Stuffing Recipe

Simple Stuffing Recipe that will be making an appearance at every holiday dinner. This stuffing is made with Italian bread, apples, celery, onions, and herbs. Don’t miss the tips on how to make bread stale quickly.

This is the classic, simple recipe and if you want something a little different, try our Sausage Stuffing, Cornbread Dressing, or Sausage and Apple Cornbread Dressing.

The Classic Stuffing Side Dish

Ah, stuffing, a wonderful bread side dish that is a must for many holiday dinners. What started out as a way to cook the turkey moist and juicy, evolved into a delicious bread side dish.

There is much debate among family members and friends whether to call this dish “stuffing” or “dressing,” but either way you call it, we all know that is a delicious addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

This is a simple stuffing recipe made with celery, onions, and herbs. To add another layer of flavor and a little sweetness, I sauté fresh apples along with onions and celery and mix a little apple juice with broth.

Addition of apple is a delightful sweet surprise in every bite and pairs perfectly with turkey and many other side dishes.

How to Make Stale Bread (Classic Way and Fast Way):

It’s a silly question isn’t it, “how to make stale bread?”

Simple answer might be, “leave it on a counter for a week and it becomes a weapon.” But, there are actually two ways to stale bread for recipes. There is a slow way and a fast way.

One way to stale bread is to dice the bread and leave it to air-dry for about 24 hours.

Tip: Buy Italian bread that is already thinly sliced and leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours. It is easier to cut the bread when it’s cold.

Cut bread slices into small cubes that are about 1/2-inch in size. Use a serrated bread knife to cut the bread.

Spread bread cubes in two large baking sheets, in one even layer, and leave them to get stale for about 24 hours.

To make stale bread fast:

Preheat the oven to 200°.

After spreading the bread cubes in two large baking sheets, place the trays in the oven.

Let them harden for about 2 hours.

Take them out and you can prepare the stuffing right away.

How To Make The Stuffing:

After you have the stale bread taken care of, it’s a fast and easy process.

First, sauté onions and celery until softened and add in the apples. Sauté everything until softened.

Seconds, mix the stale bread, sautéed veggies, and seasoning together in a large mixing bowl.

Third, in another mixing bowl, whisk together stock, apple juice, and eggs until smooth.

Fourth, start pouring in the liquid mixture into the bread mixture and you carefully stir. Make sure to stir everything well.

Finally, transfer the stuffing mixture into the greased baking dish and bake at 375° for 35-45 minutes. Keep an eye on it, strength of ovens vary slightly.

Make Ahead Tips:

Of course, you can start the bread staling process a day or two before. Simply dice the bread into small cubes, spread it on two large baking sheets, and let it stale for 1-2 days in a cool, dry place.

You can also prep the whole stuffing recipe and spread it into the baking dish. Instead of baking, cover it air-tight with plastic wrap or a fitted lid and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to bake the next day, take off the plastic wrap, set the dish on the counter while the oven is preheating and then bake per recipe instructions.