Throw out the boxed stuffing and use this Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe. Instructions for stuffing and dressing are included!
I was shocked recently when a friend of mine said his family always made stuffing from a box. I always grew up with the best old fashioned dressing recipe for Thanksgiving. This recipe is a MUST for Thanksgiving. It might become a new family tradition!
This recipe has stood the test of time. It is as good as Grandma’s Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing and goes great with the traditional turkey found on Thanksgiving Day.
Don't feel you need to limit this recipe to once a year, though! This is a classic stuffing recipe that can be used year-round!
Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner this year and don't forget the pumpkin pie!
Need another recipe for your holiday meal? Check out my Southern Candied Yams Recipe with Marshmallows!
Stuffing vs. Dressing
Technically speaking, stuffing is generally cooked inside the roast turkey while dressing is prepared outside. Most people use their preferred term regardless of how this Thanksgiving side dish is prepared.
It tends to be a regional thing. If you're in the deep south, it's dressing. If you're in other parts of the US, it's likely stuffing. No matter what you call it, it is a common addition to the Thanksgiving table.
This recipe can be used to stuff a turkey (with some leftover for a small casserole dish) or it can be baked in a large casserole dish for everyone to enjoy!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This old fashioned bread stuffing for turkey will remind you of your grandma’s Thanksgiving stuffing!
- Because this is a sausage stuffing, it's more filling than those without meat and has great flavor.
- Honestly, it is the best stuffing recipe. Your guests will be going back for more!
Recipe Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make this old fashioned turkey dressing.
White Sandwich Bread is the best type of bread to form the base for this dish. You can use stale bread as well.
Celery helps to balance flavors and add moisture.
Onion adds a great flavor to this simple stuffing.
Pork Breakfast Sausage helps to beef up this perfect side dish.
Poultry Seasoning has several spices in it including sage.
Salt helps to pull out the flavors from the other ingredients.
Black Pepper adds a little bit of a kick.
Eggs work as a binding agent which adds strength and stability to the dressing.
Chicken Broth gives it some more moisture so you don't end up with dry stuffing.
Butter is used to grease the casserole dish.
How to Make Old Fashioned Turkey Stuffing with Poultry Seasoning
Here are some quick visual instructions. The full recipe card with ingredient measurements is below!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut up the white bread into large cubes.
Place bread cubes into a large bowl with all of the seasonings. Mix well.
Chop the vegetables into smaller pieces.
Brown the sausage. Add the celery and onion mixture and cook until it begins to soften.
Add the sausage and vegetable mixture to the large mixing bowl and combine.
Beat the eggs and chicken broth together and add to the bread mixture.
OPTION 1: Butter a large casserole or baking dish and add the stuffing. Cook covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for another 15. (Picture shows a small casserole dish)
OPTION 2: Stuff the thanksgiving turkey with the dressing. If there is any leftover, follow option 1 replacing 30 minutes with 25.
The turkey dressing should be golden brown on top and moist and flavorful inside. Happy Thanksgiving!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- If you notice your stuffing is a bit dry after adding the egg and chicken broth, you can add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of broth.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350° F for 20 minutes covered. You may add a little broth if it appears dry. You can also reheat it in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds.
- Freezing: Store in small containers for up to 3 months.
Substitutions
- Bread: If you don't have white bread, you can use french bread, wheat bread, sourdough bread, old-fashioned cornbread, etc.
- Chicken Broth: This can be replaced by turkey stock or broth.
Variations
- Old Fashioned Turkey Stuffing: Make the recipe as it is written, but stuff the turkey with the dressing. Any leftover dressing can be baked in a small casserole dish.
- Old Fashioned Sage Dressing: Add 1 teaspoon of ground sage along with the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can make it ahead of time. If you combine the wet and dry ingredients ahead of time, make sure to freeze them. If you keep them separate, cover the dry ingredients with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Add the wet ingredients when you are ready to cook.
The eggs act as a binder for the dressing. Stuffing and dressing usually include eggs in the recipe to give strength and stability to the stuffing.
White bread is usually the first choice for dressing. White bread is soft, fluffy and is best at absorbing liquid. The mild flavor of white bread is a great base for the many flavors found in stuffing.
More Thanksgiving Favorites
We love having a side of sautéed green beans with this easy green bean seasoning.
Another holiday staple is this broccoli cheese and rice casserole with its cheesy sauce and crunchy cracker topping.
More From Thyme for the Table
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📖 Recipe
Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf white sandwich bread (about 10 cups)
- 3 stalks celery
- 1 medium onion (white, yellow or sweet)
- 1 lb tube of pork breakfast sausage (Jimmy Dean, Bob Evans, Etc.)
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter (for greasing the casserole dish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut up 1 loaf of white sandwich bread into large cubes. (If using homemade bread, use 1 ⅓ loaf). Put the cubed bread in a large bowl and sprinkle the poultry seasoning, salt and pepper on the bread, flipping the bread over to try to evenly coat all the pieces of bread.
- Chop the celery and onion into small pieces.
- Brown the sausage in a skillet or sauté pan. Add the celery and onion to the pan and cook until it begins to soften (about 5 minutes).
- Add the cooked sausage, onion and celery to the large bowl of bread and mix it together.
- Beat the eggs and chicken stock together in a bowl. Add it to the dressing and mix it well.
- Option 1: Spread butter on the inside of a casserole dish and add the stuffing. Cover with foil and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 15 more minutes to allow the top to get crispy.Option 2: Stuff the turkey with the dressing. If there is some dressing left over you can spread butter on the inside of a small casserole dish and cover it with foil. Cook for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for 15 more minutes to allow the top to get crispy.
Video
Notes
- If you notice your stuffing is a bit dry after adding the egg and chicken broth, you can add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of broth.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350° F for 20 minutes covered. You may add a little broth if it appears dry. You can also reheat it in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds.
- Freezing: Store in small containers for up to 3 months.
Food Safety
- Cook turkey and stuffing to a minimum temperature of 180 °F (74 °C).
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for long periods.
Tara says
We did Thanksgiving dinner a few days early for our family and this stuffing was to die for! I had to come back and post a review! The leftovers were so good too!
Jen Talley says
That makes me so happy to hear Tara!
Beth says
Homemade is so much nicer than box stuffing. Great recipe!
Jen Talley says
Thanks Beth!
Mahy says
This dressing brings back so many memories. Thank you for that and for the recipe!
Jen Talley says
You're welcome! Enjoy!
Gina Abernathy says
The dressing is the star of the show for me. Looks fantastic.
Jen Talley says
Everyone loves homemade dressing! Thanks!
Dannii says
Now this is my kind of comfort food. So easy to make too.
Jen Talley says
It is super easy and it tastes so good!
Jess says
Never buying store-bought stuffing again!!
Jen Talley says
Never again Jess!
Colleen says
Excellent! I made this recipe for Thanksgiving this year and it was a hit. This is just like my mom's stuffing from when I was a kid. I made it the night before and added the eggs and broth Thanksgiving morning before putting it in the oven. It worked out perfectly 🙂