Granny Smith Apples and Acorn Squash lead the way in this easy stuffing recipe. Plus, the addition of dates and nuts, along with all of the classic stuffing ingredients, always wow all my holiday guests. These unusual ingredients make this stuffing a delightful side for all of your other holiday recipes, like easy-no-fuss-thanksgiving-turkey, quick turkey gravy, perfect creamy mashed potatoes, and green beans almondine.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Easy recipe - While this recipe has a long list of ingredients, there are only a handful of steps to follow to cook it. Delicious - This recipe is almost too indulgent to be termed stuffing or dressing. I prefer to think of it as a savory bread pudding infused with fall flavors. Can be prepped ahead of time - Prep the stuffing and keep it warm in your oven or the warmer. This will ultimately give you extra time to work on the rest of your meal. Versatile recipe - This recipe is easy to adapt to assorted dietary needs and personal tastes. Examples are given in the substitutions and variations section below.
Ingredient notes
Bread - I like to use dense and crusty bread for this recipe. This gives it a crusty exterior and a soft pudding-like center. Some suggestions are French, Italian, or sourdough. Broth - I make my own broth and freeze it for all my holiday cooking, but storebought is also okay. This helps add some moisture to the stuffing. Butter - I use Kerrygold for all my holiday recipes. Because it has a higher fat content than regular butter, it delivers loads of flavor to the entire meal. Eggs - The eggs help in two ways. One is to bind the mixture, and the other is to give the stuffing its custard-like texture. Produce - Some seasonal acorn squash and granny smith apples add a fall twist to this easy stuffing recipe. Herbs - Fresh sage, rosemary, and parsley are my favorite aromatic combinations to add to a recipe. Dry fruit - Buttery pine nuts and caramel-like dates add a depth of flavor and texture to this easy stuffing recipe. Seasoning - Because the bread stuffing has so many different flavors, all it needs is a little salt and pepper. Always make sure to adjust the salt depending on the amount of sodium your stock has.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for a complete list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
Substitutions & variations
Use dried herbs - To simplify this stuffing recipe, you can use a mix of dried herbs you already have in your pantry. Use poultry seasoning - Use poultry seasoning, which usually contains ingredients such as thyme, sage, black pepper, marjoram, rosemary, and nutmeg. This way, you’ll need to purchase just one ingredient. Make it vegetarian - Use vegetable stock, your favorite liquid egg substitute, and coconut or avocado oil for a vegetarian version of the easy stuffing recipe. Make it gluten-free - Use gluten-free bread to meet any dietary restrictions your guests may have. A seafood version - Substitute the fall ingredients with some seafood for a delicious variation of the dressing to switch things up. Serve this with other meats - Once in a while, I love to make and serve this stuffing as a side for my chicken steam roast or my beef roast-with-tandoori-masala. Bake it in a sheet pan - If you like the stuffing a little crispier, spread it on a sheet pan and bake it.
Step-by-step instructions
Expert Tips
For more Pakistani recipes like this, check out 20 popular Pakistani recipes. If you decide to try this recipe, Please don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture then tag me on Instagram! Thank You!
