This Old Fashioned Turkey Stuffing is straight up traditional. That means it's savory, not sweet. And it's an easy turkey stuffing, containing no sweet stuff like apples and sausage; it's simple and pure.
Leave the slices of bread out to dry overnight. * I use cookie sheets and turn it before going to bed. If you forget or don't have time, you can dry it in the oven - see *NOTES. But as long as it's not really soft it's fine to use.
Cut into cubes.
On the stove top, over medium heat, saute onion and celery in 1 cup butter in large pot until soft- about 7 minutes.
Add half of the cubed bread and spices to the butter and onion mixture.
Heat, stirring continually until it shrinks down by about ½.
Melt remaining ⅓ cup butter in microwave, then add remaining bread and spices.
Then pour butter over top of it and stir continually until softened. (about 5-7 minutes)
Stuff turkey with stuffing.*I can usually only get about ¼ of this into a 13-15 lb turkey, so I bake the remainder separately.
To bake the remaining stuffing separately: spray a couple of 9X13 pans with nonstick cooking spray and add remaining stuffing, spreading evenly.Â
Bake turkey in oven according to directions for how you usually cook a stuffed turkey. * I cook my stuffed turkey for 25 minutes per lb (if it's a 10-16 lb turkey). It takes about 5 hours. But do NOT put the stuffing in the oven yet.
When turkey has been cooking for about 1.5 hours, Fill your baster from the turkey pan juices and squirt about 3-4 full syringes onto stuffing in pans. Cover tightly and seal with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove and baste again ( 2-3 syringes full). Again, cover tightly with foil, then return to oven and cook for another 20 minutes.
Remove the pans of stuffing from oven. *It may be a little dry, but not to worry, you'll mix it with the stuffing from the turkey when it's done.
When turkey is done, take out stuffing and mix with baked stuffing in a large bowl. It will now be the perfect moistness/texture.
Notes
*Please see post contents for important recipe information, substitutions and tips!Â