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A serving spoon lifting a hot, steaming scoop from a rustic baking dish filled with a golden-brown, homemade classic stuffing recipe, showing the crispy top and moist interior.

Best Homemade Classic Stuffing (Easy Thanksgiving Recipe!)

5 from 2 votes
Ditch the box! Make the BEST homemade classic stuffing with this easy recipe. Buttery, herby, perfectly moist inside & crispy on top. Your Thanksgiving hero!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Base
  • 1 loaf Day-Old Sturdy Bread (approx 1 lb / 450g) White, French, or Sourdough, cubed
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (113g)
  • 1 large Onion finely chopped
  • 2 stalks Celery finely chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Sage chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Thyme chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
For the Moisture Hack
  • 2 Large Eggs lightly beaten
  • 2.5 cups Chicken Broth (approx 600ml) Low-sodium recommended
  • 0.5 cup Apple Cider (120ml) The secret weapon!
  • 1 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 0.5 tsp Black Pepper Freshly ground recommended

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet or Dutch Oven For sautéing vegetables.
  • 1 Very Large Mixing Bowl To gently combine all ingredients.
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish Or a similar large casserole dish.
  • 1 Whisk For the egg and broth mixture.
  • 1 Baking Sheet(s) For drying bread cubes (if needed).

Method
 

Prepare Ingredients
  1. Prep Bread: If your bread isn't day-old, cut it into ½-inch cubes. Spread on baking sheets and bake at $300^circtext{F}$ ($150^circtext{C}$) for 10-15 minutes until dry but not hard. Let cool
    A hand cuts and arranges small cubes of white and wheat bread on a large baking sheet, preparing them to be dried for a homemade stuffing recipe.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft (8-10 minutes). Add minced garlic and chopped fresh herbs (sage, thyme, parsley); cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
    A hand adding a small bowl of fresh chopped herbs, including sage and parsley, into a skillet of softened, sautéed celery and onion for a homemade stuffing recipe.
Assemble the Stuffing
  1. Make Liquid Mix: In a medium bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Whisk in the warm chicken broth and apple cider until well combined. Season generously with salt and pepper.
    Hands pouring warm chicken broth into a glass bowl of whisked eggs, combining the liquid base for a moist homemade stuffing recipe.
  2. Combine Gently: Place the dried bread cubes in a very large bowl. Add the sautéed vegetable mixture. Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the top. Using a large spoon or your hands, gently fold everything together until the bread is just moistened. Do NOT overmix or mash!
    A top-down view of hands using a wooden spoon to gently mix dried stuffing recipe with bread cubes, sautéed celery, onions, and herbs in a large glass bowl on a marble counter.
  3. Transfer to Dish: Transfer the stuffing to a buttered 9x13 inch baking dish. Dot the top with extra butter if desired.
    A hand using a gray spatula to spread a homemade stuffing recipe, full of bread cubes and celery, evenly into a 9x13 white baking dish.
Bake
  1. Bake Covered: Preheat oven to $375^circtext{F}$ ($190^circtext{C}$). Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
    A 9x13 white baking dish filled with a homemade stuffing recipe, covered tightly with aluminum foil before its first bake.
  2. Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crispy and the center is hot (at least $165^circtext{F}$ / $74^circtext{C}$).
    A hot, steaming, and golden-brown homemade stuffing recipe in a white baking dish, cooling on a wire rack after being baked uncovered for a crispy top.
  3. Rest: Let the stuffing rest for 10 minutes before serving.
    A hand using a large spoon to lift a steaming hot scoop of classic stuffing recipe from a white baking dish, showing the crispy top and moist interior.

Notes

Make Ahead: Assemble (unbaked) up to 1 day ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Let sit at room temp for 30-60 mins before baking (may need extra bake time).
Bread Choice: Use sturdy bread like French bread or sourdough for best results. Avoid soft sandwich bread.
Vegetarian Option: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add sautéed mushrooms for extra flavor.