Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe is back for Thanksgiving! Made with day old French bread and fresh sage, let the memories of yesteryear flood in! Serve with delicious roast turkey and homemade turkey gravy along with all of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes.

Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (1)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Grandma’s recipes often carry a strong sense of nostalgia. The familiar taste and aroma can transport us back to fond memories of family gatherings and the holidays, creating a comforting experience. This recipe is no different. The balance of flavors and the texture of this stuffing might be exactly what you remember (and crave!) during Thanksgiving or Christmas time.

Stuffing vs Dressing

Some people call this side dish dressing while others call it stuffing. The reason is because a stuffing recipe is usuallystuffed inside the rawturkeyand cooked along with it. While dressing is the version of stuffing that is baked outside of a turkey andin a casserole dish.

So technically this is a dressing recipe, but for simplicity and for consistency with my other stuffing recipes, I’ll call this dish, stuffing, throughout the post.

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Ingredients Needed

Here is a list of every ingredient needed to make this classic stuffing recipe for your Thanksgiving dinner. It’s the best stuffing recipe using very simple ingredients.

  • olive oil and butter– used for flavoring and to sauté the vegetables.
  • onionand celery– a classic combo that brings tons of flavor
  • French bread–day old, stale bread. Other white bread can also be used, like ciabatta or wheat bread. Just make sure it’s dried out a bit and cut into small pieces. Bonus points for baking your own homemade bread earlier in the week!
  • poultry seasoning– a blend of thyme, sage, black pepper, marjoram, rosemary and nutmeg- a classic seasoning used in stuffing.
  • salt and black pepper– seasoning for flavoring
  • chicken stockor turkey stock- used to moisten the cubed bread. Chicken broth or turkey broth can be used. Trymaking your own bone brothto take this dish over the top with delicious flavor! Grandma probably did!
  • wholeeggs– binds all the ingredients together
  • fresh sage– brings an earthy, lemony, slightly peppery flavor to this dish. 1 tsp of ground sage can be used substituted.
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How to Make Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe

This old fashioned stuffing recipe is full of classic flavors and is a family favorite of ours. For full recipe details including ingredients and measurements see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this recipe:

Preheat Oven + Prep Casserole Dish

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Spread melted butter around the bottom and sides of a large casserole dish (9×13 pan). Set Aside.

Saute Onions + Celery

Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat to medium-high heat.

Add olive oil and melt butter in a hot pan and swirl to coat. Add diced onion and celery and sauté until tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

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Remove pan from heat and add the sautéed vegetables to a large bowl with dry bread crumbs.

Add in poultry seasoning, fresh sage, salt, pepper and half of the chicken stock.

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Crack eggs into a small bowl. Whisk together and add to the bread mixture. Stir well.

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Add in the remaining chicken stock (or as much as you think it needs to get it moist). Spoon dressing mixture into buttered 9×13 casserole baking dish. Dot the top with tiny cold butter pieces.

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Cover With Foil + Bake

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350° F for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove foil towards the end if you like crispy pieces. Serve warm.

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Storing Leftover Stuffing

Allow stuffing to cool to room temperature. Store leftover stuffing in an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, yes you can just heat in the microwave until heated through.

The best way to reheat stuffing is to transfer back to an oven safe dish, cover with foil and bake at 350° F until heated through (probably 20-40 minutes). If you feel like the stuffing is too dry, add a splash or two of stock to it. If you want some crispier pieces, remove the foil for the last 10 minutes.

Make Ahead

Although you can make this stuffing recipe ahead of time it is best fresh out of the oven! I totally get the need to make some dishes the day before or to eat as leftovers.

So to make ahead of time,follow the directions accordingly. Then seal the casserole dish with its lid or bytightly wrapping the top with plastic wrap.Store in thefridge for up to 4 days.

To reheat, add a little bit of broth on top (to keep from drying out) then bake for20 minutes or until heated through in an oven at 350° F.

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FAQ About Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe

How much sage would I use if I don’t have fresh sprigs?

Generally the fresh herbs to dried herb ratio is 1 TBSP to 1 tsp. So in this recipe you would use 1 tsp of ground sage.

Can I freeze stuffing?

Yes!
To Freeze.Follow the directions and bake your stuffing. Let cool completely then cover your casserole dish (lid or plastic wrap). Pop in the freezer and it shouldstay good for about a month.
To Reheat.Thaw in your refrigerator overnight. Once thawed add a little bit of broth on top of your stuffing (to keep from drying out). Then bake for20 minutes or until heated through in an oven at 350° F.

How wet should stuffing be before baking?

Stuffing should be moist, but not wet. If you have a puddle of broth in the bottom of your casserole dish, you’ve added too much. You can add more bread crumbs to soak up the excess liquid.

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More Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes to Try!

More stuffing recipes if you’re looking for the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving table-

  • Cornbread Stuffing
  • Pork Sausage Stuffing Recipe
  • Cornbread Sausage Dressing
  • Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe with Bacon
  • Chicken and Stuffing Casserole (Friendsgiving Casserole)

I hope you enjoy my Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing recipe. It’s a simple homemade stuffing recipe that has stood the test of time. Sometimes it’s the simple touches that mean the most to a holiday meal with friends and loved ones.

Oh and don’t forget the pumpkin pie! 😉 The printable step-by-step recipe card is below. Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe

Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe is back for Thanksgiving! Made with stale French bread and fresh sage, let the memories of yesteryear flood in!

servings 8 servings

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup onion finely diced
  • 3 ribs celery finely diced
  • 12 cups French bread day old, cubed
  • 1 tsp poultry seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or turkey stock
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 1 tbsp sage fresh, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp butter cold

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat.

  • Add olive oil and butter to hot pan and swirl to coat. Add diced onion and celery and saute until tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

    Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (20)

  • Remove pan from heat and add sauteed vegetables to a large mixing bowl with bread cubes.

    Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (21)

  • Add in poultry seasoning, fresh sage, salt, pepper and half the chicken stock.

  • Crack eggs into small bowl. Whisk together and add to the bread mixture. Stir well.

    Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (22)

  • Add in remaining chicken stock (or as much as you think it needs to get it moist). Spoon dressing into buttered casserole dish. Dot the top with tiny cold butter pieces.

    Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (23)

  • Cover with foil and bake at 350° F for 30-45 minutes. Remove foil towards the end if you like crispy pieces. Serve warm.

    Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (24)

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 1047kcal | Carbohydrates: 188g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 2248mg | Potassium: 537mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 208IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 14mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy stuffing recipe, grandmas old fashioned stuffing recipe, stuffing recipe

Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I put eggs in my stuffing? ›

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).

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

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

How many cups of stuffing do I need for 10 people? ›

How much stuffing do you need for Thanksgiving? Plan to serve about 3/4 cup of stuffing per guest. That amounts to roughly 4 cups of prepared stuffing for 5 guests and 7-1/2 cups for 10 guests.

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

16 egg substitutes
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Using too much (or not enough) liquid.

The key to a good stuffing is using just the right amount of liquid so you get a good contrast of soft and firm pieces. Add too much stock and you'll find yourself with soggy stuffing. Don't add enough stock, and you have an overly dry stuffing on your hands.

What is British stuffing made of? ›

Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

How do you keep stuffing moist? ›

Use enough liquid: The key to keeping stuffing moist is to use enough liquid. You can use chicken or vegetable broth, melted butter, or a combination of both. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the recipe, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for every 4 cups of bread cubes.

What can I add to my stuffing mix? ›

Enhance the flavor with seasonings: Add extra herbs and spices like sage, thyme, garlic powder, or onion powder to the stuffing mix for more depth of flavor.

Is it OK to make stuffing the day before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

How much stuffing do I need for 12 adults? ›

In order to fill the cavity of the bird you are stuffing, you should make 3/4 cup of stuffing per person. You may not be able to fit all the stuffing into your turkey. If this is the case, then you can even make a casserole to fill up your guests!

How many boxes of stuffing do I need for 6 people? ›

A 14-ounce bag of stuffing makes about 11 servings; a 6-ounce box of stuffing mix makes 6 servings.

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

dry!" The reason for this is that stale or dry bread will hold up better after cooking and keep its texture even after adding your broth or liquid. If you use soft, fresh bread, you'll ultimately wind up with a soggy, mushy stuffing.

Should you toast bread before making stuffing? ›

We start by cubing our bread—for traditional recipes, we favor a simple white sandwich-style loaf—then toast it in the oven at a low 275°F for about 45 minutes, tossing it every now and then to help it dry evenly.

What is the best way to dry out bread for stuffing? ›

Spread the cubed bread on top of two cooling racks set in two half-sheet pans. Heat your oven to the lowest setting (typically 150°–200°F) and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until completely dry. If your oven only goes down to, say, 250°, start by baking for 30 minutes, then check the dryness of a cube or two.

Why is my stuffing so moist? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture.

How do you make stuffing moist after cooking? ›

Add Butter and Broth Before Reheating

Often upon refrigeration, the stuffing will soak up any excess moisture and will appear drier than when originally served. Depending on the amount of stuffing you plan to reheat, drizzle a few tablespoons or up to 1/4 cup of chicken or turkey broth into the stuffing to moisten it.

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