Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe

This traditional stuffing recipe that is loaded with mushrooms and sausage has been served up at my holiday dinner table for years. No matter which holiday we celebrate, we always look forward to mealtime.  While of course, the turkey or beef roast takes center stage, we are all about the side dishes.  If you want to up your side dish recipe game then check out my cream mashed potatoes or roasted root vegetables.

Stuffing

The procedure of stuffing protein meat has been literally going on for generations.  In early recipes throughout the first century AD, you learn of people stuffing rabbits, chickens, pigs, and other animals that were accessible.  Turkey stuffing was popularized in the early days of Thanksgiving as it is written in many 16^th century Boston area documents. Stuffing most often uses dried bread, herbs, and vegetables, that are reconstituted with liquid and then stuffed into the turkey cavity and then baked until it is firm and finished cooking.  In addition, stuffing can also be cooked separately in a casserole dish in the oven, which would then be considered dressing.  I personally like stuffing cooked outside of the turkey because the bird will cook much quicker without it.

How to Make a Homemade Stuffing Recipe

Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for making a homemade stuffing recipe:

1. Cut fresh bread into cubes and place it on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven at 300°for about 25-30 minutes or until firm.
2. In the meantime, cook-off some pork sausage until browned and cooked through and then set aside.
3. Using the same pan, cook some mushrooms and onions in melted butter until lightly browned, which takes about 10 minutes.
4. Next, add in the celery and garlic and cook just until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Transfer the cooked vegetables, sausage, and bread to a large bowl and add them together.
6. Next, add in fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and stock and mix until combined. The bread should be wet, but not soggy and drenched.
7. In a separate bowl whisk together 3 eggs and then add it to the stuffing bowl and mix until completely mixed in.
8. Transfer the mixture to a large 13×9 casserole dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350° for 25 minutes.
9. Remove the foil and bake a further 25 minutes, then garnish with parsley and serve.

Additional Ingredients to Add-In

While there are certainly some basic ingredients for a traditional stuffing recipe, you can absolutely customize it to make it your own.  I took the initiative to add sausage and mushrooms, but there are many other things you can add including:

• Turkey Giblets
• Turkey Gravy
• Dried Cherries
• Fresh Cranberries
• Dried Cranberries
• Root Vegetables
• Oysters
• Apples

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 1 hour ahead of time, just keep it covered and warm at low temperatures in the oven until ready to serve. How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of dressing to a casserole dish or pan, drizzle on ¼ to 1/3 cup of chicken stock, and cover with foil.  Bake in the oven at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes or until warmed. How to Store: Cover and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.  You can cover and freeze it for up to 3 months.  Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day before reheating.

Chef Notes + Tips

Any bread will work for this recipe, but you can take it to the next level with my sourdough. Feel free to substitute the chicken stock with vegetable stock. In place of fresh herbs, substitute out with dry poultry seasoning. Use a little bit of stock at a time, you may find that you need less or more when mixing it in. When mixing the stuffing together, do so gently so that the bread or other ingredients do not break apart. You can use bratwurst, Italian sausage, or plain pork sausage in this recipe.

More Holiday Recipes

• Cornbread Dressing
• Candied Yams
• Green Bean Casserole
• Apple Pie
• Potatoes Au Gratin

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