Homemade Bread Stuffing with Butternut Squash & Bacon

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Crispy bacon, chewy cubes of toasted, buttery bread, and a smattering of tender butternut squash make this Homemade Bread Stuffing a total MUST MAKE for your holiday dinner.

This easy homemade stuffing might just become your new favorite side dish, plus it's super simple to make!

At one point in time I thought I didn't really like stuffing that much. Seriously, that was just last year. But let me tell you guys something, I did a lot of research and testing this year to find out how to make the perfect stuffing, and now homemade stuffing is one of my new favorite holiday dishes!

This Bread Stuffing with Butternut Squash and Bacon is no different. It is super simple to make, with less than 10 ingredients, you will fall in love with the sweetness from the butternut squash, the rich and salty umami from the bacon, and the buttery toasted bread cubes. I'm drooling all over again just thinking about it.

And it's perfect served with these sous vide turkey legs or buttery roasted turkey thighs.

**If you want to fall back in love with stuffing like I have, pop on over and read these awesome tips for getting the perfect stuffing - works for every recipe!**

Why This Recipe Works

1. Bacon gives the dressing (stuffing) a slightly smoky, umami flavor that complements the sweetness of the butternut squash perfectly;
2. There are only a few ingredients and the steps are very easy to follow;
3. It's great to make ahead to eliminate some stress on Thanksgiving Day (see make-ahead tips at the bottom of the post);
4. Everyone LOVES this stuffing!

The Ingredients

Obviously the most important ingredient is the bread cubes. I recommend buying a loaf of french bread and cutting it into 1" cubes.

Place it on a baking sheet and bake it at 275 degrees for 30-40 minutes. This should give you perfect crisp bread cubes. Don't use the store bought cubes for the best results!!

Butter is the second key ingredient. It may seem like too much butter, but go with me here. The butter is what helps the stuffing develop those crisp, browned edges that are literally the best part of the stuffing. You want all that butter, I promise.

For the butternut squash, I actually like to buy those frozen 10 oz. bags of butternut squash cubes because it is SO EASY. The bags are microwavable so it's perfect. You could also buy fresh butternut squash, cube it and roast it for a nice caramelized flavor. To make roasted squash, roast in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.

If you're a fan of butternut squash, you'll also LOVE this butternut squash and red pepper soup.

All the other ingredients for this butternut squash stuffing should be easy to find in your local grocery store.

**For other unique stuffing ideas, check out this Mexican Chorizo Stuffing or this Jambalaya Cornbread Stuffing**

Step by Step Instructions

This homemade stuffing recipe is so freakin' easy! First, preheat the oven to 350F degrees.

Heat the 4 tbsp. of butter in a skillet and add the onions and garlic. Cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add the squash and crumbled bacon and cook another minute.

Place the bread cubes in a 9x13" baking dish. Pour the butternut squash mixture on top and mix together. Pour one cup of broth over the stuffing and gently mix.

Add the additional ½ cup of broth if necessary to reach desired consistency. If you need to add more, you can, but I prefer the stuffing a little on the drier side so you can taste the buttery flavor.

Drizzle the top with the 6 tbsp. of melted butter, cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the lid or foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes to crisp the top. Stuffing is done when lightly browned and crisp on top.

Expert Tips

1. Use fresh bread cubes toasted to crisp instead of store bought cubes for the best results;
2. Always bake the stuffing outside of the bird. When you stuff the turkey with the stuffing, it takes a lot longer to cook, typically resulting in drier meat. And possibly resulting in a stuffing that contains unsafe bacteria. It’s just better to cook your Thanksgiving stuffing in a separate baking dish. You can also drizzle the turkey drippings over the stuffing while it cooks if you want.
3. If your stuffing is too dry, add more chicken broth until the desired consistency is reached. be careful not to add too much or the dressing will be soggy;
4. To make roasted squash, roast in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Use in stuffing. You can also use frozen butternut squash cubes for convenience (it's what I use) so you don't have to roast the squash.
5. Substitute any squash for the butternut squash if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do I do if my stuffing is too moist? If your stuffing has become a gummy mess, dump it out onto a large baking sheet and spread it out. Bake it in a 350 degree oven until it has dried to the desired consistency.
2. How do you fix stuffing that is too dry? Add more liquid until desired consistency is reached.
3. Can I make stuffing ahead of time? Make the squash and bacon mixture as directed and store in a airtight container in the fridge. Store the bread cubes in a separate airtight zipper bag until ready to use. When you're ready to cook it, assemble in a 9x13" baking dish. Follow the remaining recipe instructions.
4. How long does bread stuffing last? It can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days, To reheat, place in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through. Add additional broth when reheating if stuffing is dry.
5. Can you freeze it? This butternut squash recipe is great because it can be made in advance and frozen. Combine all the ingredients expect the broth and 6 tbsp. of melted butter in an airtight freezer container and store for up to one month for best results. To cook, defrost in the fridge overnight, add the broth and butter and cook according to the recipe instructions.
6. How do I reheat stuffing without drying it out? Let the stuffing come to room temperature. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, until warmed through. If stuffing is too dry, add liquid, just a little at a time. Note, if stuffing is brought to room temperature properly, you shouldn’t need to add additional liquid.
7. How do you moisten leftover stuffing? Add more liquid until desired consistency is reached. For the best results, add ½ cup of broth with a tbsp. of melted butter mixed in before you put it in the oven to reheat. Reheat at 350 for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.

Make it a Meal

No one wants to eat JUST stuffing. Well, maybe they do. But typically it's going with your other Thanksgiving dishes like these:

• What's Thanksgiving without some Turkey Gravy?
• Learn How to Roast a Turkey in this recipe by Wide Open Eats;
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes are always a must;
• A little Spicy Mac and Cheese does the trick;
• Try these Soft Dinner Rolls from Sally's Baking Addiction;
• Pecan Pie Bars are the perfect way to end your meal.

More Favorite Thanksgiving Sides

• Wild Rice Stuffing;
• Make Ahead Turkey Gravy;
• Mexican Cornbread Stuffing;
• Cranberry Chutney Recipe;
• Scalloped Potatoes;
• Browse all the Stuffing Recipes!!

Did you make this bread stuffing recipe? Rate the recipe and leave me a comment to let me know how it turned out!