Classic Holiday Dressing

This stuffing recipe is perfectly seasoned, buttery, and one of the heart of side dishes for many holiday tables.

Stuffing has all the comforting flavors of the holidays and Thanksgiving together in one simple, delicious baked casserole.

Delicious herb-flavored crispy bread cubes on top, moist and tender inside, complement any meal all year long.

The recipe is bursting with flavor and aroma that makes the whole kitchen smell wonderful and makes memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you're hosting a big family gathering or cooking a small weeknight turkey dinner, this stuffing is easy to prepare, customizable with your favorite mix-ins, and guaranteed to become a yearly tradition.

Why You Will Love This Stuffing Recipe

• It’s incredibly versatile: Start with the basic recipe and customize it with sausage, apples, nuts, or herbs you already have.
• Perfect texture every time: Slightly crisp edges with a moist, fluffy center.
• Make-ahead friendly: Prep it the night before and bake the next day.
• Crowd-pleasing flavors: Classic herbs like sage and thyme instantly give you that nostalgic Thanksgiving taste.
• Budget-friendly: Uses simple pantry staples, bread, butter, broth, and vegetables.

Tips for Making Classic Holiday Dressing

1. Use dry bread: Fresh bread can make stuffing like mush, drying it ensures the perfect texture, so toast the cubes first and spray them lightly with olive oil.
2. Taste your broth first: Some store-bought broths are too salty, or make your own to be certain it's not overly salty, which will ruin the stuffing.
3. Don’t overmix: Stir gently to keep the bread cubes whole. Add broth slowly: No one wants soggy stuffing, so add a little at a time; you can't take it out once the mixture becomes soggy.
4. For extra crispy edges: Bake in a shallow pan rather than a deep dish; the deeper it is, the moister it is.
5. Make-ahead tip: Make this stuffing the night before, refrigerate overnight, then bake the next day when ready to serve.
6. Stuffing vs. dressing: This recipe is baked in a dish (stuffing), but can be used in the turkey dressing; just make sure it reaches 165 degrees internally.

Mixins:

• Savory Options: Cooked Italian sausage or breakfast sausage,  crispy bacon,  mushrooms sauteed in butter,  caramelized onions 
• Fresh herbs: rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme 
• Fruity & Sweet Add-Ins:  diced apples, dried cranberries,  raisins or golden raisins,  chopped pears, minced carrots
• Nutty Additions: Toasted pecans, walnuts,  sliced almonds, toasted pistachios, toasted pumpkin seeds for food allergies, or sunflower seeds,  chestnuts (holiday favorite!) 
• Flavor Boosters:  Parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cubes,  A splash of white wine,  turkey drippings

Pin for later

Classic Holiday Dressing

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

This stuffing recipe is perfectly seasoned, buttery, and one of the heart of side dishes for many holiday tables.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf (about 12 cups) day-old bread, cubed (white, Italian, French, or sourdough)
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 large onion, diced
• 4 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups chicken or turkey broth (use vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Optional: See Mix-in suggestions

Instructions

1. Directions
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Cut the bread into cubes and place on a baking sheet (oil-sprayed)
4. Lightly oil spray the cubed bread on a baking sheet evenly to dry in the oven for 15–20 minutes until the cubes start to toast.
5. Cool completely and place in a large mixing bowl.
6. In a large skillet, melt the butter.
7. Stir in the onion and celery, cooking about 10 minutes until translucent.
8. Add any mix-in suggestions in this step.
9. Add the garlic, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute more.
10. Pour the cooked vegetables over the bread cubes and toss together gently.
11. Add 2 cups of broth and again gently toss until the broth seeps into the bread cubes evenly.
12. Cool this mixture to a warm temperature, then mix in the beaten eggs.
13. Stir in more broth if needed.
14. Transfer stuffing to a buttered 13 x 9 casserole baking dish.
15. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
16. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until the top is crispy.

Notes

Mixins:

• Savory Options: Cooked Italian sausage or breakfast sausage, crispy bacon, mushrooms sauteed in butter, caramelized onions 
• Fresh herbs: rosemary, parsley, sage, thyme 
• Fruity & Sweet Add-Ins: diced apples, dried cranberries, raisins or golden raisins, chopped pears
• Nutty Additions: Toasted pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, toasted pistachios, toasted pumpkin seeds for food allergies, or sunflower seeds, chestnuts (holiday favorite!) 
• Flavor Boosters: Parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar cubes, A splash of white wine, turkey drippings

Tips for Making Classic Holiday Dressing

1. Use dry bread: Fresh bread can make stuffing like mush, drying it ensures the perfect texture, so toast the cubes first.
2. Taste your broth first: Some store-bought broths are too salty, or make your own to be certain it's not overly salty, which will ruin the stuffing.
3. Don’t overmix: Stir gently to keep the bread cubes whole. Add broth slowly: No one wants soggy stuffing, so add a little at a time; you can't take it out once the mixture becomes soggy.
4. For extra crispy edges: Bake in a shallow pan rather than a deep dish; the deeper it is, the moister it is.
5. Make-ahead tip: Make this stuffing the night before, refrigerate overnight, then bake the next day when ready to serve.
6. Stuffing vs. dressing: This recipe is baked in a dish (stuffing), but can be used in the turkey dressing; just make sure it reaches 165 degrees internally.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

368

Fat (grams)

17 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

8 g

Carbs (grams)

43 g

Fiber (grams)

4 g

Net carbs

39 g

Sugar (grams)

6 g

Protein (grams)

12 g

Sodium (milligrams)

1042 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

79 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

Similar Recipes

Pork Chop Apple Stuffing Casserole

Classic Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Day Recipes

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2025/11/classic-holiday-dressing.html

These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.

classic stuffing recipe, homemade stuffing, Thanksgiving stuffing, easy holiday side dish, bread stuffing, traditional stuffing recipe

side dishes, Thanksgiving recipes, holiday recipes, stuffing recipes, dressing recipes

American

Pin for later

More Holiday Recipes

How to Fry a Turkey
Homemade Potato Gnocchi
Mashed Potatoes
Mom's Turkey Gravy
Amaretto Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potato Rolls
Pumpkin Pie