Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (2024)

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by Kay

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This Easy Stuffing is a classic, traditional recipe. Also known as Thanksgiving Dressing, this timeless thanksgiving classic will be your new go-to stuffing recipe! Made with simple ingredients that have the most delicious results, everyone loves it!

Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (1)

We call it stuffing, but I know some call it dressing. I guess the proper term here is dressing, considering I don’t stuff it in my bird, but we always called it stuffing growing up

What do you like better, mashed potatoes or stuffing? I love mashed potatoes, but I will always be true to stuffing! Not just any stuffing; I can’t stand the boxed stuff tasting too mushy; it reminds me of baby food.

This Easy Stuffing Recipe is my family’s favorite! Every year I look forward to it. It is my favorite side dish!

Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (2)

Every year my mom would make this stuffing at thanksgiving, and I can speak for all 4 of my siblings when I say this stuffing is so dang delicious a total family favorite! I used 4 different types of bread whole wheat, white, French, and cinnamon raisin. I purchased all my bread from Trader Joe’s. You, of course, can use whatever bread youlike however, I highly recommend you use cinnamon raisin and French or shepherd’s bread it tastes so amazing in this stuffing!

Some stuffing recipes call for many add-ins like sausage, cranberries, carrots, and eggs. Those are all great additions, but nothing compares to the taste of classing bread stuffing. The bullion in this stuffing really takes the flavor above and beyond.

Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (3)

How To Make Stuffing

Making this stuffing recipe from scratch is not hard to do. The key is to use very dry bread. You can let it go stale on its own, but I like to dry mine out in the oven. Drying it out in the oven is the best bet for getting your bread dry enough for this stuffing recipe. It will also keep the stuffing from getting soggy.

  • Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Cube your bread and place it on 2 rimmed baking sheets; let the bread dry out in the oven for 1 hour.
  • Melt butter in a large skillet, and add onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook on low till tender, do not brown, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in chicken broth and 2 & 1/2 vegetarian bullion cubes, or chicken bullion cubes will work too. Stir till cubes are dissolved, and turn off the heat.
  • Once the bread is dry, place it into a large bowl, you may need to do this in 2 bowls. Pour over your onion mixture and gently toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Adjust oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
  • Place the mixture into a casserole baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes covered, uncover, and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes.
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Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (5)
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Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (8)
Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (9)

CanI make this vegan?

  • Yes, absolutely. To do so, you will need to substitute the butter with your favorite vegan butter and use veggie broth instead of chicken broth.
  • If you want to use rosemary, go ahead and add it to the onion mixture. I like mine without, but if you love rosemary, go ahead and add it in!
  • Depending on the bread you use, you may need to add more chicken broth to your stuffing. You will be able to taste and determine before baking.
  • Technically, this is dressing since I don’t stuff it into my turkey, but I just can’t shake the word stuffing; my apologies if that bothers you.
  • This Easy stuffing is our favorite, so I make the most of this side dish cause LEFTOVERS! If you’re not feeding a big crowd or just don’t want lots of leftovers, feel free to cut this in half.
Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (10)

Need more delicious Thanksgiving side dishes also, be sure to make:

  • Perfect Mashed Potatoes,
  • Nutted Wild Rice Pilaf
  • Slow Cooker Turkey Breast + Gravy

Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (11)

The Best Easy Stuffing Around! This stuffing is a crowd-pleaser and makes for amazing leftovers!

Prep Time1 hour

Cook Time45 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 10 slices of whole wheat bread
  • 12 pieces of white bread
  • 4 slices thick cinnamon raisin bread
  • 13 slices of French bread
  • { roughly 26 cups of bread cubes}
  • 5 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 small onions, diced
  • 1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
  • 2 tbsp fresh sage finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ground thyme
  • 5-6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 & 1/2 vegetarian/vegan bullion cubes, chicken bullion works great too
  • Fresh thyme leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
    Cube your bread and place it on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Let the bread dry out in the oven for 1 hour.
  2. Melt butter in a large skillet, and add onion, celery, sage, and thyme. Cook on low till tender, do not brown, about 10 minutes. Add in chicken broth and bullion cubes. Stir till cubes are dissolved, and turn off the heat.
  3. Once the bread is dried, place it into a large bowl, pour over your onion mixture, and gently toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste. ;plo
  4. Adjust oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
  5. Place the mixture into a casserole dish. Bake for 35 minutes covered, uncover, and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes.

Notes

  • If you want to use rosemary, add it to the onion mixture. I like mine without, but if you love rosemary, go ahead and add it in!
  • Depending on the bread you use, you may need to add more chicken broth to your stuffing. You will be able to taste and determine before baking.
  • Technically this is dressing since I don't stuff it into my turkey, but I can't shake the word stuffing!
  • This Easy stuffing is our favorite, so I make the most of this side dish cause LEFTOVERS! If you're not feeding a big crowd or don't want lots of leftovers, feel free to cut this in half!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

14

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 406Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 26mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 14g

For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How to Make The BEST Easy Stuffing Story.

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By Kay on November 7th, 2022

Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (12)

About Kay

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2 thoughts on “Easy Stuffing Recipe”

  1. This was so delicious!! The teenagers ate several helpings! I think the bouillon is the secret ingredient. It made the flavor so much richer than other stuffings. It will now be in our official family thanksgiving menu!!

    Reply

    • Julie!!! You made my day!!! I’m
      So happy!! This is a family favorite in our house too!!!! Happy thanksgiving!????❣️❣️❣️

      Reply

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Easy Stuffing Recipe | Kay's Clean Eats (2024)

FAQs

Should I put eggs in my stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency. Seasonings: This turkey dressing recipe is seasoned with salt, pepper, rubbed sage, and garlic powder.

What is homemade stuffing made of? ›

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!

What can be used as stuffing? ›

Here are a few suggestions.
  • Old tights or socks. Nylons work great, but woolly ones will do too. ...
  • Worn out t-shirts or jumpers. Again, these should be clean. ...
  • Tissues or tissue paper. ...
  • Newspaper. ...
  • Plastic bags. ...
  • Packing materials. ...
  • Toy stuffing from another toy. ...
  • The filling from a pillow.
Jan 22, 2019

Is it OK to make stuffing the day before? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

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

Cornstarch. This is our binder! Cornstarch makes a great egg substitute in vegan baked goods. Turns out it's great for making an eggless stuffing as well!

What is teddy bear stuffing made of? ›

Common stuffing materials include synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets, and beans.

Is stuffing better moist or dry? ›

You want your stuffing moist but not soggy and certainly not dry. The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix.

What's the difference between stuffing and filling? ›

Although most people in America debate on whether the dish should be called stuffing or dressing the people of Pennsylvania call it filling. Essentially filling is the same as stuffing or dressing. The name suggests that it will fill something like stuffing does.

Is stove top stuffing bad for you? ›

Like many convenience foods, Stove Top stuffing has gotten a bad rap in recent years, especially from people who have *opinions* about what is healthy to eat. It's got too much sodium, there are weird ingredients that you can't pronounce, and it's just better to make your own stuffing. But “better” is subjective.

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

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.

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

Is it better to stuff the turkey or make the stuffing on the side? ›

Should I stuff my turkey? Stuffing cooked inside the turkey cavities is delicious, but it does slow down the cooking time and could be a potential health hazard if done incorrectly. For perfect no-worry results, opt for "dressing" instead – stuffing cooked alongside the bird instead of inside.

Do you cook stuffing before you stuff? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

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