DIY: Convenient and Delicious Homemade Stuffing Mix (2024)

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Diana Rattray

DIY: Convenient and Delicious Homemade Stuffing Mix (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Updated on 11/15/22

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DIY: Convenient and Delicious Homemade Stuffing Mix (2)

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total: 30 mins

Servings: 4to 6 servings

29 ratings

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This easy stuffing mix is similar to the famous, convenient top-of-the-stove mix. It's an excellent use for day-old bread, and you probably have most of the seasonings on hand.

Your Frequently Asked Holiday Questions, Answered

For a more pronounced chicken flavor, make the stuffing with low-sodium chicken broth instead of water, or add 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon granules or base to the water. Just keep an eye out on the salt in the rest of the recipe, tasting as you go. It's easier to add salt than it is to take it away if things taste too salty.

Serve the prepared stuffing with a chicken, pork, or turkey dinner, or use it in a casserole.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups soft, fresh breadcrumbs

  • 1 heaping tablespoon dried parsley

  • 5 tablespoons dried minced onion

  • 1/3 cup dried celery flakes

  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon sage

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram

For the Stuffing:

  • 1 1/4 cups water, low-sodium chicken broth

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 3 cups stuffing mix

  • Salt, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  3. Spread bread out on 2 baking sheets. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is dry and crumbly.

  4. In a large bowl or large plastic food storage bag, combine ​breadcrumbs with dried parsley, minced onion, celery flakes, thyme, pepper, sage, and marjoram.

  5. To prepare stuffing, bring 1 1/4 cups of water or chicken broth and 3 tablespoons of butter to a boil. Stir in 3 cups of stuffing mix. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes.

  6. Taste and add salt, as needed.

  7. Fluff with a fork and serve.

How to Use Homemade Stuffing

You can easily add the stuffing to a casserole dish with some chicken and veggies, and turn it into a full-fledged meal.

  • Prepare the dressing as directed and preheat the oven to 400 F. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick spray.
  • Combine 1 1/2 cups cubed boneless chicken breasts with a pound of frozen mixed veggies, a can of cream of chicken condensed soup, and a little sour cream.
  • Spread it out evenly across the casserole dish. Sprinkle the dressing on top.
  • Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked.

Recipe Variation

  • Use any bread that you have on hand, whether it's sourdough, rye, whole-wheat, brioche, or old-fashioned sandwich bread. The type of bread you use will impact the texture of the stuffing and keep the flavors interesting, too.
  • You can also use turkey or beef stock, instead.

How to Store and Freeze Homemade Stuffing

Homemade stuffing will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also transfer it to a freezer-safe container or a zip-close freezer bag and store for up to six months. Defrost in the refrigerator and then bake until heated through, or cook in a low oven, covered in foil, until completely hot.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
689Calories
24g Fat
99g Carbs
19g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories689
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g31%
Saturated Fat 7g37%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 1433mg62%
Total Carbohydrate 99g36%
Dietary Fiber 6g22%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 1mg6%
Calcium 246mg19%
Iron 7mg37%
Potassium 372mg8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • dressing
  • stuffing mix
  • side dish
  • american

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DIY: Convenient and Delicious Homemade Stuffing Mix (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

How to keep stuffing moist when baking? ›

You want your stuffing moist but not soggy and certainly not dry. The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or stale 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.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Why does my stuffing fall apart? ›

Your Stuffing Falls Apart

If you don't get the ratio of liquid to dry ingredients right, you could end up with stuffing that falls apart. If you want to avoid all that stress altogether, bake it up in a bundt pan and serve it by the slice.

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

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.

What temperature should stuffing be cooked at? ›

How do you safely cook stuffing? The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

How to know when stuffing is done? ›

Also, you'll need a food thermometer for determining when stuffing is safely cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Use this temperature as a guide, whether you serve stuffing separately in a casserole dish or stuffed into poultry or meat.

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

Yes! You can absolutely make stuffing ahead of time. It's a great way to get a jumpstart on Thanksgiving cooking and it frees up much-needed oven space. This stuffing can be made up to three days in advance.

How long should bread sit out for stuffing? ›

If you don't want to take up space in the oven, you can always leave the bread out on the counter to dry. A day or two before you assemble your stuffing, cut the bread into cubes. Then, lay the cubes onto sheet pans and let them dry out at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours.

Why does stuffing go bad so fast? ›

If turkey, stuffing, or gravy is left out at room temperature (40 to 140°F) for over 2 hours it may no longer be safe to eat. Bacteria prospers at this temperature, increasing the risk of foodborne illness. When stored properly in a refrigerator, turkey leftovers generally stay good for 3 to 4 days.

What does adding egg to pie filling do? ›

Adding an extra egg gives the pie a cake-like consistency.

There was a very thin shiny top layer, but the rest of the filling was a consistent light-orange color.

What does adding an egg to a recipe do? ›

Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

What does adding egg to bread do? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

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