salad

Side Dishes

Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes

Slow Cooker

Baked Mac and Cheese

Pasta and Pizza Recipes

Creamed Spinach Recipe

Side Dishes

Easy Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

Turkey stuffing was popularized in the early days of Thanksgiving, as it is written in many 16th-century Boston area documents. Stuffing most often uses dried bread, herbs, and vegetables that are reconstituted with liquid, stuffed into the turkey cavity, and baked until it is firm and finished cooking.

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

How to keep stuffing moist when baking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

How do you keep stuffing from falling apart? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

What is stuffing mix made of? ›

In a large bowl or large plastic food storage bag, combine ​breadcrumbs with dried parsley, minced onion, celery flakes, thyme, pepper, sage, and marjoram. To prepare stuffing, bring 1 1/4 cups of water or chicken broth and 3 tablespoons of butter to a boil.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Why do you toast bread for stuffing? ›

Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing. Either dry out your bread starting a few days before you plan to make the stuffing by letting it sit out or, if you don't have the extra time, cut the bread into cubes, and then toast over a low heat in the oven until dry.

Why is Thanksgiving stuffing so good? ›

Juices from the turkey soaked into the stuffing, infusing it with fat and flavor. "You've got those juices, and those juices taste great,” Smith said.

Why does my stuffing come out mushy? ›

You'll need day-old loaves to get stale so that the stuffing doesn't get too mushy. Don't cube that bread! Ragged, imperfect pieces of bread have more surface area; it's those nooks and crannies that give you good texture. Speaking of texture, that's what stuffing is all about--you want a mix of crispy and soft pieces.

What temperature should stuffing be cooked at? ›

How do you safely cook stuffing? The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

Is it better to make stuffing the day before? ›

YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner. Baking it twice allows the flavours to meld even more so this side dish is sure to be a star at the table.

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

How to tell if stuffing is done? ›

Also, you'll need a food thermometer for determining when stuffing is safely cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Use this temperature as a guide, whether you serve stuffing separately in a casserole dish or stuffed into poultry or meat.

What was stuffing originally made of? ›

The earliest documentary evidence is the Roman cookbook, Apicius De Re Coquinaria, which contains recipes for stuffed chicken, dormouse, hare, and pig. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, and spelt (a cereal), and frequently contain chopped liver, brains, and other organ meat.

What is fabric stuffing made of? ›

It is usually made from polyester and other recycled materials. Fiberfill stuffing is inexpensive to make, and its insulating and filler properties make it ideal for different projects and purposes. Fiberfill stuffing is normally made from polyester, a synthetic fiber that is very cheap and easy to recycle.

What does stuffing contain? ›

Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

What is the difference between Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 6332

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.