Cheesy Herb Stuffing

A traditional herb stuffing made with crispy french bread, cheddar cheese, tender veggies, and an extra dose of herbs. A simple side dish for holiday dinners.

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About Cheesy Herb Stuffing

When it comes to big holiday dinners, there’s nothing more classic than a baking dish full of cheesy herb stuffing.

And, you guys, this recipe has been a dinner-saver on more than one occasion. I’ve whipped this recipe out for the past few of those family dinners, and so far, it’s been a hit every time.

You just can’t go wrong with this traditional herb stuffing recipe.

What’s in cheesy herb stuffing?

To make your own comforting cheesy herbs stuffing this holiday season, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• French bread – Because every good stuffing needs some quality bread. Feel free to adjust this to other types of bread, if you’d like.
• Olive oil, salt, black pepper, chicken broth, and eggs – Classic cooking ingredients.
• Yellow onion, celery, and carrots – Traditional vegetables for stuffing that add amazing flavor and soft texture.
• Italian parsley and dill – A lefty dose of fresh herbs that gives this delicious stuffing its namesake.
• Cheddar cheese – Because every good stuffing recipe has a bit of cheese. Feel free to adjust this to whatever type of cheddar you like (mild, sharp, etc) or go with a different cheese entirely.

Is there a difference between stuffing and dressing?

If you want to get technical, “stuffing” is supposed to refer to whatever is actually stuffed inside the main dish (such as stuffing the cavity of turkey or chicken). And by classic standards, a bread-based side that’s baked in a dish is usually called “dressing.”

But despite that, you’ll find areas all over the United States who will prefer to call this stuffing so that it isn’t confused with a liquid sauce dressing (like ranch, thousand island, etc). And then you’ll find whole pockets of the southern United States who will refuse to use the word “stuffing” because of how unpleasant it sounds.

So, what should you call a dish like this, then?

In the end, you can call it whatever makes the most sense to you. Neither is wrong and everyone will know what you mean. And this is exactly what I do when I cook stuffing for company: we all use our favorite word, multiple times a day, as if there’s a competition going on (there is) and whoever says their word the most wins (I will totally win).

How should you prepare the bread?

One of the keys to making delicious stuffing is a simple trick:

Cut the bread into bite-size pieces, then leave it out, uncovered, overnight.

This will allow the bread to dry out some, which is very important for the texture and flavor of stuffing. Even using slightly stale bread is okay. It gives the bread some crunch (but not too much) and encourages the bread to absorb flavors without becoming too mushy.

Can you make herb stuffing in advance?

Stuffing is typically made for big holiday dinners, and one of the keys to success is timing. With limited counter space and oven room, the more you can make in advance, the better.

You can make this recipe in advance, but it’s best to store it in parts. Such as:

1. Store the bread separately. This should be easy, since you can leave the bread on the counter overnight so that it dries out (see point above about bread). If the bread has dried out to your liking but it’s not ready to cook yet, just store it in a bag or sealed container until it’s time.
2. Cook the veggie ingredients per recipe instructions (olive oil, onion, salt, pepper, carrots, parsley, and dill). Once prepared, transfer the ingredients to a sealed container, allow to cool, then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to move forward.
3. Hold off on doing anything with the eggs or chicken broth. Those are mixed in just before baking, so there’s nothing you need to do in advance.

When you’re ready to cook, heat the veggies either on the stovetop (you can add about 1/2 cup of the chicken broth or a little more olive oil to the skillet so that nothing sticks or burns) or in the microwave until warm, then move forward with the recipe by tossing all of the remaining ingredients together in a bowl.

How long is stuffing good for?

Once prepared and cooled, this bacon cheese stuffing can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Can you freeze stuffing?

Yes, you totally can!

Once prepared and cooled to room temperature, herb stuffing can be stored in a sealed container or freezer bag for one to three months.

notes & tips for this herb stuffing

• For most stuffing recipes, you’ll need a trusty 9×13 baking dish. I like this one because not only is it good quality but it also makes a pretty serving dish.
• You’ll also need a large bowl for this recipe. I like this 13-quart mixing bowl because it’s light, easy to handle, and more than big enough for all the ingredients.

More delicious recipes for holiday dinner

How to make traditional herb stuffing from scratch

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and toss in the yellow onion. Season with salt and pepper, then cook until the onion is tender.

Step 2 – Add the celery and carrots to the skillet, then cook them until tender.

Step 3 – Toss in the parsley and dill, then mix until veggies are coated. Remove the skillet from heat and set it aside, allowing it to cool a little.

Step 4 – In a large mixing bowl (I like using a 13 quart size), add the dried bread, chicken broth, egg, and cooked veggies. Stir everything together until the bread is coated.

Step 5 – Add cheese to the bowl, then gently toss to mix.

Step 6 – Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, then pour in the prepared stuffing. Sprinkle the top with more cheddar cheese.

Step 7 – Bake!

Step 8 – Serve and enjoy!