Easy Make-Ahead Stuffing for Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Make Ahead Stuffing for Turkey

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start thinking about the big meal. One of the most important parts of any Thanksgiving feast is the stuffing. But what if you don’t have time to make stuffing from scratch on the day of? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. With this easy make-ahead stuffing recipe, you can have your stuffing ready to go in just a few simple steps.

This stuffing is made with a mix of bread, vegetables, and herbs, and it’s seasoned with just the right amount of salt and pepper. It’s the perfect side dish to any Thanksgiving turkey, and it’s sure to be a hit with your guests.

So what are you waiting for? Get started on this make-ahead stuffing today!

Ingredient	Amount	Instructions
1 cup dried bread cubes	1/2 cup chopped celery	1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot	1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley	1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning	1/2 teaspoon salt	1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup chicken broth	1/2 cup apple cider	1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans	1/4 cup chopped walnuts	1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots	1/4 cup chopped dried figs	1/4 cup chopped dried cherries
1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, or sage)	1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon	1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).	In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
	Pour stuffing into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.	Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Introduction

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. And what would Thanksgiving be without a delicious home-cooked meal? One of the most iconic dishes of Thanksgiving is stuffing, and for good reason. It’s a flavorful and hearty side dish that everyone loves. But what if you don’t have time to make stuffing from scratch on the day of Thanksgiving? Don’t worry, you can make ahead stuffing!

Make ahead stuffing is a great way to save time on Thanksgiving Day. You can make it ahead of time and then just reheat it before serving. This is perfect if you’re hosting a large Thanksgiving dinner and don’t have a lot of time to cook.

In this article, we’ll share our best tips for making ahead stuffing. We’ll cover everything from ingredients to preparation to storage. So read on and learn how to make the best make ahead stuffing ever!

Ingredients

The following are the ingredients you’ll need to make make ahead stuffing:

* 1 loaf (1 pound) French bread, cubed
* 1 cup chopped celery
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 1 cup chopped carrots
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh sage
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh thyme
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
* 1/2 cup chicken broth
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Tips for Choosing the Best Ingredients

When choosing ingredients for your make ahead stuffing, it’s important to use high-quality ingredients. This will ensure that your stuffing is delicious and flavorful.

For the bread, we recommend using a fresh loaf of French bread. French bread is a good choice for stuffing because it’s light and fluffy, and it absorbs the flavors of the other ingredients well.

For the vegetables, use fresh, crisp vegetables. Chopped celery, onion, carrots, and parsley are all classic stuffing ingredients. You can also add other vegetables, such as mushrooms, apples, or cranberries.

For the herbs, use fresh herbs whenever possible. Fresh herbs add a delicious, aromatic flavor to stuffing.

For the butter, use unsalted butter. Unsalted butter has a richer flavor than salted butter, and it won’t add any extra salt to your stuffing.

For the chicken broth, use low-sodium chicken broth. Low-sodium chicken broth will help to keep your stuffing from being too salty.

For the white wine, use a dry white wine. Dry white wine will add a nice flavor to your stuffing without making it too wet.

Substitutions for Common Ingredients

If you don’t have all of the ingredients for make ahead stuffing, don’t worry. You can easily substitute some of the ingredients with others.

For the bread, you can use any type of bread that you like. Some good options include sourdough bread, Italian bread, or ciabatta bread.

For the vegetables, you can use any vegetables that you like. Some good options include mushrooms, apples, or cranberries.

For the herbs, you can use any herbs that you like. Some good options include rosemary, thyme, or oregano.

For the butter, you can use vegetable oil or olive oil.

For the chicken broth, you can use vegetable broth or beef broth.

For the white wine, you can use water or sparkling water.

Preparation

Making ahead stuffing is easy! Just follow these steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, celery, onion, carrots, parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary, butter, chicken broth, white wine, salt, and pepper.
3. Toss to coat the bread cubes evenly in the liquid.
4. Transfer the stuffing to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until the stuffing is heated through.
6. Let the stuffing cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator.

Tips for Storing the Stuffing

Once the stuffing is cool, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To store the stuffing, place it in an airtight container or bag.

When you’re ready to reheat the stuffing, simply remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Then, reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes, or until it is heated through

3. Cooking

Instructions for cooking the stuffing in the oven

To cook the stuffing in the oven, follow these steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, celery, onion, and herbs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, broth, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Transfer the stuffing to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the stuffing is cooked through and golden brown.

Tips for cooking the stuffing in a slow cooker

To cook the stuffing in a slow cooker, follow these steps:

1. Preheat the slow cooker to low.
2. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, celery, onion, and herbs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, broth, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Transfer the stuffing to a greased slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the stuffing is cooked through and heated through.

How to cook the stuffing in a grill

To cook the stuffing in a grill, follow these steps:

1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, celery, onion, and herbs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, broth, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Transfer the stuffing to a greased grill pan.
6. Grill for 10-12 minutes per side, or until the stuffing is cooked through and golden brown.

4. Serving

Suggestions for serving the stuffing with turkey

There are many ways to serve stuffing with turkey. Here are a few suggestions:

* Serve the stuffing as a side dish alongside the turkey.
* Stuff the turkey with the stuffing.
* Make a casserole out of the stuffing.
* Serve the stuffing as a sandwich filling.
* Make stuffing balls and fry them in butter.

Tips for making the stuffing a main dish

If you want to make the stuffing a main dish, here are a few tips:

* Add more protein to the stuffing. You can do this by adding cooked chicken, ham, or sausage to the stuffing.
* Make the stuffing more substantial by adding vegetables such as carrots, peas, or corn.
* Season the stuffing with more herbs and spices.
* Serve the stuffing with a gravy or sauce.

Ideas for using leftover stuffing

There are many ways to use leftover stuffing. Here are a few ideas:

* Make stuffing sandwiches.
* Make stuffing hash browns.
* Make stuffing soup.
* Make stuffing frittatas.
* Make stuffing muffins.
* Make stuffing meatballs.

Stuffing is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Whether you’re serving it with turkey, as a main dish, or using it as a leftover, stuffing is sure to please everyone at your table.

Q: What is the best way to make ahead stuffing for turkey?

A: There are a few different ways to make ahead stuffing for turkey. One option is to cook the stuffing completely ahead of time and then reheat it before serving. Another option is to par-cook the stuffing, which means cooking it until it is just cooked through but still slightly moist. The par-cooked stuffing can then be refrigerated or frozen until needed. When ready to serve, the par-cooked stuffing can be reheated in the oven or microwave.

Q: How long can I make ahead stuffing for turkey?

A: You can make ahead stuffing for turkey up to 2 days in advance. If you are planning to cook the stuffing completely ahead of time, it is best to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you are planning to par-cook the stuffing, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Q: How do I reheat stuffing for turkey?

A: To reheat completely cooked stuffing, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the stuffing in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. To reheat par-cooked stuffing, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the stuffing in a baking dish and cover with foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through.

Q: What are some tips for making ahead stuffing for turkey?

A: Here are a few tips for making ahead stuffing for turkey:

* Use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
* Cook the stuffing according to the recipe.
* Let the stuffing cool completely before storing it.
* Store the stuffing in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
* Reheat the stuffing until it is heated through.

Q: What are some common mistakes people make when making ahead stuffing for turkey?

A: Here are a few common mistakes people make when making ahead stuffing for turkey:

* Using stale bread.
* Over-mixing the stuffing.
* Not cooking the stuffing long enough.
* Not letting the stuffing cool completely before storing it.
* Not reheating the stuffing until it is heated through.

Q: What are some variations on the classic stuffing recipe?

A: There are many different variations on the classic stuffing recipe. Here are a few ideas:

* Add chopped apples, cranberries, or nuts to the stuffing.
* Use different types of bread, such as sourdough bread, French bread, or cornbread.
* Add herbs and spices, such as sage, thyme, rosemary, or poultry seasoning.
* Cook the stuffing in a variety of ways, such as in the oven, on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker.

Q: I have a gluten-free diet. Can I still make ahead stuffing for turkey?

A: Yes, you can make ahead stuffing for turkey even if you have a gluten-free diet. There are many gluten-free breads available on the market, and you can also use gluten-free flour to make your own stuffing. Just be sure to read the labels carefully to make sure that all of the ingredients are gluten-free.

making ahead stuffing for your turkey is a great way to save time and ensure that you have a delicious and flavorful meal on Thanksgiving Day. By following the tips in this article, you can easily make a stuffing that is moist, flavorful, and perfect for your holiday feast. So what are you waiting for? Get started on your make-ahead stuffing today!