Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe.
  2. Everything you’ll need to make this recipe.
  3. Here’s how to make this recipe.
  4. These pro tips will make this recipe a success.
  5. Frequently asked questions about this recipe.
  6. You'll love these other Thanksgiving recipes.
  7. Watch how to make this recipe.
  8. Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
  9. Traditional Stuffing Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

Stuffing is a Thanksgiving staple, and the holiday meal just wouldn’t be the same without it! This recipe is a traditional take on stuffing, using celery, onion, carrot, and herbs to bring flavor to the bread. Simple to create, this stuffing is a welcome addition to the feast and a recipe that will please everyone!

Why I love this recipe.

Stuffing, or should I say dressing, is loved and hated depending on who you ask. This is a staple on the Thanksgiving menu and one I love. I find the dislike for this classic dish comes from having bad stuffing. Dry, flavorless, and boring stuffing has turned some people away, but this recipe is here to bring them back. This is the classic traditional recipe. The essential part is the butter, vegetables, and moisture level to make sure the result is holiday-ready perfection!

Large rectangular baking dish filled with baked traditional stuffing with sprinkling of cooked vegetables on top.

Everything you’ll need to make this recipe.

  • Bread is the main ingredient, and can make or bread the stuffing. The better the quality of the bread, the better the outcome. Use a simple white or a mixture of favorite breads.
  • Carrot, celery, and onion form the base layer of flavor. The vegetables soften and release their flavor, so each bite of stuffing is delicious.
  • Butter is a key player. The rich flavor cooks the vegetables and soaks into the bread.
  • Sage and thyme offer the perfect mixture of herb flavor that is iconic to this recipe.
  • Egg can be controversial when it comes to stuffing, but it does help provide body and hold the stuffing together, just enough.
White marble surface filled with all ingredients needed to make traditional stuffing including carrots, celery, bread, onion, spices, herbs, and more.

Here’s how to make this recipe.

  1. Dry the bread. Cut the sliced bread into small bite-sized cubes. Arrange them in an even layer on a pan. Place the pan in a 200°F oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Once toasted, remove the bread and set it aside. Turn up the oven temperature to 350°F.
Cubes of sliced bread spread out into an even layer on a metal baking pan before toasting in the oven.
Before toasting in the oven.
Toasted cubes of bread resting on a metal baking sheet right after coming out of the oven.
After toasting in the oven.
  1. Prepare the vegetables. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Dice the onion, celery, and carrots into small pieces and add to the skillet. Mix together and season with kosher salt. Let cook for 6 minutes. Finely chop the sage and thyme. Take the vegetables off the heat and mix in the herbs.
Large metal skillet with chopped vegetables cooking melting butter on the stovetop.
Cooked chopped vegetables sitting in metal skillet after cooking in butter on the stovetop.
  1. Assemble the stuffing. Place the dried bread into a large bowl with the vegetables. In a small bowl, whisk an egg and add to the bread and vegetables. Pour in half of the stock. Stir together and season with salt and black pepper. Add the rest of the stock and mix.
Hand holding metal skillet pouring cooked vegetables into a large metal bowl filled with toasted cubes of bread.
Plastic spatula mixing together bread cubes with cooked vegetables in large metal bowl for stuffing.
  1. Bake the stuffing. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, cover with tin foil, and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Then remove the stuffing from the oven, remove the foil, and return it uncovered to the oven for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
Black baking pan filled with unbaked traditional stuffing with vegetables on top.
Before baking
Bake pan filled with traditional stuffing right after coming out of the oven after baking.
After baking

These pro tips will make this recipe a success.

  • Toast the bread in the oven rather than letting it go stale. Bread that goes stale still has moisture on the inside. If it dries in an oven, it gets hard throughout.
  • Mix a little bit of stock or broth with the egg before adding it to the larger bowl. It reduces the consistency and makes it easier to mix.
  • For even more flavor, add homemade stock or swap out the stock for bone broth, which has a richer, deeper flavor.
  • To ensure the proper moisture content, take a cube of bread and lightly squeeze the bread. If you can see some moisture come out and it drips slightly, then it’s at the correct consistency. You don’t want it to be drier than that or so wet that it’s completely saturated and won’t take any more moisture.
Baked cubes of toasted bread in black baking pan to form traditional stuffing with pieces of cooked vegetable.

Frequently asked questions about this recipe.

Can dry bread be replaced with stale bread?

Drying the bread in the oven will result in a better texture than using bread that has sat on the counter. Stale bread is only dried around the perimeter while drying in the oven fully dries the bread so it can soak in the moisture.

How can I use this stuffing?

This recipe can be made in a casserole dish or stuffed into the turkey. Stuffing into the bird can be risky as it is difficult to fully cook. I would suggest making this in a casserole dish and serving it as a side dish alongside all of your other Thanksgiving recipes.

How long does this recipe keep after preparing?

The leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and will last 7 to 10 days.

You’ll love these other Thanksgiving recipes.

Watch how to make this recipe.

More Thanksgiving recipes

Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?

I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!

Large black baking pan filled with baked traditional stuffing with pieces of vegetables on the top.

Traditional Stuffing

Kaleb
4.67 from 3 votes
Stuffing is a Thanksgiving staple, and the holiday meal just wouldn't be the same without it! This recipe is a traditional take on stuffing, using celery, onion, carrot, and herbs to bring flavor to the bread. Simple to create, this stuffing is a welcome addition to the feast and a recipe that will please everyone!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf bread (about 12 cups in ½-inch cubes)
  • 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 1 ½ tsp kosher salt separated
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh sage
  • 2 tsp minced fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 quart turkey stock

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 200℉.
  • Cut the bread into ½-inch to 1-inch cubes and lay them on two baking sheets. Place in the preheated oven until they dry, 45-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and set them aside.
    1 loaf bread (about 12 cups in ½-inch cubes)
  • Turn the heat in the oven up to 350℉. Butter a 9×13 baking dish and set it aside.
  • In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the celery, onion, carrot, and 1 tsp kosher salt. Sauté until the onion is tender and translucent, 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sage and thyme.
    8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, 2 stalks celery, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp minced fresh sage, 2 tsp minced fresh thyme
  • In a large bowl, combine the prepared bread, the sautéed vegetables, egg, turkey stock, ½ tsp kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix to combine. Depending on the type of bread, add up to an additional ½ cup of stock. Pour the stuffing into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, remove the foil, and bake until the top is beginning to brown, 15-20 additional minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.
    1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 large egg, 1 quart turkey stock, 1 ½ tsp kosher salt

Notes

Toast the bread in the oven rather than letting it go stale. Bread that goes stale still has moisture on the inside. If it dries in an oven, it gets hard throughout.
Mix a little bit of stock or broth with the egg before adding it to the larger bowl. It reduces the consistency and makes it easier to mix.
For even more flavor, add homemade stock or swap out the stock for bone broth, which has a richer, deeper flavor.
To ensure the proper moisture content, take a cube of bread and lightly squeeze the bread. If you can see some moisture come out and it drips slightly, then it’s at the correct consistency. You don’t want it to be drier than that or so wet that it’s completely saturated and won’t take any more moisture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 207kcal
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Difficulty Easy
Method Baking

You May Also Like

Never miss a post by signing up for my newsletter.
Avatar for Kaleb Wyse

Kaleb

I’m Kaleb! I'm not a chef, professional baker, landscaper, or designer, but I like to play each on Knollgate Farm. Come join me on my journey and let's learn together!

Learn more about me
4.67 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Comments

  2. Would like to try your traditional stuffing recipe. Can I assemble it early in the day, refrigerate and bake later? Was concerned about the egg not being cooked before refrigerating. Thank you.

    Reply