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One thing that is often discussed across families during the holidays is how to make stuffing. Everyone seems to have their own way to make it. In my family we actually call it dressing because we do not stuff it into the turkey. The way it is made is the same, but today we are going to talk about the bread used to make the stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner. Just what is the best bread for stuffing on Thanksgiving? Let’s find out!

What is the best bread for stuffing for Thanksgiving.

The Best Bread for Stuffing on Thanksgiving

When it comes to choosing a bread for your stuffing, you really want to choose a bread with a tight crumb and a light flavor. The reason you want a tight crumb is because you want the bread to be able to absorb the delicious chicken broth and any flavor from fresh herbs that you are adding to your stuffing. Light and airy breads with big holes tend to turn to mush. Mushy stuffing is not good stuffing. Also, bread with a neutral flavor is a must.

Choosing the type of bread to use for your Thanksgiving stuffing recipe can be tricky. You may be tempted to use any old bread you have lying around your kitchen, but there are definitely a few types of bread that will make your homemade stuffing recipe the most delicious it can be for your Thanksgiving meal.

White Bread

White bread is probably one of the most popular choices for homemade stuffing, particularly white sandwich bread. It’s light and fluffy and is able to absorb any flavor without competing. Of course, the key here is to dry the bread before turning it into stuffing or it will be a soppy mess. To make stuffing, you actually want stale bread or day-old bread.

It’s best to slice your bread into cubes and let dry for at least 12 hours. You can also dry them in the oven at 195 F for around 60 minutes on a baking sheet. Just don’t let your bread cubes brown! You want dry bread, not toast.

Here’s a great classic stuffing recipe to try.

Cornbread

My family only makes dressing for our holiday meal with cornbread. It’s definitely our favorite recipe. There really are no other options and if you ask anyone in our family cornbread makes the best stuffing recipe. We bake up an easy batch of unsweetened cornbread in a cast iron skillet, let it cool completely, and then crumble it for dressing. It actually works perfectly because cornbread has such small holes.. (A large skillet is key here. We love using our cast iron)

Our cornbread dressing recipe is available in my Holiday Recipes eCookbook (along with all of our favorite holiday recipes).

You’ll find poultry seasoning, along with celery and onion softened in plenty of butter or olive oil in a skillet make a delicious stuffing that is baked in a casserole dish and served alongside the turkey and all of the other delicious fixings!

French Bread

Another bread option many people consider for Thanksgiving stuffing is French bread. If you’re looking for regular French bread that you can purchase in the grocery store, you will find many French baguettes have a very wide crumb and crunchy crust.

Because of this wide crumb, you will have to use a lot of bread to make your stuffing and not produce a soppy mess. Also, the crust will likely take on a papery texture in your stuffing. I really feel that French bread stuffing is not the best choice.

Sourdough Bread

Sourdough is definitely an acquired taste. If your family doesn’t already eat sourdough, you probably don’t want to immediately jump in and make your stuffing with it.

Like French bread, sourdough has a wide crumb and crispy crust. The texture of any stuffing you make with it will be similar to stuffing made with French bread. You’ll need a lot of bread to avoid overly wet stuffing (and making sure it’s not dry may be a problem) and you may have possible texture issues with the crust.

Can I use a different kind of bread for stuffing?

Some other options I’ve seen people have success with include:

Challah
Bagel
Brioche

Overall, I believe sticking with regular white bread for a traditional stuffing or cornbread will give you the best bread for your stuffing on Thanksgiving day.

If you really want an easy stuffing recipe, you can always cheat and buy a pre-made mix. I really like the Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned stuffing mix. You just add chicken broth and your own mix-ins to the stuffing in a large bowl and bake in a baking dish. There’s no drying loaves of bread and worrying if it will turn out well. Plus, it’s pre-seasoned with dry herbs so it’s sure to taste good to most people.

Are you ready to set your Thanksgiving table with even more delicious foods! Check out all of these wonderful side dishes!