Traditional Homemade Stuffing - Simple Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipe! (2024)

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This Classic Homemade Stuffingis packed with so much flavor, it’s seriously the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! Bread, butter, celery, onion, herbs, and spices make this a recipe you’ll come back to year after year!

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Homemade Stuffing
• What’s the Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing?
• Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make Homemade Stuffing
• Tips for Success
• Serving Suggestions
• Can I Make Stuffing in Advance?
• How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
• Can I Freeze This Recipe?
• More Easy Thanksgiving Sides
• Get the Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Stuffing

Stuffing is a Thanksgiving tradition! I’ve had it so many ways, but this is definitely my favorite – it’s full of old-fashioned charm! This classic recipe takes a few simple ingredients and turns them into a savory, buttery masterpiece.

• Perfect texture. This stuffing has just the right amount of moisture with that signature crispy top and fluffy interior.
• Quick and simple. Prep time only takes 20 minutes, which is always a plus on a food-filled holiday like Thanksgiving. This may be the easiest dish you serve, but it will also be the one everyone raves about!
• Great for all kinds of occasions. Stuffing is a must for Thanksgiving, but you can also make this recipe for Christmas, or any time you have a turkey/chicken dinner!

What’s the Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing?

Technically, stuffing is used to fill the cavity of the Thanksgiving turkey while dressing is a standalone dish prepared in its own pan. So, you could say that this is actually a dressing recipe. However, since dressing is often associated with salads, many people use the term stuffing all across the board.

Recipe Ingredients

Classic homemade stuffing starts with the simple ingredient lineup below. It’s fool-proof! Also, for exact ingredient amounts and the full set of directions, scroll on down to the recipe card below.

• Butter – I prefer to used unsalted butter since you’ll add salt directly into the stuffing.
• Yellow onion and celery – Make sure to dice these before you begin.
• Salt and pepper – Freshly ground pepper offers the best flavor!
• Dried sage, thyme, and rosemary – All these aromatic herbs make for the best-flavored stuffing in town.
• Nutmeg – Just use a pinch! A little goes a long way.
• Dried bread cubes – The base of any stuffing recipe. They should be nice and dry so that they soak up the moisture.
• Eggs – To hold everything together.
• Chicken broth – This lends both moisture and flavor.

What Kind of Bread to Use

I like to use French or sourdough bread for my stuffing, but any bread with a tight crumb and a relatively neutral flavor will do. If the bread leans on the sweeter side of neutral, that’s a plus. Common options include brioche and challah. Just steer clear of anything super soft and fluffy, or it will become mushy in the stuffing.

How to Make Homemade Stuffing

It’s super important to prep the bread before making your stuffing. Make sure it’s dry, dry, dry! This way, it soaks up all the goodness and flavor you add to it.

• Prep the bread. Cut up your bread a few days before Thanksgiving and let it sit and get stale. Alternatively, you could bake it at about 200°F until it’s stale.
• Preheat the oven. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray and preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Melt the butter and add the veggies. Melt the butter in a large pan on the stovetop, add the onion and celery, and cook until everything is soft and translucent.
• Add the seasonings. Sprinkle in the seasonings and remove the mixture from the heat.
• Coat the bread with eggs. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and add the eggs. Stir well so that the bread is nicely coated.
• Combine both mixtures. Add the onion mixture to the bread cubes, and stir it all together.
• Add chicken broth. I start by adding about 1 3/4 cups, and then go from there. Be careful not to add too much, or your stuffing could get soupy.
• Bake. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover it with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until your desired level of doneness is reached.
• Enjoy! Serve warm.

Tips for Success

Cooking for Thanksgiving can be pretty hectic, so it always helps to have some tips and tricks up your sleeve. I have a few important ones to note for this homemade stuffing recipe!

• Stir the drying bread occasionally. While your bread is sitting out and getting stale, be sure to give it a good stir every so often. This ensures that all the bread dries evenly. If you’re baking it instead of letting it sit, spread out the cubes in an even layer.
• Add salt to taste. Not all chicken broth is created equal – the level of saltiness can vary. For this reason, you may want to start out with a little less salt and then adjust to taste once the broth has been added. You can always add more salt, but you can’t take any out.
• Add broth slowly. I hate it when stuffing is either too dry or too wet, and I imagine everyone has a slightly different preference. But, it definitely helps to add a little less broth at first, then stir it and see how it looks. Only add more if it seems like the bread will soak it up. You don’t want it to get soupy!
• Keep it warm. If yourstuffing is finished before you’re ready to eat, you can keep it in a 200°F oven so it stays warm.

Serving Suggestions

Adding more dishes to the Thanksgiving table only makes your holiday dinner more delicious! Here are my top suggestions:

• Pair with sweet potato casserole. You’ve got a savory side dish down with this stuffing, so let’s introduce something sweet. My sweet potato casserole with marshmallows will disappear from that table so fast!
• Serve with cranberry sauce. Since this stuffing is served separately from the Thanksgiving turkey, I like to show my bird some love by pairing it with this sweet and tart cranberry sauce! Made with just 4 ingredients, it helps complement the savory flavors of the stuffing.
• Pair with green beans. Green beans always make for a delicious side dish, but this easy green bean casserole dresses them up for the occasion. It’s a cheesy veggie bake that you can prepare in 10 minutes!

Can I Make Stuffing in Advance?

For sure! This recipe is meal-prep friendly. Just follow the storage and reheating instructions below!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

If you end up with leftovers, here’s how to save them for later!

• To store. Store leftover stuffing in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy it within 5 days. Make sure it’s completely cool before storing it.
• To reheat. When you’re ready to reheat it, leave it on the counter until it reaches room temperature, then bake it in a 350°F oven until warm – about 30-35 minutes. Bringing the stuffing to room temperature helps it reheat nice and evenly.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

Yes, homemade stuffing can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. Let it cool completely, place it in an airtight freezer bag or container, and store. To freeze the whole dish in the pan, wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Just make sure the pan you use is freezer-friendly.

If you choose to freeze your stuffing, don’t thaw it out or bring it to room temperature. Reheat it directly from frozen in a 350°F oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until warm.

More Easy Thanksgiving Sides

Planning your Thanksgiving feast? Be sure to check out more of these easy side dish recipes!

• Carrot Souffle
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Creamy Cornbread Casserole
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

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