Saltine Cracker Turkey Stuffing Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving

Saltine cracker stuffing is a retro, old fashioned turkey stuffing recipe made right in the bird. This homemade cracker dressing has been a Thanksgiving tradition in our family for generations, and it is one of the easiest turkey stuffing recipes you will ever make. The mixture goes into the turkey cavity to cook, and any extra gets baked in a casserole dish as a second side dish.

The saltine crackers get crushed and mixed with black pepper, celery, onion, fresh parsley, poultry seasoning, and milk. Everything comes together in one large bowl, with a little melted butter if you like. This is our favorite way to stuff a Thanksgiving turkey.

Our side dish dressing at Thanksgiving is an old fashioned southern cornbread dressing. You can find that family recipe here: Cornbread Stuffing, Copycat Liberty Tree Tavern Recipe.

A Family Tradition of Old Fashioned Cracker Stuffing

You may have never heard of saltine cracker stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner. Or maybe it brings back a memory of your grandmother making this vintage recipe. If a heavy bread stuffing has never been your favorite, this old fashioned turkey stuffing might just change your mind.

This saltine cracker stuffing recipe was passed down to me by my mother-in-law, who got it from her own mother. It has been a holiday tradition in our family every time we roast a turkey.

It is moist, light, and fluffy, much lighter than a traditional bread stuffing. You get all the flavor of a classic poultry seasoned dressing, with a texture that is soft on the inside and lightly crisp on top. You can make this stuffing gluten-free by using gluten-free saltine crackers.

This post contains some affiliate links, for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission, which helps keep my blog up and running, but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Click here to read my full disclosure policy.  

Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned Turkey Stuffing

• Only 8 ingredients. No fancy shopping list, just simple pantry staples.
• Lighter than bread stuffing. Moist and fluffy instead of heavy and dense.
• A true family recipe. Passed down through three generations, not something you’ll find anywhere else.
• Easy to make gluten-free. Just swap in gluten-free Saltine crackers.
• Make ahead friendly. Prep the ingredients the night before for a calmer Thanksgiving morning.

Our family recipe does not include any meat, but you can add cooked sausage if you like a heartier stuffing. This is sometimes called milk cracker stuffing, since milk is what makes it so moist.

Before I got married, I had never heard of saltine cracker stuffing for a Thanksgiving turkey, and stuffing was never my favorite part of the meal. Once I tried my mother-in-law’s version, that changed for good.

This dressing is full of flavor and a bit more crunchy on top than a soggy stuffing. It looks a little strange mixed in the bowl, but once it comes out of the bird, it is moist, flavorful, and delicious.

Make a large batch, stuff your turkey, and add the rest to a buttered casserole dish. Drizzle melted butter on top and bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, until golden brown.

Ingredients For Saltine Cracker Turkey Stuffing (Dressing)

• 4 sleeves of Saltine Crackers crushed
• 4 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1/2 bunch Fresh Parsle,y chopped
• 2 Onions chopped
• 4 eggs beaten until foamy
• 1 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
• 1 to 2 cups of Milk to make the dressing moist
• Black Pepper to taste

Ingredient note: Want it gluten-free? Use gluten-free saltine crackers and check that your poultry seasoning blend is gluten-free too.

Equipment Needed

• Food Processor
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Large Mixing Spoon
• Egg Beater
• Casserole Dish

How to Make Old Fashioned Saltine Cracker Stuffing

1. Place the saltine crackers in a large zip top bag and crush with a rolling pin, or pulse in a food processor. Pro tip: pulse in short bursts so you get a coarse crush, not cracker dust.
2. Chop the celery, onions, and parsley. About 10 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until foamy.
4. In a very large bowl, mix the crushed crackers, celery, parsley, and onion together. Stir in the eggs, then add milk until the mixture feels moist. Pro tip: add the milk a little at a time, you may not need the full 2 cups.
5. Stuff the mixture into your turkey and bake according to your turkey’s size and cook time.
6. If you have extra stuffing, or prefer to bake it outside the bird, spoon it into an oiled baking dish and bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes. You may need to add a splash more milk to keep it moist before baking. Always check that the center is cooked through.

Easy Variations on This Turkey Stuffing Recipe

• Add sausage. Brown 1/2 pound of breakfast sausage and mix it in for a heartier stuffing.
• Make it gluten-free. Swap in gluten-free saltine crackers, no other changes needed.
• Turn leftovers into stuffing balls. Roll cold leftover stuffing into balls, brush with melted butter, and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes until golden.
• Add dried cranberries. Stir in a handful for a little sweetness against the savory poultry seasoning.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Stuffing

Store leftover stuffing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F, covered with foil, until warmed through, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add a splash of milk or broth before reheating if it seems dry.

Prepare This Cracker Stuffing the Day Before

One of the ways I keep Thanksgiving morning calm is by prepping the night before. All the ingredients for this saltine cracker stuffing can be chopped and stored in zip top bags in the fridge. Thanksgiving morning, just mix everything together and stuff the bird.

Crushing the crackers takes a little time, so this is one of the easiest parts to knock out a day or two ahead. I recommend buying fresh saltine crackers at the store rather than a box that has been sitting in your pantry. The fresher the cracker, the more flavorful your old fashioned turkey stuffing will be.

Troubleshooting Common Stuffing Problems

• Too dry? Add another splash of milk before baking, a little at a time.
• Too wet or mushy? Add a few more crushed crackers to soak up the extra moisture.
• Not browning on top? Drizzle with a little extra melted butter and bake uncovered for the last 10 minutes.

More Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes You’ll Love

• How to Roast a Thanksgiving Turkey, Easy Recipe
• How Long to Cook a Turkey
• Traditional Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Bake and serve in style this holiday season! This Porcelain Baking Casserole Set for Oven is perfect for all of your favorite recipes.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this Year?

Check out my 20 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving post. Stay organized and plan well to have fun and enjoy the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Print