Herb Stuffing · Classic Baked
Classic Herb Bread Stuffing
Buttery, savory stuffing with celery, onion, sage and thyme, baked in a dish so the top gets crisp and golden. The side dish everyone fights over at Thanksgiving.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 45 min
- Total
- 2 hr 15 min
- Serves
- 10
- Level
- Medium
Ingredients
- Bread
- 1 ¼ lb sturdy white or sourdough bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 14 cups)
- Stuffing
- ½ cup unsalted butter, plus more for the dish ≈ 113 g
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
- 1 large onion, chopped
Swaps for onion
Instead of onion
- Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
- Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
- Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.
- 3 celery ribs, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
- 2 tbsp fresh sage, chopped, or 2 tsp dried
Swaps for fresh sage
Instead of sage
- Dried sage: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Strong and musty.
- Fresh thyme + a little rosemary: The same total amount. Brighter and less earthy.
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tsp dried
Swaps for fresh thyme leaves
Instead of thyme
- Dried thyme: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Earthier and a little less bright, but dried thyme holds up well in soups, stews and roasts.
- Fresh oregano or marjoram: The same amount. Oregano is stronger; marjoram is sweeter and milder.
- Fresh rosemary: Half as much. Piney and stronger.
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped ≈ 15 g
Swaps for fresh parsley
Instead of parsley
- Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
- Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
- Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.
- 2 ½–3 cups chicken or turkey broth
- 2 large eggs
Swaps for eggs
Instead of eggs
- Flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Binds well but gives less lift, so bakes are a little denser and flatter, with a mild nutty taste and brown flecks.
- Chia egg: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Works like a flax egg: good binding, little lift, slightly denser crumb.
- Unsweetened applesauce: ¼ cup for each egg. Moister and denser, with a soft, slightly gummy crumb if you swap more than one egg.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Different pan? Written for 9x13-inch rectangle; rescale the amounts for an 8x8, 9x13, round, loaf or sheet pan.
Cooking for a crowd? Pans, timing and salt for 12 to 50.
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Cook to 165°F inside (check with a thermometer).
Steps
- Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Spread the bread cubes on two sheet pans and bake, stirring once, until dry and crisp but not browned. Let cool. (Or leave them out uncovered overnight.)250°F⏱ Dry bread: 40 min
- Raise the oven to 350°F (175°C) and350°Fa 9x13-inch baking dish.
butter (how to grease and flour a pan)
Grease and flour a pan Coat a pan with fat (and sometimes flour) so baked goods release cleanly. 1. Rub a thin layer of soft butter or shortening into every corner with a paper towel, or use baking spray.2. For cakes, add a spoonful of flour, tilt and tap the pan until it is coated.3. Turn the pan over and tap out the extra flour.4. For chocolate cakes, use cocoa instead of flour so there is no white film. Done when: Every surface, corners included, is lightly coated with no bare spots or thick clumps. How to grease and flour a baking pan: mistakes to avoid - Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring, until soft.⏱ Soften veggies: 8 min
- Stir in the garlic, sage, thyme, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute until fragrant.⏱ Herbs: 1 min
- Put the dried bread in a very large bowl and add the vegetable mixture and parsley. Toss well.
- Whisk 2 1/2 cups broth with the eggs. Pour over the bread and toss gently until evenly moistened. The bread should feel damp but not soggy; add the last 1/2 cup broth if there are dry spots.
- Spread in the baking dish, cover with foil and bake.350°F⏱ Bake covered: 30 min
- Uncover and bake until the top is golden and crisp and the center reaches 165°F (74°C) on a thermometer.350°F⏱ Bake uncovered: 25 min
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- Baking stuffing in a dish instead of inside the turkey is easier to get to a safe 165°F without overcooking the bird.
- Use vegetable broth and leave out the eggs for a vegetarian version; it will be a little less custardy.
Storage
Refrigerate within 2 hours, up to 4 days. Reheat covered at 350°F (175°C) until hot, about 20 minutes.
Make ahead
Dry the bread up to 3 days ahead and store airtight. Assemble without the eggs and broth up to 1 day ahead; add them just before baking.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage.
Quick answers
- Can I make it ahead?
Dry the bread up to 3 days ahead and store airtight. Assemble without the eggs and broth up to 1 day ahead. Add them just before baking.
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 1,090 kJ
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 31 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
- Sugars
- 4 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Saturated fat
- 6 g
- Sodium
- 730 mg
Whole recipe, 10 servings: about 2,610 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 12 of 12 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 10 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Estimated cost
About $0.65 a serving
About $6.35 for the recipe as written (10 servings).
Estimate; prices vary by store and region. U.S. average prices for September 2026 from BLS Average Price Data and USDA ERS Purchase to Plate prices updated with the BLS Consumer Price Index. Priced: 8 of 11 ingredients, 100% by weight.
How we estimate
Each measured ingredient is weighed as in the nutrition estimate and priced at the U.S. average: BLS's average price where BLS publishes one, else USDA ERS's Purchase to Plate price for 2017-18 raised to September 2026 with the CPI for that food group. Whole packages, store brands, sales and regions all change the real cost: treat it as a ballpark.
- sturdy white or sourdough bread $2.30 BLS
- chicken or turkey broth $1.35 ERS
- unsalted butter $1.00 BLS
- celery ribs $0.50 ERS
- onion $0.50 ERS
- eggs $0.40 BLS
- fresh parsley $0.20 ERS
- garlic $0.10 ERS
Not priced (no official average price we can match, so not in the total): fresh thyme leaves, kosher salt, black pepper.
More dishes for less: cheap eats.
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Gear for this recipe
- See price on Amazon: 9x13 baking dish (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Half sheet pan (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: 12-inch stainless skillet (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Nesting mixing bowls (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Balloon whisk (opens Amazon)
-
See price on Amazon: Instant-read thermometer (opens Amazon)
Instant-read thermometer
Stuffing with eggs and broth should reach 165°F in the center.
Suggested: ThermoWorks
- See price on Amazon: 8-inch chef's knife (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Large cutting board (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Liquid measuring cup (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Measuring cups and spoons (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Brands are suggestions; any similar item works.
Cleanup score 2/5 (more cleanup): 4 things to wash, 9x13 baking dish, sheet pan, stainless skillet, mixing bowl.
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