Stuffing on Thanksgiving. There are a lot of big choices to make. The varieties of stuffing to prepare are seemingly endless. But the first, most important choice to make is whether you will make it from scratch or from a pre-packaged mix. This was the most difficult choice to make for this series, but I decided on a pre-packaged mix. Heres why: I wanted this first Thanksgiving Series to focus on being budget-friendly and beginner-friendly. This easy Pepperidge Farm stuffing is a breeze to make. Plus, there are a lot of add-ons to choose from to elevate a packaged mix. Ill get to that in a moment.
As Thanksgiving approaches, one of the key components of creating a delicious and memorable turkey dinner is getting the stuffing just right. For many households, Pepperidge Farm stuffing is a familiar and trusted option when it comes to preparing the perfect side to complement the turkey. But figuring out exactly how many bags to buy can be a bit tricky. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to determine the ideal amount of Pepperidge Farm stuffing for your turkey.
Calculating How Much Stuffing You Need
When estimating how many bags of stuffing you need the most important factor is the weight of your turkey. As a general guideline, plan on using about 3/4 cup of prepared stuffing per pound of turkey. So for a 12 lb bird you’d need approximately 9 cups of stuffing, which equals around 1 1/2 bags of Pepperidge Farm.
It’s better to err on the side of having a little extra than not enough. The stuffing can expand in size as it cooks inside the turkey, absorbing moisture and fat from the bird. So building in some wiggle room is smart. You can always bake any extra stuffing you have in a casserole dish to enjoy alongside the turkey.
Consider the Shape and Size of Your Turkey
While the weight of the turkey is the primary determining factor, also take into account the dimensions of your specific bird. Some turkeys are broader or longer than others, which impacts how much space there is available inside to hold stuffing.
Before stuffing, carefully measure the turkey’s cavity by running a tape measure from the opening at the neck down to the end where the legs begin. This will give you a good sense of how much stuffing you can realistically fit inside without overstuffing.
Err on the side of a little less stuffing if you’re working with a smaller turkey. You want there to be enough room for the stuffing to cook through properly while inside the bird.
Flavor Boosters for Pepperidge Farm Stuffing
One of the great things about Pepperidge Farm stuffing is it provides a perfect neutral backdrop for adding your own flavors and customizations. Feel free to jazz up a basic bagged stuffing mix to suit your taste preferences.
Here are some tasty mix-in ideas to consider
- Sautéed onions, celery, mushrooms, or other veggies
- Fresh or dried fruits like cranberries, apples, apricots
- Nuts like pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pine nuts
- Fresh herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, or parsley
- Spices like garlic powder, paprika, cumin or nutmeg
- Chicken or vegetable stock for extra moisture
Adding 2-3 eggs and a few tablespoons of melted butter or olive oil to the stuffing mix also helps bind it together nicely.
Baking Stuffing Outside the Turkey
For optimal food safety, many chefs recommend baking your stuffing outside the turkey in a casserole dish rather than stuffing it inside the cavity. This ensures the stuffing can easily reach the recommended safe minimum internal temp of 165°F.
If going this route, you’ll want to increase the amount of chicken broth or turkey stock added to the stuffing to make up for the loss of moisture and fat from the turkey juices. Follow the package directions, using the recommended amount of liquid for baking stuffing in a casserole.
Bake uncovered at 350°F until heated through and browned on top, about 30 minutes. You can also divide the stuffing into individual ramekins or muffin tins for cute single-serving portions.
Storing Leftover Stuffing
Like most Thanksgiving leftovers, extra stuffing will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for longer term storage. Simply transfer cooled stuffing into zip-top freezer bags and freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Reheat frozen stuffing in the oven or microwave until heated through, adding a little extra chicken or vegetable broth if it seems too dry.
Leftover stuffing is also great for making turkey pot pies, casseroles, sandwiches, or stuffing-topped salads. Get creative with how you use up any extra!
Tips for Perfect Pepperidge Farm Stuffing
Here are a few handy tips and tricks to ensure your Pepperidge Farm stuffing turns out fantastic:
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Melt the butter before adding to the stuffing mix for even coating.
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Sauté any vegetables or herbs in the melted butter before adding to stuffing.
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Use low-sodium chicken or turkey broth for the moisture.
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Combine the broth and stuffing mix gently to avoid over-mixing.
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For baked stuffing, cover with foil at first if browning too quickly, then uncover at the end to crisp the top.
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Bake stuffing in the turkey for the first 1-2 hours, then transfer to a baking dish to finish if needed.
How Many Bags for Different Turkey Sizes
As a final guideline, here are some general recommendations for how many bags of Pepperidge Farm stuffing you’ll need for different turkey weights:
- 10 lb turkey = 1 bag
- 12 lb turkey = 1 1/2 bags
- 14 lb turkey = 2 bags
- 16 lb turkey = 2 bags
- 18 lb turkey = 2 1/2 bags
- 20+ lb turkey = 3 bags
Add an extra bag if you’ll be baking some stuffing separately or know your guests love generous helpings. And remember you can always supplement Pepperidge Farm mix with homemade ingredients.
Follow this advice for hassle-free stuffing that will make your Thanksgiving meal complete. Here’s to a holiday season filled with comfort, joy, and plenty of flavorful food to share!
Thanksgiving: The One Time a Year You Cook a Turkey!
Welcome to my Thanksgiving Series! This is a feast I made for about $95 and it serves 8-10 people. You’ll probably still have some leftovers too! I bought a whopping 19 ½ pound turkey and economized as much as I could to keep this under $100. I know staying on a budget is important. This turkey feast is a budget-friendly, beginner-friendly option.
All the Thanksgiving Essentials to Accompany This Easy Pepperidge Farm Stuffing:
Most pre-packaged brands will instruct you to add the celery and onions to the mix. Dont skip this since its essential to enhance the flavor of the mix. More ideas to flavor enhance:
- I added apples to my recipe. Chop them in small pieces and add them to the onions and celery pan.
- You could also add dried cranberries or craisins. Toward the end of cooking the celery/onion mixture, add them to the pan and mix to combine. They dont need to cook for more than a minute.
- Chopped and toasted pecans are really great in stuffing. You can toast the nuts in a pan and mix them into the stuffing or simply sprinkle on top as a garnish.
- Ground Italian sausage is a great way to add another dimension of flavor to your stuffing. Cook in a pan on medium heat and break the sausage into pieces as its cooking. Meat should be crumbly. It only takes about 5-8 minutes to cook. Then add that to the onion pan when the onion/celery mix is finished.
- On Thanksgiving Day, I took some of the juices from the turkey pan and transferred to a squeeze bottle. I squeezed the juices on top of my stuffing.
- Top your stuffing with thin pats of butter before baking in the oven.
Now go forth and cook with pre-packaged stuffing! This easy Pepperidge Farm stuffing IS really delicious and dont let anyone tell you different!
THANKSGIVING DAY Pepperidge Farm’s Classic CORNBREAD STUFFING from the back of the bag 🙂 So Easy
FAQ
How much stuffing do I need for a 20lb turkey?
Stuff both the neck and body cavities of a completely thawed turkey, allowing ½ to ¾ cup of stuffing per pound. Don’t pack stuffing too tightly, as it may cause uneven cooking. When preparing a whole turkey for the oven, return the legs to the original tucked position if they were untucked for stuffing.
Can you stuff a turkey with pepperidge farm stuffing?
Add the stuffing to the saucepan and mix lightly. Remove the package of giblets and neck from the turkey cavity. Rinse the turkey with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Spoon the stuffing lightly into the neck and body cavities.
How many cups are in a 12 oz bag of pepperidge farm stuffing?
A: I got tired of guessing and trying to look up the correct answer. So, I tore open a 12 oz. bag of the Pepperidge Farm bread crumbs and measured for myself. There are 6 FULL cups.
How many bags of stuffing do I need for 20 people?
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.