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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Grandma's Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe (16)

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.

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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

What does egg do for stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

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

What can I add to stuffing for more flavor? ›

Fruit, especially dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, figs and apricots can seriously improve a dreary box of stuffing. That bit of sweetness plays beautifully with other flavors on the table. I've found that fresh fruits like apples and pears are stellar as well.

How do you keep stuffing moist? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

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

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 wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

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. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Why does my stuffing come out mushy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.

Is stock or broth better for stuffing? ›

Homemade stock is the best, but if you don't have homemade, a good store bought stock will work as well. If you use a store bought stock, try to buy one with no/low sodium. I personally have started using bone broth in my stuffing and LOVE it.

What do Southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

Does Pepperidge Farm stuffing go bad? ›

Does a stuffing mix go bad? If you mean the kind you buy in the store dry (such a Pepperidge Farm, no, it does not. It will last practically forever.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

What makes stuffing mushy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Why do we need to apply egg yolk in some dressing? ›

Egg yolks are especially recommended for their emulsifying and thickening properties in mayonnaise, salad dressings, ice cream, and baked goods, combined with their coloring properties.

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