Classic Stuffing Recipe
on Nov 19, 2019, Updated Mar 15, 2024
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This recipe for classic, traditional stuffing is bare-bones but full of flavor, and you can cook it either inside your turkey or separately in a baking dish. You also have plenty of room for customizing with apple, sausage, or chopped nuts!
With simple, hearty ingredients, this stuffing recipe is a classic and is incredibly easy to make with your turkey or completely on its own as a side!
Traditional Stuffing Recipe
We are on a roll with Thanksgiving and other holiday dishes and recipes lately, but a holiday feast just wouldn’t be as festive without stuffing, right?! This one is the traditional stuffing that you’ve probably had from the time you were a kid, and it’s one that never gets old. Made with stale bread cubes, chicken or turkey broth, butter, onions, celery, and some flavorful seasonings, it’s a classic holiday comfort food that I’ll always crave this time of year.
Whether you’re bringing it as a side and need to cook it by itself, or you’re in charge of the entire meal and want to cook it inside the turkey, I made sure to give you both options for making your stuffing how you like it in the recipe card directions below. You can leave this recipe as is, and it’s delish — or you can add other additions to amp up the flavor and creativity, like minced apple, crumbled and browned sausage, or chopped nuts for more texture. I know you’ll love how easy this classic holiday dish is to make and customize, and how yummy it is to eat!
Do you put eggs in stuffing?
You certainly can — it creates a more casserole-like consistency where everything sticks together and is less crumbly. If you’d like that kind of consistency, just whisk two eggs in a small bowl and pour it over your stuffing in the baking dish when you add the 1/4 cup of broth before popping it into the oven.
What is Thanksgiving stuffing made of?
A traditional Thanksgiving stuffing generally has onion, celery, dried bread pieces, chicken or turkey broth, butter, and some seasonings. You can buy dried bread cubes or you can make them yourself using leftover bread, the choice is yours. Also, the dried bread can be made ahead of time to cut down on prep the day of cooking.
Can I make stuffing the day before?
You sure can! I would recommend making it in a baking dish if you want to make it the day before. Just follow the instructions below, let it cool completely, and cover it tightly to store in the fridge overnight. Reheat it in a 350 degree F. oven for 20 minutes, or until heated through.
What kind of bread is best for stuffing?
I recommend a hearty, high-quality bread that you’d use to make a really good sandwich — not the flimsy, cheap kind. To dry it out, cut it into cubes with a serrated knife, place it in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 300 degrees F. for about an hour. The bread crumbs should be very dry and a bit toasted. You can do this step up to 3 days ahead of time. Just cool completely and store in an airtight container.
How to make a basic stuffing:
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- Add the onions and celery, and cook about 5 minutes.
- Add the salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
- Place the dried bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooked vegetables to the mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the poultry seasoning over the veggies, and then stir to combine.
- Drizzle with the chicken broth, and stir again gently to combine.
- To bake in a pan: Place the bread cube mixture in a bottom of a large baking dish that has been greased well (a 9×13-inch pan works great). Drizzle with an additional 1/4 cup of broth. Cover tightly with foil, and bake at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden-brown.
- To bake inside your turkey: Place 3 to 5 cups inside the cavity of your raw, thawed, and ready to go into the oven turkey. Do not over fill. Follow the cooking instructions for your turkey. When the turkey is done, be sure that the stuffing has reached 165 degrees F. before serving. If you have extra stuffing that didn’t fit in the turkey, bake it in a smaller serving dish, and follow the directions above.
Not much too it! And once you make it from scratch you’ll never go back to the boxed stuff.
Classic Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups onion, chopped, white or yellow
- 2 cups celery, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 10 cups dried bread cubes, (16 ounces)
- 2 teaspoons dried poultry seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups chicken or turkey stock
Instructions
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
- When the butter is melted, add the onions and celery, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the salt and pepper, and stir to combine.
- Place the dried bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cooked vegetables to the mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the poultry seasoning over the veggies, and then stir to combine everything well.
- Drizzle with the chicken broth, and stir again gently to combine.
- To bake in a pan: Place the bread cube mixture in a bottom of a large baking dish that has been greased well (a 9×13-inch pan works great). Drizzle with an additional 1/4 cup of broth. Cover tightly with foil, and bake at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden-brown.
- To bake inside your turkey: Place 3 to 5 cups inside the cavity of your raw, thawed, and ready to go into the oven turkey. Do not over fill. Follow the cooking instructions for your turkey. When the turkey is done, be sure that the stuffing has reached 165 degrees F. before serving. If you have extra stuffing that didn’t fit in the turkey, bake it in a smaller serving dish, and follow the directions above.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- I love this bare-bones stuffing recipes because it’s simple and it’s classic. Feel free to add a grated apple, sausage (cook while the onions are cooking), and/or a cup of chopped nuts. You have lots of flexibility for flavor and additions.
- To make homemade bread cubes, simply buy a favorite loaf of hearty bread (high-quality sandwich bread — the super cheap stuff doesn’t have enough bulk to it). Cut it into cubes with a serrated knife, place it in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 300 degrees F. for about an hour. The bread crumbs should be very dry and a bit toasted. You can do this step up to 3 days ahead of time. Just cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
More Thanksgiving side dish recipes you’ll love:
- Classic Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Homemade Turkey Gravy
- Katie’s Easy Corn Casserole
- Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole
- Simple and Juicy Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower
- Simple Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
- Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
- Easy Apple Cabbage Salad with Pecans
Traditional stuffing is a delicious and flavorful holiday staple that’s super easy to make and can be customized if you’d like to add additional flavors and textures!
