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A close-up of a white oval baking dish filled with golden-brown bread cubes, onions, cranberries, and fresh parsley, a wooden spoon rests inside.

Why Everyone Loves This Stuffing Recipes (+ Make-Ahead Tips)

This recipe offers a delicious and comforting stuffing that can be prepared in advance, perfect for busy home cooks and families during holiday gatherings. It combines toasted bread cubes with aromatic herbs, sweet apple, and savory vegetables for a flavorful side dish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Make-Ahead Storage 24 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 49 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Holiday, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 240
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Stuffing Base
  • 16 slices whole wheat bread cut into 1 inch cubes
For the Flavor Base
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt-free chicken seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Honeycrisp apple cored and diced
  • 3 celery stalks diced
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion diced
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
For Baking
  • 2 cups chicken broth

Equipment

  • 9x13 baking dish
  • Large baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Medium saucepan
  • Aluminum foil

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cube the bread slices and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until toasted.
  3. While the bread toasts, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in the rosemary, thyme, salt, chicken seasoning, parsley, pepper, and garlic powder until combined.
  4. Add the diced apple, celery, onion, and dried cranberries to the butter mixture. Stir to combine and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Transfer the toasted bread cubes to a 9x13 baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over the bread and toss to coat. Cover with aluminum foil. You can proceed to bake now, or for make-ahead, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. If refrigerating, bring to room temperature before proceeding to the next step.
  6. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Stir the chicken broth into the stuffing mixture, tossing to combine. Cover the dish and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden brown and heated through. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSodium: 529mgFiber: 4g

Notes

Preparing the stuffing a day in advance allows the flavors to meld, resulting in an even more delicious dish. This also saves valuable time on busy holiday cooking days.

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