You’ll Gobble Up This Original Turkey Stuffing

For most, the fall season means warm dishes, full tables and crimson-colored leaves. One iconic dish that always has foodies coming back for seconds is turkey stuffing. Debates continue over whether stuffing dates back to the ancient Romans or Mesopotamia, but there is no question that its herbed, savory flavor has conquered countless hearts—and stomachs—around the world. 

Different cultures have their own unique turkey stuffing recipes. In the United States, ingredients like bread, celery and carrots are traditionally combined with spices to create this flavorful dish. With so many variations possible, you can go your own unique way or keep thing classic.

Try diving into recipes from other countries and cultures around the world and their own interpretations of turkey stuffing recipes. You’ll have more than enough inspiration to blow your guests away this holiday season. 

The True Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing

Before you get into thick of things, there’s one fact about turkey stuffing that has long been hotly contested. And the big question is the difference between turkey stuffing and dressing. 

Most agree that stuffing is anything that is actually baked within the bird, while dressing is when this bread-based dish is prepared on the side. There are some people who use the terms stuffing and dressing interchangeably, without considering how exactly the dish was prepared. 

The Taste of Traditional Turkey Stuffing

Creating stuffing for turkey has been a staple in American Thanksgiving food for at least two centuries. The recipe for traditional turkey stuffing usually includes stale bread cubes, onions, celery, fresh herbs, butter, turkey broth, and eggs. Some people also add carrots, poultry seasoning, tomato, green apple, cornbread, and even sausage. 

By focusing on traditional Thanksgiving flavors like fresh herbs, root vegetables and apples, your home will be brimming with the savory scent of a delicious Thanksgiving meal. A Thanksgiving-inspired dish and a harvest-themed tablescape will also bring a little extra holiday spirit to any stuffed turkey feast. 

Traditional Turkey Stuffing Ingredients

No matter what ingredients speak to you most, feel free to get creative with your turkey. Fresh herbs like sage pair well with warming flavors like brown butter while rosemary works with savory flavors like lentils and tomatoes. You can also get inspiration from other fall flavors such as: 

• Apple
• Pistachio
• Maple
• Cranberries
• Pear
• Fig
• Pomegranate

Tasty Turkey Stuffing Recipe

 As you go looking for the perfect dish for your stuffing, you might also take a peek at your fall decorations that will look beautiful next to your finished dish. Consider playing around with a pumpkin-shaped dish or a collection of colored leaves. 

To make turkey stuffing that will feed six you’ll need:

• 3-4 stalks of celery
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 onion
• Salt & pepper
• Sage
• 4-5 tb. Butter
• 1 pound of bread
• Enough broth to moisten your mixture

Once you’ve gathered those mouthwatering ingredients, you’re ready to make some good old fashioned stuffing. First up, grab a big mixing bowl and spoon. 

Next, sautée any uncooked vegetables, fruits or meat. If you don’t sautée your ingredients beforehand you’ll end up with crunchy vegetables and meat that isn’t fully cooked. 

Then mix the bread cubes, broth, herbs, and sauteed vegetables together in that large bowl. If your mixture feels crumbly, add more broth. If it’s soggy, add more bread. Once you have a uniform, decadent mixture, you can either use it to stuff your bird or put it into an oven-safe container.

If you already know how to cook a turkey, you can roast it as normal if you’re stuffing it, or bake your stuffing mixture in a dish for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F. Then, it’s off to making your kitchen smell like harvest heaven.

Creative Turkey Stuffing Ideas

The world of turkey stuffing is much more than cubed white bread, chopped celery, and cut carrots. You’ve already explored a few beloved fall flavors, but there are dozens of ways to spice up your turkey stuffing ingredients this year. 

Sausage Stuffing

If you’re looking for a popular and full-flavored option, you’ll love using sausage stuffing for your turkey. Sausage can add a lot to the overall flavor profile of your stuffing depending on the sausage you go with. Chicken apple sausage can play off those fall flavors while a smoked sausage can create more depth. 

Bread-Based Stuffing

Bread stuffing for turkey is an absolute staple during the holiday season, but bread is definitely not the end all be all for this decadent dish. If you have a gluten allergy or are just following a gluten-free diet, you might be searching for a way to make homemade turkey stuffing without the bread. 

One of the most popular bread replacements in stuffing is cornbread because it can easily be made without gluten and adds a light and sweet flavor to your stuffing. Other options to explore might be:

• Quinoa
• Wild Rice
• Rice pilaf
• Waffles
• Crackers like Ritz, Cheez-its, and saltines
• Pretzels (both hard and soft)
• Bagels (you can get creative with the flavors here too!)

International Stuffing Recipes

If you really want to make stuffing that is out of this world—or at least around it—there is a lot to learn from international stuffing recipes. In France, they make chestnut stuffing with a mixture of bread, herbs, butter, and chestnuts. 

In Italy, turkeys are stuffed with a meat-based mixture that includes sausage, minced veal, ground beef, mortadella sausage, parmesan cheese, bread and fresh herbs. In Spain, you might be surprised to find ingredients like prunes, milk, olives, capers, raisins, almonds and sherry in stuffing recipes.

Try reaching out to your international community or utilize google translate to explore some other stuffing recipes from around the world.

Tips and Tricks for Turkey Stuffing

Now that your brain is filled with creative turkey stuffing ingredient ideas, it’s time to fill your belly with the good stuff. But before you get cooking, there are a few key tips to remember when making your turkey stuffing. Luckily, it’s one of the easier Thanksgiving dishes out there, so you don’t need much cooking experience for this recipe to feel as easy as pie. 

Safety First: When to Put Stuffing in Your Turkey

When it comes to knowing when to put stuffing in your turkey, it’s more of a safety issue than a taste issue. It’s very important to stuff your turkey right before putting it in the oven. Some prepare their bird the night before cooking, which is completely fine as long as you keep your stuffing in a separate container. Stuffing your turkey too early can lead to bacterial growth within your stuffing. 

As your turkey gets to the end of its cooking time, use a meat thermometer to make sure the stuffing is at least at 165 degrees F. 

Getting That Perfect Stuffing Texture

Another common stuffing mistake is ending up with stuffing that is too dry or too soggy. By following a high-quality recipe to a tee, you usually won’t have to worry about this. When you’re mixing your stuffing together it should look moist, but not wet or crumbly. Chunks of your stuffing should be sticking together as you mix, but there shouldn’t be a pool of broth at the bottom. 

Time to Gobble Up Your Turkey Stuffing

It’s just about that time to stuff your face with some delicious turkey stuffing. If you still have a few weeks before you need to have your stuffing prepared, it’s never too early to get started. Have fun with different flavor combinations, flip through vintage cookbooks, or scroll through Pinterest to add even more to your list of Thanksgiving dinner ideas. 

Soon enough, you’ll have a dish filled with crisp, savory stuffing that everyone will love.

Written By

Calli Zarpas

Producer & Writer by occupation. Ceramicist & Newsletter Editor by avocation.

Share

• 
• 
• 
•