The Fluffiest Buttery Herb Stuffing Recipe for Your Dinner Table

Weeknight dinners sometimes need a magical buttery herb stuffing to spark culinary excitement.

My grandmother’s cherished recipe transforms simple ingredients into something spectacular.

Kitchen memories flood back with each fragrant spoonful of this comforting dish.

Herbs picked fresh from the garden add unexpected brightness and depth.

Crispy edges and soft interior create a perfect textural dance on your plate.

Home cooking reaches new heights with this simple yet remarkable side.

Nothing beats the aroma of sage and thyme mingling with golden bread cubes.

What Sets Buttery Herb Stuffing Apart

• Quick Holiday Hero: Transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing side dish that steals the show at any festive gathering.
• Adaptable Comfort Classic: Easily customizable with different herbs and bread types, allowing home chefs to personalize the recipe while maintaining its comforting essence.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prep components in advance and assemble quickly, reducing stress during busy meal preparations and ensuring a stress-free cooking experience.

Buttery Herb Stuffing – Full Ingredient List

Main Ingredients:

• Stale Bread: A perfect base that absorbs flavors and creates a hearty texture, preferably day-old bread for best results.
• Toasted Bread Cubes: Crisp bread that provides structure and prevents soggy stuffing, easy to prepare in the oven.

• Onions, Celery, Garlic: Essential aromatics that build a deep, savory flavor foundation for the stuffing, fresh and crisp produce recommended.

• Sage, Parsley, Rosemary: Classic herbs that provide rich, earthy undertones and classic holiday flavor, fresh herbs preferred over dried.

• Stock, Eggs: Moisture and binding agents that help create a cohesive and smooth stuffing texture, chicken or vegetable stock works well.
• Butter: Adds richness and creates a golden, crispy exterior when baking, unsalted butter recommended for better flavor control.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that enhance and balance the overall taste of the stuffing, adjust to personal preference.

Herby Stuffing Recipe Instructions for Big Flavor

Step 1: Craft Crunchy Bread Cubes

Choose day-old bread and slice into bite-sized pieces.

Let bread sit uncovered overnight to develop a perfect texture.

Alternatively, spread cubes on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden and crisp.

• Bread
• Baking sheet

Step 2: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Gently cook diced vegetables until they become soft and fragrant.

• Butter
• Onions
• Celery
• Garlic
• Salt
• Pepper

Step 3: Blend Herb Medley

Sprinkle fresh herbs into the sautéed vegetables, releasing their incredible flavors.

Pour a splash of chicken stock to create a rich, savory base.

• Sage
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Chicken stock

Step 4: Mix Bread and Vegetable Goodness

Transfer bread cubes into a spacious mixing bowl.

Pour the herb-infused vegetable mixture over the cubes, ensuring every piece gets coated with deliciousness.

Step 5: Create Silky Egg Binding

Whisk eggs with remaining stock to create a luscious liquid that will hold the stuffing together.

Gently fold into the bread mixture.

• Eggs
• Chicken stock

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Transfer stuffing to a buttered baking dish.

Slide into a preheated oven and bake until the top turns golden brown and crispy edges form.

Step 7: Serve with Love

Sprinkle additional fresh herbs on top.

Bring to the table and watch everyone’s eyes light up with anticipation!

Buttery Stuffing Know-How You’ll Be Thankful For

• Use day-old bread or purposely dry bread cubes for optimal texture, preventing soggy stuffing and ensuring crisp, delightful results.
• Chop fresh herbs finely to distribute flavor evenly, allowing each bite to capture the delicate herbal essence without overwhelming the dish.
• Choose high-quality chicken or vegetable stock for deeper, richer flavor profiles that complement the herbs and enhance the overall taste experience.
• Check stuffing's internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee food safety and achieve the perfect moisture level without drying out the dish.
• Experiment by adding cooked sausage, chestnuts, or dried cranberries to personalize the stuffing and create a unique family favorite that suits your taste preferences.

Save Buttery Herb Stuffing for Later

• Store leftover stuffing in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Pack cooled stuffing in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing excess air to prevent freezer burn, and store for up to 1 month.
• Preheat oven to 350°F, spread stuffing in a baking dish, sprinkle a few tablespoons of chicken broth or water to prevent dryness, cover with foil, and warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
• Place stuffing in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of broth, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.

Dishes That Go with Buttery Herb Stuffing

• Pair with Bold Red Wine: Select a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah to complement the rich, herbal notes of the stuffing, cutting through its buttery texture with deep wine complexity.
• Match with Roasted Turkey: This stuffing's herbs and savory profile make it the perfect side for a classic roasted turkey, creating a traditional Thanksgiving flavor harmony that feels like home.
• Enhance with Crisp Apple Cider: Introduce a refreshing apple cider alongside the dish, which provides a sweet and tangy counterpoint to the dense, buttery stuffing, balancing the meal's richness.
• Complement with Herb-Roasted Chicken: The stuffing's herbal undertones work beautifully with a simply prepared herb-roasted chicken, creating a seamless flavor connection between the main dish and side.

Buttery Herb Stuffing Tasty Modifications

• Gluten-Free Herb Stuffing: Replace traditional bread with gluten-free bread cubes, ensuring a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same rich herbal flavors and texture.
• Vegan Herb Stuffing: Swap butter for olive oil, use vegetable stock, and replace eggs with flax eggs or silken tofu to create a plant-based alternative that's equally delicious and satisfying.
• Low-Sodium Herb Stuffing: Reduce salt content by using low-sodium vegetable stock, omitting added salt, and increasing herb quantities to boost flavor without extra sodium.
• Keto-Friendly Herb Stuffing: Substitute bread cubes with cauliflower or almond flour bread, using high-fat ingredients like additional butter or heavy cream to create a low-carb version that fits ketogenic dietary requirements.

FAQs

• Can I use fresh bread instead of stale bread?

No, fresh bread holds too much moisture. Stale or toasted bread allows the stuffing to absorb flavors and create a better texture without becoming soggy.

• What type of bread works best for stuffing?

Crusty, day-old white bread, sourdough, or French bread are ideal. Avoid soft sandwich bread as it will make the stuffing mushy and lack structure.

• How do I know when the stuffing is fully cooked?

Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. It should reach 160°F to ensure the eggs are fully cooked and the stuffing is safe to eat. The top should be golden brown and slightly crispy.

• Can I prepare the stuffing ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the stuffing a day before baking. Prepare the mixture, cover, and refrigerate. Add an extra 10-15 minutes to baking time when cooking directly from the refrigerator.

Buttery Herb Stuffing Recipe

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4.9 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Savory herb stuffing delivers comfort with classic French countryside charm. Fragrant herbs and crisp bread cubes blend perfectly, creating a side dish that warms hearts and delights palates you’ll want to savor again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 18 to 24 ounces (510 to 680 grams) bread cubes (1.5 loaves, about 12 to 14 cups) stale or toasted (sourdough, Italian, or your favorite combination)
• 2 1/2 cups (590 milliliters) chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 large eggs

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter
• 3 cups (450 grams) diced sweet onion (approximately 2 large onions)
• 2 cups (300 grams) diced celery
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

Seasonings:

• Kosher salt (to taste)
• Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• Fresh herbs (for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Transform day-old or freshly toasted bread into rustic cubes, ensuring a crisp exterior by either air-drying overnight or gently toasting in the oven at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes.
2. Prepare a spacious baking vessel by lightly coating with butter or olive oil to prevent potential sticking during the cooking process.
3. Initiate flavor development by sautéing aromatic vegetables in a robust skillet, allowing onions, celery, and garlic to soften and release their inherent sweetness while seasoned with salt and pepper.
4. Enhance the vegetable medley with fragrant herbs like sage, parsley, and rosemary, creating a complex aromatic foundation that will permeate the entire dish.
5. Introduce liquid elements by incorporating stock, gently melding the herbaceous vegetable mixture into a cohesive preparation.
6. Combine the toasted bread cubes with the herb-infused vegetable mixture, ensuring each cube becomes thoroughly saturated with the flavorful essence.
7. Create a binding agent by whisking eggs with additional stock, which will provide structural integrity and moisture to the stuffing.
8. Carefully distribute the egg mixture throughout the bread and vegetable combination, promoting even absorption and consistent texture.
9. Transfer the assembled mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading uniformly to encourage balanced cooking and golden-brown edges.
10. Roast in a preheated oven, monitoring carefully to achieve a crisp exterior while maintaining a tender interior, typically requiring 45-50 minutes of cooking.
11. Verify doneness by confirming an internal temperature of 160°F, protecting the surface with foil if browning occurs too rapidly.
12. Conclude the culinary journey by garnishing with fresh herb sprinkles, presenting a visually appealing and aromatic side dish ready to complement your main course.

Notes

• Choose day-old or stale bread like sourdough, challah, or French bread for better texture and absorption of herbs and stock.
• Avoid soggy stuffing by not over-soaking bread cubes; add liquid gradually and mix gently to maintain cube structure.
• Replace chicken or turkey stock with vegetable stock and use plant-based butter for a delicious vegetarian version that loses no flavor complexity.
• Prepare stuffing mixture a day before baking, refrigerate covered, and bake just before serving to enhance flavor melding and reduce day-of cooking stress.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 152
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 260 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg