Description

Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe is a classic, comforting side dish featuring crispy baked bread cubes combined with sautéed onions, celery, aromatic poultry herbs, and chicken broth. This moist and flavorful stuffing is baked to a perfect golden brown and garnished with fresh parsley, making it a beloved tradition for holiday meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Bread Cubes

16 cups dry bread cubes (about 3 large loaves of bread)

Vegetable and Seasoning Mix

1/2 cup butter
2 cups onion, 1/2″ diced
2 cups celery, 1/2″ diced
3 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon thyme (fresh chopped or dried)
1/2 teaspoon sage (fresh chopped or dried)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Binding and Broth

1½ cups chicken broth (plus up to 1/2 cup additional if needed)
2 large eggs

Garnish

1 tablespoon parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Prepare Dry Bread Cubes: Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Using a serrated bread knife, cut the bread into 1/2″ to 3/4″ cubes. Spread the cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour, tossing occasionally to ensure even drying. Remove from oven and set aside.
Sauté Vegetables and Seasonings: Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F. In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced onions and celery and cook, stirring frequently, for about 8 minutes until tender and translucent.
Add Herbs and Broth: Stir in poultry seasoning, thyme, sage, salt, black pepper, and 1½ cups chicken broth. Remove the pot from heat.
Mix in Eggs: In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly and then stir them into the vegetable and broth mixture until well combined.
Combine with Bread Cubes: Place the dried bread cubes in a large bowl. Pour the broth and vegetable mixture over the bread and gently fold together until the stuffing is moist but there is no pooling liquid. Add up to 1/2 cup additional chicken broth as needed.
Prepare for Baking: Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the stuffing evenly in the dish.
Bake Stuffing: Bake in the preheated 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes. Every 15-20 minutes, gently stir the stuffing to ensure even cooking. Bake until the top is lightly golden brown.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, and serve warm. Enjoy your classic grandmother’s Thanksgiving stuffing!

Notes

For extra flavor, you can use homemade chicken broth if available.
If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth and omit the eggs or use a suitable egg replacer.
If the bread cubes are not fully dried, the stuffing may turn out soggy; ensure thorough drying during the first baking step.
Adjust seasonings according to your taste preferences—more sage or thyme can deepen the herbal aroma.
To make the stuffing ahead, dry the bread cubes and prepare the vegetable mixture, then assemble and bake just before serving.

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Thanksgiving stuffing, classic stuffing, bread stuffing recipe, holiday side dish, poultry seasoning stuffing