Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (2024)

Published November 20, 2023.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

For years, this traditional stuffing recipe with mushrooms and sausage has been served at my holiday dinner table. The flavors in this simple traditional side dish are incredible.

No matter which holiday we celebrate, we always look forward to mealtime. While the turkey or beef roast takes center stage, we are all about the side dishes.Check out my cream mashed potatoes or roasted root vegetables, if you want to up your side dish recipe game,

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (1)

Stuffing

The procedure of stuffing protein meat has been going on for generations. In early recipes throughout the first century AD, you learn of people stuffing rabbits, chickens, pigs, and other accessible animals. Turkey stuffing was popularized in the early days of Thanksgiving, as it is written in many 16th-century Boston area documents.

Stuffing most often uses dried bread, herbs, and vegetables that are reconstituted with liquid, stuffed into the turkey cavity, and 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 like stuffing outside the turkey because the bird will cook much quicker without it.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Bread – Any fresh bread will work for this recipe. I like to use Sourdough.
  • Butter – I always use unsalted butter in my cooking and baking to control the sodium content instead of a butter company.
  • Sausage – Any pork sausage will work for this, such as loose bratwurst, Italian sausage, or plain pork sausage in this recipe.
  • Onions – You can use a white, yellow, or sweet onion. In addition, you’ll need some fresh garlic cloves.
  • Mushrooms – I prefer to use fresh cremini mushrooms. However, you can also use button, portabella, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms.
  • Celery – a few ribs of celery stand out in this recipe.
  • Herbs – I used a combination of fresh sage, rosemary and thyme. Substitute with dry poultry seasoning.
  • Stock Chicken stock is best to use. However, you can substitute it with vegetable stock, brodo, or water.
  • Eggs – Large, chilled eggs or room temperature will work perfectly in this stuffing recipe.

How to Make a Homemade Stuffing Recipe

Cut fresh bread into cubes, 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.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (2)

In the meantime, cook offsome pork sausage until browned and cooked through, and then set aside.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (3)

Using the same pan, cook mushrooms and onions in melted butter until lightly browned, which takes about 10 minutes.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (4)

Next, add celery and garlic and cook until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (5)

Transfer the cooked vegetables, sausage, and bread to a large bowl and add them together.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (6)

Next, mix fresh herbs, salt, pepper, and stock and mix until combined. The bread should be wet but not soggy and drenched.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (7)

In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, add them to the stuffing bowl, and mix until completely mixed in.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (8)

Transfer the mixture to a large 13×9 casserole dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (9)

Remove the foil and bake for 25 minutes, then garnish with parsley and serve.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (10)

Additional Ingredients to Add-In

While there are some basic ingredients for a traditional stuffing recipe, you can 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.

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (11)

Chef Notes + Tips

  • Use a bit of stock at a time, and you may need less or more when mixing it in.
  • When mixing the stuffing, do so gently so that the bread or other ingredients do not break apart.
  • You can substitute 1 for 1 fresh to dry herbs.

More Holiday Recipes

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

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (12)

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Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe

Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (13)

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5 from 10 votes

This traditional stuffing recipe that is loaded with mushrooms and sausage has been served up at my holiday dinner table for years.

Servings: 16

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 cups of cubed bread
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, cut in half
  • 1 pound loose pork sausage
  • 2 peeled and small diced small yellow onions
  • 2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms
  • 3 medium diced celery stalks
  • 3 finely minced garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
  • 1 tablespoon each chopped fresh rosemary and thyme
  • 3 cups chicken stock
  • 3 whisked eggs
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300°.

  • Spread out the cubed bread on a cookie sheet tray lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until crisp and firm. Set aside.

  • While the bread is baking add a ½ stick of butter to a large frying pan or rondeau over medium-high heat and cook the sausage until broken up, lightly browned, and cooked throughout.

  • Remove the sausage from the pan or pot and add the remaining ½ stick of butter.

  • Add in the onions and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned and then add in the mushrooms and cook for a further 8-10 minutes while occasionally stirring until lightly browned.

  • Place in the celery and garlic and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or just until the celery is tender.

  • Transfer the cooked vegetables, sausage, and baked cubed bread to a very large bowl.

  • Next, add in the herbs, salt, pepper, and chicken stock and mix gently until combined. See note about chicken stock.

  • Pour in the whisked eggs and then again gently mix until combined.

  • Transfer the mixture to a 13×9 casserole dish and cover with foil.

  • Bake at 350° for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

  • Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

Make-Ahead: You can make this recipe up to 1 hour ahead, 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.

Use a little bit of stock at a time, and 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 11gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 457mgPotassium: 257mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 77IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 2mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, French

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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27 comments

    • sue😁 Macleod
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (14)

    Fabulous loved your recipe ChefBilly thank you 😋😁🤤

    • Reply
    • sue😁 Macleod
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (15)

    Amazing taste ChefBilly thank you for your recipe 😋😁🤤

    • Reply
    • Anna M. Perrella
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (16)

    Best stuffing ever! I do add chopped apples and cranberries.

    • Reply
    • Susan Hill
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (17)

    This is best stuffing recipe we’ve used it 2 yrs now has best taste simple to make also my family loves this recipe . Thanks Billy Parisi for this delicious stuffing recipe .

    • Reply
    • Ana
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (18)

    Excellent recipe. Delicious .

    • Reply
    • Christine Dean
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (19)

    Wonderful !

    • Reply
    • Roberta
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (20)

    Great recipe for stuffing! This will be my go-to stuffing going forward. Love your videos. I’m a decent cook, but I’ve learned so much from watching you cook.

    • Reply
    • J Kling
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (21)

    This recipe is quite similar to how I’ve been making stuffing for years. But it’s nice to have everything quantified instead of just done by eye. The only adaptation I made was to omit sausage (my wife is pescatarian) and to add a bit of chopped fennel with the onions.

    Flavor and consistency were perfect, just like Nana used to make! And that’s saying something!

    • Reply
    • Vanessa

    Great traditional stuffing recipe chef! Bravo, yet again! May I say, very similar to mine. I don’t use mushrooms and sometimes I also add bacon along with the sausage. My motto, “old school rules”!! Happy American Thanksgiving from Canada! 🦃🍗🥧🥂

    • Reply
    • Jenny
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (22)

    Billy, I just love your videos and recipes. I am trying to make as many sides ahead of time. I made your sweet potatoes yesterday. I know you have reheat instructions posted for the stuffing, but I am just not sure if I should make today and then reheat tomorrow? Assemble today and bake tomorrow like I did with the potatoes? Will it be dry or too soggy? Any guidance is appreciated.

    • Reply
    • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (23)

        I’d bake first and then reheat

        • Reply
      • Beverly Susan Miller
      • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (24)

      This is a take off from stuffing of my youth…only better. Without a doubt the best stuffing that I’ve ever had. I don’t usually follow the food that chefs make but I thought that I would try Billy’s approach. OMG. My family went in hook line and sinker. Best ever!

      • Reply
      • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (25)

          Thank you!

          • Reply
        • Jodie D

        Hands down, the best stuffing recipe I have ever made! Full of favor! This is my go to recipe for now on.
        I used a sourdough loaf and croissants since I had those on hand that I cut up and it was still amazing! Thank you!!!

        • Reply
        • Kathleen

        Hi Billy, I love your recipes. My husband and I made your stuffing for Thanksgiving. Quick question, do you drain your sausage of grease before adding the onion back to the pan?

        • Reply
        • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (26)

            You can, I don’t

            • Reply
          • Jackie Garson Howard

          Billy.
          I’m taking this to a house that I’m not comfortable bringing a dish with pork. Could I use chicken sausage (what flavor?) or what instead?
          Thanks…Jackie

          • Reply
          • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (27)

              yes

              • Reply
            • Cyndee Bosworth

            Is it possible to put completed recipe in a crackpot until turkey is ready to serve? Not much room in the oven alongside the bird. Thanks

            • Reply
            • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (28)

                You could

                • Reply
              • Judy Brunker

              The stuffing looks delicious. Thanks for sharing

              • Reply
              • Geoff

              YouTube frog here. Giving this a go this Christmas, wish me luck!

              Merry Christmas Billy.

              • Reply
              • Mary

              The recipe indicates to preheat the oven to 300, but directions say to cook at 350. At what temperature should I cook the stuffing?

              • Reply
              • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (29)

                  Check out it again, the 300 is for drying out the bread while prepping up everything 🙂

                  • Reply
                • Pellicano Elaine

                Hi Billy, your stuffing recipe is similar to my mothers! We didn’t put mushrooms in the stuffing, but always made stuffed mushrooms on every Holiday. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving.❤️🙏❤️

                • Reply
                • Judy Riter

                Hi Billy,
                I will be making my stuffing similar to yours, but, because my husband and daughter hate mushrooms, I, sadly. will have to leave them out. Also, my daughter is allergic to onions (do you know how many dishes call for onions, of course you do your a chef) so I will have to leave them out, too. Do you think that using onion powder (which she isn’t allergic to) will work?
                Judy

                • Reply
                • Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (30)

                    I think it could for sure work!

                    • Reply
                Homemade Traditional Stuffing Recipe (2024)

                FAQs

                What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

                Bread is the main ingredient, and can make or bread the stuffing. The better the quality of the bread, the better the outcome. Use a simple white or a mixture of favorite breads. Carrot, celery, and onion form the base layer of flavor.

                What was stuffing originally made of? ›

                The earliest documentary evidence is the Roman cookbook, Apicius De Re Coquinaria, which contains recipes for stuffed chicken, dormouse, hare, and pig. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, and spelt (a cereal), and frequently contain chopped liver, brains, and other organ meat.

                Should you put an egg in stuffing? ›

                Vegetable broth – To moisten the bread. Eggs – They add richness and moisture, helping to create the stuffing's irresistible gooey center. And sea salt and fresh black pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

                How to keep stuffing moist when baking? ›

                You'll also need to add in plenty of liquid moisture, such as chicken, turkey or vegetable stock, but white wine or Madeira also makes a flavorful complement to stock.

                What is English stuffing made of? ›

                Sage, Onion and Sausagemeat Stuffing (A Traditional British Stuffing) This sage, onion and sausage meat stuffing is probably my favourite ever. However many others I've made or tried, the combination of the sage, onion and sausage meat is unbeatable! Use whatever sausages you like, I prefer to use chicken.

                What is stuffing mix made of? ›

                In a large bowl or large plastic food storage bag, combine ​breadcrumbs with dried parsley, minced onion, celery flakes, thyme, pepper, sage, and marjoram. To prepare stuffing, bring 1 1/4 cups of water or chicken broth and 3 tablespoons of butter to a boil.

                Why is stuffing so tasty? ›

                Stuffing has a symbiotic relationship with turkey. As it cooks, the herbs in the stuffing infuse into the bird, giving it a lot more flavor. The turkey, in turn, drips all its delicious juices into the stuffing as it cooks, moistening it and making it taste great.

                What's the difference between stuffing and dressing for Thanksgiving? ›

                "Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

                What is stuffing called when it's not in the turkey? ›

                Stuffing and dressing are commonly used as different names for the same thing—a dish consisting of bits of bread (or other starchy things) and various seasonings. The dish can be made by stuffing it (hence the name) inside a turkey or other bird that will be roasted, or by baking or cooking it separately.

                Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

                Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

                Is it better to make stuffing the day before? ›

                Just mix the stuffing ingredients together and store in the fridge, freeing up time and reducing stress on Thanksgiving Day, when you're dealing with all the other prep! Try make-ahead stuffing this Thanksgiving to save time and oven space. Who doesn't love a low-maintenance side dish?

                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.

                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. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

                Why does my stuffing fall apart? ›

                The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

                What does stuffing contain? ›

                Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

                What is the difference between Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing? ›

                "Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

                What is stuffing made of Thanksgiving? ›

                The BEST traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe is easy to make dried bread cubes, sausage, diced vegetables, and chicken broth. It's a great side dish to make ahead of time and it definitely tastes best homemade! Pair this easy homemade stuffing with our popular turkey recipe, homemade rolls, and Thanksgiving pie.

                What is roast stuffing made of? ›

                Stir together onion, celery, bread, pepper, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and celery salt in a large bowl; pour melted butter over bread mixture and stir to combine. Spoon stuffing into the cavities of chicken; place chicken into a roasting pan.

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