Julie Clark
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Grandma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing (Never Dry)
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Grandma’s Thanksgiving turkey stuffing is a classic bread stuffing made with dried bread cubes, butter, onion, celery, poultry seasoning and chicken stock.
The addition of eggs sets this recipe apart from other stuffing recipes. They work as a binder so the stuffing holds together. This is the recipe my grandma made, then passed to my mom and now is on our family’s Thanksgiving table. Three generations of delicious. ❤️
Quick Look: Traditional Turkey Stuffing Recipe
- Flavor: Buttery and savory, with classic poultry-seasoning herbs (sage, thyme, rosemary).
- Texture: Tender and moist inside with a crispy golden top.
- Method: Bake in a casserole dish for crispy edges, or spoon it inside the turkey.
- Time: 50 minutes (20 prep, 30 bake), plus drying the bread cubes a day or two ahead.
- Serves: 10, easily doubled for a crowd.
- Skill level: Beginner-friendly. No special technique required.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Marlene says, “Best stuffing ever. All 12 people I had over for dinner raved on about it. This will be my go to stuffing going forward. Thank you!”
I love Thanksgiving even more than Christmas because it’s all about the food: corn casserole, mashed potatoes, turkey tenderloin recipe and pumpkin pie. And this stuffing has been on our Thanksgiving menu for decades.
Turkey Stuffing vs Dressing
The difference between stuffing and dressing is where it cooks. Stuffing is “stuffed” inside the bird. Dressing is baked on the side in a separate casserole dish. I usually make both. I stuff the bird to give the turkey more flavor, but also bake extra stuffing on the side because those crispy tops are my favorite.
What are the ingredients in turkey stuffing?
You need dried bread cubes, butter, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper, chicken stock, and eggs.
Our Thanksgiving side dish recipe has just a few key stuffing spices: poultry seasoning, salt and black pepper. You’ll also get flavor from the butter, onion, celery and chicken stock, but for the most part, all that savory flavor comes from poultry seasoning.
We use a pre-mixed poultry seasoning that you can buy in the spice aisle at the grocery store. You can mix your own if you’d like. It generally has sage, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, a touch of nutmeg and black pepper.
Why put eggs in stuffing?
Why add eggs to turkey stuffing? Many of you have asked this question. The main reason is because my grandma did it, my mom continued making stuffing this way, and there is just no better stuffing. 🙂 Simple, right?
I’ve never not put eggs in stuffing, but also, the eggs act as a binder. They prevent the stuffing from being crumbly and help it hold together.
What is the best bread for turkey stuffing?
If you’ve never made Thanksgiving turkey stuffing before, you may think it is difficult. Our recipe is very simple, though and starts with the bread.
I recommend a heavier white bread (such as French or Italian bread) for turkey stuffing. Even sourdough bread would be delicious!
You can also use dried hot dog or hamburger buns that you may have sitting in your freezer. Sometimes I throw in whole wheat bread. This recipe is versatile!
- You’ll want to start this recipe about two days beforehand. Cut fresh bread into 1″ cubes and put them in a big bowl.
- Leave the bread cubes sitting out for about 48 hours so they dry out. Stir them once or twice a day so all of the bread dries out evenly. If you run out of time, dry the bread cubes in the oven preheated to a low heat.
About the bread cubes
We say to use 13-15 cups of bread cubes. Make sure the bread cubes are tightly packed into the cup. Don’t drop them in so there is a lot of air around them, but press them down into the cup. This will help make sure you have enough bread to soak up the liquid. If you like a drier stuffing, use more bread cubes.
How to Make Turkey Stuffing (Step by Step)
- Sauté the veggies. When it comes time to make the stuffing, sauté the onions and celery in butter over medium heat until the veggies are tender. This is the best aroma ever. Of all the smells of Thanksgiving dinner cooking, this is the one that always starts it all off. There’s just nothing better.
- Mix the stuffing. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. Then add the butter mixture and the rest of the ingredients. You can also mix the stuffing right in the casserole dish.
- Bake the stuffing. Spread the stuffing evenly in a 9×13″ baking pan or a pretty 2 quart baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
What are the most common turkey stuffing mistakes?
The most common turkey stuffing mistakes are easy to avoid once you know them:
- Using fresh bread. Bread that isn’t dried out turns gummy. For the best results in this recipe, cut fresh bread and dry them for 24-48 hours, or crisp them in a low oven first.
- Adding all the broth at once. Pour it in gradually so the stuffing is moist, not wet.
- Packing the bird tightly. Spoon stuffing into the turkey cavity so it cooks evenly and safely.
- Skipping the temperature check. Stuffing cooked inside the turkey must reach 165ºF in the center.
Is it safe to stuff a turkey?
Yes. But here are a few tips:
- Spoon the stuffing into the turkey loosely. You don’t want to pack it in. Plan about ¾ cup of stuffing per 1 pound of turkey.
- For food safety reasons, stuff the turkey immediately before you place it in the oven. Have the oven preheated and ready to go. Stuff the turkey, then pop it in the oven.
- Make sure the center of the stuffing cooks to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll need a long thermometer to go through the turkey and test it. But it is safe to eat if cooked to the correct temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer to test the temperature.
I like both stuffed turkeys and unstuffed. I prefer my stuffing just a little crispier, so cooking it in a casserole dish allows the top of the bread to get a little toasty. And who doesn’t like herbed, buttered, toasted bread?!
For food safety guidelines as far as stuffing the turkey, you can read info from the USDA.
Can you make turkey stuffing in the slow cooker?
Yes! Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray, then add the bread cube mixture. Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours. Check the internal temperature to make sure it cooks through. This will help save space for the rest of your Thanksgiving meal.
Other Thanksgiving Recipes
- cornbread stuffing
- sweet potato casserole
- Thanksgiving dinner rolls
- chicken stuffing casserole
- turkey and stuffing casserole
- green bean casserole pizza
- Thanksgiving breakfast casserole
I hope you enjoy this Thanksgiving turkey stuffing recipe as much as my family has over the past decades. Just read the reviews below to see how many people have loved this! It’s continually one of our most popular holiday recipes and we thank you for that.
Grandma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing
Grandma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing. This is a long-time family recipe for simple and savory turkey stuffing. Bake it in the oven or in the turkey!
Servings 10
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 13-15 cups dry bread cubes* about 2 1 pound loaves (We like to use a heavier bread such as French bread so it soaks up more juice)
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock (I use low sodium chicken broth)
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 2 quart casserole or 9×13" baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, sauté the onion and celery in the butter over medium-high heat for 10-12 minutes, or until the onion and celery are tender. 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup diced yellow onion
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl. 13-15 cups dry bread cubes*
- Pour the butter, onion and celery mixture over the bread cubes and mix. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. 2 ¼ teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 ½ tablespoons poultry seasoning, 1 ½ cups chicken stock, 2 large eggs
- Spread the stuffing evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or other fresh herbs such as rosemary if desired.
Video
Notes
*I like to make my own dried bread cubes . Two days before preparing the stuffing, I cut bread into 1″ cubes, then allow them to dry in a big bowl for about 48 hours. Stir the bread cubes once or twice a day so they dry out evenly. They should be dry so they soak up the liquid in the recipe.
*We say to use 13-15 cups of bread cubes. This is homemade dry bread cubes that still have a little bit of softness to them. Make sure the bread cubes are tightly packed into the cup. Don’t drop them in so there is a lot of air around them, but press them down into the cup (even dried homemade bread cubes will press down in a little). This will help make sure you have enough bread to soak up the liquid. If you like a drier stuffing or if you use store bought crispy bread cubes, use more.**
Serve warm. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the recipe. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1029mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 965IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1.8mg
I just cut up my bread, used 2 loaves of multigrain Italian bread. If I cook it in a crock pot, will the top get crusty? I love the crockpot idea! If not, I’ll bake it in the oven – love “crusty!”
I can’t wait to try this!! The photo looks like there’s a fresh herb on top. Is that parsley? By the way, thank you for sharing your family’s recipe!
Do you cut the crusts off of the bread or leave them? What brand of white bread do you use?
Would I be able to add sausage (such as jimmy dean’s)to this recipe? Could I cook it separately and then add it? It’ll be my first time making it (well cooking thanksgiving all together, yikes!) thank you for sharing!
This is exactly how mom made hers but she never used chicken bRoth. I used 5 to 6 medium eggs . If the stuffing seemed too wet I added some bread if it was too dry I added an egg
I was wondering if this is a stuffing that I could cook inside the bird… I’m new to this making thanksgiving dinner thing ????
My mother-in law,gave me this recipe over 48 years ago.When I say gave me, I mean she showed me how to make it. Because the ingredients & how to assemble where in her head, never written down.God rest her loving soul!!!! Only difference,she used 1 1/2 loaf of white bread,& 1/2 loaf rye bread. It tasted amazing. And as for frying any left over stuffing,if there ever is any left, that’s what we do too. Makes it crusty & amazing all over again!!! Isn’t it glorious how the matriarch cooks of families never wrote their recipes down but shared from… Read more »
Does this recipe make enough to stuff the turkey as well as a 9/13 casserole dish? Also, has anyone ever tried using sour dough bread for the cubes?
with minor differences…I lightly toast my bread then dry it, I cook 3 or 4 or more lbs of chicken thighs, save the broth….run the meat through the food processor and add that to my dressing, If I can get the neck out of the turkey early I cook that, grind it and add as well, but can’t plan on that…I use the broth as part of the liquid in my dressing.
My recipe!! Learned this when I was young & it’s a tradition. My only differences are adding 1 bag of the Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix, blue bag. Helps my seasonings be perfect & it’s how I learned. No other brand or type tastes as good. & eggs, I’ve never used them before but it makes sense & I’ll use them this year. Oh my, I’m craving this yummy goodness now!
Do you mix the eggs first or just crack them open and mix in?
Wouldn’t the drippings from the turkey be a better substitute for chicken broth?
OMG, my mouth dropped after reading your grandmothers’s ingredients, because this is exactly the ingredients I use when making my Thanksgiving Dinner. Yours looks amazingly yummy!
I cook the gizzard, heart and neck to make the broth. Than I chop up heart and gizzard for dressing. I don’t use butter, I cook sausage and then remove from pan and cook celery and onion in grease. I use poultry seasoning and sage. My stuffing is very moist before cooking or stuffing turkey. I use white bread. No salt.
Can I use Chicken Broth? I ran out of stock and the stores are closed tomorrow.