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The Best Stuffing Recipe for holiday meals that yields savory, herby, and slightly sweet flavors in every bite. It's easy and quick to prepare. The perfectly baked crisp top is absolutely delicious and irresistible.
Best Stuffing Recipe
When it comes to Thanksgiving, this is the best stuffing recipe to serve. Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, this recipe is surely to become a family favorite. It’s a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will make your holiday meal unforgettable.
This ultimate homemade stuffing combines a perfect balance of flavors, with the savory notes from sautéed onions and celery, complemented by the fresh herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary), and a delightful crunch on top. It’s simple yet delicious and overloaded with a strong herb aroma that is absolutely enjoyable in every bite. Celebrate your holiday with this easy stuffing is the best.
Why This Recipe Works
The best stuffing recipe is 100% fail-proof and easy to make. You may also double the recipe to make a large portion for parties or family dinners.
Stuffing is typically served as a versatile side dish alongside roasted poultry, such as turkey, chicken, or duck. It complements the main course by adding a flavorful, starchy element to the meal.
Stuffing often tastes even better the next day, so don’t forget to enjoy it as leftovers. It can be reheated in the oven, microwave, or stovetop.
Recipe Ingredients
The best stuffing recipe calls for only a few simple ingredients that can be easily accessed at local grocery stores:
- Day-old white bread, fresh or slightly stale
- Butter
- Yellow onion
- Celery
- Fresh herbs (including parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme)
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Chicken broth
- Eggs
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
How To Make Best Stuffing Recipe
Prepare the best stuffing recipe starting by picking the bread. I recommend white or whole wheat bread for this recipe; however, you may use sourdough or another choice of your favorite. Dry out the fresh bread properly if using fresh white bread, then transfer it to a large bowl.
Next, melt the butter in a skillet and sauté onion and celery until tender. Combine them with bread, and herbs in a bowl. Stir in half of the chicken broth and add salt and pepper to taste.
Finally, whisk together the remaining chicken broth and eggs, and pour over the bread mixture. Gently stir the mixture and transfer the stuffing to a baking dish. Cover it with foil and bake it in a preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover it and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes to get the gorgeous golden crisp top.
Serve immediately.
Cooking Tips
For the best result, please follow my tips below:
- You may choose either white or wheat bread to prepare stuffing. If using fresh bread, you can dry it out in the oven or on the counter for a day or two.
- Cut the bread into uniform sizes, so they get cooked evenly.
- Use fresh herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley to add a burst of freshness and fragrance to your stuffing. Dried herbs can be used if fresh ones are not available, but fresh herbs are preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prepare stuffing ahead of time to make your holiday cooking less stressful. There are two options for preparing stuffing in advance: The first option is to make the base and keep it refrigerated before baking. Sauté the onions and celery, then mix them with the dried bread cubes. Store this mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, combine the mixture with chicken broth and eggs. And bake it following this recipe.
The second option is to fully cook the stuffing, store it in the refrigerator, and reheat it on the day when serving.
Stuffing is a classic side dish that is typically served for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It goes well with roasted turkey, barbeque meat, and any main dish.
Traditional stuffing is also prepared by stuffing the mixture into a turkey, chicken, or other poultry before roasting. Make sure the stuffing is fully cooked to a safe temperature (165°F or 74°C) to avoid foodborne illness. Some people prefer to cook the stuffing separately from the bird to ensure it gets crispy and evenly cooked.
This recipe has 361 calories per serving.
What To Serve With This Stuffing Recipe
For an easy and wholesome weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes:
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Best Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb day-old white bread, fresh or slightly stale, cut into bite-sized cubes
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups yellow onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups celery, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). If using fresh white bread, arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, or until the bread is dried out. Remove from the oven and let the cubes cool. Transfer the dried bread cubes to a large bowl.
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery, and stir constantly until the vegetables are tender and slightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Combine with the dried bread cubes and fresh herbs. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Stir in half of the chicken broth, and set the mixture aside.
- Whisk together the remaining chicken broth and 2 eggs, then pour this mixture into the bowl with the bread mixture. Gently stir to combine, then transfer to a butter-greased baking dish. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) for 40 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes, or until the top is browned and crisp.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional freshly chopped parsley on top.
Video
Notes
- You may choose either white or wheat bread to prepare stuffing. If using fresh bread, you can dry it out in the oven or on the counter for a day or two.
- Cut the bread into uniform sizes, so they get cooked evenly.
- Use fresh herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley to add a burst of freshness and fragrance to your stuffing. Dried herbs can be used if fresh ones are not available, but fresh herbs are preferred.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Everyone raved about the dressing. We had 12 people over ranging from a three year old to the Grand Parents. Everyone thought it was the best dressing ever including reheating leftover dressing the next morning in a skillet sauteed in a little olive oil and butter.
Thanks for the recipe, it is a keeper!
Hi Tom, thanks for the comment and 5-star rating! I’m so happy everyone loved it—that skillet reheating trick with olive oil and butter sounds amazing. I’ll have to try that next time! :)
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I usually buy Pepperidge Farm seasoned cubes, and add sautéed celery and onions, butter, and chicken broth. I would imagine this will be fantastic! Thank you so much! ❤️
Thank you for your comment, Sandy. Happy cooking!