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This TRADITIONAL STUFFING RECIPE is loaded with crispy fried bacon, plenty of veggies, and loads of herbs. It’s sure to be a favorite at Thanksgiving with the crispy top, moist center, and classic flavor.
![classic stuffing recipe with bacon in white baking dish.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/traditional-stuffing-recipe-625x936.jpg)
I have a confession, guys.
I’m a lying liar who lies.
This recipe is actually for dressing, but every single person I know calls dressing stuffing. Do you know the difference?
Stuffing is actually stuffed inside of a turkey. Dressing is baked in a casserole dish alongside the turkey (or alongside whatever you want).
See? I called this recipe stuffing, but actually it’s dressing and that makes me a liar.
Forgive me?
What Readers are Saying!
“I love your explanation of stuffing and dressing. Very clear. Bacon in this dressing is probably going to make this everyone’s favorite dressing recipe!” -Carol
The good news is that it really doesn’t matter what you call it, this is goooooood stuff. I have a favorite sausage dressing recipe that I make every single year for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but my mama doesn’t like sausage and so she never eats it. It makes me all sad, because it is seriously amazing stuff and she’s missing out.
I was dreaming about my sausage dressing the other day when I had an epiphany. A bacon epiphany. They’re both pork, they’re both delicious and fatty, I could totally swap one for the other.
And I did and it was glorious.
![bacon stuffing on plate with fork and napkin.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bacon-stuffing-625x936.jpg)
I ended up changing the recipe quite a bit from our grandpa’s sausage version – this is more of a traditional stuffing recipe with loads of herbs, crusty French bread, and plenty of bacon.
So tell me…what does your family make every year? Dressing or stuffing? Inquiring minds want to know!
How to make bacon stuffing:
Chop up about a pound of French bread and toss it on a baking sheet. You’ll want to toast this in a warm oven for about 10 minutes to dry it out. This will help the bread soak up all the delicious liquid and seasonings.
![bread cubes on baking sheet.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/french-bread-for-stuffing-625x936.jpg)
While the bread is toasting, dice your bacon and cook it over medium heat until it’s just starting to crisp up around the edges.
Add onion and celery to the pan and cook for five minutes or until they soften up. Be sure to stir this fairly often.
Add your bread to a large mixing bowl and pour the bacon and veggies (and grease – don’t you dare drain that grease!) right on top. Sprinkle in your herbs, poultry seasoning, and spices. Top with chicken broth.
![stuffing ingredients in mixing bowl.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ingredients-for-stuffing-in-bowl-625x417.jpg)
Our secret ingredient here is cream of chicken soup. We love the way it makes the stuffing a bit creamy – it gives it a great texture! If you don’t want to use the canned stuff, use my substitute for cream of chicken soup.
Stir this up and pour into a 2-3quart dish (we use an oval dish, but a 9×9 would work well, too) pan and cover with foil. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the liquid soak into the bread.
Bake for 30 minutes and then remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes more.
![classic stuffing recipe with bacon pieces.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/stuffing-closeup-625x936.jpg)
Reasons To Love This Recipe:
First of all, it has bacon. That’s enough for most of us to love it right there.
Beyond that, we love the use of French bread instead of the bag of stuffing cubes or the white bread that our sausage dressing uses. It feels a little fancier too!
There are loads of herbs and seasonings in here, from fresh parsley to dried sage and rosemary, to poultry seasoning. Big flavors all the way around!
This recipe is very simple and easy to customize. Add in some dried cranberries or chopped apples. Swap the bacon for sausage. Use whatever mix of herbs you like best.
![white baking dish full of stuffing for Thanksgiving.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/stuffing-recipe-with-bacon-and-herb-625x417.jpg)
Thanksgiving dinner menu
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Canned Sweet Potato Casserole
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
- Jiffy Corn Casserole
![overhead view of white plate with traditional stuffing on top.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/stuffing-recipe-with-bacon-625x936.jpg)
thanksgiving desserts
- Pumpkin Pecan Pie
- Pumpkin Crunch Cake
- Apple Cobbler
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
- Fresh Apple Cake
- Sweet Potato Pie
![dish full of bacon stuffing next to striped napkin.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bacon-stuffing-1-625x936.jpg)
![classic stuffing recipe with bacon in white baking dish.](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/traditional-stuffing-recipe-400x400.jpg)
Traditional Stuffing with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound French bread
- 8 slices bacon diced
- 1 medium sweet onion chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 10 ounces cream of chicken soup
- ¾ cup chicken broth plus more as needed
- ¼ cup fresh minced parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- Cut bread into small cubes and place on a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes to dry out a bit.
- While the bread is in the oven, fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat.
- When bacon is beginning to crisp around the edges, add the onion and celery and continue cooking until bacon is cooked and vegetables have softened.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and increase the oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour the bacon and vegetables over the bread – do not drain the grease.
- Add the cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and remaining ingredients to the bowl.
- Stir well to combine. Add additional chicken broth if needed to reach the level of moistness you prefer in stuffing.
- Spread stuffing into a buttered 2-3 quart baking dish and top with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes, and then remove the foil and continue baking for 30 more minutes.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in November 2014. It was updated with a new (improved!) recipe and photos in November 2020. Original photo below.
![Bacon Stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving dinner](https://www.bunsinmyoven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/bacon-dressing-recipe.jpg)
Cynthia Ours says
Can you assemble ahead??
Karly says
Hi Cynthia! Yep, that should work just fine! You might add a smidge more liquid since the bread will have more time to soak it up as it sets. 🙂
Anna McClung says
I just made a practice batch. I cooked more bacon than required…I have bacon-stealing elves. I made my own cream-of- recipe, which is almost the same as yours, because I hate canned soup. This is the stuffing dreams are made of. I added a chopped apple and a couple of handsful of chopped pecans. Thank you for this recipe! I’;;; be serving this next week. Nummy!
Karly says
Yay! I love to hear that! Thanks, Anna! 🙂
TimedEating says
Have you tried making stuffing in the form of crispy pork bonbons – this year for Christmas I made shredded pork belly mixed with cranberries and caramelised onions and then coated them in panko before crisping them up – SO good. Even better with ham hocks. Here’s the recipe if you’re interested, www.timedeating.co.uk/fully-loaded-shredded-pork-bonbons
Marcie says
I don’t stuff my turkey ever, and I always call it stuffing. Dressing just doesn’t sound right! There’s no forgiving necessary as you did bring us bacon….in STUFFING! ????
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
I hope you do’nt mind another guest at dinner – because I’m searching for tickets to Freakin’, Nebraska as I type 😉
A Young Wife says
Do you know what is worse? I know the difference and I call it all stuffing anyways…oh habit! We eat stuffing…I mean dressing year round. I cannot wait to try this!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I love your explanation of stuffing and dressing. Very clear. Bacon in this dressing is probably going to make this everyone’s favorite dressing recipe!
Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts says
I don’t even care if you’re a liar because this stuffing/dressing looks SO good!!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Who cares what it’s called! I want to stuff my face with it!! Like now! This looks amazing, Karly! Pinning!
Debbie the NY Baker says
Here’s another term for it – in PA, it’s called filling! And I don’t care what it’s called, your recipe looks/sounds delish!
Karly says
Interesting! I’ve never heard it called filling before.
Sarah | Broma Bakery says
Dressing, stuffing…. Forget what it’s called. I want it!
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
Stuffing is my favorite thing on Thanksgiving. This year we are hosting on our new farm. My in-laws are coming down and very excited as my husband spent his early years on his grandfather’s ranch. They are the country people I married into. Me, I’m the city girl pretending to be a country girl. Maybe I’ll add bacon to the stuffing. Bacon makes everything better.
Belinda@themoonblushbaker says
Cream of chicken soup in any recipe will instantly win my heart and my stomach 🙂 Dressing? stuffing? Who cares?! Too delicious for a name Karly!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I have ALWAYS wondered about the dressing/stuffing debate. And now I know! We make dressing, but call it stffinf. So confusing.
But, there’s bacon here. That’s all I need to know. Pinned!