Bread And Celery Stuffing Recipe For Thanksgiving & Every Day | La Jolla Mom (2024)

Stuffing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. Several years ago, I hunted for a no-frills stuffing recipe. I didn’t want meat, apples, or anything like that in it. I found this old-fashioned style bread and celery stuffing recipe, modified it, made it multiple times since, and still get loads of compliments on it. I’ve even made whole wheat bread stuffing using the same ingredients (that recipe is also below).

So, here’s what you do. Dry a loaf of store-bought white bread (or wheat bread as you’ll see below). Some people like to use a nice fresh loaf of French bread instead, which is of course, fine.

Cut the dried bread into cubes. Saute onions and celery in butter and add in poultry seasoning. Stir in the dried bread, pour chicken stock over the mixture. Put in a baking pan and bake for about 40 minutes. That’s it.

What I love about it is that nothing needs to be exact. If you have more bread, use it. If you like more crunch, add more celery. If it feels dry, add more chicken stock. You name it!

Yield: 10

Easy Bread and Celery Stuffing Recipe

This easy stuffing recipe can be customized based on taste and how much stale bread you have.

Ingredients

  • 1lb loaf of sliced white bread (or some people use French bread)
  • 1 cup of butter
  • 4 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Poultry Seasoning
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Let the bread slices dry until a little bit rough on the outside. If you don't have time to dry the bread, turn your oven on to 200 degrees, spread the bread slices on a cookie sheet, and bake for a few minutes until the side facing up is dry.
  2. Flip the bread over and bake the other side until dry. Then cut the bread into cubes.
  3. Melt the butter in a stock pot or Dutch oven. Cook the onion and celery until barely soft. If you cook them for too long, they will be soggy in the stuffing. It needs a little texture. Season with Poultry Seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Stir in bread crumbs until most are coated. Pour in chicken broth. Chill and then stuff turkey or bake in a casserole pan at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. I like it a bit crispy on top so do it for almost the full 40. Up to you.

Notes

You can use cheap loaves of white bread, ends and all. It's a very inexpensive side dish. The drier the bread, the better. I thought I didn't have enough stuffing once, so I just took a frozen loaf of white bread and put it straight in the oven to dry it out. It was totally fine.

The other thing I do is save the ends of bread that no one wants to eat and make a quarter version of this recipe to serve outside of Thanksgiving. Even if they are wheat, I’ll toss them into this stuffing. No one has any idea they are there.

Easy Whole Wheat Stuffing Recipe

Speaking of wheat bread… guess what? The same recipe above works well with a loaf of whole wheat bread. Does it taste better? It depends on your preferences, but gravy goes on top either way! But I put it in a recipe card so that you can print it if you like.

Yield: 10

Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Celery and Onion Stuffing Recipe

Bread And Celery Stuffing Recipe For Thanksgiving & Every Day | La Jolla Mom (2)

Prep Time20 minutes

Cook Time40 minutes

Total Time1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 1lb loaf of sliced whole wheat bread
  • 1 cup of butter
  • 4 stalks of celery, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Poultry Seasoning
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Let the bread slices dry until rough on the outside. If you don't have time to dry the bread, turn your oven to 200 degrees, spread the bread slices on a cookie sheet, and bake for a few minutes until the side up is dry. Flip the bread over and bake the other side until dry. Whole wheat bread takes a little bit longer to dry out than white bread does.
  2. Cut bread into 1-2 inch cubes.
  3. Melt the butter in a stock pot or dutch oven. Cook the onion and celery in the butter until barely soft. Season the mixture with Poultry Seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Stir in bread crumbs until coated. Pour in chicken broth.
  5. Chill and then stuff turkey or bake in a casserole pan at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Grapes

Here’s another recipe to enjoy at home or as a Thanksgiving side dish. I didn’t like brussels sprouts until I was in my 30s. My mom made them for my daughter once, and, to our complete surprise, she loved them. So, we had to up our brussels sprout intake.

When the November issue of Whole Living Magazine (a former Martha Stewart publication) landed in my mailbox, I knew I had to make the roasted brussels sprout recipe on the cover. Because I have a habit of not thoroughly reading recipes before starting them, I accidentally omitted a few steps. I’ll give you my version, which is a little easier than Martha’s, is still delicious, and you can wing it a little bit too.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Grapes And Walnuts

Bread And Celery Stuffing Recipe For Thanksgiving & Every Day | La Jolla Mom (3)

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 lbs Brussels sprouts
  • Red grapes
  • Whole walnuts
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar (1 or 2 tablespoons)
  • A few sprigs of fresh thyme (don't worry if you don't have it)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • I am not giving exact measurements because this recipe can and should be adapted to your taste. And, my mom took the magazine from my house so I can't even tell you what the exact measurements are supposed to be. This recipe works because the grapes add sweetness to counterbalance the bitterness of the brussels sprouts. Trust me, it's delish.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Slice the brussels sprouts in half and spread them out on a half sheet pan.
  3. Grab a handful or two (personal preference) of grapes and toss them on.
  4. Grab a handful or two or whole walnuts and add them too. (FYI - Martha does not roast the walnuts on the pan. She adds them in at the end. I personally think they taste better roasted.)
  5. Drizzle enough olive oil on the above to just cover all of it.
  6. Sprinkle the thyme over everything.
  7. Roast for about 20 minutes, or until the brussels sprouts brown slightly.
  8. If you can remember (which I usually don't), toss the mixture half way.
  9. Remove from the oven and toss with 1-2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar.
  10. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  11. Serve warm.

I realize the combination of brussels sprouts and grapes is odd, but trust me on this one. My daughter loves it and think about all the antioxidants and health benefits that are lurking in this dish.

Enjoy!

Bread And Celery Stuffing Recipe For Thanksgiving & Every Day | La Jolla Mom (2024)

FAQs

Should I put egg in my stuffing? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

What is the best bread to use for stuffing? ›

Sourdough, Italian, and white bread are standard choices for stuffing; however, journeying beyond your comfort zone can produce excellent results.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

How do you keep stuffing moist? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or stale bread? ›

dry!" The reason for this is that stale or dry bread will hold up better after cooking and keep its texture even after adding your broth or liquid. If you use soft, fresh bread, you'll ultimately wind up with a soggy, mushy stuffing.

Should you toast bread before making stuffing? ›

We start by cubing our bread—for traditional recipes, we favor a simple white sandwich-style loaf—then toast it in the oven at a low 275°F for about 45 minutes, tossing it every now and then to help it dry evenly.

What country invented stuffing? ›

Purportedly ancient Roman, or else Medieval, cooks developed engastration recipes, stuffing animals with other animals. An anonymous Andalusian cookbook from the 13th century includes a recipe for a ram stuffed with small birds.

What is British stuffing made of? ›

Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.

How wet should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Can you substitute celery in stuffing? ›

Leeks. When cooked, celery and leeks share a similar fibrous and slightly soft texture. Leeks impart a light onion flavor that celery doesn't have and tend to be a bit stringy. This swap works best in soups or recipes like stuffing, where you would typically find an oniony flavor along with the celery.

Can I use celery seed instead of celery in stuffing? ›

My kids don't love cooked celery in their stuffing, so to get the celery flavor without actual diced celery, I used celery seed in the stuffing. It adds a great flavor. And when you cook down the onions and celery seed in the butter, you get such a fragrant delicious flavor in your stuffing.

What is a single piece of celery called? ›

According to the USDA, a “stalk” means the whole bunch or head, and a single piece or stick is called a “rib.” This does not reflect common usage, however, so use caution in interpreting recipes! “Celery stalk,” in American English, is commonly used to mean one piece/rib/stick of celery.

What does egg do in stuffing? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

What can I use instead of egg to bind stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Why is my stuffing always mushy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

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