Homemade Stuffing with French Bread

Homemade stuffing is a Thanksgiving classic! This Southern-style stuffing, made with French bread, veggies, and plenty of savory flavor, is the perfect side dish.

Hey loves! I know we’re nowhere near Thanksgiving, but I’ve been craving homemade stuffing lately! Whether we’re on the heels of the holidays or it’s the middle of summer, this quick and easy homemade stuffing recipe is good enough to be made any time of year. Who said we have to wait until Thanksgiving to enjoy stuffing anyway?!

Homemade Stuffing with French Bread

Now, usually, when I make stuffing, I use cornbread. Y’all have seen plenty of those recipes—my classic Southern cornbread dressing, seafood cornbread dressing, Italian sausage cornbread dressing, the list goes on! You’re in good hands if you want a cornbread stuffing recipe. This time, we’re making a classic stuffing recipe with French bread. Have y’all ever tried Southern bread stuffing? If not, you’re certainly missing out.

This easy stuffing recipe is oh-so-delicious; it has so much flavor! It’s savory from the seasonings, a little sweet from the onions and peppers, and baked to crispy perfection. If you’re craving classic bread stuffing with a little more pizzazz, this is definitely the recipe for you!

What is the Difference Between Dressing and Stuffing?

So, let’s get the obvious question out of the way: what the heck is the difference between dressing and stuffing? Well, stuffing is usually STUFFED inside the Thanksgiving turkey or chicken and cooks with the bird. Dressing, on the other hand, is like a bread casserole. It’s made on the side in a baking or casserole dish. So technically, this is a dressing, but it can also be used as a stuffing. So, you know what… I’m just going to call it stuffing!

Ingredients for Homemade Stuffing 

You don’t need much to make this delicious homemade stuffing recipe. The simple ingredients pack so much flavor you’ll be craving stuffing long after the holidays are gone! You can find the exact ingredient measurements and directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Here’s everything you need to make the best homemade stuffing recipe.

• French Bread: this is my favorite type of bread to use for stuffing (other than cornbread, of course). It’s light and fluffy with a perfect crust.
• Poultry Seasoning: gives the stuffing that savory, traditional flavor we all love.
• Onion, Bell Peppers, & Celery: this veggie medley adds so much flavor, color, and texture to the stuffing.
• Garlic: I love fresh minced garlic in this recipe.
• Bacon Drippings: I use bacon fat to sauté the veggies and Cousins—oooohh the flavor this adds! Outta this world!
• Chicken Broth: the liquid element that adds moisture to the stuffing.
• Eggs: one egg adds structure to the stuffing so it bakes into the perfect casserole.

What kind of bread is best for stuffing?

With so many different kinds of bread, what really IS the best bread to make stuffing with? Well, we’re using French bread in this recipe because it’s fluffy in the center but has a good crust, which holds up to all the liquid we add in this recipe. Other favorites are white bread like classic sandwich bread, crusty Italian bread, sourdough bread, or challah bread. You want to pick a thick and dense bread that holds up to the liquid. Heck, there are probably even stuffing recipes with bread you haven’t even considered using before!

How long should bread dry out before making stuffing?

It’s pretty common to use stale bread for stuffing. I know that sounds weird, but staleness helps the bread hold up to broth. If you can find discounted day-old bread at your grocery store, snatch it up! If you’re buying fresh bread ahead of time, it’s perfectly okay to let it sit out for 24-48 hours. If you’re making this recipe the same day with fresh French bread like I am, we’ll toast it up to give it a nice crust.

How to Make Homemade Bread Stuffing

When I tell y’all this is the best homemade stuffing recipe, I mean it!! It couldn’t be easier, and once you make it the first time, I swear you will be making it on the regular, holiday rules be darned!

Video Tutorial

You need a large loaf of French bread for this homemade stuffing recipe. I like to cut the bread into cubes and toast the bread before tossing it with the veggies. This is the perfect way to make stuffing with fresh bread. The rest of the steps are super simple!

Quick-Step Directions

1. Toast the cubes of bread on a rimmed baking sheet until nice and golden brown. Set the bread aside.
2. While the bread is toasting, sauté the diced onions, celery, red bell peppers, and garlic in a large skillet. I use bacon fat for this step, but you could use butter or vegetable oil if you choose.
3. Toss the cubed bread into a (very) large mixing bowl, then pour in the chicken broth, making sure all the bread is soaked.
4. Toss in the cooked veggies and seasonings and mix everything together until well combined.
5. Add the stuffing to a greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes until the stuffing has a golden brown, crispy top.

That’s it! That’s all you gotta do to make tasty, delicious, easy homemade stuffing with French bread whenever you want it. Naturally, stuffing is a must-have at Thanksgiving dinner, but we’ve got to normalize making tasty holiday dishes whenever we darn well please, am I right?!

Homemade Stuffing Recipe Variations and Tips

Just about every family has a traditional stuffing recipe they don’t stray from, and I understand that. My down-home cornbread dressing is definitely a family favorite I’m expected to produce every year. But the great thing about any dressing recipe is that you can add a whole ton of goodness to it, depending on what you like!

• If you’re feeding an army, you can easily make a double batch of this homemade stuffing.
• Adding meat to stuffing is a great way to add flavor. Try Italian sausage stuffing; add bacon, ground beef, or ground turkey. If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, shred it up and make leftover turkey stuffing in the days following the holiday!
• I keep the seasonings simple, but if you want more flavor, use dried or fresh herbs! The best herbs for homemade stuffing are those savory flavors—rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley.
• If you’re looking for the perfect seasoning blend, you’ve got to try my Rosamae Dressing Seasoning blend. It’s got everything you need—onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper–the works.
• I use chicken broth, but you could also use turkey stock or vegetable stock. You could even use homemade chicken stock if you have it!
• If you are cooking this stuffing inside a turkey or chicken, it’s important to cook it to the proper temperature for food safety reasons. The stuffing comes in contact with raw meat and juices, so be sure to check the temp—it should be an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the center of the stuffing.

Can homemade stuffing be made ahead of time? 

If you’re trying to save time on holiday cooking, this certainly can be a make-ahead stuffing! Assemble the stuffing as directed and store it in the fridge, covered with aluminum foil. You can make it as much as a day or two ahead of time. If the stuffing is a bit dry when you’re ready to bake it, just add a bit more chicken broth and pop it in the oven.

How to Store Leftover Stuffing

While it’s fine to let stuffing sit out at room temperature while you’re serving, leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge and will be good for 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in the oven until heated through or in the microwave if you’re reheating individual portions. Stuffing is even freezer-friendly too!

What to Serve with Homemade Stuffing

Now, I’m sure this is a no-brainer, but there are just some side dishes that go perfectly with homemade bread stuffing. If you’re going for the full holiday spread, y’all need mashed potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, and some soul food collard greens. If you’re breaking the rules and serving stuffing just because you want to, try pairing it with these recipes:

• Crispy Baked Pork Chops
• Baked Chicken and Gravy
• Southern Smothered Chicken Recipe
• The Best Baked Turkey Wings
• Slow Cooker Spiral Ham
• Southern Salisbury Steak Recipe
• Simple Roast Chicken

Loved this recipe? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to tag and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube, and check out all my cookbooks! My brand-new Cousin Rosie Holiday Cookbook is available now!