This is the Only Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe You Need (2024)

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Faith Durand

Faith DurandSVP of Content

Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.

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updated Oct 17, 2023

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Like the boxed stuff, but so much better. This is the only stuffing recipe you'll need on Thanksgiving — or any day.

Serves6 to 8

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Turkey gets the magazine covers and the big platters, but let’s be real — stuffing is the star of the show, at least on my Thanksgiving table. And when I say stuffing, I mean the most classic, herby, moist, and fragrant bread stuffing — just like what you get out of the box, but even better.

Here’s how to make that stuffing you crave, the one that is so indelibly connected with Thanksgiving, any time you like. It’s remarkably simple, and oh so good.

What Makes this Stuffing Recipe the Best?

People get serious about their stuffing. Oysters? Sausage? Cornbread? Keep ’em off my table. But I know that others feel differently. However, I would argue that for a majority of Americans (sweeping generalizations, love them) this taste of herbs and onion, so similar to classic Stove Top from a box, is the taste that is quintessentially Thanksgiving.

We set out to recreate that taste in a simple, from-scratch recipe that can be prepped ahead and baked while the turkey finishes.

Our 16 Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

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The alchemy of this stuffing recipe is really wonderful — when you’re mixing dried bread, herbs, and butter, it doesn’t seem possible that all of it will come together in that silky, homestyle stuffing you crave. But pour in a good measure of turkey broth and butter, and suddenly this is a moist and fluffy Thanksgiving classic.

Stuffing vs. Dressing

Now, some nomenclature. Stuffing is what I call the bready-casserole-goodness that soaks up gravy and sits besides the turkey. Technically, however, this is just bread dressing. It’s only stuffing if it’s baked inside the turkey, which I almost never do. But I don’t let the name trip me up; stuffing this is, to me, and it will always remain so. If it confuses you, though, then dressing it is.

The Key to Great Thanksgiving Stuffing: The Broth

Now, I can’t give you this recipe without one big caveat, and that is broth. A simple stuffing or bread dressing like this one has a bare handful of ingredients, so they really have to count. The single biggest boost you can give your homemade stuffing is turkey broth.

Sure, boxed chicken or vegetable broth will do just fine, but the best stuffing is made with rich, savory, homemade turkey broth — the richer, the better. That flavor is what you want.

Why Doesn’t This Stuffing Cook Inside the Turkey?

I don’t stuff my turkey partly because there are very real health hazards and a need to make sure that stuffing is completely cooked. It also makes the turkey cook more slowly.

What Temperature Should You Cook Stuffing?

This stuffing bakes at 375°F. You’ll bake it covered with aluminum foil for the first 25 minutes, which ensures it stays moist. Then, to give it that nice golden-brown color, you’ll bake it uncovered for the final 15 minutes.

Can You Make This Stuffing Ahead of Time?

Yes! This stuffing can be completely assembled in a casserole dish and refrigerated overnight or up to 24 hours in advance. If you’re baking it directly from the refrigerator, add about 10 extra minutes to the baking time. If you’re baking it from room temperature, you can bake it as directed. We don’t recommend freezing this stuffing.

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How To Make Stuffing Recipe

Like the boxed stuff, but so much better. This is the only stuffing recipe you'll need on Thanksgiving — or any day.

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2

    large yellow onions (about 1 pound total)

  • 4 large stalks

    celery

  • 4 cloves

    garlic

  • 1 small bunch

    fresh sage

  • 4 sprigs

    fresh thyme

  • 1 (about 18-ounce) loaf

    rustic bread

  • 6 tablespoons

    unsalted butter, divided, plus more for the baking dish

  • 2 cups

    low-sodium turkey, chicken, or vegetable broth

  • 2

    large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Equipment

  • Large rimmed baking sheet

  • Large skillet

  • 9x13-inch or 3-quart baking dish

Instructions

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  1. Heat the oven and cut the bread. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 225°F. Meanwhile, coat a 9x13-inch or 3-quart baking dish with butter. Cut 1 rustic bread loaf into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups). Place on a large, rimmed baking sheet in an even layer.

  2. Dry the bread. Bake, stirring every 30 minutes, until the bread is crisp, about 90 minutes total. Meanwhile, prep and cook the vegetables.

  3. Prep the ingredients. Dice 2 large yellow onions and 4 large celery stalks. Mince 4 garlic cloves. Pick the leaves from 1 small bunch fresh sage and finely chop until you have 1/4 cup. Pick the leaves from 4 fresh thyme sprigs.

  4. Cook, the onion, celery, and garlic until tender. Melt 4 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 10 minutes.

  5. Add the herbs. Add the sage and thyme and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat.

  6. Mix the toasted bread cubes with the onion mixture. When the bread is ready, remove from the oven. Increase the oven temperature to 375°F. Transfer the toasted bread to a large bowl. Add the onion mixture and fold to combine.

  7. Whisk the eggs and broth, and mix in. Place 2 cups low-sodium broth, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt in a medium bowl. Season with a generous amount of black pepper and whisk to combine. Pour over the bread mixture and stir until evenly combined.

  8. Put into a baking dish and top with more butter. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stovetop and drizzle over the stuffing.

  9. Cover and bake. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is golden-brown, about 15 minutes more.

  10. Rest before serving. Let the stuffing cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The stuffing can be completely assembled and refrigerated overnight or up to 24 hours. Bake covered for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes more.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

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This is the Only Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe You Need (2024)

FAQs

In what did recipes did people originally use stuffing? ›

So how far back can we find stuffing used in cooking? Some time between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, a chef by the name of Apicius created a cookbook entitled, “Apicius de re Coquinaria.” In its pages are recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit, pig, and even dormouse.

What is stuffing called when it's not in the turkey? ›

Stuffing and dressing are commonly used as different names for the same thing—a dish consisting of bits of bread (or other starchy things) and various seasonings. The dish can be made by stuffing it (hence the name) inside a turkey or other bird that will be roasted, or by baking or cooking it separately.

What is the best bread to use for stuffing? ›

Sourdough, Italian, and white bread are standard choices for stuffing; however, journeying beyond your comfort zone can produce excellent results.

What is homemade stuffing made of? ›

Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!

What is stuffing made of Thanksgiving? ›

The BEST traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe is easy to make dried bread cubes, sausage, diced vegetables, and chicken broth. It's a great side dish to make ahead of time and it definitely tastes best homemade! Pair this easy homemade stuffing with our popular turkey recipe, homemade rolls, and Thanksgiving pie.

What country invented stuffing? ›

Purportedly ancient Roman, or else Medieval, cooks developed engastration recipes, stuffing animals with other animals. An anonymous Andalusian cookbook from the 13th century includes a recipe for a ram stuffed with small birds.

Who invented cornbread stuffing? ›

African American Heritage

The earliest ancestor of cornbread dressing as we know it is a dish called “kush.” Food writer and historian Michael Twitty says the word hails from Islamic West Africa and is related to the term “couscous,” a popular dish made from tiny balls of grains like semolina wheat or millet.

Who invented stuffing for Thanksgiving? ›

The late Ruth Siems, a 1953 home economics graduate, is credited with the invention of Stove Top stuffing. The product hit shelves in 1971 as a dish appropriate for Thanksgiving but also for everyday meals. The secret behind the dish is the dimensions of the bread crumbs, which General Foods patented in 1975.

What do Southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

Is stuffing the same as dressing black folks? ›

The stuffing mixture may be cooked separately and served as a side dish, in which case it may still be called 'stuffing', or in some regions, such as the Southern US, 'dressing'. This is from Wiki. Basically, everyone except a tiny percentage of Black people with family in Alabama calls it stuffing.

What do the French call stuffing? ›

The word “stuffing” dates back to 14th Century English, when it was used synonymously with the more uncomfortable sounding forcemeat. Soon after, Anglos borrowed the slicker French word, farce (from the Latin verb facire or “to stuff”).

Does stuffing need eggs? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

Should you toast bread for stuffing? ›

If your oven only goes down to, say, 250°, start by baking for 30 minutes, then check the dryness of a cube or two. It's okay if the bread gets slightly toasted—that caramelization is just going to add a little more toasty flavor to your stuffing.

What is the stuffing inside turkey? ›

Stuffing is a side dish consisting of dried bread, such as cornbread, croutons, or breadcrumbs, mixed with meat, onions, celery, and sage. The mixture is then inserted into the cavity of the turkey and roasted.

What is the difference between turkey stuffing and turkey dressing? ›

"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.

What ingredients goes in turkey dressing? ›

directions. Sauté onion and celery in the butter until tender. Combine onion mixture with bread, pepper, eggs, salt, sage and poultry seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Stir in broth until well moistened.

What is the origin of turkey stuffing? ›

Although experts are not clear on when or where stuffing was first made, the first recorded history of the dish comes from Apicius de re Coquinaria, a Roman collection of popular recipes from the first century AD.

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