Description
Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing is a classic, savory side dish featuring golden, toasted bread cubes mixed with sautéed aromatics and fresh herbs, all moistened with broth and baked to crispy perfection. This comforting recipe combines traditional flavors like sage, thyme, and rosemary to complement your holiday meal beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Base
- 1 loaf of stale bread, cubed (about 10 cups)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a large baking dish to prevent the stuffing from sticking during baking.
- Toast the Bread Cubes: Spread the bread cubes evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes to dry them out and help them become crispier, ensuring the stuffing holds texture well; then transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Sauté Vegetables: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and minced garlic, cooking them for about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and develop a fragrant aroma.
- Add Herbs and Seasoning: Stir in the fresh parsley, thyme, sage, salt, black pepper, and dried rosemary to the skillet, cooking for an additional minute to release the flavors.
- Combine Mixture with Bread: Pour the sautéed vegetable and herb mixture over the toasted bread cubes in the mixing bowl.
- Add Eggs and Broth: Gently mix in the beaten eggs and broth until the bread cubes are moistened but not soggy; adjust the amount of broth if necessary to achieve the right consistency.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Spread the stuffing mixture evenly in the greased baking dish.
- Bake: Bake the stuffing uncovered for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy, ensuring the inside is cooked through and flavorful.
Notes
- Using stale bread helps absorb the broth better without becoming mushy.
- You can substitute chicken broth for vegetable broth to make the recipe vegetarian.
- Make sure not to over-moisten the bread to keep the stuffing from becoming too soggy.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried herbs, but reduce quantities as dried are more concentrated.
- This stuffing can be made a day ahead and refrigerated; reheat covered with foil to retain moisture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
