My gran was queen of Christmas cooking and I looked forward to her delicious roast turkey and bread stuffing for months before the big day. I’ve taken my gran’s old fashioned homemade bread stuffing recipe and updated it a little because although the flavors are perfection, I never actually stuff my turkey. I prefer to cook the stuffing separately so that the edges become all crisp and this also results in a turkey that cooked a lot quicker and more evenly. This traditional stuffing recipe is flavored with a lot of aromatic herbs, garlic, onion and Parmesan to make every bite a delicious one.
Ingredients and substitutions
Butter. Olive oil can be substituted. Onions. You could also celery but I don’t find it necessary. Fresh garlic cloves. Fresh breadcrumbs. I make my own fresh bread crumbs by pulsing white bread in the food processor. For a chunkier stuffing, use bread cubes. You could make breadcrumbs from sourdough bread, French bread or simple store-bought white bread. Fresh herbs: I use fresh sage and thyme but oregano, rosemary, parsley and chives will also be delicious. Dried herbs can be used too. Lemon zest. Parmesan cheese. Milk. Whole milk/full cream milk/half and half can be used. Chicken broth/chicken stock can be used as a dairy-free substitute. Salt and black pepper.
How do you make bread stuffing?
In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, fry onions and garlic in the butter until soft and translucent then mix with breadcrumbs and aromatics. Stir in the milk until the mixture is damp but not wet and transfer to a suitable casserole dish/baking dish (a loaf pan or cast iron skillet works well). Bake for 30-45 minutes until crisp and golden.
Can you make stuffing with fresh bread?
Yes, you can however I always use day-old loaves of bread for my stuffing. My gran used to grate the bread but I just process until the bread is chunky in my food processor.
Can you make stuffing ahead of time?
Stuffing can be made, covered and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days ahead. Simply bake until crisp and golden.
How do you cook stuffing outside the turkey?
You can bake the stuffing in a loaf pan or in a cast iron skillet. You can also make individual portions by baking the stuffing mixture in a muffin tray. Just adapt the baking times as these smaller portions will cook much faster.
Thanksgiving Recipes
Juicy Garlic Herb Roast Turkey Maple Glazed Carrots Fresh Green Bean Casserole
