Easy Homemade Turkey Stuffing Recipe
on Nov 10, 2020, Updated Apr 13, 2023
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Our traditional homemade stuffing recipe is easy & comforting. Cook inside turkey for a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make it ahead the night before to make prep easy!
I love homemade stuffing. In fact, I was raised on it. And I’ll be honest. I’m not that picky. Stove Top is great. Homemade stuffing is great. Give me more stuffing. Fork it over, as they say.
So this post truly comes from the heart. Making my own turkey stuffing had me a little nervous at first but now it’s one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides to make.
You see, I never actually made my mom’s homemade stuffing until a few years ago, when I cooked my very first turkey.
I was totally overwhelmed and almost caved, but my family threatened encouraged me to make the real thing. So I did! And you can too.
This easy stuffing recipe was seriously the easiest part of my Thanksgiving dinner meal prep.
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Keep it Simple and Easy with Traditional Stuffing
Tradition is important to me, especially during the holidays. I do love trying new recipes and making fun little Thanksgiving treats with my kids.
But when it comes to the big meal, I’m all about the comfort food. (see also: slow cooker spicy meatballs)
There are probably a million different ways to make homemade stuffing, but today I decided to share our family recipe (with permission from my Mama). Thanks Mama!
Classic, traditional stuffing cooked inside the turkey is so easy and simple. You’ll wonder why you ever made it any other way.
The holidays are a time for nostalgia and I have no shame in admitting the fact that some of my best memories are directly related to food.
As I type, I can almost smell this delicious homemade stuffing warm and fresh from the oven. Yes, it’s that good!
And really, if you’re going to the trouble of roasting your own turkey, you might as well stuff it! Should that be on an apron? I kinda feel like that should be on an apron.
Of course you CAN bake this stuffing recipe in a casserole dish and it’s still good. But nothing beats the flavor after roasting in the turkey.
How to Make Stuffing from Scratch
Homemade stuffing is so easy to make. You will need the following ingredients:
- White Bread
- Onion
- Celery
- Sage
- Egg
- Butter
- Garlic Salt
Chop the vegetables by hand or using a chopper and melt the butter. You will also want to whisk your egg. Then simply tear your bread into small pieces (this is the fun part!) and squish it all together
Can You Make Stuffing Ahead of Time?
I love that you can make our stuffing recipe ahead of time because the holidays are busy enough. I’m down with any way I can cut down on cooking Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.
This stuffing is so easy to make ahead because it’s really just a bunch of chopping when all is said and done.
Prepare your ingredients the night before and once your stuffing is mixed together, cover it and put it in the fridge.
Then, when it’s time to cook your turkey, just add your pre-made stuffing and you’re ready to roast.
Then you’ll have plenty of time to do things like make these fun Thanksgiving crafts for kids. My favorite is the thankful tree! Everyone can do it.
How to Make Easy Homemade Stuffing
Some people prefer casserole style stuffing. My family tradition has always been to actually stuff the turkey, so that’s how I make it. Letting the stuffing cook inside the turkey is so easy and simple, I really can’t imaging making it any other way.
When you cook your stuffing inside the turkey, you eliminate the need for broth in the recipe because the turkey does all the work.
You can still scoop it out an serve the stuffing in a pretty dish at the table if you want to. It’s a win all around.
Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 whole loaf of white bread, crumbled
- 1/2 stick melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 TBS sage
Add to taste:
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Tear the entire loaf of bread into small pieces (kids love helping with this!)
- Chop veggies and add to the bread mixture. I use about a cup each but you can adjust to taste.
- Stir egg and pour over mix
- Add butter and seasoning
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. I’ve found that using my hands is faster and more effective than a spoon but it is messy.
- (If mixture feels too sticky, just add more bread)
- Stuff mixture into your raw turkey and cook as you normally would.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We do turkey breast but make this type of stuffing for over 40 years. The only thing different is that I add crumbled bacon and because we don’t have a turkey to stuff, I use chicken broth to moisten. I just make extra bacon for breakfast on Wed morning, make the night before and refrigerate it. Bake with the breast on Thanksgiving.
That sounds great!
This looks so good. I’m going to share it in my FB recipe group because I think it could work for some peeps in there!!!
I totally get it! Stove Top is really good. But there’s just something about home made on turkey day.
You know Sean insists on Stove Top stuffing every year. It’s embarrassing.
yes, it really is the easiest part of that whole dinner. Next year if your feeling a little more daring. add some mushrooms, apples, green pepper, sausage and a little white wine…..delish 🙂
…and if too dry just add a few drops of milk..