The Best Stuffing Recipe (Classic Thanksgiving Dish)

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Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing — Nothing frilly or trendy in this recipe. It’s a classic, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!! Simple ingredients with stellar results! It’ll be your new go-to recipe!!

overhead view of homemade Thanksgiving stuffing

No-Frills Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

This post and recipe is a repost from 2014 and has been a huge hit with my readers ever since.

People love serving this traditional stuffing at Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and I even receive emails at other times during the year from people who make it and no matter the season, it’s always a hit.

My family are stuffing fanatics for classic and traditional stuffings. No pears, dried fruit and nuts, wild mushrooms, or even bacon or sausage need apply. Think: old-fashioned stuffing made with day-old bread, onions, celery, butter, and herbs. 

The stuffing is lightly crusted and golden on top, soft underneath, full of rich buttery flavor, and well-seasoned from the herbs.

As the stuffing bakes, my house smells exactly like Thanksgiving and like all the Thanksgivings I remember at my mom’s and grandma’s houses growing up smelled. Warm, cozy, comforting, and happy. This is the BEST stuffing recipe ever! 

traditional Thanksgiving stuffing in a white baking dish

Homemade Stuffing Ingredients 

Like I’ve already mentioned, this easy Thanksgiving dressing recipe calls for simple, straightforward ingredients. Classic, but delicious! 

Here’s what you’ll need to make the best stuffing recipe:  

  • Onions
  • Celery
  • Fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme)
  • Butter
  • Broth
  • Bread
  • Eggs

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

traditional bread stuffing in a white baking dish

How to Make Thanksgiving Stuffing From Scratch

This classic Thanksgiving stuffing is easy and straightforward to make, even if you’ve never made homemade stuffing before. Here’s a quick overview of the recipe:

  1. Melt the butter in a skillet, then sauté the onion and celery until softened. 
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the dried bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, and broth.
  3. Add the eggs last, mixed in with a little broth for easier distribution. 
  4. Turn the stuffing into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and dot the top with butter. Bake until done. 
A photo collage for the best stuffing recipe

Tips for Making the BEST Stuffing

To save time on the day of, bake and dry out the bread the night before and leave uncovered on the counter until the morning you’re ready to make the traditional stuffing. 

Note that the saltiness level of low-sodium chicken broth varies, and so do personal preferences, so salt the dish to taste to create the best stuffing recipe. 

If you need to keep the homemade stuffing warm before serving it, loosely cover it with foil and stick it in a 200F oven. 

Photo collage for traditional Thanksgiving stuffing

Recipe FAQs

What’s the Difference Between Stuffing vs Dressing? 

Technically this is a dressing recipe because it’s not stuffed inside the bird, but in my family we still call it stuffing rather than dressing. Our age old mis-naming tradition.

What’s the Best Bread for Stuffing? 

I used a loaf (baguette) of day-old white French bread from my grocery store’s bakery that I cubed, dried in the oven for 45 minutes, and allowed it to sit out overnight. 

To save time on the big day, I dry it out the night before but you can do it that morning if time permits. You want to begin with really dry bread because otherwise it’ll turn to mush.

Can Stuffing Be Prepared in Advance? 

I’ve never pre-made or pre-assembled this classic stuffing recipe, but I think it’d be fine to assemble the night before and bake the day after.  Check the stuffing just before baking it. If the bread seems dry at all, drizzle a little extra broth over top. You do NOT want to end up with dry stuffing! 

Should I Cover the Stuffing with Foil before baking? 

Yes, this classic stuffing recipe tells you to cover the stuffing with foil and bake it for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 40 minutes. 

How Long Does Thanksgiving Stuffing Last? 

Stuffing is best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently as desired.

Can You Freeze Stuffing? 

Yes! Once baked, let the Thanksgiving stuffing cool completely before storing in a freezer bag. You can reheat the stuffing from frozen in a 350F oven (don’t let it thaw first, otherwise the bread will turn to mush). 

Photo collage of Thanksgiving stuffing

Recipe Variations to Try

If you love this traditional Thanksgiving dressing recipe, you’ll also love the following recipe variations! Here are some more stuffing recipes I’ve created over the years:

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4.49 from 1094 votes

Traditional Homemade Stuffing

By Averie Sunshine
Nothing frilly or trendy. Classic, amazing, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!! Simple ingredients with stellar results! It'll be your new go-to recipe!!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 pound day-old white French bread, diced into 1/2-inch cubes and dried
  • 1 extra-large, about 2 1/2 cups sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, diced small
  • 1 ½ cups celery, diced small
  • cup Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely minced
  • ¼ cup fresh sage leaves, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary, sticks discarded, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, sticks discarded, finely minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
  • 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 250F. Place cubed bread on a baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until dried out, about 45 minutes. You must begin with very dry bread or it’ll turn to mush. Tip – To save time on the day of, bake and dry out the bread the night before and leave uncovered on the counter until the morning you’re ready to make the stuffing.
  • When you’re ready to make the stuffing, transfer bread to a very large bowl; set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9×13-inch pan or 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  • To a large skillet, add 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter and heat over medium-high heat to melt.
  • Add the onions, celery, and cook until vegetables have softened and are just beginning to lightly brown, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Transfer vegetables to bowl with bread.
  • Add the parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, 1 1/4 cups chicken broth, and toss well to combine; set aside. Note about salt – the saltiness level of low-sodium chicken broth varies, and so do personal preferences, so salt to taste.
  • To a small bowl, add the remaining 1 1/4 cups chicken broth, 2 eggs, and whisk to combine. Pour mixture over bread and toss well to combine. Turn mixture out into prepared baking dish.
  • Dice the remaining 1/4 cup (half of 1 stick) butter into 8 to 10 pieces and evenly dot the butter over the top of the stuffing.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 40 to 45 minutes, or until top is as lightly golden browned as desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Storage: Stuffing is best warm and fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently as desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 210kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 688mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Easy Thanksgiving Recipes:

All of my Thanksgiving recipes!

Easy Foolproof Roasted Turkey — Learn how to make juicy, flavorful herb-roasted turkey that’s not dry! This turkey has all the flavor that grandma’s used to have, minus the hassle. 

The Best Mashed Potatoes — Buttery, creamy, PERFECT mashed potatoes that rival your favorite restaurant’s version but EASY and ready in 45 minutes!!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping — The holiday classic just got even better because of the amazing topping! A buttery, brown sugary, crunch that’s irresistible! Easy and you can pre-assemble to save time!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Butter Pecan Crumble Topping - The holiday classic just got even BETTER because of the amazing TOPPING!! A buttery, brown sugary, crunch that's irresistible! Easy and you can pre-assemble to save time!!

The Best Green Bean Casserole — No processed soups nor canned ingredients and instead made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, red onions, and a cheesy crispy breadcrumb topping that will have the whole family going back for seconds!

Best Green Bean Casserole - A healthier, modern, fresher take on classic green bean casserole! No processed soups nor canned ingredients and instead made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, red onions, and a cheesy crispy breadcrumb topping that will have the whole family going back for seconds! Put this on your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holiday entertaining menus!

Cabernet Cranberry and Blueberry Sauce — Make your own cranberry sauce with amazing depth of flavor in 30 minutes! The best cranberry sauce you will EVER have, guaranteed!

Cabernet Cranberry and Blueberry Sauce (vegan, GF) - Make your own cranberry sauce with amazing depth of flavor in 30 minutes! Easy recipe at averiecooks.com

Cheesy Funeral Potatoes — This casserole is creamy, CHEESY, and topped with crunchy Corn Flakes! It’s an easy side dish that feeds a crowd, so it’s perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

No-Knead Make Ahead Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter – An amazingly easy dinner roll recipe that you don’t even have to knead!

No-Knead Make-Ahead Dinner Rolls with Honey Butter - Recipe at averiecooks.com

Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey-Cinnamon Dip — The honey glaze and the creamy cinnamon dip make these potatoes irresistible!

Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey-Cinnamon Dip - The honey glaze and the creamy cinnamon dip make these potatoes irresistible!!

Parmesan and Herb Roasted Potatoes — Easiest potatoes ever and packed with so much flavor! Olive oil, herbs, and everything is better with cheese! A family favorite that everyone loves!

Parmesan and Herb Roasted Potatoes - Easiest potatoes ever and packed with so much flavor! Olive oil, herbs, and everything is better with CHEESE!! A family favorite that everyone loves!

Originally published November 5, 2018 and republished with updated text November 20, 2020.

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. I’m making this tomorrow but I was wondering if I could prepare the stuffing in the morning and then cook the stuffing a few hours later?

  2. 4 stars
    Hi! I made this last year for thankagiving and it was delicious 😋 Just wondering, id like to stuff my turkey with this stuffing. Do you think it would work out like that as well? Or just as dressing?

    1. I have only made and prepared the recipe as written so cannot say how it would work if you stuff the bird with it. I am thinking I would just use it as dressing though if it were me. If it was delicious, I would just repeat what you did.

  3. 4 stars
    Hi! I made this last year for thankagiving and it was delicious 😋 Just wondering, id like to stuff my turkey with this stuffing. Do you think it would work out like that as well? Or just as dressing?

    1. I would say 6 to 12 depending on how big people’s appetites are and if you have guests who reallllly love stuffing or not.

    1. No but just make sure you have a really really big casserole dish since the regular batch makes a lot and I use my biggest baking/casserole dish for it which is probably close to the size of a 9×13 pan. So you need something twice as big as that or bake in two separate baking dishes which is probably what I’d recommend doing.

  4. This looks good and not very mushy, which i prefer.but have you ever added sausage to it? if so when in the cooking process would you do it?

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you for this wonderful recipe, Averie! I made a half batch last night to test it for my upcoming Thanksgiving feast and it was wonderful. The fresh herbs add so much flavor. If I wanted to add mushrooms, do you think I could just sauté them with the celery and onions? Thank you!!!!

    1. Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad that the test batch worked wonderfully! And I would do exactly as you said regarding the mushrooms.

  6. 5 stars
    Thank you for this wonderful recipe, Averie! I made a half batch last night to test it for my upcoming Thanksgiving feast and it was wonderful. The fresh herbs add so much flavor. If I wanted to add mushrooms, do you think I could just sauté them with the celery and onions? Thank you!!!!

  7. Hello! I am planning on making your recipe for Thanksgiving this year! My Thanksgiving guest list is only 4 people and I was wondering if I could half this recipe and get similar results? Thank you!

    1. I think that would work out fine. Or you can make the full amount and send leftovers home with people.

    2. Hi Jen,
      I halved this recipe and got four decent sized servings. I’d say if you have a stuffing-lover or you want leftovers, don’t half it. I also used a smaller baking dish and baked for 30 mins at 350 uncovered and then 25 minutes uncovered or until nice and golden. Good luck!

      1. Rebecca,

        Thank you for your comment! I think I will just make the full amount and keep them for leftovers! I know my dad and my husband will probably go back for seconds anyway!

      2. This is exactly what I was hoping to find. I split the amount to 2 dishes. I am going to hope it doesn’t dry out since it is not as thick.

  8. Hello Averie. I am going to try your traditional stuffing recipe this Thanksgiving. Can’t wait! Are you using French baguettes? Recipe says French white bread. Thanks! Marie

    1. Either will work – stores label things differently but either will be fine regardless of the labeling.

  9. 5 stars
    this is exactly my mom’s recipe and it is AWESOME!!!!! Peeps beg for me to make lots so they can take it home and it is good cold and on sandwiches (more bread!!! ) LOL

  10. 5 stars
    this is exactly my mom’s recipe and it is AWESOME!!!!! Peeps beg for me to make lots so they can take it home and it is good cold and on sandwiches (more bread!!! ) LOL