Best 9 Thanksgiving Dressing Recipes

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Thanksgiving dressing, also known as stuffing, is a classic dish that is enjoyed by many families during the holiday season. This savory dish is typically made with bread cubes, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings. It can be cooked inside the turkey or baked separately in a casserole dish.

There are many different ways to make Thanksgiving dressing, and each family has their own unique recipe. Some popular variations include adding sausage, oysters, or dried fruit. This article provides three delicious recipes for Thanksgiving dressing that are sure to please everyone at your table.

The first recipe is for a classic bread dressing made with white bread, celery, onion, and sage. The second recipe is for a cornbread dressing made with cornbread, sausage, and apples. The third recipe is for a wild rice dressing made with wild rice, mushrooms, and walnuts.

No matter which recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and festive dish. So gather your ingredients and get ready to make some Thanksgiving dressing!

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

CLASSIC THANKSGIVING DRESSING WITH PARSLEY, SAGE AND THYME



Classic Thanksgiving Dressing With Parsley, Sage and Thyme image

For those who haven't completely given up on homemade stuffing and are looking for a simple, memorable stuffing, this recipe - and it's tasty variations - will set you on the path in the right direction.

Provided by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

Categories     Side Dish     Stuffing and Dressing Recipes     Bread Stuffing and Dressing Recipes

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (1 pound) loaf crusty Italian or French bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes or, if drying and toasting bread is too much trouble, buy unflavored croutons or bread cubes
4 tablespoons butter
2 onions, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
¼ cup minced fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon dried sage, rubbed between fingers
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 large eggs

Steps:

  • Spread bread cubes in a single layer on two large sheet pans and let dry for a few hours or overnight. Adjust oven racks to lower- and upper-middle positions. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake bread until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
  • Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and celery; saute until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. In a large bowl, mix bread, vegetables and remaining ingredients. Turn into a greased 3-quart baking dish. Cover with foil and bake until steamy, 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until crusty, 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 122.8 calories, Carbohydrate 16.1 g, Cholesterol 25.4 mg, Fat 4.7 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 3.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 326.6 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

MAW MAW'S THANKSGIVING DRESSING



Maw Maw's Thanksgiving Dressing image

This was my Maw Maw's recipe for homemade dressing. It is the best!!! My family has been using this particular dressing recipe for years!

Provided by Kim D.

Categories     Kid Friendly

Time 1h30m

Yield 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 cups day-old breadcrumbs
4 cups crumbled cornbread
4 cups crumbled biscuits
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 -4 cups chicken broth (or more if needed)

Steps:

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F.
  • In a very large mixing bowl, combine bread crumbs, crumbled cornbread, crumbled biscuits, yellow onions, celery, green onions, fresh parsley, sage, salt and pepper.
  • Toss well.
  • Add melted butter and eggs; mix.
  • Add chicken broth, a little at a time, mixing lightly, but well.
  • Add enough broth to make mixture extra moist.
  • Place mixture into a well-greased baking dish.
  • Bake about 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.
  • ~NOTE~This can be made ahead of time by mixing everything together, placing it in the well-greased baking dish, covering with foil, and refrigerating.
  • To bake, remove from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  • Then, remove foil and bake for about 45 minutes.

APPLE AND ONION DRESSING (THANKSGIVING STUFFING)



APPLE AND ONION DRESSING (THANKSGIVING STUFFING) image

Yield 8 People

Number Of Ingredients 10

7 cups soft bread cubes
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 cups tart apples, unpeeled and diced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2 quart casserole dish. Cover raisins with boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain well then toss them with the bread cubes. In a skillet melt the butter and saute the onions, garlic, and celery for about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the sauteed onions into the bread cube mixture. Add the diced apples, parsley, salt and paprika and stir carefully. Place stuffing mix in the prepared dish. Bake the dressing at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes.

HOME FOR THANKSGIVING FRIED CORNBREAD DRESSING



Home For Thanksgiving Fried Cornbread Dressing image

This recipe has grown a few strapping boys and delighted even the pickiest gal in the bunch. Our home is always full to overflowing on Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is the one recipe that is a "must" even if we don't do turkey. This has evolved over the years to try to hit everyone's preferences. It's my own invention! It tastes good as is or will serve well with southern cream

Provided by Mom of Chef Mark

Categories     Southwestern U.S.

Time 1h30m

Yield 30 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb mild ground sausage
2 diced onions
2 cups sliced celery
1 lb sliced fresh mushrooms
4 cans Swanson chicken broth
2 -3 teaspoons sage
salt & pepper (optional)
5 packets cornbread mix (each packet enough for 6 servings of cornbread)
3/4-2 cup butter or 3/4-2 cup margarine

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 for cornbread.
  • Place stick of butter in bottom of roasting pan and place in oven to melt it (This will allow the cornbread to"fry" while it's baking).
  • Mix up corn bread mix according to package instructions (Usually, this will be the addition of 2/3 cups sweet milk and 1 egg per package of mix.) (Cornbread can be baked ahead, which I usually do the night before).
  • When done, use a knife and score through the cornbread to make very small cubes.
  • (You should have enough to be able to enjoy a few cubes of this buttered delight while it's still hot).
  • Brown sausage in dutch oven.
  • Add onions, celery and mushrooms and the other half stick of butter if you need more oil.
  • Saute til sausage is done and onion is translucent.
  • Add about 3 cups of cornbread and sage.
  • Let brown a bit.
  • Add rest of cornbread and stir well.
  • Turn dressing from dutch oven into the roaster pan.
  • Drizzle with chicken broth til nice and moist (This is a personal taste thing).
  • Bake at 350 for about an hour or until golden brown.
  • This makes enough for 24 to 30 servings depending on appetites.
  • Is wonderful left-over.
  • Your guests will even want to take some home with them.
  • Freezes well.
  • (I don't salt during cooking. Just place salt and pepper shakers on the table for those who want more than what's already there).

THANKSGIVING STUFFING/DRESSING



Thanksgiving Stuffing/Dressing image

I can hardly call this a recipe, but every time I make it, I get compliments. EVERYONE likes the stuffing and I just smile and say thanks. It's up to you if you want to admit it's not homemade, but I guarantee no one will know that it's doctored up Stove Top, and everyone will like it. Something magical happens when you put...

Provided by Erin M

Categories     Other Side Dishes

Time 5m

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 box chicken flavored stove top stuffing
1 medium-large onion
4 stalks celery
2 Tbsp butter

Steps:

  • 1. Melt butter, add chopped onion and celery and saute until vegetables are tender.
  • 2. Prepare both boxes of Chicken flavored Stovetop Stuffing as directed, but put both in one large bowl. Add cooked onion and celery, mix.
  • 3. Stuff your "bird" (turkey or chicken) with your doctored up Stove Top and cook turkey for necessary amount of time. When turkey is done, get stuffing out of the bird, put in pretty bowl. Don't say anything, hide the Stove Top boxes. Wait for the compliments. I know, it sounds too good to be true, but it's true! To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Stove Top Stuffing when it's cooked on the stovetop, but somehow putting it inside of a turkey or chicken makes it AMAZING!! It's up to you if you want to confess that it's not homemade, but unlike homemade EVERYONE will like it :-) I've found with homemade stuffing, people only like their mom's. Nothing else compares to mom's. This EVERYONE will like. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

MOM'S THANKSGIVING CORNBREAD DRESSING



Mom's Thanksgiving Cornbread Dressing image

I grew up with Turkey and Dressing, stuffing was just foreign to me, until I became an adult, and while I can appreciate stuffing, nothing comes close to the dressing the women in my family made every Thanksgiving. If made properly, you'll find this somewhat lighter than most dressing recipes. I grew up in the south, and recently moved to California. Thanksgiving foods here are great, but they don't usually bear a strong resemblance to the holiday food I'm used to. The instructions may sound a little odd, but please, just follow them, and you'll have a really delicious dressing, and enough for a crowd. This does make a large amount, but Thanksgiving leftovers never go to waste in my family.

Provided by lindieb

Categories     Grains

Time 2h15m

Yield 10-15 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 -4 celery ribs, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 pan cornbread (like a 9 inch size pan, I prefer white cornbread.. but your choice)
3 -4 slices bread (wheat bread is fine)
turkey giblets
sage
poultry seasoning
salt
pepper
juice or drippings from the turkey
5 -6 eggs (if using extra large 5, if large then 6)

Steps:

  • Early in the day (earlier the better) make the cornbread, when done, place in a large bowl and break into large chunks. Also, I make my cornbread southern style, heating some bacon fat in the pan, as the oven heats, before pouring in the batter. (by the way, I'm doing this so early, and starving, so I usually have a small slice for breakfast - hey I'm human :) Lay bread slices on top ( you can tear those up a bit if you want). The purpose is to let it all dry out a bit. If you are cooking the turkey at home - take the giblets, neck etc out of the turkey, place in sauce pan, cover with water and bring to a boil, then simmer about an hour.
  • Remove the turkey parts from the broth, and add the diced celery and onion, bring to a boil again, then simmer about 30 to 45 minutes. If you aren't making your own turkey, use chicken broth or turkey broth (if you can find it)- Trader Joes has it, if you have one in your area, probably about 2 cans. Dump entire hot mixture of liquid and veggies onto the cornbread/bread in the bowl. Use a potato masher to start mashing it up.
  • Again if you are making your own turkey, at this point your turkey should be about done, because you would have started cooking it sometime after you finished the cornbread. Use a turkey baster to start taking turkey juice and transferring it to the bowl. (I use a cooking/turkey bag) to make my turkey, so I always have a ton of juice, enough for the dressing, and to make gravy.) After every couple of additions, mash it in some more. At this point you can use an electric hand mixer.
  • Mixture should be a bit soupy. At this point, add seasonings. I'd guess about ¼ teaspoon sage, and 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning. Taste, then add a little salt and a little pepper. Taste again, then decide if you want more poultry seasoning or sage - just remember a little sage goes a long way. Once it tastes like you want it, beat in the raw eggs, using the hand mixer, mix it on medium or high speed about 2 minutes.
  • Again, if you aren't making your own turkey, you can use chicken broth, you'll need to heat it up, and I'm not quite sure how much it would take, my guess is 3 cans, but have extra on hand just in case. The broth that comes in boxes is fine to use - I prefer to not use the swansons brand, it's not as rich as some of the other brands that come in a box. Just remember, again, this mixture should be pretty soupy - the raw eggs are what's going to make it set.
  • Generously butter a large casserole (if you don't have at least a 3quart casserole, you can use more than one, and pour the dressing mixture into that. Bake at 350 about an hour. It should puff up just a little bit, be a bit brown on top. Test for doneness by sticking in a toothpick, or you can use a butter knife, it should come out basically clean. Serve with Turkey and gravy.

THANKSGIVING DRESSING



Thanksgiving Dressing image

The question has dogged Thanksgiving cooks practically since Norman Rockwell painted "Freedom From Want" in 1942 and transformed the harvest feast into an American ideal: Is it stuffing or dressing? Grandmother knows: it is stuffing only if it is cooked inside the bird. Otherwise it is dressing. This classic version, made with bread, celery, onions, apples, chestnuts, thyme and sage, is relatively simple to execute. It would do well at almost any time of the year as an accompaniment to roast chicken or pork. Crucial is the copious use of turkey broth, or a good chicken broth, to help meld the flavors together. Also necessary is an understanding that the cooking should last long enough to crisp the exterior without burning it, while not going on so long as to dry out the dish. When in doubt, add a splash more broth.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     side dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large Spanish onion, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, cleaned and diced
2 apples, preferably tart, like Granny Smith or Cortland, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup peeled chestnuts, roughly chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
3 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed and leaves chopped
1 dozen fresh sage leaves, stems removed and leaves chopped
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 dash hot-pepper sauce, or to taste
1 loaf decent-quality bread, a day or two old, torn into small pieces
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 to 2 cups turkey or chicken stock (see recipe); if using store-bought broth, use low-sodium variety

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, celery, apples, chestnuts, salt, pepper, thyme, sage, Worcestershire and hot-pepper sauce. Cook, stirring, until vegetables have softened and herbs wilted, approximately 5 minutes.
  • Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add the bread, beaten eggs, parsley and enough broth so the dressing is well moistened. Blend well and check for seasoning.
  • Grease a baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and put dressing in it. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the top is beginning to brown. Check to make sure interior is moist. If not, add some more broth and return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 287, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 486 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams

MOM'S SAGE STUFFING (DRESSING FOR THANKSGIVING)



MOM'S SAGE STUFFING (DRESSING FOR THANKSGIVING) image

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 cups dry bread crumbs - tear and sit overnight with dish towel over the top
3 T. onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
1/3 c melted butter
hot water - until soggy

Steps:

  • Tear up bread and sit overnight to dry Mix all ingredients together, bake in and around turkey 2 hours or in meat pan ~350 degree oven

MOM'S/GRAMMA'S THANKSGIVING TURKEY & DRESSING



Mom's/Gramma's Thanksgiving Turkey & Dressing image

Make and share this Mom's/Gramma's Thanksgiving Turkey & Dressing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by JRuiz

Categories     Thanksgiving

Time 6m

Yield 14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 loaves bread (large sliced loaves)
12 -16 ounces Jimmy Dean sausage
2 large onions, cut into quarters
1 turkey heart (from giblets)
1 turkey liver (from giblets)
2 eggs
3/4 tablespoon sage
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup dried parsley, crushed
1/4 cup margarine, melted

Steps:

  • Purchase an 18-20 pound frozen turkey on the Monday, prior to Thursday (Thanksgiving Day). Keep in its sealed covering and place on a cookie sheet or a roasting pan and defrost in refrigerator. Purchase 2 large loaves of Packaged white bread; remove from wrapper. Place on a cookie sheet to dry thoroughly.
  • Thanksgiving Morning - Allow 1 hour for preparation time before cooking begins.
  • Remove turkey from sealed covering.
  • Loosen legs from wire clamp.
  • Remove neck and giblets (liver, gizzard & heart) from body cavity.
  • Thoroughly rinse turkey and cavity under running cold water, including body and neck. Set upright to drain.
  • Sprinkle salt in neck and breast cavity, not on skin - it would cause it to blister when cooking.
  • Place neck & gizzard in medium size pan, barely covering with cold water and simmer covered approximately 1 hour.
  • STUFFING:.
  • Moisten dried bread slices with cold water-pile on cake racks to absorb and drain.
  • 2 large packages/loaves dried bread slices.
  • 1 12 - 16 ounce package Jimmy Dean "Regular" Pork Sausage.
  • 2 large onions quartered.
  • Turkey Heart and Liver.
  • 2 eggs.
  • 3/4 Tablespoon Sage.
  • 1 Tablespoon Poultry Seasoning.
  • Salt and Pepper.
  • 1/3 cup dried parsley - crushed.
  • 1/2 stick margarine-melted.
  • Brown pork sausage in frying pan -breaking meat into small pieces -drain off fat -set aside.
  • Place in blender, or food processor:quartered onions, turkey hear and liver cut in halves, eggs, and seasonings. Blend to liquid consistency.
  • Melt margarine; set aside.
  • Squeeze excess water from bread with hands and bread into bite size pieces. Place in large mixing bowl.
  • Add drained pork sausage. Mix.
  • Add blended ingredients and melted butter. Mix thoroughly, but lightly. DO NOT PACK.
  • By handfuls, gently place stuffing into neck cavity. Do not pack - close with small poultry nails or skewers.
  • Fill body cavity - loosely - DO NOT PACK! Close cavity by replacing legs into wire clamp as originally positioned.
  • Tuck wings under back. Place bird, breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan - (No need to turn bird during roasting time).
  • Drizzle 1/2 stick melted margarine over bird.
  • Place roasting pan on lowest shelf in 300 - 325 degree oven, uncovered - do not add water. Roast 13 to 15 minutes per original unstuffed weight (usually 4 1/2 to 5 hours total).
  • Wrap remaining stuffing in foil, roll edges to form pouch and refrigerate.
  • After 1 - 1 1/2 hours into roasting time, juices will accumulate in pan - use for basting chest every 1/2 hour thereafter.
  • After 2 hours 2 hours roasting time, add 1 large onion, chopped, to bottom of pan - they will brown and make delicious gravy. If skin is darkening too quickly, cover with a tent of foil.
  • If sufficient juices aren't forming - add 1/2 cup of water when onions are browning to prevent them from burning. Add boiled neck neck and gizzard - save water used to boil them for gravy.
  • After approximately 3 1/2 hours of cooking -if skin is browned satisfactorily, cover roasting pan with its cover. Be cautious to tilt cover away from yourself to allow steam to escape before further basting. Place foil pouch of extra stuffing on wire shelf along side of roasting pan.
  • Roasting time is completed when leg moves freely at thigh joint when pushed - or internal temperature is 180 degrees, if roasting thermometer is used (inserted in thickest part of thigh, but not against bone) or internal stuffing registers 165 degrees.
  • Remove from oven - place turkey on cookie sheet. Cover with roasting pan cover - let sit for 20 minutes before carving to allow internal juices to flow.
  • GRAVY - prepare in roasting pan over medium heat.
  • Remove excess fat from pan drippings. Scrape browned residue from bottom and sides of pan-slowly add mixture of 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup water - use wire whisk and blend until thickened - add neck and gizzard water (or water from cooking white potatoes) until desired consistency is obtained - Add salt and pepper to taste - strain into medium size pan, cover and reheat before serving.
  • Remove dressing from neck and body cavity - place in large serving container - mix dressing from foil pouch - cover with foil to retain heat.
  • Carve turkey - serve - Sit up straight, place your napkin on your lap, pass the cranberries and ENJOY!

Tips:

  • Use day-old bread: Stale bread will absorb more of the dressing liquid and result in a more flavorful dish.
  • Don't overstuff the dressing: The dressing should be moist, but not soggy. If you overstuff it, the dressing will be dry and crumbly.
  • Bake the dressing until it is golden brown: This will give the dressing a crispy crust and a delicious flavor.
  • Let the dressing rest before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld and the dressing to set.
  • Serve the dressing with your favorite Thanksgiving dishes: Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce are all classic Thanksgiving sides that pair well with dressing.

Conclusion:

Thanksgiving dressing is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make a dressing that is moist, flavorful, and golden brown. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a beginner, I encourage you to try one of the recipes in this article. You won't be disappointed!

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