• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Latest Recipes

Simple Homemade Stuffing

Updated: 11/8/21
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This simple homemade stuffing recipe couldn’t be simpler yet has wonderful depth of flavor. It includes mostly pantry items and only takes about 30 minutes! You’ll never go back to store-bought after this.

a white dish of homemade stuffing

What’s in Store Bought Boxed Stuffing?

I grew up on store bought boxed stuffing and really never knew homemade stuffing existed. 😂 Did you?

While I enjoyed the boxed stuffing growing up, I learned as an adult what actually goes into it. Ah! Take a look at the ingredient list for Stove Top Stuffing Mix…

While I recognize a few of those ingredients, most of them, I do not! Plus, I know for sure that I don’t want to feed my family High Fructose Corn Syrup, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), and all the extra preservatives that aren’t good for our health.

Homemade Stuffing Ingredients–The GOOD “Stuff”

The good news is that you can make your own stuffing pretty quickly at home, and YOU control what goes in it. My recipe includes the following fresh, healthy, and delicious ingredients. I bet you recognize all of them!

cropped picture of white casserole dish with homemade stuffing
  • Whole grain bread (I recommend getting a good loaf from a bakery that uses fresh ingredients.)
  • Celery, onion, and garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper
  • Butter
  • Pantry seasonings: dried onion flakes, garlic powder, celery seed, dried parsley, ground sage, and ground thyme
  • Chicken broth

The result of using these real food ingredients is moist and perfectly seasoned stuffing!

Step-By-Step: How to Make Homemade Stuffing

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Spread the bread pieces on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Stir the bread and spread it back out again. Baking another 8-10 minutes, or until the bread is completely toasted. Set aside when done.
  3. While the bread is toasting, heat the oil in a large (5 quart) pot over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add the onions and celery and saute until just softened, about 4-5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper while they cook. Add the garlic at the end and stir for 30-60 seconds.
  4. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the butter to the pot and let it melt (don’t let it brown). Then, stir in the onion flakes or powder, garlic powder, celery seed, crushed parsley, sage, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and chicken broth. Turn the heat up and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
  5. Gently stir in the toasted bread pieces, until coated. Cover with a lid and let sit for 5-7 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
  6. Use a fork to gently fluff the stuffing before serving*.
cropped picture of white casserole dish with homemade stuffing, includes bread, celery, and onion

Can I Make This Stuffing Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free?

Yes, you can and it’s easy! Here’s how:

Gluten-Free Version: Use toasted gluten-free bread instead of whole grain bread.

Dairy-Free Version: Use ghee or a plant-based butter instead of regular butter.

Can You Make Stuffing Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! You can make it up to 1 month beforehand.

  1. Make the stuffing according to the recipe and let it cool.
  2. Wrap the casserole dish tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and foil, squeezing out excess air.
  3. Either store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
  4. When ready to serve, bake in a casserole dish at 350°F oven for 20 minutes until warmed through and starting to crisp up on top. (Cover with foil if it starts to get too brown but isn’t heated through yet.)

How to Use Up Extra Stuffing

Last year I had SO much leftover stuffing. But, that was a good problem to have because I created a new recipe from it!

My family devoured this 4 Layer Turkey Stuffing Casserole. It’s a great way to use up leftovers and you can even freeze this casserole for later.

step by step pictures of the four layers in 4-Layer Turkey and Stuffing Casserole: 1) turkey, 2) gravy or cream of chicken soup, 3) shredded cheddar cheese, and 4) stuffing
Try 4 Layer Turkey & Stuffing Casserole

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Simple Homemade Stuffing

You’ll never go back to store-bought stuffing after making your own. It’s simpler, healthier, and tastier!

Yield: 12+ servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 30 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 8 cups cubed (about 1/4 inch) whole grain bread pieces (For GF: Use gluten-free bread.)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup of finely diced celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes or 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley, crushed in hand
  • 1 teaspoon ground sage
  • 1 teaspoon ground thyme
  • 3 cups chicken broth

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Spread the bread pieces on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. Stir the bread and spread it back out again. Baking another 8-10 minutes, or until the bread is completely toasted. Set aside when done.
  3. While the bread is toasting, heat the oil in a large (5 quart) pot over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add the onions and celery and saute until just softened, about 4-5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper while they cook. Add the garlic at the end and stir for 30-60 seconds.
  4. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the butter to the pot and let it melt (don’t let it brown). Then, stir in the onion flakes or powder, garlic powder, celery seed, crushed parsley, sage, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and chicken broth. Turn the heat up and bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
  5. Gently stir in the toasted bread pieces, until coated. Cover with a lid and let sit for 5-7 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
  6. Use a fork to gently fluff the stuffing before serving*.

How to Make Ahead for Later:

  1. Make the stuffing according to the recipe and let it cool.
  2. Wrap the casserole dish tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and foil, squeezing out excess air.
  3. Either store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
  4. When ready to serve, bake in a casserole dish at 350°F oven for 20 minutes until warmed through and starting to crisp up on top. (Cover with foil if it starts to get too brown but isn’t heated through yet.)

Notes/Tips

This recipe makes a lot! You can easily cut it in half for a smaller crowd.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

59 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of our best recipes & pro tips from freezer meal experts.

Reader Favorites

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades (+ Printable Recipe Cheat Sheet)

freezer meal

The 70+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

20 Delicious Crockpot Meals for a Crowd

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2022 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
59 shares