Stove Top Stuffing Recipe (Easy Homemade Mix!)

Save time without compromising taste with our stove top stuffing recipe this holiday season.

Let’s do it. Let’s talk about stuffing recipes — particularly, let’s talk about easy homemade stove top stuffing recipes.

Why? Because:

• It’s stuffing. Do you need more? Fine…
• It’s easy.
• It’s delicious.
• It goes with everything.
• It’s an essential part of your holiday table.
• It uses simple ingredients.
• It’s tricked my children for several Thanksgivings into thinking their mom has the ultimate stuffing recipe.

If you need more than that, I can provide it, but you’re going to get tired of reading the list of reasons why I want to talk about making stuffing on the stovetop.

I’ll be blunt — as much as I love a delicious, home-cooked meal that can take hours and loads of effort, I’m also busy. Foolproof, easy stuffing recipes are a lifesaver when you’re cooking a ton of food for a ton of people, which pretty much sums up my entire Thanksgiving experience with my kids.

You can, of course, use a premade mix of boxed stuffing, such as the stuffing that Pepperidge Farm makes. Or you can follow this simple recipe and meet in the middle!

Freeing up oven space during the holidays and not spending extra time on something that isn’t a delicious pie are among my top Thanksgiving goals, and I’m guessing they’re yours, too. So let’s dive in.

Ingredients for the Best Homemade Stove Top Stuffing

You’ll need the following items to make this great recipe:

• Bread: It seems obvious, I know. But take into account what kind of bread. You’ll want it to be crusty or slightly stale. I think sourdough is best, but that’s just my personal preference. Cube the bread into small pieces and arrange in single layers on cooking sheets lined with parchment paper. Cover with a clean towel and let them sit out overnight. You can also buy croutons and let everyone assume they’re homemade. That’s your call; no judgment from me! Amount: 10 cups, cubed.
• Butter: Unsalted butter is my go-to choice because there’s enough sodium in everything else we love so dearly. Amount: ½ cup.
• Onion: While any variety will do, I love red onion for the beautiful color pop, and sweet onion because I prefer the taste! You can’t go wrong. Amount: 1 cup, diced.
• Celery: I’m labeling this as optional because I love myself and part of loving myself is avoiding celery. And the stuffing tastes just as wonderful without it. Like everything else in the world does. I’m only adding this for your sake, truly. You’re welcome. Amount: 1 cup, diced.

• Carrots: You can use this instead of celery if you want to. Just saying. Amount: ½ cup, shredded.
• Garlic: Minced garlic is great, but I also love freshly pan fried garlic. You can’t really mess up anything that calls for garlic. Amount: 2-3 teaspoons minced, or 3-4 cloves thinly sliced.
• Fresh Parsley: Yeah, it might seem like more work, but keeping the parsley fresh adds SO MUCH aroma and brightness to your stuffing. Don’t skimp here. Amount: ¼ cup.
• Herbs: Herbs such as sage, poultry seasoning, thyme, and rosemary will give the recipe more flavor and balance. You can use dried herbs (in smaller quantities) or fresh herbs, but again, going fresh does add a lot of pizazz. It may also cover up the smell of the celery. Okay, I’ll stop. I recommend having at least one fresh herb in addition to your parsley. Amount: ½ tsp dried each (or 1 Tbsp fresh each).
• Salt and Pepper: This amount of salt and black pepper gives you added flavor without going overboard. Amount: ½ tsp each.
• Broth: Aim for low sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth if you’re making a vegetarian stuffing or have a preference for the veggie flavor. Amount: 2 – 2½ cups.

Stove Top Stuffing Recipe Directions

We are going to show you how to make the best homemade stove top stuffing recipe ever!

Remember those bread cubes you just made? Now’s their time to shine.

Grab your skillet — we’re making some stuffing! 

Follow these easy instructions:

1. In a large skillet with tall sides, melt your butter over medium-low heat. Add onions, carrots, herbs, seasonings, and celery.
2. Cook over medium heat for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the dish becomes fragrant and vegetables soften. If your food starts browning, turn the heat down.
3. Add in your homemade (or store-bought) bread cube croutons. Pile high! You should have about 10 cups.
4. Over medium-low heat, stir to combine the bread cubes with the vegetables and butter.
5. Pour in 1 cup of broth or chicken stock and stir. Add more until it is moist and fluffy.
6. Set heat to low and allow it to heat through.
7. Optional: Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Best Tips for Making Perfect Stuffing for Your Thanksgiving

Follow these easy tips to perfect this Thanksgiving recipe and to help your stove top stuffing recipe taste its best:

• Don’t mix it too much. Overly mixed stuffing will turn mushy and lose its shape.
• You can fix stuffing if it’s too mushy. To fix a mushy stuffing, lay it across a baking sheet and bake it on high to crisp it up again.
• Make an alternative version. You can make gluten-free stuffing if you’re serving people with specific food needs. You can also make alternative stuffing recipes, such as green chile cornbread stuffing, to add variety. Likewise, some recipes call for cauliflower rice, for example, instead of bread.

How Long Does Stuffing Last in the Fridge?

Stuffing is one of the perfect “make ahead of time” recipes for Thanksgiving dinner.

Stuffing lasts about 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, but you also want to factor in the time you plan to store leftovers.

I personally recommend making stuffing the day before Thanksgiving with this in mind.

If you want to make your delicious stuffing more in advance of Thanksgiving Day (or Christmas dinner!), then keep reading.

Can You Freeze Bread Stuffing?

Yes!

Stuffing can be frozen either fully cooked or uncooked, making this an amazing way to store it ahead of time for the holiday season or afterward as leftover stuffing.

Here’s a complete guide to freezing and heating stuffing, both cooked and uncooked.

How to freeze cooked stuffing:

Do this within 24 hours of making it.

1. Divide the stuffing into portions, regardless of how much you plan to use later. Freezing the stuffing in smaller quantities and multiple freezer bags will allow it to thaw faster.
2. You can easily divide servings of stuffing by placing scoops of the stuffing into silicone muffin pans and freezing those. Then you can transfer these frozen servings into a bag or container for storage.

How to reheat cooked stuffing:

Reheat your stove top stuffing recipe using these simple steps!

1. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
3. Transfer thawed stuffing to an oven-safe dish and drizzle with broth, water, or apple juice.
4. Cover tightly with foil and bake 20 minutes, or until heated through.
5. Remove foil and bake for approximately 15 more minutes, or until the top layer is lightly browned and crisp.

How to freeze uncooked stuffing:

1. Leave it in the baking dish you wish to use or divide it into smaller portions.
2. Seal it until it is airtight and freeze.

How to cook uncooked frozen stuffing:

1. Remove all wrapping and place the frozen stuffing in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil.
2. Heat the oven to 350°F.
3. Cook for approximately 1 hour or until the center reaches 165°F.
4. Remove foil and increase the temperature to 375°F.
5. Bake 10-15 more minutes until lightly golden brown and crisp.

Not sure what to serve with this stovetop version? The most common choices to pair with this are things you’d find on the Christmas or Thanksgiving table, like sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. If you’re not a fan of turkey, you could also try roast chicken, pork chops, or our gluten-free fried chicken!

We hope you enjoy this easy recipe for the perfect side dish on your holiday table! Chances are, some people will think it’s the best part of the meal.

Happy Thanksgiving! (Or if you’re just making this for a random Monday night, we salute you.)

This dish is also a great thing to bring to a Friendsgiving gathering if you’re a guest! We also recommend learning how to make classic turkey neck gravy.

Explore all of our stuffing recipes this holiday season!