Nana's Easy Stuffing Recipe
My favorite easy Stuffing Recipe from my childhood! Made from scratch with very simple ingredients including toasty bread, milk, butter, aromatics, and the secret ingredient - rendered chicken fat! Crisp bread cubes on the outside, tender on the inside, and so flavorful.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound loaf hearty white sandwich bread (including the crusts and ends)
- 3 tablespoons butter , divided
- 1 medium onion , diced
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup Schmaltz (rendered chicken fat)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Lay bread slices out on baking sheets (they can touch, but do not overlap.) Bake for 7 minutes, flip each slice over, and bake an additional 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and using a serrated knife, cut them into 3/4 to 1-inch uniform cubes. Then place them in a very large mixing bowl.
- Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Warm 1 tablespoon butter in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, 3-4 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
- Put egg, milk, and all the seasonings into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until blended. Add in the cooked onions and garlic and pulse once or twice to incorporate.
- Slowly pour the liquid mixture evenly over the toasted bread cubes as you gently mix and fold for a few minutes to combine and moisten. Be gentle so the bread doesn't break down too much. (It's best to mix with your hands so you can feel if the cubes are moist enough.) If the stuffing isn't moistened enough, slowly add a touch more milk, ONLY if necessary. You don't want it mushy.
- Transfer stuffing to the prepared baking dish in an even layer, pressing down slightly.
- Drizzle the top with the rendered chicken fat.
- Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into little cubes and place all around.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes until it's cooked and golden, but not dried out.
- Enjoy as is or with a little turkey gravy.
Nutrition
Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 237IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 207mg | Iron: 2mg