A lot of work goes into a big turkey dinner, so it's entirely understandable if you choose to simplify the process by using a boxed mix for the stuffing. Homemade stuffing usually tastes better, though, and it doesn't load your meal with additives and sodium the way a packaged mix can. It's easy to make from scratch and takes less effort than you'd think.

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes | Prep Time: 20 to 30 minutes | Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

• 1-pound loaf of bread, cut or torn into 1/2-inch cubes
  
• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 2 medium onions (about 1 1/2 cups), diced
  
• 2 stalks celery (about 3/4 cup), diced
  
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley or celery leaves
  
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
  
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
  
• 3 cups chicken broth 
  

Directions:

1. Spread the bread on a parchment-lined sheet pan, in a single layer. Either leave it out to dry the night before – the easy option – or toast it in your oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes until it's very lightly browned. 
   
2. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, and then add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring frequently, for 6 to 8 minutes until the onions are soft and translucent but not browned. Add the garlic, and stir for 1 more minute, then remove from the heat. 
   
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread, the onion mixture and the remaining seasonings; toss until they're well mixed. 
   
4. In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and half of the chicken broth. Toss it with the bread, and wait a few minutes for the liquid to absorb. Add the remainder of the broth 1/4 cup at a time, until you begin to see broth pooling at the bottom of the bowl. You might not need to use all 3 cups. 
   
5. Transfer the stuffing to a greased 9- by 13-inch pan or a 3-quart baking dish. Cover the stuffing with foil, or with the lid if your baking dish has one. If you're baking your stuffing at a different time or in a different oven from your turkey, set your oven to 400 F and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes. If your stuffing will bake alongside the turkey in the same oven, allow approximately 1 hour. Either way, uncover the stuffing halfway through the baking time so the top can crisp and brown.