4 Easy Ways to Reheat Stuffing (2024)

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Meghan Splawn

Meghan Splawn

Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

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updated Nov 14, 2023

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4 Easy Ways to Reheat Stuffing (1)

Learn the best and fastest methods for reheating leftover stuffing.

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4 Easy Ways to Reheat Stuffing (2)

In This Article

  1. The Best Method: Stovetop
  2. The Fastest Way: Microwave
  3. Best Method for a Crowd: Oven

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Stuffing is the most beloved Thanksgiving leftover in my husband’s family — my mother in-law makes extra pans of her infamous recipe for each of her kids to take home every year. My husband could eat his leftovers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner straight from the pan, but I find a little extra work makes stuffing leftovers worth every savory bite. Here’s our favorite reheating method, plus two other fast and fun methods to try.

Add Butter and Broth Before Reheating

No matter which Thanksgiving stuffing recipe you’ve cooked, you’ll want to take a few steps before reheating. Remove the leftover stuffing from the refrigerator and take a look at it. Often upon refrigeration, the stuffing will soak up any excess moisture and will appear drier than when originally served.

Depending on the amount of stuffing you plan to reheat, drizzle a few tablespoons or up to 1/4 cup of chicken or turkey broth into the stuffing to moisten it. Adding a pat of butter to the top of the stuffing before reheating also adds some richness that can be lost with leftovers.

The Best Method: Stovetop

Here’s the thing about using a pan, a little butter, and some broth to reheat stuffing: it makes it taste even better than it did the day it was made. The bread gets crisped by the hot pan and the broth helps soften the stuffing that has otherwise absorbed a lot of its original moisture. You’ll literally want to eat this reheated stuffing right out of the pan.

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  2. Add the stuffing and flatten with the back of a spoon, making a pancake.
  3. Cook until golden-brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

The Fastest Way: Microwave

This is my husband’s tried-and-true method — nothing glamorous, but it heats the stuffing well. Be sure to add a little broth or butter to your stuffing before reheating to prevent drying out.

  1. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper.
  2. Microwave for two to three minutes, stirring after each minute to make sure the stuffing heats evenly.

Best Method for a Crowd: Oven

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are two other simple ways you can reheat stuffing, both of which involve the oven and are great for feeding a crowd.

  • Baking Dish: The first oven option is to move leftover stuffing to a baking dish, add broth and butter, and heat at 350°F for 30 minutes covered. Uncover and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes so you can get some crispy, crunchy bits on top.
  • Muffin Pan: The second oven option is to divide the leftover stuffing between the cups of a greased muffin pan and crisp them in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. My kids are big fans of this method.
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How To Reheat Stuffing: The Best, Simplest Method

Learn the best and fastest methods for reheating leftover stuffing.

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • Leftover stuffing
  • Cooking spray, for the muffin tin and oven method
  • Vegetable oil, for the stovetop method
  • Low -sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • Butter

Equipment

  • Instant-read thermometer

For stovetop method:

  • Skillet

  • Flat spatula

For microwave method:

  • Microwave-safe dish

  • Parchment paper

  • Spoon

For baking dish oven method:

  • Baking dish

  • Aluminum foil

For muffin tin oven method:

  • Spoon or scoop

  • Muffin tin

Instructions

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  1. Add broth and butter to stuffing before reheating to 165°F. Before you begin any of the reheating methods, remove the leftover stuffing from the refrigerator and take a look at it. Often upon refrigeration, the stuffing will soak up any excess moisture and will appear drier than when originally served. Depending on the amount of stuffing you plan to reheat, drizzle a few tablespoons or up to 1/4 cup of chicken or turkey stock into the stuffing to moisten it. Adding a pat of butter to the top of the stuffing before reheating adds some richness that can be lost with leftovers. In all reheating methods, stuffing temperature should reach 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

  2. Method 1: Reheat stuffing on the stovetop. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the stuffing and flatten with the back of a spoon, making a pancake. Cook until golden-brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

  3. Method 2: Reheat stuffing in the microwave. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper. Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring after each minute to make sure the stuffing heats evenly.

  4. Method 3: Reheat stuffing in a baking dish in the oven. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Place the moistened stuffing in a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more.

  5. Method 4: Reheat stuffing in a muffin tin in the oven. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Scoop the moistened stuffing into a lightly greased muffin tin. Bake for 20 minutes.

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4 Easy Ways to Reheat Stuffing (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to reheat stuffing? ›

Bring the baked stuffing to room temperature so that it will reheat evenly (about 30 minutes). Preheat the oven to 350 F and warm the dish covered for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is heated through. To recreate the crispy top found in freshly-baked stuffing, remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of the baking time.

How do you reheat stuffing from the fridge? ›

The Fastest Way: Microwave

Be sure to add a little broth or butter to your stuffing before reheating to prevent drying out. Transfer stuffing to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a piece of parchment paper. Microwave for two to three minutes, stirring after each minute to make sure the stuffing heats evenly.

How to keep stuffing warm and moist? ›

He uses the hot broth on stuffing, too, rather than putting the stuffing in the oven to heat it up (and risking drying it out). "I make indentations in the trays of stuffing with a spoon," he says, "I put the hot chicken stock in it and it keeps it warm."

How many times can you reheat stuffing? ›

Each time food is cooled, stored and reheated, the likelihood of harmful bacteria multiplying increases. If you do end up with leftovers, it is much safer to either freeze them or reheat them just once.

Can stuffing be refrigerated overnight? ›

For leftovers, remember the 2-hour rule and refrigerate cooked poultry and stuffing within two hours to avoid bacteria from multiplying on room-temperature food. Leftover stuffing should be consumed or frozen within 3-4 days.

Can you eat stuffing cold the next day? ›

If the turkey and stuffing were cooked and refrigerated separately, both should be safe. Keep these cold foods cold and refrigerate them immediately upon arrival at home (always within 2 hours). Serve the meal within 3 to 4 days. Do not reheat a whole cooked turkey.

What is the best way to reheat Thanksgiving leftovers? ›

Transfer the turkey and mashed potatoes into oven-safe dishes, add a little stock to the turkey and butter to the potatoes, and cover both dishes. Reheat them together for about 30 minutes at 350°F. You're winning the leftover dinner game right now.

Can stuffing be made ahead and reheated? ›

"You may need to add a little broth are water to maintain the moistness of the stuffing while reheating," Tiner says. "It is important that you reheat the stuffing to an internal temperature of 165°F before removing to serve."

How long does aluminum foil keep food warm? ›

Aluminum Foil

Just keep in mind the foil will keep in the heat for only about 30 minutes or so. If you are trying to keep a roast, steak, or whole bird warm, tenting with aluminum foil while it rests will benefit the meat in two ways: It will keep it at a warm temperature while allowing the juices to redistribute.

How do you keep stuffing warm at a party? ›

Chafing dish.

Chafing dishes are ideal for a buffet-style service. They provide consistent warmth and are durable for entertaining. Tip: Fill the chafing dish with hot water to help maintain the temperature of the food. Tip: Use denatured alcohol as a fuel source to keep the chafing dish hot during the party.

What are two safe methods of reheating food? ›

Mar 24, 2023
  • On stove top: Place food in pan and heat thoroughly. ...
  • In oven: Place food in oven set no lower than 325 °F. ...
  • In microwave: Stir, cover, and rotate fully cooked food for even heating. ...
  • Not Recommended: Slow cooker, steam tables or chafing dishes.
Mar 24, 2023

Do not reheat why? ›

the danger of bacteria breeding in food when food is neither steaming hot throughout nor cold. This includes, for example, food that is only partially reheated or 'warmed' rather than thoroughly reheated. that reheating foods can carry risk of foodborne disease even if the food is not raw or being cooked from scratch.

Can stuffing be made the day before and reheated? ›

Can you prepare stuffing ahead of time and reheat? YES! This stuffing is baked to golden perfection the day before the big meal. You store it in the fridge overnight and then simply warm it in the oven before dinner.

Can I reheat stuffing in the crockpot? ›

Reheating leftovers in a slow cooker is not recommended. Cooked food should be reheated on the stove, in a microwave, or in a conventional oven until it reaches 165 °F. Then the hot food can be placed in a preheated slow cooker to keep it hot for serving—at least 140 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Can I reheat stuffing in an air fryer? ›

You reheat stuffing in the air fryer by turning on to a low temperature and putting your leftover balls in for about 5 minutes of depending on the size.

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