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Thanksgiving Dressing

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This dressing recipe is a Thanksgiving family tradition, going back several generations! It’s always the first dish that disappears! Trust me, you’ll want to make extra! I have all the tips for you to make this simple and easy. This Thanksgiving dressing will be the highlight of your turkey dinner!

  • Author: thatbreadlady
  • Prep Time: 48 hours
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 48 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: one 9x13 casserole dish 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped celery (stalks and leaves)
  • 8 cups coarse, dry bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried sage
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 2/3 to 1&1/3 cup cup chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Dry bread crumbs out. Two days before baking Dressing, slice bread and let dry on a wire cooling rack for 24 hours. The next day, cube the sliced bread with a knife, place in a large bowl and allow to continue to dry for another 24 hours. Toss them throughout the day to make sure they are all getting enough air to dry. *See note for quicker drying process. 
  2. In a large pan, melt the butter on the stove top on medium heat. 
  3. Add onion and cook until tender.
  4. Remove from heat and pour the butter and onions over the bread crumbs. Stir until all the bread crumbs are covered with the melted butter.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the salt, pepper, sage, thyme and poultry seasoning. Sprinkle the mixture over the bread crumbs and toss until all the bread crumbs are coated.
  6. Add the chopped celery and toss until just combined.
  7. Add the chicken broth, a little at a time. Stir the bread crumbs as you go. Add just enough chicken broth to completely moisten the bread crumbs. Too much broth will make mushy Dressing. 
  8. Spread into a 9×13 casserole dish. Cover with a lid or foil.
  9. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 20 minutes. Remove the lid or foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until slightly golden.

Notes

  • If you got a late start and don’t have three days to make Dressing, you can speed up the drying process by baking your bread crumbs in the oven. Spread them out on the baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on them! You aren’t necessarily toasting them. You’re just drying them out. You can do this the day of and it will still turn out delicious!
  • Good dressing starts with good bread! Use a quality bread like French, Sourdough, Artisan or Homemade Loaf Bread. Avoid using cheap, store bought bread that is too soft and thinly sliced. Also avoid using bread with grains and seeds.
  • Adjust the amount of chicken broth you use, depending on how moist you want your Dressing to be.

Find it online: https://thatbreadlady.com/thanksgiving-dressing/