Grandma’s Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe
Grandma’s Thanksgiving Stuffing is a classic, comforting side dish made with lightly toasted bread cubes, fresh herbs, and a flavorful broth mixture. This recipe combines aromatic sage, thyme, and rosemary with sautéed onions and celery, baked to golden perfection for a crispy top and moist interior—perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 10 cups cubed bread (sourdough or French)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 2 cups celery, finely chopped (about 3–4 stalks)
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Liquids and Fats
- 4 cups low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for toasting the bread and baking the stuffing.
- Toast Bread Cubes: Spread the cubed bread evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the bread is lightly toasted and dried out, which helps create the perfect texture in the stuffing.
- Mix Vegetables and Herbs: In a large bowl, combine the toasted bread cubes with the finely diced onion, chopped celery, and fresh chopped sage, thyme, and rosemary, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Prepare Broth Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted unsalted butter, low-sodium broth, salt, and pepper to create a flavorful liquid that will moisten the stuffing.
- Combine Mixtures: Pour the broth and butter mixture over the bread and vegetable mixture. Gently toss to combine, making sure each bread cube is moistened without becoming soggy.
- Transfer and Cover: Transfer the stuffing mixture into a greased baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with foil to retain moisture during baking.
- Bake Covered: Bake the covered stuffing in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the stuffing to set.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy, giving a delightful texture contrast.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve the stuffing hot as a delicious holiday side dish.
Notes
- Use day-old bread or slightly stale bread for best texture; fresh bread may become too mushy.
- Low-sodium broth allows you to control the saltiness better; adjust seasoning as needed.
- For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- The herbs can be adjusted according to preference—dried herbs can substitute fresh but use 1/3 of the quantity.
- To add extra flavor, consider sautéing the onions and celery in butter before mixing.
- Make ahead tip: Prepare the mixture a day before and bake on serving day, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time if refrigerated.
Keywords: Thanksgiving stuffing, holiday stuffing recipe, bread stuffing, traditional stuffing, herbed stuffing
