How to Make The Best Homemade Stuffing
This homemade stuffing combines crusty artisan bread, cranberry walnut bread, sautéed celery and onion, and savory seasonings for an easy holiday side dish.
Servings: 12
Calories: 250kcal
Ingredients
- 6 cups crusty artisan bread cut into 1-inch cubes (Costco has a rustic Italian loaf that works well or you could use crusty baguettes or sourdough bread)
- 6 cups cranberry walnut bread cut into 1-inch cubes (we get the cranberry walnut bread from Costco. See recipe notes for alternative options.)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Italian dressing packet (we use the Good Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing and Recipe Mix)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1-2 cups chicken broth (based on preference for texture of stuffing—less for a crispier stuffing, more for a softer stuffing)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the crusty bread and cranberry walnut bread into 1-inch cubes. If you have time, let the cubes sit out overnight to dry out slightly — this isn’t necessary, but it helps the croutons crisp up.
- Spread the bread cubes onto a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, tossing to coat.
- Sprinkle the bread with the dry Italian seasoning packet, tossing well. Add additional salt to taste as needed.
- Toast the bread in the oven for 10-20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and crisped up. Remove and let cool.
- While the bread toasts, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, combine the cooled croutons and the cooked vegetables, tossing to distribute evenly.
- Pour the chicken broth over the bread mixture a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Start with less for a crispier stuffing and add more for a softer, more traditional texture.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until crispy on top.
Notes
- If you don't have access to the cranberry walnut bread from Costco, choose another type of crusty bread and add some craisins to the stuffing if desired.
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Cut the bread into cubes a day ahead and let them sit out overnight to dry.
- Toast the bread cubes ahead of time, let them cool completely, and store them in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to assemble.
- Chop the onion and celery a day ahead and refrigerate them in an airtight container.
- Cook the onion and celery in the butter ahead of time, then refrigerate until you're ready to assemble the stuffing.
- You can toast the bread cubes and prepare the onion and celery a day or two ahead. Store the croutons in an airtight container on the counter and store the celery and onion in the fridge. Assemble the stuffing with the broth shortly before baking for the best texture.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Homemade Stuffing." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 34.8g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9.1g | Saturated Fat: 2.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 7.6mg | Sodium: 443mg | Potassium: 321.5mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 7.6g
