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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    by Traci · 11/10/2023

    Best Ever Bread Stuffing Recipe

    5 from 41 votes
    Total 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
    Jump To Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    The best bread stuffing has perfectly moist bread cubes with savory herbs, onions, and celery under a buttery-crisp golden topping. This old-fashioned Thanksgiving dressing disappears fast!

    Holiday stuffing in white baking dish with serving utensil
    Table of Contents hide
    1) Why this is the best-ever stuffing recipe
    2) Simple stuffing ingredients
    3) What is the best bread for stuffing?
    4) How to make stuffing
    5) Stuffing FAQ
    6) Recipe tips and variations
    7) What to serve with stuffing
    8) 📖 Recipe
    9) Best Ever Bread Stuffing Recipe

    Why this is the best-ever stuffing recipe

    Everyone needs a classic recipe for Grandma's old-fashioned dressing for the holidays. This is that recipe, and it's an absolute must for your roasted turkey dinner. Here's what you'll love:

    • It's so delicate and savory it melts in your mouth.
    • Any cooking level can make this recipe with confidence.
    • The recipe instructions help you achieve moist dressing, not mushy.
    • You only need cubed bread, eggs, and a few pantry ingredients.
    • Use fresh or stale bread. This recipe includes last-minute staling instructions.
    • Bake this stuffing outside the bird like a traditional dressing.
    • Customize it for vegetarians by using vegetable broth.
    • Conveniently bakes at the same temperature as most holiday dishes.

    Trust me when I say this comforting side dish perfectly rounds out your turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, simple gravy, and cranberry sauce, among other Thanksgiving favorites.

    Simple stuffing ingredients

    These simple ingredients work nicely together to uphold the tradition of old-fashioned dressing.

    • Bread cubes - It's so easy to make dried bread cubes for stuffing, even at the last minute! I recommend using a rustic bakery-style loaf as the foundation for this classic bread stuffing.
    • Butter - Add rich flavor and a beautiful brown color to the stuffing.
    • Onions - Used for adding flavor, texture, and volume to the dish, especially once they are sauteed.
    • Celery - Adds a pleasant crisp and earthy flavor and complements the onions' flavor and texture.
    • Garlic - Adds complexity and savory flavor to stuffing.
    • Eggs - A binder for stuffing ingredients that creates a cohesive texture.
    • Broth or stock - Use vegetable, chicken, or turkey stock to moisten the stuffing for mouthwatering goodness. It also infuses the bread with savory, umami flavor, making it irresistible.
    • Herbs - Use poultry seasoning or a combination of fresh herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary. Either will provide aromatic complexity.
    • Salt and pepper - Seasons and balances the stuffing flavors.
    • Fresh parsley - Put the finishing touch on stuffing with this fresh herb.
    stuffing ingredients measured and labeled

    What is the best bread for stuffing?

    When it comes to classic stuffing, you can't go wrong with a bakery fresh loaf of French bread, sourdough, Italian bread, or herbed bread. You can also use brioche, challah, a baguette, or even homemade croutons.

    How to make stuffing

    Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat half of the butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add and saute onions, celery, and garlic until tender. Set aside briefly to cool.

    celery and onions sauteing in iron skillet
    wooden spoon stirs celery and onions sauteing in iron skillet

    In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, 1 cup of broth, and poultry seasoning or fresh herbs until combined. Stir in the onions and celery.

    stuffing ingredients in glass mixing bowl
    stuffing ingredients in glass mixing bowl

    Add dried bread cubes to this mixture and gently stir to combine. Drizzle more broth into the mixture while gently stirring, adding enough to moisten the bread cubes without soaking them. Transfer this mixture to a prepared baking dish. Cut the remaining butter into small cubes and dot the surface with it.

    person's hand stirs stuffing ingredients with black stirring utensil in mixing bowl
    unbaked stuffing with butter cubes in white baking dish

    When you're ready to bake your stuffing, cover it with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes until the stuffing is warmed through and golden brown on top. Rest the stuffing for 10 minutes and serve warm.

    stuffing in white baking dish with serving utensil

    Stuffing FAQ

    How do I make stuffing moist and not soggy?

    When adding broth to the cubed bread mixture, do it gradually, stirring gently. Ensure it's moistened but not soaked. You may not need the entire amount of broth listed.

    Can I make stuffing ahead of time?

    Certainly! Prepare stuffing ahead by following the recipe up to the baking step. Cover and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. If using ceramic bakeware, let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to prevent thermal shock. Then, proceed with baking baking instructions.

    Can I use frozen bread to make stuffing?

    Certainly! Thaw whole frozen bread or bread cubes in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Then, proceed with the recipe.

    Recipe tips and variations

    • To scale this recipe up 2x or 3x, you'll need a larger skillet and a 5-quart mixing bowl for prep. To bake, distribute the stuffing mixture into multiple 9 x 13 pans or, space permitting, a full-size hotel pan. Then, resume the recipe baking instructions.
    • Use any bread loaf variety, including sourdough, Italian bread, brioche, challah, or baguettes.
    • The quickest way to make dry bread cubes out of fresh bread is to bake them in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven for one hour.
    • Store-bought stuffing cubes can be used in place of fresh bread.
    • When adding broth to the stuffing cubes, stir gently to avoid over-mixing. This will keep your stuffing cubes light and fluffy.
    • Customize your stuffing by adding nuts or fried sage for flavor and texture.
    • To reheat leftover stuffing, cover and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until warmed through. You can also cover and reheat leftovers in the microwave in short intervals, stirring as needed.

    What to serve with stuffing

    • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Spiral Ham
    • Roasted Mushrooms
    • Homemade Turkey Gravy
    • Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken
    • Green Bean Casserole

    📖 Recipe

    bread stuffing in white baking dish with serving utensil

    Best Ever Bread Stuffing Recipe

    The best bread stuffing has perfectly moist bread cubes with savory herbs, onions, and celery under a buttery-crisp golden topping. This old-fashioned Thanksgiving dressing disappears fast!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep TimePrep Time: 20 minutes mins
    Cook TimeCook Time: 1 hour hr
    Total timeTotal Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Yield 10 cups
    Author Traci Antonovich
    5 from 41 votes
    Print Pin

    Ingredients 

    • 8 cups Dried Bread Cubes
    • 1 stick Butter divided
    • 1 medium Onion diced
    • 2 ribs Celery diced
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 ½ cups Broth or Stock or more as needed
    • 1 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning or 1 teaspoon each: fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme
    • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Black Pepper

    Optional garnish

    • Fresh Parsley about ¼ cup

    Equipment

    • chef's knife
    • bread knife optional
    • cutting board
    • 11-inch skillet
    • mixing bowl
    • stirring utensil
    • 10 x 10 baking dish or 9 x 13 size

    Instructions

    Note: This recipe yields 10 cups of stuffing. Visit the footnotes for a bakeware tip when scaling 2x or 3x.

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and center the oven rack.
    • In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt half of the BUTTER. Add ONIONS, CELERY, and GARLIC, and saute until tender. Set aside briefly to cool.
    • In a mixing bowl, whisk together EGGS, 1 cup of the BROTH, SEASONINGS, SALT, and PEPPER until combined. Stir in the cooked onions and celery along with the BREAD CUBES.
    • Drizzle more BROTH into the mixture while gently stirring, adding just enough to moisten the bread cubes without soaking them.
    • Transfer this mixture to a prepared baking dish. Cut the remaining BUTTER into small cubes and dot the surface with it.
    • Cover the stuffing with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake an additional 30 minutes until the stuffing is cooked through and golden brown.
    • Rest the stuffing for 10 minutes and serve warm.
    • To store, cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    Final step

    Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

    5 from 41 votes

    Recipe Notes

    • To scale this recipe up 2x or 3x, you'll need a larger skillet and a 5-quart mixing bowl for prep. To bake, distribute the stuffing mixture into multiple 9 x 13 pans or, space permitting, a full-size hotel pan. Then, resume the recipe baking instructions.
    • Use any bread loaf variety, including sourdough, Italian bread, brioche, challah, or baguettes.
    • The quickest way to make dry bread cubes out of fresh bread is to bake them in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven for one hour.
    • Store-bought stuffing cubes can be used in place of fresh bread.
    • When adding broth to the stuffing cubes, stir gently to avoid over-mixing. This will keep your stuffing cubes light and fluffy.
    • Customize your stuffing by adding nuts or fried sage for flavor and texture.
    • To reheat leftover stuffing, cover and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until warmed through. You can also cover and reheat leftovers in the microwave in short intervals, stirring as needed.
    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 376mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 373IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Course Side Dish, Thanksgiving
    Cuisine American
    Diet Vegetarian
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    Comments

    1. Tammy S Sellars says

      November 22, 2023 at 6:00 pm

      I can't wait to try this and am prepping now...it looks fantastic. I wonder if I can cook it in a crock pot and remove the lid for the last 30 minutes? my oven is slammed tomorrow. I also have an electric skillet-type pan that has an oven temp dial.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 22, 2023 at 9:03 pm

        Hi Tammy, I'll be honest. I've never made stuffing in either of those appliances, so I can't speak from any experience. Do you happen to have an air fryer oven or a toaster oven?

    2. Ned says

      November 12, 2023 at 6:59 am

      5 stars
      You are not kidding! This seriously is the best stuffing recipe! Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 12, 2023 at 7:05 am

        Yay and you're so welcome!! Glad you're loving it as much as we do. Thank YOU for the feedback. Enjoy!

    3. Anjali says

      November 12, 2023 at 6:45 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect stuffing to add to our Thanksgiving menu! I love how simple it is, and the shortcut of using poultry seasoning makes it super flavorful with minimal effort!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 12, 2023 at 7:06 am

        I'm 100% with you about the seasoning! Thanks for sharing your feedback. Enjoy!!

    4. Dina and Bruce says

      November 11, 2023 at 3:28 pm

      5 stars
      A great recipe! This will be a great addition to our table!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 12, 2023 at 7:00 am

        Yay! So glad you're enjoying the stuffing. Thanks for the feedback!

    5. CB says

      November 11, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      Love how straightforward this recipe is and it looks delicious! Cooking for Thanksgiving always stresses me out, but I'm definitely going to make this recipe and follow all your tips! I already feel less stressed.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 12, 2023 at 7:07 am

        Awesome! Sometime you just know, right? Thank you for sharing your excitement and please do enjoy!

    6. Gwen VanVoorhis says

      November 11, 2023 at 2:16 pm

      5 stars
      You can also add moisture by adding applesauce.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 21, 2023 at 7:56 am

        That sounds delicious! Feel free to share how much you use. Thanks!

    7. Sue says

      November 11, 2023 at 7:19 am

      5 stars
      This came out great, especially for stuffing that is baked outside the bird. It was very moist, not dry at all. I followed your recipe exactly. Did a test run since I offered to bring a side of stuffing to my sister's home for this coming Thanksgiving. I always stuff my turkey but she prefers to roast it unstuffed and have stuffing baked separately. Since 10 servings will not be enough (have big eaters) I am going to figure out how to either double or triple the recipe depending upon the amount of guests that will be attending. If I triple the recipe do you have any suggestions as to what size pan I should use.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 11, 2023 at 8:13 am

        Hi Sue! I LOVE that you did a test run for the big day – you are my people!

        When doubling or tripling the recipe, I recommend using a 5-quart mixing bowl for the stuffing prep. Then distribute the mixture into two or three 9 x 13 baking pans or, space permitting, a full sized hotel pan and follow the recipe baking instructions as written. I've included links to these tools in the Recipe Tips section in the blog post.

        Also, you'll notice that my recipes have a 2x and 3x button for scaling, which is handy, but please also notice that the gray-colored notes (next to each ingredient) do not resize when the buttons are pressed, because technology just isn't there yet lol. Let me know if you have any questions and I'm here to help. Thank you for your readership. It means the world.

    8. Cathleen says

      November 11, 2023 at 7:14 am

      5 stars
      This stuffing looks amazing! I love making homemade stuffing, so I am so excited to try this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 12, 2023 at 7:04 am

        Yay! I feel the excitement! Please enjoy and thanks!

    9. JB says

      November 10, 2023 at 9:14 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious with a definite timeless flavor and texture! Love the tips for getting the moisture right. Let's not forget the heavenly buttery topping. Just yum - new favorite Thanksgiving side right here!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        November 11, 2023 at 7:30 am

        It's my favorite too!! It's hard to believe a few simple ingredients can do this to us LOL. Thank you for the feedback! Enjoy!

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