Chef notes
The terms "stuffing" and "dressing" are often used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings: Stuffing is cooked inside the bird, dressing on its own. Use this recipe when making my Roasted Turkey in Parchment with Gravy.
Technique tips: You can use this to stuff the inside of a turkey or bake in casserole dishes instead. You can also use dried cherries instead of apricots. The best use for stale bread is to make stuffing. If bread has not dried out overnight, place in a low-heat oven to dry out for a few hours.
Preparation
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apples, pears, onions and celery, and sauté until translucent and softened, about 10 minutes.
To a large mixing bowl, add the fruit-aromatics mixture, cubed bread, eggs and Bell’s seasoning, and mix to combine. Add the parsley and sage, and slowly pour in stock while mixing until the stuffing holds together (don't overmix!); you may not need all the stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
FAQs
Best Overall: Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing Mix. Our top-performing stuffing proved excellent when served straight off of the stove and after some time in the oven. Pepperidge Farm uses both white and wheat bread to make its stuffing cubes, and the contrast shows through in flavor and in texture.
What is the most popular stuffing at Pepperidge Farm? ›
Best Overall: Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing Mix. Our top-performing stuffing proved excellent when served straight off of the stove and after some time in the oven. Pepperidge Farm uses both white and wheat bread to make its stuffing cubes, and the contrast shows through in flavor and in texture.
What was stuffing originally made of?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.
How to make stuffing for turkey Gordon Ramsay? ›
Make the stuffing, melt butter in a large frying pan and gently sauté onion and garlic for five minutes until soft. Stir in the herbs for one minute then add breadcrumbs to absorb butter. Mix in zest, pine nuts and seasoning and cook over medium heat for about seven minutes until crumbs start to brown and crisp.
What is traditional stuffing made of? ›
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.
Should I put an egg in my stuffing? ›
Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.
Why is Thanksgiving stuffing so good? ›
Why You'll Love It. The flavor is quintessentially Thanksgiving. With butter, fresh herbs, and sautéed onions, celery, and garlic, you'll want a bit of this classic stuffing with every bite of turkey and gravy.
How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›
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 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 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.
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.
Who invented stuffing for Thanksgiving? ›
Although experts are not clear on when or where stuffing was first made, the first recorded history of the dish comes from Apicius de re Coquinaria, a Roman collection of popular recipes from the first century AD.
Why not cook turkey with stuffing? ›
Why Cooking Stuffing in Your Turkey Is Dangerous. The USDA advises that whole turkeys be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill any potentially harmful bacteria. That temperature includes any potential stuffing deep in the turkey's cavity. At temperatures below 165°F you risk exposure to salmonella or E.
Do you cook stuffing first before putting it in the turkey? ›
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.
What can I put in my turkey if I don't have stuffing? ›
Consider quartering an apple or two for stuffing your turkey. The flavor will remind you of fall, but apples will also provide the turkey with a little extra moisture during the cooking process (you can still brine the turkey, of course).
Who makes the best Thanksgiving turkey? ›
- Best Overall: Grassland Beef Pasture-Raised Turkey at Grasslandbeef.com. ...
- Best Overall, Runner-up: Porter Road Whole Turkey at Porterroad.com. ...
- Best Value: Farm Foods Market Jaindl Grand Champion Turkey at Farmfoodsmarket.com. ...
- Best Organic: ...
- Best Free-Range: ...
- Best Fresh:
What company makes stove top stuffing? ›
Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›
Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing. Either dry out your bread starting a few days before you plan to make the stuffing by letting it sit out or, if you don't have the extra time, cut the bread into cubes, and then toast over a low heat in the oven until dry.