This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (2024)

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This really is The Best Stuffing Recipe Ever. It's full of sweet cranberries and apricots, crunchy walnuts, mushrooms, onion, and celery. The veggies keep this stuffing perfectly moist without ever becoming soggy. It's our family's go-to Christmas and Thanksgiving stuffing recipe!

This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (1)

This is the Thanksgiving stuffing recipe we have been making for years.I know that claiming that it is the best stuffing recipe ever is quite a gigantic claim, but it's 100% true. Seriously, it's the best.

When I first shared this recipe with you back in 2012, it was my handsome man who made it for me. Since then, it's become our go-to stuffing recipe. I have a feeling that once you try it, you'll make it for all your turkey dinners.

Why this is the best stuffing recipe:

  • The bread is always perfectly moist. It's never dry. It's never soggy. All this perfectness is thanks to our friend, mushrooms. They release theirmoisture as the stuffing cooks which means that you don't need to pour tons of stock over the stuffing risking making it soggy.
  • Apricots and cranberries. They take first place in the reasons I love this stuffing recipe list. They add just the right bit of sweetness and go so well with a big turkey dinner.
  • Walnuts! And pine nuts! They soften when cooked and give a great bite to the stuffing.
  • It's so ridiculously easy to make. Toss everything together in your biggest bowl then pack it into your casserole dish.
  • It's totally make-ahead-able. I know that oven space is at a premium at holiday feasts so the less time something has to spend in the oven, the better. This stuffing can be partially pre-cooked then finished with the bird comes out of the oven. #win
This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (2)

See that bowl filled to the brim with all the ingredients for this bread stuffing? Please don't copy that picture. Be smart and choose a MUCH larger bowl.

You'll want room to mix everythingtogether without spilling half the ingredients. Trust me on this one!

In many ways, this is very similar to an old fashionedbread stuffing recipe. There are lots of onions and celery, poultry seasoning and pepper. And (obviously) bread. Kind of hard to make bread stuffing without that one important ingredient!

This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (3)

What takes this from traditional to the best stuffing recipe are the nuts and fruit. Two simple additions that rock the stuffing.

Once you try them in this stuffing recipe you'll seriously wonder how you ever ate stuffing any other way.

If you're making stuffing to go with your Christmas dinner this year, I beg you to make this one. It really is the best stuffing recipe ever.

Also, does anyone not make stuffing to go with their Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey? That thought has me a little worried.

This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (4)

Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes:

  • Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce
  • Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots with Pistachios
  • Whole Roasted Brussels with Garlic and Lemon
  • Late Autumn Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
  • Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
  • Maple Bourbon Sweet Potato Ribbon Casserole

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This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (5)

Best Stuffing Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 40 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Rate RecipePrint

This really is The Best Stuffing Recipe Ever. It's full sweet cranberries and apricots, crunchy walnuts, mushrooms, onion, and celery. The veggies keep this stuffing perfect moist without ever becoming soggy. It's our family's go-to Thanksgiving and Christmas stuffing recipe!

6 – 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups white bread (cut into bite sized cubes (sub your favorite gluten-free bread, if needed))
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • 2 stalks celery (roughly chopped)
  • 1 ½ cups mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 cup dried apricots (roughly chopped)
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup walnut halves
  • ½ cup pine nuts (or add more walnuts)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons poultry seasoning

Instructions

  • To make the stuffing: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. That's it, seriously!

    4 cups white bread, 1 onion, 2 stalks celery, 1 ½ cups mushrooms, 1 cup dried apricots, ½ cup dried cranberries, 1 cup walnut halves, ½ cup pine nuts, ¼ cup olive oil, 1-2 tablespoons poultry seasoning

  • To cook the stuffing: 1. Either stuff the cavity of the turkey before you roast it in your oven. Remember that a stuffed turkey will take a little longer to cook.

  • Or 2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place stuffing in a lightly greased ovenproof dish and cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes, or until the bread is soft and the veggies are cooked. It is good if the vegetables still have a little crunch.

Notes

To make bread crumbs:

  1. Lay bread cubes on 2 large baking sheets and set aside for 2 days. Gently toss after the first day to make sure they are drying evenly.

OR

  1. To speed up the drying process, put the bread cubes on baking sheets in your oven at the lowest temp. This will take about an hour. Watch them closely though, you don't want to make toast.

To make this stuffing ahead of time:

Bake the stuffing for 30 minutes then remove it from the oven. Leave the stuffing on your counter and once the turkey comes out of the oven, put the stuffing back in for 15 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ⅛ of the recipe, Calories: 363kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 36g (12%), Protein: 8g (16%), Fat: 23g (35%), Saturated Fat: 3g (19%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 157mg (7%), Potassium: 464mg (13%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 17g (19%), Vitamin A: 650IU (13%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 77mg (8%), Iron: 3mg (17%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

This is seriously THE BEST stuffing recipe ever! (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

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

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.

What is the best bread to use for stuffing? ›

Sourdough, Italian, and white bread are standard choices for stuffing; however, journeying beyond your comfort zone can produce excellent results.

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

Should you stir stuffing? ›

The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix. Give it a good stir, then let it sit for a minute. The stuffing should be moist but not wet.

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.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

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

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.

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.

Does stuffing need eggs? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or stale bread? ›

dry!" The reason for this is that stale or dry bread will hold up better after cooking and keep its texture even after adding your broth or liquid. If you use soft, fresh bread, you'll ultimately wind up with a soggy, mushy stuffing.

Does stove top stuffing taste good? ›

The verdict: It's often said that we eat with our eyes first, and Stove Top's Traditional Sage stuffing was far and away the most visually appealing. Tasters appreciated that there was a a decent crunch in each bite, but we were most impressed by its seasoning.

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 soggy should stuffing be before baking? ›

We recommend adding stock a little at a time--1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on how much stuffing you're making--and waiting for the bread to absorb the liquid before adding more. Once the bread is moist but not sitting in a pool of stock, it's ready.

Why use an egg as a thickener? ›

Creamy desserts such as crème brûlée also benefit from eggs' ability to emulsify and produce smooth, satiny, hom*ogeneous mixtures. Their ability to hold up to four times their weight in moisture makes eggs a good thickener for sauces, custards and curds. The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures.

What can I use instead of egg to bind stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  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. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

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.

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

You can use boiled egg yolks in scratch-made dressings or whisk them into store-bought dressings for the ultimate creamy upgrade. Boiled egg yolks can thicken a dressing without breaking or clumping while creating a silky consistency that thoroughly coats your salad ingredients.

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