This Is the *Easiest* Way to Dry Bread for Thanksgiving Stuffing (2024)

It doesn't matter which stuffing recipe is your favorite, the key to making the best stuffing (or dressing if that's what you call it) is having dried out bread. While some people are partial to making cornbread stuffing, others will make stuffing with ciabatta, white bread, or even challah. But no matter the type of bread you use, most recipes will call for the bread to be dry—or even stale for that matter! It's what makes this classic Thanksgiving side dish go from good to great.

It might seem counter-intuitive to make Ree Drummond's fresh skillet cornbread only to leave it out to become stale, but trust Ree when she says, "The bread needs to be dry, dry, dry... dry!" The reason for this is that stale or dry bread will hold up better after cooking and keep its texture even after adding your broth or liquid. If you use soft, fresh bread, you'll ultimately wind up with a soggy, mushy stuffing.

So, how do you dry bread for stuffing? There are two ways to go about it. If you've planned your Thanksgiving dinner ahead of time, you can cut your bread into cubes and leave them out to become stale overnight. Or, if you're short on time, you can use the oven method for a quick and easy way to dry. Read on for more about drying bread in the oven versus leaving it out to become stale.

How do you dry out bread for stuffing?

The easiest method for drying out bread to make stuffing is to use your oven. Don't worry, we know how precious oven space is on Thanksgiving Day so luckily you can dry out your bread in the oven a few days in advance. Just be sure to mark it down on your cooking schedule so you don't forget!

Here's how to do it: Keeping the bread in a single layer and baking it low and slow is the best way to go.

Cut the bread into 3/4-inch cubes and put them in an even layer on a sheet pan. Bake at 300°F for 40 minutes, giving them a stir every 10 minutes or so. You don't necessarily want them to be golden like croutons, but they should be completely dry.

What is the best bread to use for stuffing?

Pick a bread, any bread! The best part about stuffing is that there are so many types of bread based on your families preferences. You can use cornbread, Italian bread, French bread, white sandwich bread, challah, or even sourdough.

How do you dry out bread for stuffing without an oven?

If you don't want to take up space in the oven, you can always leave the bread out on the counter to dry. A day or two before you assemble your stuffing, cut the bread into cubes. Then, lay the cubes onto sheet pans and let them dry out at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours.

How long does it take for bread to dry out for stuffing?

If you leave the bread out on the counter to go stale, it can take up to a couple of days to become dry. Prefer a quicker method? Drying your bread in the oven will only take about 40 minutes. You can even do it a few days ahead and store the dried bread cubes in an air-tight container. For more time-saving stuffing tricks, try our Crock-Pot stuffing when you're in a pinch!