Chestnut and Wild Mushroom Stuffing

A savory stuffing combining fresh chestnuts, wild mushrooms, and aromatic herbs. This elegant side dish features toasted bread cubes mixed with sautéed mushrooms, celery, and onions, enriched with fresh thyme and parsley.

8 servings

1 hr 50 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•⅓ pound fresh chestnuts
•8 tablespoons unsalted butter
•2½ cups sandwich bread
•2½ cups wild mushrooms
•1 medium onion
•4 stalks celery
•⅔ cup fresh parsley
•3⅓ tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
•1¾ cups chicken stock
•2 large eggs
•1 tablespoon fine sea salt
•2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
•note
•note

Cooking Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
5 min
2.
Using chestnut knife or sharp paring knife, make large X on flat side of each chestnut through shell but not meat. Soak chestnuts in bowl of warm water to cover by 2 inches for 15 minutes, then drain well. Arrange chestnuts in 1 layer in shallow baking pan, then roast in middle of oven until shells curl away at X mark, about 15 minutes. Wearing protective gloves, peel away shells from chestnuts while still hot. In large pot boiling water, blanch chestnuts 2 minutes, then drain. Using kitchen towel, rub chestnuts to remove skins. Coarsely chop and reserve. Leave oven on.
35 min
3.
Butter 9- by 13-inch casserole dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
2 min
4.
On foil-lined baking sheet, toast bread in 350°F oven, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Place in large mixing bowl and set aside. Leave oven on.
15 min
5.
In heavy, large skillet over moderately high heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add mushrooms and sauté, stirring, until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add another 2 tablespoons butter and heat until melted. Add onion and celery, and sauté until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes.
15 min
6.
Add mushroom mixture plus parsley and thyme to bread and gently stir to combine.
3 min
7.
In heavy, small pot over moderate heat bring chicken stock to gentle boil. Pour into bread mixture and gently toss to combine. Stir in egg, salt, and pepper. Transfer to casserole dish. The stuffing can be prepared up to this point and kept, covered and refrigerated, up to four hours. Bake until golden brown and heated through, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.
35 min

Ingredients

•⅓ pound fresh chestnuts

•8 tablespoons unsalted butter

•2½ cups sandwich bread

•2½ cups wild mushrooms

•1 medium onion

•4 stalks celery

•⅔ cup fresh parsley

•3⅓ tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

•1¾ cups chicken stock

•2 large eggs

•1 tablespoon fine sea salt

•2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

•note

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

5 min

Using chestnut knife or sharp paring knife, make large X on flat side of each chestnut through shell but not meat. Soak chestnuts in bowl of warm water to cover by 2 inches for 15 minutes, then drain well. Arrange chestnuts in 1 layer in shallow baking pan, then roast in middle of oven until shells curl away at X mark, about 15 minutes. Wearing protective gloves, peel away shells from chestnuts while still hot. In large pot boiling water, blanch chestnuts 2 minutes, then drain. Using kitchen towel, rub chestnuts to remove skins. Coarsely chop and reserve. Leave oven on.

35 min

Butter 9- by 13-inch casserole dish with 1 tablespoon butter.

2 min

On foil-lined baking sheet, toast bread in 350°F oven, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Place in large mixing bowl and set aside. Leave oven on.

15 min

In heavy, large skillet over moderately high heat, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add mushrooms and sauté, stirring, until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add another 2 tablespoons butter and heat until melted. Add onion and celery, and sauté until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes.

15 min

Add mushroom mixture plus parsley and thyme to bread and gently stir to combine.

3 min

In heavy, small pot over moderate heat bring chicken stock to gentle boil. Pour into bread mixture and gently toss to combine. Stir in egg, salt, and pepper. Transfer to casserole dish. The stuffing can be prepared up to this point and kept, covered and refrigerated, up to four hours. Bake until golden brown and heated through, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

35 min