If your family is like mine, Thanksgiving is always spent at grandma’s house—and no one makes the recipes we love and can’t forget quite like our grandmothers. 

I’ve written about my grandma’s 4-ingredient apple crumble, which is a simple, seasonal dessert that’s a lifesaver if you don’t want to make a whole pie. Another tried-and-true recipe from my grandmother is a classic turkey stuffing with fewer than 10 ingredients.

How to Make My Grandma’s Turkey Stuffing

My grandma’s turkey stuffing is definitely an old-fashioned method. She was born before the Great Depression, so there are several aspects of her cooking that date back many decades. 

Her recipe is essentially a wet bread stuffing, which is a great way to bring stale bread back to life. The result is a lighter stuffing that doesn’t dry out and maintains its flavor more than other methods. Be sure to use a loaf you really love. 

My grandma would toast her loaf before, but a stale loaf works just as well. Once the bread is soaked in water, remove the loaf and squeeze as much water from it as possible. Then, break it apart as you would any other stuffing and follow the remaining steps. 

Ingredients

• 8 ounces butter
• 2 cups onions, sliced
• 2 cups celery, sliced
• 1 pound bread, stale or toasted
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup parsley
• 3 eggs

Instructions

1. Submerge your stale or toasted bread in water. Remove from the water once the bread is soaked through and squeeze or press the water from the bread until it is fluffy.
2. Melt butter in a medium-sized pan and add celery and onions. Cook until softened and translucent.
3. Break apart your bread into small pieces and add to a large mixing bowl. Transfer butter, onions, and celery into the bowl.
4. Add salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, parsley, and eggs to the bowl.
5. Mix together until everything is combined, then stuff your turkey.

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