Simple Turkey with Stuffing Recipe for Beginners

Stuffing a turkey is easier than it sounds — all you need is the right recipe. This simple turkey with stuffing recipe is great for both beginners and seasoned chefs.

Ingredients for Turkey with Stuffing

Here are the ingredients you'll need to prepare this tasty stuffed turkey:

· Turkey: This recipe is designed for a 12-pound turkey. If yours is larger or smaller, be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
· Stuffing mix: You'll typically find packaged dry bread stuffing mix in the baking or grain aisle. If it's not there, check the instant food section.
· Butter: Butter adds a rich, flavorful touch to the stuffing mix.
· Vegetables: You'll need chopped onion and celery.
· Bread: Toast slices of white bread and tear them into small pieces.
· Seasonings: This simple turkey with stuffing recipe is seasoned with just salt and pepper.
· Oil: Coat the turkey with vegetable oil before roasting to lock in moisture and keep the bird juicy.

How to Stuff a Turkey

When stuffing a turkey, follow these safety guidelines: Stuff it right before roasting (never the night before), avoid putting raw meat inside, and always use a meat thermometer to ensure the stuffing's center reaches at least 165°F.

For detailed instructions (with step-by-step photos): How to Stuff a Turkey

How to Make Turkey with Stuffing

Not sure how to stuff a turkey? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Below you'll find a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you prepare this turkey with stuffing, but here's a quick preview of what to expect.

1. Prepare the turkey: Remove the giblets and discard them. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels and place it in a roasting pan.
2. Prepare the stuffing: Bring water and butter to a boil. Stir in the stuffing mix, cover, take it off the heat, and let it rest for 5 minutes. While the stuffing sits, sauté the celery and onion in butter. Add the cooked vegetables to the stuffing, followed by the bread pieces, salt, and pepper.
3. Stuff the turkey: Carefully stuff the bread mixture into both the body and neck cavities of the turkey. Rub the turkey’s skin with vegetable oil.
4. Roast the turkey: Loosely cover the turkey with aluminum foil. Roast in a preheated oven until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180°F and the stuffing’s interior hits 165°F. Uncover the turkey during the last 30 minutes to allow the skin to brown.

Perfect Pairings for Stuffed Turkey

This stuffed turkey will complement all your holiday favorites, like green bean casserole and cranberry sauce. Browse these tasty collections for more ideas on what to serve:

· 15 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes You’ll Love
· The 10 Classic Thanksgiving Dishes Every Holiday Needs
· 15 Delicious Veggie Side Dishes for Your Thanksgiving Feast

Dinogo Community Feedback and Accolades

"This is my first time cooking a turkey," says a member of the Dinogo community. "My family loved it! I swapped vegetable oil for melted unsalted butter on the turkey’s skin, and it turned a beautiful golden brown."

"I made this recipe for both Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, and it turned out perfectly," shares MOTTSBELA. "The turkey and stuffing were both moist and full of flavor."

"We absolutely love this stuffing," says Alisha. "We've been making it for four years, and it never disappoints. The only twist I add is using wheat bread crumbs instead of white."

Contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients List

• 12 pounds whole turkey

• 1 ½ cups water

• 5 tablespoons butter, divided

• 1 (6 ounce) package dry bread stuffing mix

• 1 cup chopped celery

• ¼ cup chopped onion

• 4 slices toasted white bread, torn into small pieces

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

Remove the giblets and discard them. Pat the turkey dry using paper towels, then place it in a shallow roasting pan.

In a medium saucepan, bring water and 4 tablespoons of butter to a boil. Stir in the stuffing mix, cover, remove from heat, and let it sit for 5 minutes.

While the stuffing rests, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the celery and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes until tender.

Add the sautéed celery and onion to the stuffing mixture. Stir in the toasted bread pieces and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Gently fill the body and neck cavities of the turkey with the stuffing. Rub the turkey’s exterior with vegetable oil and loosely cover it with aluminum foil.

Roast the turkey in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 180°F (85°C) and the stuffing’s interior reaches 165°F (70°C), about 3 ½ to 4 hours. Remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of roasting to allow the skin to brown.

Nutrition Information (per serving)