A No-fuss Easy Stuffing Recipe
This tasty and simple oven-baked stuffing recipe is a family favourite. The no-fuss easy recipe delivers all the comforting flavors you love. It’s perfect for a holiday turkey dinner or a cozy weeknight meal alongside roast chicken.
See the recommended variations at the end of this page for sausage stuffing, apples and cranberry for a more festive flavour, and our favourite vegetarian option using mushrooms and celery. Here’s our reliable recipe for a delicious homemade stuffing made from scratch.Don't Stop Here: The Ultimate Leftover Sandwich
Easy Stuffing Recipe: Two Cooking Options
This versatile stuffing recipe offers two cooking methods. While baking it inside the bird is a classic approach, cooking it separately in a casserole dish is generally safer and often yields a better result. The external heat allows the stuffing to become crispier without becoming greasy, while the bird itself cooks more evenly and quickly.
For the Safest Method: Bake the stuffing in a separate dish. This is the recommended approach, as it promotes more even cooking and a superior texture for both the stuffing and the turkey. For Traditional Preparation: The stuffing may also be cooked inside the chicken or turkey. Whichever method you select, ensure the stuffing’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to guarantee it is safe to eat.
Recipe Ingredients
This recipe yields about 4 servings and is easily doubled for a larger crowd.
5-6 smoked bacon strips 225g unsalted crackers (coarsely crushed) ½ large onion, diced 3-4 garlic cloves, minced handful of fresh thymes (can be substituted with sage or rosemary) ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth – depending on crackers used, may need a little more or less 1 large egg, lightly beaten (optional)
Stuffing Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Grease a 6 x 8-inch baking dish with avocado oil or your preference of cooking spray. In a large skillet over high heat, fried the chopped bacon for about 10 minutes to golden. Do not let it get crispy. Remove from heat. Optional: After frying the bacon, pour in a little broth to deglaze the pan loosening all those delicious caramelized bits from the bottom. Stir this flavourful liquid into your mix as follows. Add to the hot bacon the diced onion, minced garlic, thyme, coarsely crushed crackers and black pepper to taste. I like to add a lot of fresh thymes – decrease to your preference or substitute with sage or rosemary but always use fresh herbs rather than dried. Combine everything. Add the broth or water until the crackers are moist but not soupy. If it still seems dry, add more liquid. The beaten egg is optional, but it helps bind and hold the stuffing together. Mix gently into the stuffing mixture. Transfer the stuffing mixture to the greased baking dish and spread it out evenly. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and slightly crisp. Cooking time may vary slightly based on your oven and the depth of your baking dish, but 40-45 minutes at 375°F (190°C) generally produces perfect results.
Garden-to-Table
Many of our ingredients are home grown from our edible garden – learn more about garden-to-table growing and cooking.
Easy Variations
Sausage Stuffing (instead of bacon): Brown ½ lb of breakfast sausage (casings removed) in the skillet before adding the butter. Cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink. Then proceed with the recipe.
Mushroom and Celery: Sauté 8 oz of sliced cremini mushrooms and 2 diced celery stalks with the onions in about 2-3 tablespoons butter. Add salt to taste. Apple & Cranberry: Add 1 diced apple (like Granny Smith) and ½ cup of dried cranberries when you combine everything. Enjoy your delicious, homemade stuffing! It’s the taste of comfort in a baking dish.Tips for the Best Stuffing and Event Planning
Check for Moisture: This recipe involves crushing the crackers (coarsely is our preference) and combining all ingredients, then baking in a casserole dish or inside the turkey or chicken. Before baking, press a spoon gently into the stuffing. If you see liquid pool at the bottom, you’ve added too much broth – add some more crackers, or spoon the excess if you can. If the crackers seem dry, add a bit more broth.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare the entire stuffing mixture the day before. Cover and refrigerate. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before putting it in the oven. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it’s starting from cold.
The Classic Day-After-Thanksgiving (or Christmas) Sandwich
Making a turkey sandwich with stuffing and cranberry sauce is one of our favourite leftover meals, especially after Thanksgiving or Christmas. It’s essentially a holiday dinner between two slices of bread.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect post-holiday sandwich, from a classic version to a next-level gourmet option. Taking the extra time to warm the turkey and stuffing transforms the sandwich from “good” to “sublime.” This sandwich embodies the spirit of holiday leftovers, transforming them into something delicious and comforting.Sandwich Ingredients
2 slices of good, sturdy bread (white, sourdough, whole wheat, or a sturdy dinner roll split open)
4-6 oz of sliced cooked turkey (white meat, dark meat, or a mix), at room temperature or slightly warmed (substitute with cooked chicken for anytime of the year) ½ to ¾ cup of prepared stuffing, warmed up 2-3 tablespoons of jellied or whole-berry cranberry sauce Brie and thinly sliced red onions (optional) Mayonnaise or Mustard (Dijon or whole-grain work well) Lettuce (optional), a pinch of salt and pepperSandwich Instructions
Gently warm your leftover turkey and stuffing in the microwave. This makes a huge difference!
Toast the bread if using thin slices. Toasting provides structure and a nice texture contrast, preventing the sandwich from getting soggy. However, thick slices of bread not toasted works very well too and is very delicious. Build the sandwich: Lay out both slices of bread. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise (or mustard) on one slice. On the other slice, spread a generous layer of cranberry sauce. Pile the warm stuffing onto the cranberry sauce side. Press it down gently so it sticks. Layer the sliced turkey on top of the stuffing. Top with a slice of brie and red onions. If using, add a leaf of lettuce on top of the turkey. Carefully place the mayonnaise-slathered bread slice on top, mayo-side down. Gently press the sandwich together before slicing. The warm, savory, and sweet flavors are best enjoyed immediately.
