Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep: 1 Amazing Dish

Okay, let’s talk stuffing! You know, that magical side dish that just *makes* the whole meal feel complete, especially when the holidays roll around. I’m here to tell you that you can totally nail those amazing Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep That Actually Tastes Great. Seriously, forget those dry, sad mixes. This classic herb stuffing is ridiculously easy and tastes SO good, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with anything else. It’s got that perfect mix of savory herbs, tender bread, and just the right amount of moisture. I remember one year, I tried to make a fancy stuffing with wild mushrooms and all sorts of crazy additions, and my dad just looked at me and said, “Honey, where’s the *actual* stuffing?” That’s when I realized sometimes, the classics are classics for a reason. This recipe is that classic, but made super simple, so you can enjoy it without a fuss!

Why You’ll Love These Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep

Seriously, this stuffing is a game-changer for your meal prep and your holiday table! Here’s why you’re going to be obsessed:

  • Flavor Explosion: It’s packed with fresh herbs like sage, parsley, and rosemary. Trust me, you can taste the difference!
  • Super Easy: Even if you’re new to making stuffing from scratch, this recipe is so straightforward. No stress here!
  • So Versatile: This isn’t just for Thanksgiving! It’s fantastic with roast chicken any night of the week.
  • Perfect for Meal Prep: You can totally make this ahead, store it, and reheat it. That’s music to my ears during busy holidays!

Classic Herb Stuffing Ingredients

Alright, let’s gather our goodies for this amazing stuffing! Having all your ingredients prepped makes the whole cooking process just fly by. Here’s what you’ll need:

Bread Cubes:

  • 18-24 ounces bread cubes (these should be preferably toasted or stale, giving you that perfect texture without turning to mush!)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (the good stuff!)
  • 3 cups diced sweet onion (about 2 large onions – don’t skimp on the onion flavor!)
  • 2 cups diced celery (this adds a lovely savory note)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced (because garlic makes everything better, right?)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (for sautéing)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (for sautéing)

Herbs and Liquid:

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage (so fragrant!)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for brightness)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary (a little bit goes a long way!)
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock (your liquid base)

Binder:

  • 2 large eggs (to hold it all together)

Garnish (Optional but pretty!):

  • A little mixture of fresh herbs for sprinkling on top

How to Prepare Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep That Actually Tastes Great

Alright, let’s get this incredible stuffing made! Trust me, following these steps is the easiest way to nail those amazing Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep That Actually Tastes Great. It’s not complicated at all, and the results are SO worth it. We’re going to build flavor layer by layer, starting with the foundation.

Step 1: Prepare the Bread Cubes

First things first, let’s get our bread ready. You can toss your bread cubes into the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes until they’re nice and golden, like little croutons. Or, even better, just use bread that’s been sitting out for a day or two – it’s already got that perfect dryness. If you’re in a pinch, store-bought toasted cubes work too! Just aim for cubes that aren’t too tiny, so they keep a nice texture.

Step 2: Sauté Vegetables and Herbs

Now, grab a big skillet or a Dutch oven and melt that butter over medium heat. Toss in your diced onion, celery, and all that glorious minced garlic. Give it a little sprinkle of salt and pepper, and let it soften up for about 8 to 10 minutes until everything is tender and smelling amazing. Then, stir in your fresh sage, parsley, and rosemary. They’ll get super fragrant in just about a minute! Pour in about a cup of the stock and give it a good stir to deglaze the pan.

Step 3: Combine and Mix

Scoop that yummy vegetable and herb mixture right into the big bowl with your bread cubes (or dump it onto the cubes if they’re already in your baking dish). Toss it all around so the bread gets coated nicely. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the rest of your stock and those two eggs. Pour this liquid goodness over the bread mixture and gently fold everything together. You want all the cubes to get a little bit wet, but don’t go crazy mushing it!

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pour your stuffing mixture into your prepared baking dish. Close-up of a baked stuffing recipe meal prep in a white baking dish, featuring golden-brown bread cubes and fresh herbs. Pop it into your preheated 350°F oven. We’re looking at about 45 to 50 minutes, or until the stuffing hits an internal temperature of 160°F. If you notice it’s getting a little too brown on top before it’s cooked through, just loosely tent it with some foil. Easy peasy!

Step 5: Rest and Serve

This step is super important for the best texture! Let your stuffing rest for about 60 minutes before you serve it, or before reheating if you made it ahead. This really lets all those flavors meld, and it helps prevent it from getting soggy. And hey, if you’re feeling traditional, this same mixture is fantastic for stuffing a turkey! Close-up of a baking dish filled with golden-brown homemade stuffing, garnished with fresh sage and thyme.

For a helpful guide on planning meals like this, check out this meal plan guide. And if you want more amazing stuffing ideas, this recipe from How Sweet Eats is fantastic too!

Tips for Making the Best Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep

Okay, so you’ve got the recipe, but let’s chat about how to make this stuffing truly sing, especially when you’re doing some meal prep! Getting the texture and flavor just right is all about a few little secrets I’ve picked up over the years. For more speedy meal prep ideas, you might find these quick hacks super helpful!

First off, the bread! Don’t shy away from using bread that’s a day or two old, or even better, intentionally toast your cubes. This is my absolute top tip for avoiding soggy stuffing. Crispy edges on those cubes mean they soak up the liquid beautifully without disintegrating. And fresh herbs? Forget dried ones for this! The bright, potent flavor you get from fresh sage, parsley, and rosemary is just unbeatable. Make sure your sautéed veggies are nice and soft before adding them – that’s where a lot of the delicious base flavor comes from. Lastly, don’t overmix when you add the liquid; gentle is key to keeping things fluffy!

Close-up of a freshly baked stuffing recipe in a white baking dish, garnished with rosemary and parsley.

Stuffing Meal Prep and Storage

This recipe is a meal prep dream, seriously! You can totally get a head start on this delicious stuffing. Go ahead and make the whole thing a day in advance. Just let it cool completely, then pop it into an airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat it in a 350°F oven until it’s nice and warm all the way through. I usually give it about 20-30 minutes. And hey, if you need to feed a crowd or just want leftovers, remember you can easily halve or double the recipe! It’s perfect for planning around those busy holiday weeks. For even more awesome meal prep ideas, check out these meal prep ideas!

Close-up of a freshly baked stuffing recipe in a white baking dish, topped with herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stuffing Recipes

Got questions about getting your stuffing just right? I get it! It’s one of those dishes where little things can make a big difference. Here are some common things people ask:

Can I use fresh bread for stuffing?

You really want to use stale or toasted bread cubes. Fresh bread can make your stuffing super mushy! If all you have is fresh, try toasting it in the oven first until it’s nice and dry.

What are the best herbs for stuffing?

Sage, parsley, and rosemary are the classic trio for a reason! They give stuffing that wonderful, comforting, savory flavor we all love. You can experiment, but these three are a fantastic starting point.

How do I make this stuffing vegetarian?

It’s super easy! Just swap out the chicken stock for vegetable stock. That’s the only change you need to make, and it’s just as delicious!

Estimated Nutritional Information

Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for stuffing can really change depending on exactly what bread and butter you use! But as a rough idea, a serving will likely have around 350-400 calories, about 20-25g of fat, 10-15g of protein, and 30-40g of carbohydrates. These are just estimates, but they give you a good ballpark!

Share Your Delicious Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep

Alright, now it’s your turn! I’d absolutely LOVE to hear how your Stuffing Recipes Meal Prep That Actually Tastes Great turns out. Did you try any fun variations? Did your family gobble it up? Tell me all about it in the comments below! Feel free to rate the recipe too. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask – you can also reach me through my contact page. Happy cooking!

Close-up of a golden brown baked stuffing recipe in a baking dish, garnished with fresh herbs.

Classic Herb Stuffing

A delicious and easy-to-make stuffing recipe perfect for any holiday meal or gathering. This recipe uses a combination of fresh herbs and toasted bread cubes for a flavorful and satisfying side dish.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Bread Cubes
  • 18-24 ounces bread cubes preferably toasted or stale
Vegetables and Aromatics
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cups diced sweet onion roughly 2 large onions
  • 2 cups diced celery
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt for sautéing
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper for sautéing
Herbs and Liquid
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Binder
  • 2 large eggs
Garnish
  • mixture of fresh herbs for sprinkling

Equipment

  • Baking dish
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Small bowl or measuring cup

Method
 

  1. Prepare your bread cubes. You can toast them in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes until they resemble croutons, or use stale bread cubes. You can also buy pre-made toasted bread cubes. Cut the cubes to your desired size, small or rustic.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by brushing it with butter or spraying it with nonstick spray. Place the bread cubes in a large mixing bowl or the prepared baking dish.
  3. Melt the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the fresh sage, parsley, and rosemary, and cook for another minute. Pour in 1 cup of the stock and stir.
  4. Pour the vegetable and herb mixture over the bread cubes and toss to coat evenly.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups of stock and the 2 eggs.
  6. Pour the egg and stock mixture over the bread cubes. Stir and fold gently until all the bread cubes are thoroughly combined.
  7. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. If the stuffing begins to brown too quickly, you can tent it loosely with foil.
  8. Let the stuffing rest for about 60 minutes before reheating if made ahead. You can also use this mixture to stuff a bird.

Notes

This stuffing can be made a day in advance and reheated. For smaller servings (4 people), cut the recipe in half and bake in an 8×8 or 9×9 inch dish for the same amount of time. For larger servings (12-18 people), double the recipe and bake in a larger dish or two 9×13 inch dishes, potentially adding 15 minutes to the baking time.

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