Traditional Holiday Herb Stuffing

🕒 Prep: 25 min
🔥 Cook: 45 min
🍽 Serves: 8
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This Traditional Holiday Herb Stuffing is a must-have on your festive table. It's a delightful mix of fresh herbs and hearty bread that brings warmth and nostalgia to any holiday gathering. This recipe is straightforward yet packed with flavor, making it a perfect companion to your holiday roast.

Ingredients for Traditional Holiday Herb Stuffing

The foundation of this stuffing is a hearty loaf of day-old white bread, which absorbs all the wonderful flavors without becoming soggy. The unsalted butter adds richness while allowing you to control the seasoning. Yellow onions and celery bring a savory depth and a bit of crunch.

Garlic adds a subtle kick, enhancing the overall flavor profile. Fresh herbs like parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme are the stars here, infusing the stuffing with an earthy aroma. A pinch of salt and black pepper rounds everything out perfectly.

The chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist and flavorful, while eggs help bind everything together, giving the stuffing a delightful texture.

Tips & Tricks

  • If your bread is fresh, cube it and leave it out overnight to dry slightly.
  • For a vegetarian version, swap chicken broth with vegetable broth.
  • Adjust herbs to your liking – more sage or thyme can enhance flavor.

Serving Suggestions

This stuffing pairs beautifully with roasted turkey or chicken. Consider serving it alongside cranberry sauce for a sweet contrast. For an added touch, drizzle some gravy over the top just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this stuffing in advance?
Yes, you can prepare and assemble it a day ahead, then bake it just before serving.
Can I use different types of bread?
Absolutely! A mix of white and whole grain bread can add a nice texture contrast.

Traditional Holiday Herb Stuffing Recipe Walkthrough

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that once your stuffing is ready to bake, the oven is hot and ready. Next, take your loaf of day-old bread and cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. Place these cubes into a large mixing bowl. This step is crucial as it ensures the bread can soak up all the flavors later on.

In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Once it’s melted and bubbling slightly, add the diced onions, chopped celery, and minced garlic. Sauté them for about 10 minutes until they become soft and the onions are translucent. This softens the vegetables and mellows the garlic, which is exactly what you want.

Stir in the herbs: parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, along with the salt and pepper. Cook everything for another 2 minutes, just until the herbs release their fragrant oils. Pour this delightful mixture over the bread cubes and gently toss to ensure even distribution.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the chicken broth and beaten eggs. Pour this over the bread mixture, stirring gently to moisten everything. You want the bread to be well-saturated but not swimming in liquid.

Transfer the mixture into a greased baking dish. Cover it tightly with foil to keep the moisture in, and bake in your preheated oven for 30 minutes. After this, remove the foil to let the top get a bit golden and crispy, baking it for an additional 15 minutes.

Once out of the oven, serve it warm alongside your holiday favorites. There you have it, a classic stuffing ready to steal the spotlight.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It's a classic – timeless and beloved by many.
  • Uses fresh herbs for a vibrant, aromatic flavor.
  • Simple ingredients that highlight the essence of the holidays.
  • Flexible enough to adapt to your taste or what's available in your pantry.

Ingredients

1 lb loaf of day-old white bread
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups diced yellow onions
1.5 cups chopped celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
2 large eggs, beaten

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut the bread into 1/2-inch cubes and place them in a large bowl.
3. In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté onions, celery, and garlic until soft, about 10 minutes.
4. Add parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper to the skillet, stir well, and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
5. Pour the vegetable and herb mixture over the bread cubes and gently toss to combine evenly.
6. In a separate bowl, whisk together chicken broth and eggs, then pour over the bread mixture, stirring gently until moistened.
7. Transfer the stuffing to a greased baking dish, cover with foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
8. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
9. Serve warm as a complement to your holiday feast.

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