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    Home » Recipes » Side » Dressing Recipe (or Stuffing)

    Dressing Recipe (or Stuffing)

    Published: Nov 6, 2020 · Modified: Apr 11, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This homemade Dressing Recipe is so much better than the boxed kind! Use it as a holiday side dish or as stuffing for a turkey.

    a photo of the baked dressing

    Of all the side dishes at a Thanksgiving dinner, the dressing or stuffing is right up there near the top of my favorite dishes! I will pick stuffing over mashed potatoes any day. I love all of the varieties from the boxed to the homemade. This year I decided to make a homemade dressing recipe for Thanksgiving dinner.

    What is the difference between dressing and stuffing?

    The difference between dressing and stuffing is the way that it is cooked. Dressing is cooked in a separate dish while stuffing is stuffed into the turkey to cook. It is one of those topics with lots of opinions surrounding it!

    To get fully cooked stuffing (the center of the stuffing needs to reach 165˚F) there is a chance that the turkey could become over cooked. Therefore many people choose to cook their stuffing in a casserole dish, which then technically makes it dressing.

    cutting bread into small cubes

    Cut enough of a loaf of Italian bread into cubes to make 10 cups of cubed bread.

    a photo of bread cubes on a baking pan

    Spread the cubed bread out on a ungreased, rimmed baking sheet and bake at 325˚F for about 5 minutes to lightly toast the bread. Remove from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.

    a photo of ground beef browning in a frying pan

    Brown the ground pork sausage and discard the grease. Adding the sausage is optional but it gives this dressing recipe some added flavor!

    adding the cooked ground beef to the bread cubes in a bowl

    Put the cooked pork in the bowl with the toasted bread cubes and set aside.

    a photo of onion and celery in a frying pan with butter

    Use the same pan (no need to wash it beforehand) to melt the butter over medium heat. Then, add the chopped onions and chopped celery and cook until tender.

    adding spices to the vegetables in the frying pan

    Remove from heat and stir in the chicken broth, minced parsley, poultry seasoning, and beaten egg.

    Don’t have any poultry seasoning on hand? You can find my poultry seasoning recipe here.

    adding the fried veggies to the bread and meat in the mixing bowl

    Pour the broth mixture over the bread cubes and sausage in the bowl.

    mixing all together in the bowl

    Use a fork to lightly toss the dressing to moisten the bread cubes.

    a photo of the dressing in a baking dish prior to baking

    Transfer the dressing to a greased 2.5-3 quart casserole dish. Or use this dressing recipe as stuffing for a turkey.

    a close-up photo of the dressing in a dish

    Cover the casserole dish and bake the dressing at 375˚F for 20 minutes, uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until toasted on top.

    Can I make this dressing recipe in a slow cooker?

    Oven space is always at a premium on Thanksgiving day so using a slow cooker to make the dressing is a great option. Prepare the dressing recipe as directed but spread in a slow cooker instead of a casserole dish. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours until it reaches 165˚F on a thermometer.

    a delicious spoonful of dressing close up

    What else can I add to this dressing recipe?

    One of the wonderful things about dressing and stuffing is that it is very versatile and can be adapted or changed as you see fit. Here are a few popular variations:

    • Bread: Use a mix of different breads from cornbread to sourdough.
    • Apples: Add chopped apples when cooking the chopped onions and celery in butter.
    • Mushrooms: Saute mushrooms along with the onions and celery.
    • Nuts: Stir in toasted pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts.
    a close-up photo of the dressing with a spoonful removed

    Looking for more Thanksgiving side dishes? Here are some of our favorites:

    Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is the EASIEST way to make this classic side dish. Plus, cooking green bean casserole in a crockpot frees up oven space!

    This easy, homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe is WAY BETTER than store-bought and is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Plus, it can be made ahead of time!

    This classic, easy-to-make Sweet Potato Casserole is as delicious as a dessert with a brown sugar and pecan crumb topping. A MUST MAKE for Thanksgiving!

    This Corn Casserole recipe, aka corn pudding, is a traditional Thanksgiving side dish. It’s a creamier, cheesier version of cornbread!

    Stuffing on a wooden spoon.

    Dressing Recipe

    This homemade Dressing Recipe is so much better than the boxed kind! Use it as a holiday side dish or as stuffing for a turkey.
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    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 12 servings
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    Equipment

    T-Fal Fry Pan
    STAUB Rectangular Baking Dish Set

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb ground pork sausage optional
    • ½ cup butter
    • 1 cup chopped onions
    • 1 cup chopped celery
    • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
    • 2 tablespoon fresh minced parsley
    • 2 teaspoon poultry seasoning find my recipe here
    • 1 egg beaten
    • 10 cups Italian bread cubes

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325˚F.
    • Spread the bread cubes out on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 325˚F for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
    • Turn oven temperature up to 375˚F.
    • In a large skillet, brown the ground pork sausage. Discard the grease. Add the cooked sausage to the bowl of bread cubes and set aside.
    • Using the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and celery and cook until tender, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in the chicken broth, minced parsley, poultry seasoning, and beaten eggs.
    • Pour the broth mixture over the bread and sausage and gently toss it with a fork until moistened.
    • Transfer to a greased 2.5-3 quart casserole dish. Cover and bake at 375˚F for 20 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until toasted on top.

    Video

    Notes

    Storage

    Store in plastic bags or an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 524mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course: Side
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

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      Scalloped Potatoes

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

    « Poultry Seasoning
    How To Make Mashed Potatoes »

    Comments

    1. Kelli Rowland says

      November 22, 2020 at 11:37 pm

      Always have the recipes that have those extra little ingredients that make the dish just like the ones my momma and grandmother served that were a hit EVERYTIME!!!!! That is a bonus and pleaser for me!!!!!! Thx
      Happy holidays🥦🧅🍊🧄🥚

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        November 22, 2020 at 11:57 pm

        I can’t wait to eat all of the yummy food! Happy thanksgiving!

        Reply

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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