Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details.
This will be the only stuffing recipe you will ever need! So much fresh herbs and so buttery. It’s simply the best EVER!
Turkey shmurkey. The only thing I truly look forward to during Thanksgiving time is the stuffing. That and the pumpkin cheesecake. But we’ll get to that a little later.
IS IT STUFFING OR DRESSING?
Stuffing is cooked inside the turkey, soaking up all the juices. Dressing is typically cooked separately from the turkey in a casserole dish with additional liquid. The two terms are used interchangeably, and it really depends on who you’re asking. This recipe is technically a dressing as we are not stuffing our turkey.
Ingredients
Bread
The bread used in your stuffing is key here. We recommend using crusty bread such as a sourdough loaf.
Breakfast sausage
Our secret ingredient as it is already perfectly seasoned! Italian sausage is also a great option.
Butter
A must-have in all your holiday recipes.
Garlic, onion and celery
Keeping it real with all the classic ingredients, all cooked in butter until fragrant and tender.
Fresh Herbs
This is a great chance to use up all your fresh herbs (from your turkey and other side dishes). Dried herbs can also be substituted in a pinch.
Chicken stock
Or turkey stock! The better quality your stock, the better your stuffing. Homemade stock is even better.
The stuffing though – holy moly. Smothered in some turkey gravy with an afternoon nap – that right there is the holy grail. And why mess with a classic, right? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
So that’s what we have here. A true classic made with perfectly toasted sourdough bread, so much fresh herbs, and all the buttery goodness one can hope for (mixed in with some of the sausage pan drippings, of course).
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
- Use day old bread. Stale 1-2 day old bread (such as a sourdough loaf) is ideal here to soak up all the liquid.
- Make it vegetarian. This recipe can easily be converted for our vegetarian friends, omitting the sausage and substituting vegetable stock for the chicken stock.
- Prep the night before. Stuffing is one of those great sides that you can prep ahead of time, assembling everything the night before, allowing all the flavors to come together overnight.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH Thanksgiving STUFFING
Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing: Frequently Asked Questions
A crusty bread, such as a sourdough loaf, is ideal here. Avoid overly soft breads as it can result in soggy stuffing (or dressing). For something a little different, we also love this cornbread stuffing.
Sweet Italian sausage would be a great sub!
Absolutely! But because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
Yes! This can be made and assembled the night before, letting it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to baking, adding a splash of chicken stock (or turkey juices) to keep from drying out.
Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) loaf sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
- 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place into oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 10-13 minutes; set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned, about 5-8 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks. Transfer sausage to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Melt butter in the skillet. Add garlic, onion and celery, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in parsley, sage, thyme and rosemary until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Remove from heat. Stir in bread and sausage; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in chicken stock until absorbed and well combined. Let stand 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed.*
- Spread bread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Place into oven and bake until top is browned, about 30-35 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @damn_delicious on Instagram and hashtag it #damndelicious!
Featured Comment