No stuffing is better than Mom’s.

I’ve never tasted any turkey stuffing that has come close to as good as my mom’s.

To Stuff or Not Stuff the Turkey?

Overhead view of a dutch oven with turkey dressing inside and a red linen next to it.

Annika Panikker

Years ago we used to cook the turkey with the stuffing inside.

(That’s why it’s called “stuffing,” right?)

That said, these days we cook the stuffing separately from the turkey.

Overhead view of a plate of turkey dressing and a pot of easy stuffing recipe.

Annika Panikker

Storing Turkey Stuffing

Store leftover stuffing, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheat in the microwave or uncovered in a low oven.

Freeze the stuffing for up to 2 months.

Turkey Stuffing Recipe making stock from giblets

Elise Bauer

Defrost slowly in the refrigerator to prevent sogginess.

Cover with a few cups of water and add a little salt.

Bring to a simmer.

Turkey stuffing recipe boil the neck and giblets for stock

Elise Bauer

Simmer for about an hour, uncovered.

Strain the stock into a container for use with the stuffing.

You should have 2 to 3 cups of stock.

Turkey stuffing recipe toast the walnuts in a pan

Elise Bauer

Alternatively, it’s possible for you to use chicken stock or just plain water with this recipe.

Boil them for 3 to 4 minutes.

This will remove some of the tannins from the walnut skins.

Turkey Stuffing Recipe toast the cubed bread in a pan

Elise Bauer

(The tannins can be bitter and also cause the stuffing to turn a dark color.)

Let the toasted walnuts cool while you are toasting the bread, then roughly chop them.

Dry the cubed bread in the oven first.

How to Make Turkey Stuffing coat the bread cubes in butter on the stove

Elise Bauer

Spread the cubed bread on a baking pan and dry it in a 200F oven for 10 minutes.

(If your cubed bread is already very dry, you’re able to skip this.)

Heat a large saute pan on medium heat.

Stovetop Stuffing Recipe cook the onions and celery

Elise Bauer

Then let them toast; only turn them when they have become a little browned on a side.

Add sage, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Cover and turn heat to low.

Turkey Stuffing Recipe combine the bread, onions, and celery

Elise Bauer

Cook for an hour or until the apples are cooked through.

You’ll likely need to add at least one more cup of stock or water, if not two.

Illustration of a Thanksgiving table, including a plattered Turkey, a whole fish, and a latticed pie

roast turkey resting in the roasting pan

Angled view of a white pot of gravy sitting on a wooden trivet with a ladle with some gravy and all on a white and brown embroidered table cloth

Overhead view of a gray bowl of almond milk mashed potatoes with a spoon and topped with butter on top of a fall themed embroidered cloth

Overhead view of a dutch oven with turkey dressing inside and a red linen next to it.

Greek-style stuffing in an oval white serving dish, with a red serving spoon in the right corner where some of the stuffing has been scooped out

Overhead view of kimchi stuffing in a casserole dish.

Two hands holding a green casserole dish of Wisconsin-style stuffing over a yellow doily on a wooden tabletop

Overhead view of a decorative serving platter of crunchy ramen salad with serving scoops

Portrait of Ross Mathews on a floral background

Corn pudding in a casserole dish (with a bit already spooned out from the corner) next to a table napkin

Angled view of a beige casserole dish with green bean casserole along with a serving spoon

Triscuit appetizers topped with melted cheese on a serving plate with flower design

Chocolate pecan pie with bourbon with a couple slices cut.

Overhead shot of no-bake pumpkin pie in a pie dish at a rustic setting with a cup of coffe, a grey-ish beige table linen, bowl of whipped cream, and a plate with a slice of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream

soda cracker pie slice (topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries) on a small plate with a fork