Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Amanda Wilens · This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

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Small Batch Stuffing

I am hopeful that this year will mean smaller gatherings for people in the US for Thanksgiving. I wanted to assist with your small Thanksgiving gathering. This round up is perfect for Thanksgivings sizes 1-4. These recipes make about 4 servings each, which is perfect for 1-4 people and leftovers if less than 4 people! Tyler and I have had so many small Thanksgivings when we lived in St. Louis and couldn’t make it home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukah. So, we usually chose the latter and I would make us a small Thanksgiving meal like this.

I do also want to take this time to bring up Thanksgiving and how we learn about it. Thanksgiving is something I now celebrate as a time for good food and showing thanks and gratitude for the ones I love. However, the story we learned as kids about Thanksgiving is so off and really shouldn’t be a part of the celebration, but rather a learning opportunity. Please do NOT dress in Native American headdresses. Please take the day to maybe educate yourself and the ones you love. Especially young children. Many Native Americans see Thanksgiving as a day of mourning and triggering. Remember, “pilgrims” led a mass genocide to the Native American population.

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (1)

Hopefully, you will consider and implement the above before celebrating along with me.

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (2)

Table of Contents

  • Table of Contents
  • Celebrating a Mini Thanksgiving
  • Thanksgiving Desserts
  • Thanksgiving Drinks
  • Thanksgiving Favorites and Leftover Recipes
  • Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe for Two
  • How to Cook Stuffing Separately
  • Why use slightly stale bread for stuffing?
  • Love this Recipe?
Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (3)

Celebrating a Mini Thanksgiving

  • Small Batch Turkey Tenderloins
  • Small Batch Mashed Potatoes
  • Small Batch Stuffing
  • Small Batch Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • Small Batch Challah Rolls
  • How to Set-up a Mini Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Desserts

  • Ginger Pear Pie
  • Apple Crumble Pie
  • Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake
  • Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (4)

Thanksgiving Drinks

  • Apple Cider Bourbon co*cktail
  • Fig Smash co*cktail
  • Apple Pomegranate Sangria

Thanksgiving Favorites and Leftover Recipes

  • Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Now, I’ll go into some best tips for making small batch stuffing.

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (5)

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe for Two

This recipe is perfect for 2-4 people, with 4 servings (yay leftovers!). For a small gathering I don’t want to make enough for 8-12 people. This recipe is great for a small group or solo thanksgiving!

How to Cook Stuffing Separately

Since we’re doing turkey tenderloins for this, we won’t be stuffing the stuffing inside a bird. Which technically makes it dressing when it is cooked solo. But most of Americans still call it stuffing. We will place it in a small casserole dish and bake it in the oven!

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (6)

Why use slightly stale bread for stuffing?

Since we’re going to be coating the bread in broth, eggs, butter, and cooked down veggies, it can get rather soggy. By using a harder and crustier bread we’re helping it from getting too soggy. Also, if it’s a little stale this will help as well. I also prefer to bake it in the oven as well to keep from getting soggy.

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (7)

Love this Recipe?

Did you make this recipe and just love it? Awesome! If you have a quick minute and could leave a star rating and comment below, I would appreciate the support and knowing your feedback! And if you’re over on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your photos!

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (8)

Small Batch Stuffing

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Amanda Wilens

Ingredients

  • 6 oz baguette crusty, slightly stale, torn/cut into 1-inch pieces
  • cup unsalted butter plus more for greasing baking dish
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 cup yellow onion roughly chopped (about ½ onion)
  • ½ cup celery thinly sliced (about 3 stalks)
  • ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoon fresh sage roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken broth divided
  • 1 egg large

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250°F. On a lipped baking sheet, evenly spread out pieces of bread. Bake for about 1 hour or until dried out. Remove from oven and place in a large glass or metal bowl.

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Add garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Add celery and herbs; cook until celery deepens in color and slightly softens, about 7 to 9 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Stir for about 2 minutes.

  • Toss mixture into bowl of dried bread (step 1) and add ½ cup chicken broth. Stir and let cool slightly.

  • Increase oven to 350°F. Grease a 6x7.5” baking dish with butter.

  • In a separate mixing bowl, whisk remaining ¾ cup chicken broth with egg. Add to bread mixture and stir until fully combined. Pour into prepared baking dish and cover with baking dish’s lid or aluminum foil.

  • Bake for 20 minutes covered, then remove foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes. Finished dressing should reach an internal temperature of 160°F to 165°F on a meat thermometer. Serve.

Notes

-Use slightly stale and crusty bread! Very import to help keep the stuffing from getting soggy.
-Use a smaller casserole dish. A 6x7.5” or similar size will be perfect for these small batch.
-To reheat, place in the oven at 400°F for about 5-7 minutes.

Tried this recipe?Mention @amanda.wilens

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. RENATE Yeoman says

    Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (9)
    Finally, a stuffing recipe for two people! I used gluten free bread (4 slices) which I dried out two days before making the recipe. I added one garlic clove and kasoori menthi (Fenugreek spice) and Herbs de Provence for flavour while the mire poi was sauting. I mixed everything in a large bowl and poured the mixture into a PAM greased casserole dish. It was absolutely delicious! This recipe is definitely a "keeper" in our household.

    Renate

    Reply

    • Amanda Wilens says

      Love to hear it <3

      Reply

  2. Tyler Glassford says

    Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (10)
    Best stuffing I have had ever

    Reply

    • wilensamanda says

      I'm so glad to hear that!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Small Batch Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving - Amanda Wilens (2024)

FAQs

Should I put eggs in my stuffing? ›

The most important ingredient of stuffing may be the binder, which keeps all the other elements in place. For a fluffy texture, use eggs. Stock is the most-used binder. Less conventional possibilities include fruit juice (such as apple or orange) and alcohol (wine or liqueur).

Do you have to cook stuffing before putting it in the turkey? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

How much stuffing do I need for 20 people for Thanksgiving? ›

A leftover turkey sandwich?! 3/4 cup of stuffing per person should be plenty.

Does Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix go bad? ›

Sometimes expiration dates need to be taken seriously, and sometimes food is safe to eat passed that date. If you mean the kind you buy in the store dry (such a Pepperidge Farm, no, it does not. It will last practically forever.

Is it better to stuff the turkey or make the stuffing on the side? ›

If you cook the stuffing outside the turkey, first of all, it's no longer "stuffing" — it's "dressing." Both it and the turkey will cook more reliably, and you can fill the inside of the turkey (loosely) with aromatics if you're going for that Thanksgiving-y turkey-cornucopia look.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!

How soggy should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

It's better to cook a turkey at 350°F after preheating the oven to 450°F. This makes the skin crispier and ensures the turkey will get cooked evenly.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

Because stuffing is an excellent medium for bacterial growth, it's important to handle it safely and cook it to a safe minimum internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer. Here are some common ques- tions consumers ask. Stuffing should not be prepared ahead.

Is it OK to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

How many people will a 14 lb turkey feed? ›

8 to 10 people = 8- to 15-lb. turkey. 12 to 16 people = 12- to 24-lb. turkey.

How many people does 6 oz of stuffing feed? ›

How much stuffing per person? A 14-ounce bag of stuffing makes about 11 servings; a 6-ounce box of stuffing mix makes 6 servings.

What is the best stuffing mix to use? ›

Best Overall: Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing Mix. Our top-performing stuffing proved excellent when served straight off of the stove and after some time in the oven. Pepperidge Farm uses both white and wheat bread to make its stuffing cubes, and the contrast shows through in flavor and in texture.

Is stuffing better moist or dry? ›

You want your stuffing moist but not soggy and certainly not dry. The bread in the stuffing absorbs moisture, but if it's dry (as it should be, see above), it takes some time for the liquid to settle in. I suggest adding a little at a time, say 1 cup of broth for every 4 cups of dry mix.

Who makes the best turkey dressing? ›

The 11 Absolute Best Packaged Stuffing Mixes, Ranked
  • Kroger Turkey Flavored Stuffing Mix.
  • Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing. ...
  • Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing Mix. ...
  • Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Cubed Stuffing. ...
  • Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Turkey. ...
  • Mrs. ...
  • Mrs. ...
  • Sprouts Organic Herb Seasoned Stuffing. ...
Nov 10, 2022

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