Description

This Grandma’s Thanksgiving Dressing is a cherished, time-honored recipe that transforms turkey stock, Italian bread, and classic aromatics into a golden, savory side dish that embodies holiday tradition.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Components

Turkey neck + giblets
8 cups water
2 loaves Italian bread, torn into 1-inch pieces (day-old preferred)
1–2 tbsp “Thanksgiving Seasoning”
2 sticks butter
1 cup diced celery leaves + top stalks
1 cup diced onions (about 1 medium)

Substitution Suggestions

Italian bread → sourdough, French bread, or sandwich bread
Butter → margarine or vegetable oil (reduce by ¼ cup)
Celery → diced fennel or onions
Turkey stock → chicken stock + 1 tsp poultry seasoning

Instructions

Create stock: Simmer turkey neck and giblets in 8 cups water with 1 tbsp poultry seasoning for 20+ minutes until golden and aromatic.
Season bread: Toss torn bread with 1–2 tbsp Thanksgiving Seasoning.
Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in skillet, add celery and onions, cook until soft and translucent (8–10 minutes).
Combine: Mix bread with butter-vegetable mixture. Add warm stock gradually until moist but not soggy.
Bake: Press mixture into buttered 9×13 dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30–40 minutes. Uncover last 10 minutes for golden edges.

Notes

Thanksgiving Seasoning blend: 2 parts kosher salt, 1 part black pepper, 1 part poultry seasoning. Tear bread instead of cutting for better texture absorption.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 65 minutes
Category: Side Dish, Holiday, Thanksgiving
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion (1/8 of recipe)
Calories: 285
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 420mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 28mg

Keywords: Grandma’s Thanksgiving dressing, traditional stuffing recipe, holiday side dish, turkey stock dressing