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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4.87 stars (37 ratings)

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.

Who has the best stuffing? ›

The 11 Absolute Best Packaged Stuffing Mixes, Ranked
  1. Williams Sonoma Organic French Bread Stuffing.
  2. Stove Top Stuffing Mix Savory Herbs. ...
  3. Sprouts Cornbread Stuffing. ...
  4. Kroger Turkey Flavored Stuffing Mix. ...
  5. Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing. ...
  6. Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing Mix. ...
Nov 10, 2022

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

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 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.

Does Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix go bad? ›

Sometimes expiration dates need to be taken seriously, and sometimes food is safe to eat passed that date. If you mean the kind you buy in the store dry (such a Pepperidge Farm, no, it does not. It will last practically forever.

What is the most expensive stuffing in the world? ›

The “most expensive stuffing in the world” of this gold turkey is made of Japanese pork that costs $475 per pound, and both white and black truffles, while the turkey gravy is infused with a $3,300 bottle of bourbon.

Why is turkey stuffing so good? ›

When made from scratch and seasoned right, it is rich, moist and savory, shot through with different textures and flavors that give cooks plenty of room to play. That basic amalgamation of starch, fat and aromatics is indisputably delicious.

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 OK to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

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.

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? ›

Use enough liquid: The key to keeping stuffing moist is to use enough liquid. You can use chicken or vegetable broth, melted butter, or a combination of both. The amount of liquid you need will depend on the recipe, but a good rule of thumb is to use about 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid for every 4 cups of bread cubes.

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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