The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This French Bread Stuffing recipe is made completely from scratch, right down to the bread cubes! It serves 12 people and costs just $7.72 to make!
Sometimes the turkey steals the show at Thanksgiving, and sometimes the stuffing does. This is one of those cases. This stuffing recipe is the BOMB DOT COM. Really, this stuffing could be my entire Thanksgiving meal. Just give me a fork to dig in and I’ll catch up with you in time for pie.
We have made our share of stuffing recipes. Everything from the box kind to homemade and this is BY FAR our all-time favorite recipe. We love being able to use our favorite One Hour French Bread recipe as a part of this stuffing recipe. You can make the bread a few days before making the stuffing, as stale bread works better for this recipe.
We think you will agree that this is the BEST stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving or any time of the year!
FRENCH BREAD STUFFING RECIPE QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
Can I make this stuffing recipe the day before Thanksgiving?
Yes! Save yourself some time on Thanksgiving day and prepare the stuffing the day before. Just store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge overnight.
What is the difference between stuffing and dressing?
There really is not a difference between stuffing and dressing in regards to how it is made or what it is made from. Some say it is only stuffing if it goes inside the turkey and otherwise it is dressing. According to Southern Living, it is more about geography. Where you live determines what you call it. Southerners call it dressing while Northerners call it stuffing. So regardless of what you call it, it is a delicious side dish!
What is Thanksgiving dressing made of?
This Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is made with onions, broth, carrots, celery, onion, poultry and sage seasonings, as well as our french bread recipe for the bread cubes.
How to Make French Bread Stuffing Recipe:
- First, dry out the bread cubes in the oven.
- Then, saute the veggies in butter.
- Pour the veggies over the dried out bread cubes and mix in the seasoning and broth.
- Put the stuffing in a 9×13 baking dish with 3-inch sides.
- Next, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Then, uncover and bake for 30 minutes more.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
- Ages 2-3: Have them help you gather all of the ingredients and unwrap the butter from the paper. Let them mix in the seasonings.
- Ages 4-5: Have them pour the veggies over the stuffing and mix in the seasonings.
- Ages 6-8: Help your kiddos chop veggies and have them help you melt the butter and saute the veggies. They can also help you stir the stuffing together.
- Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
- Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.
The flavor and Recipe Variations:
- When sauteing the vegetables, you can also add in 3 apples that have been peeled, cored, and diced small to add a sweet flavor to the stuffing.
- If you don’t have time to make our French Bread, then you can use store-bought French bread. You will need
- Instead of our French Bread cubes, you can use 3 (12 ounces) boxes or packages of stuffing mix.
What to Serve with French Bread Stuffing:
Here is our menu to give you an idea of what we will be serving this year:
- 1-Hour Dinner Rolls
- Cranberry Party Punch
- Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Easy Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Green Beans Almondine
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Instant Pot Turkey Gravy
- Jenna’s Naughty Mashed Potatoes
How long is this good for:
- Serve: The stuffing can stay at room temperature for up to 2 hours before it needs to be placed into the refrigerator.
- Store: Cover the pan with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: If you want to freeze stuffing, it’s best to freeze it in smaller portions in airtight containers. The stuffing will keep for up to 3 months this way.
- TO REHEAT: Transfer the stuffing to an oven-safe pan and reheat in a 325 degree F oven for about 15 minutes, or until warmed through.
More $10 recipes:
- BBQ Chicken Braid
- Easy Chana Masala
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
- Italian Zucchini Boats
- Jenna’s Chicken Pillows
- Meatball Subs
How much will this French Bread Stuffing recipe cost:
RECIPE COST: $7.72
PER SERVING COST: $0.65
To find out more on how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
- 1 large french bread loaf – $0.90
- 1 cup butter – $1.60
- 8 medium celery stalks – $0.72
- 4 large carrots – $0.56
- 2 large onions – $0.96
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning – $0.64
- 1 teaspoon dried ground sage – $0.41
- 4 cups chicken broth – $1.92
- 1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE
Easy Budget Recipes is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing, but it helps keep us on budget!
Cook’s Tools:
- cutting board
- chef’s knife
- large skillet
- baking sheet
- extra-large mixing bowl
- deep 9×13-inch baking dish
French Bread Stuffing
Equipment
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- large skillet
- baking sheet
- extra-large mixing bowl
- deep 9x13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 large french bread loaf cubed into ½-inch pieces
- 1 cup butter
- 8 medium celery stalks chopped
- 4 large carrots peeled and grated
- 2 large onions chopped
- 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried ground sage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions
PREP OVEN AND BAKING DISH:
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 325 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a deep (at least 3 inches) 9x13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
DRY OUT FRENCH BREAD CUBES:
- Place the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and dry out for 25 minutes (this will dry out the bread cubes so that they will absorb the stuffing liquid).
- Once you take the cubes out of the oven, increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
SAUTE AROMATICS:
- While the bread dries out in the oven, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, carrots, and onions and saute until onions are translucent and beginning to brown around the edges, about 8-10 minutes.
MIX TOGETHER STUFFING:
- In an extra-large mixing bowl, add dried out bread cubes, sauteed vegetables, poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and broth. Mix until combined.
BAKE:
- Dump stuffing mixture into prepared 9x13 baking dish and make sure that the stuffing is in an even layer.
- Cover pan with foil and bake for 1 hour. Then, remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes.
- Cool for 10 minutes, and then serve.
Anita says
This is so easy. And yup, Thanksgiving without stuffing is just sad. Gotta have those stuffing. Is it weird that I dig the stuffing more than the turkey? 😉
Jess Jankowski says
I’m right there with you!
Tisha says
Love a good stuffing recipe. This is so perfect with the holiday season around the corner!
Patty at Spoonabilities says
Stuffing is definitely my favorite Thanksgiving side dish (for me it’s the MAIN dish)! Can’t wait to try this recipe!!!
Haley D. Williams says
Definitely making this again! It helps to make it a day before when you’re entertaining. Thanks for the great recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
Great tip! Glad you enjoyed it!
Sara Welch says
Always love a delicious dish that is light on the wallet! Looking forward to giving this a try!
Jess Jankowski says
Excited for you to try it! Let us know after you make it!
Pam Greer says
I found my new favorite stuffing recipe! So good!! I use your variation to include apples and even my picky granddaughter loves it!
Jess Jankowski says
Woohoo!! That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Sandi G says
I love how you broke this down by cost…it definitely fits our budget
Jess Jankowski says
Thank you so much for your feedback. We have found it beneficial to know the price per meal. Definitely helps you work your budget!
Katie says
An absolute must at the Thanksgiving table, but pretty much anytime after that if you ask me! So good.
Jess Jankowski says
Totally agree!
Katie says
This is simply a staple in our house. Pro tip: use the leftovers to make stuffing waffles! So good!
Jess Jankowski says
Stuffing waffles!? That just blew my mind!
Jenni says
I made this for a friends-giving party we had, and it turned out so well! Everyone loved it and wanted seconds and thirds! I was hoping for leftovers, but every single bite was eaten!
Jess Jankowski says
That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing the love!
Whitney says
Love the cost and there’s nothing better than homemade stuffing!
Jess Jankowski says
It is a win-win for sure!
Heidy L. McCallum says
I love how budget-friendly yet delish this recipe was! It’s a keeper for sure. We loved it.
Jess Jankowski says
Awesome! Thank you for your feedback!
Natalie says
Looks so delicious and perfect for upcoming Thanksgiving ♥
Jess Jankowski says
I will be making it for our Thanksgiving dinner for sure!
Sara Welch says
I always love a good and frugal recipe! This will pair perfectly with our Thanksgiving dinner!
Jess Jankowski says
Woohoo! Hope you find some other recipes here you can use too!