When baked inside the bird, it's called stuffing. When baked separately in the oven, it's called dressing. Either way, this popular side dish makes the perfect complement to roast turkey or chicken. Most stuffing recipes require starch (usually bread, corn bread, rice, or potatoes), liquid (such as broth or wine), and ingredients that add flavor and texture (such as fruit, nuts, and sausage or other meats). Ready to start? Try this delicious basic recipe from The Food Channel. There are also tons of yummy variations, and you'll find links to some of the best ones below the recipe.

Meanwhile, here are some tips for the best stuffing you ever ate:

• For each pound of uncooked poultry, you'll need 3/4 cup stuffing.
• Mix the stuffing just before you stuff and roast the bird.
• Loosely spoon stuffing into the body and neck cavities rather than packing it. Otherwise it won't get hot enough by the time the turkey is cooked.
• When baking stuffing inside the bird, you'll need to make sure the stuffing (along with the bird) reaches a temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
• When making the dressing in a casserole dish, bake it, covered, in a 325-degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes until heated through.

HOMEMADE TURKEY STUFFING

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups Corn bread, diced
• 8 cups rustic bread with crust, diced or torn
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, unsalted
• 2 1/2 cups (2 - 3 onions) yellow onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups (2 - 3 stalks) celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons + 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh sage, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 2-3 cups chicken or turkey stock

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toast bread cubes on baking sheets until slightly crusty, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Cool and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. In a large heavy saute pan, melt butter and saute onions and celery on medium heat until vegetables are tender.
3. Add herbs and saute for an additional minute.
4. Combine vegetable mixture with bread, seasonings and stock.
5. Transfer to a deep buttered baking dish.
6. Bake for 45 minutes uncovered until stuffing is hot and crusty on the top.
   
   
   

Here are 19 more of the web's best stuffing recipes.

Mushroom Stuffing

Fill your holiday turkey with this savory stuffing or serve it alongside chicken or beef any time of the year.

Turkey with Cranberry-Pecan Stuffing

Use this goofproof recipe to guide you to a perfectly delicious bird, filled with a flavorful fruit and nut stuffing.

Spicy Corn Bread Stuffing

Cherry peppers deliver an unexpected kick to this zesty stuffing recipe that has only six ingredients.

Holiday Vegetable Stuffing

A colorful array of spinach, carrots, mushrooms, onion, and water chestnuts adds new personality to herb-seasoned stuffing moistened with savory vegetable broth.

Sausage-Walnut Stuffing

A flavorful combination of sausage, apples, and walnuts ensures this stuffing is moist and delicious.

Pear-Pecan Stuffing

Flavor this moist stuffing or dressing with pears, pecans, and nutmeg.

Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing

Holiday cranberries make a special appearance in this stuffing recipe that also features chorizo sausage.

Apple-Celery Stuffing

If you're a stuffing fanatic, don't wait for the holidays. Make this apple-studded version any day of the year.

Mushroom & Wild Rice Stuffing

Loaded with vegetables, this stuffing recipe can easily be served as a side dish, but it's especially delectable with turkey or chicken.

Fennel Corn Bread Stuffing

Make and bake a purchased corn bread mix, then add seasonings and vegetables for this simple stuffing that's great for holiday dinners.

Bread Stuffing with Fresh Herbs

Skip the packaged stuffing mix and use day-old bread and fresh herbs for great flavor.

Pecan-Sausage Stuffing

Toasting nuts brings out more crunch and flavor. Combine toasted pecans with sausage and apples to make an outstanding stuffing for your big meal.

Chestnut Stuffing

Chestnut meat adds incredible texture and richness (without much fat) to holiday stuffing. If you lack the patience for peeling fresh ones, jarred vacuum-packed chestnuts make a convenient alternative.

Squash-Barley Stuffing

Accompany the holiday bird with this quick and easy stuffing recipe that's moist yet full of texture and flavor from barley, zucchini, nuts, fruit nectar, and herbs.

Regina Ragone's Sausage Stuffing

Try this update of old-fashioned bread stuffing by adding sweet Italian sausage and mushrooms.

Pear, Prosciutto & Hazelnut Stuffing

Crisping the prosciutto and toasting the nuts adds a powerful punch of flavor to this delicious stuffing.

Brown Bread Stuffing

Boston brown bread, sweetened with molasses and full of raisins, teams up with butternut squash in this flavor-packed stuffing recipe.

Corn Bread Stuffing with Apples, Bacon & Pecans

Apples add sweetness, bacon adds salt, and the nuts add crunch in this delicious side dish that can be prepared in 30 minutes.

Chestnut-Sourdough Stuffing with Apricots, Roasted Mushrooms & Smoked Bacon

Fresh herbs and applewood-smoked bacon bring out even more flavor in this roasted chestnut and fruit holiday stuffing.