Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Keith

I notice the dressing recipes in NYT produce what is essentially a bowl of seasoned bread chunks accented with various additional elements.

In the upper south where I was raised everyone made a much moister style of dressing where enough turkey stock is added to cause the toasted bread pieces to bread down to the consistency of mashed potatoes. It's then placed around the turkey in the roasting pan and baked for the last hour to 45 minutes of its cooking time.

dave beemon

I usually add a tablespoon or two of bourbon, in place of the Worcestershire. It really hits it off with the apples and the sage.

Lisa Semeraro-Castro

I agree. I wouldn't add the Worcestershire or the apples personally. I add mild Italian Sausage and chestnuts to mine using cornbread as the base. The featured recipe is a great start, basic start. You can customize it as you like.

Me

Would omit the Worcestershire sauce next time: I'm not sure that it added anything beyond a sour undertone. Without the apples, this recipe otherwise produces the standard Thanksgiving stuffing.

Sheila

Can you prepare dressing ahead and freeze it?

L Marks

NO SAGE! Overpowers everything and tastes like soap. Use Herbs de Provence instead and fresh parsley. I also use a combo of good quality seasoned croutons and toasted challah. Worcestershire is a no go. Chestnuts already peeled via Trader Joes are perfect for this. While you're at it get some TJ mirepoix and make your life 1000x easier. Stuffing comes out great. Can be prepped night before and kept in fridge. a bit of butter on top and a bit of juice from the cooked turkey mid bake.Yum

stuart itter

Had very good result. Five cups of bread pieces. No eggs, double the butter. Sauteed vegetables with half the butter. Sauteed the bread in second half of butter, till cooked, then, combined and cooked minutes more. Added broth. Perfect moisture after baking 45 minutes at 325.

Ms D

Or - you could buy them peeled and vacuum packed at Trader Joes - excellent.

carol

added onion, melted butter, and some chopped celery leaves
used a lot of extra thyme and sage
added whole milk in lieu of some of the chicken stock
used extra chestnuts
left out hot pepper sauce
left out worcestershire
used red apples

Gale

What is the recommended type of bread?

Jamie

Excellent dressing. Everyone thought it was wonderful. It had a delightful herb taste and perfect texture, not too dry nor too moist. We made it in the morning, and before reheating we sprinkled in a bit of stock to keep it moist. We thought the Worcestershire sauce addition was perfect, blunting what might have been a slightly too sweet end result. We also added an extra dose of hot sauce. A great balance of flavors. We'll make this again next year (if not sooner...).

Klkruger

Uh, no. Salmonella is killed long before 300˚ is reached. 160˚ is recommended as the finished temp for poultry for precisely this reason. Salmonella (and other bacteria) are killed within seconds at temps a bit below that; one just needs to be sure the all parts of the bird have reached that temp. That's why one takes the temp in the thickest part of the thigh in a couple places. If it's 160 in those spots it is likely to be at least 160 everywhere else.

Wordsworth from Wadsworth

"crisp the exterior without burning it," right Sam, that is the key to the cooking method. I hate mushy.

But I question how the aromatics of the Worcestershire fits. Prefer red pepper flakes to sauce. I use very good quality chicken stock. More generous with the butter in the saute pan. That transfers richness to the dressing as a whole. Fresh parsley out of the garden is a revelation.

Mom called it dressing. Years later James Beard commented dressing outside was superior.

Chris

I find this to be a good start but I would eliminate the Worcestershire sauce. I add Italian Sausage, Dried Cranberries, Pecans and Fennel. I leave out the Chestnuts. Extra broth is crucial to keep it moist....add as needed

Bobbie Goeden

I agree with Keith. I will probably make this moister than the recipe calls for. I'm not using apples this year (mostly because it's Thanksgiving morning and I don't have any) but I'm going to add some dried cranberries to the mix. I've never added eggs before but many recipes call for them so this year I'm branching out. Can't wait!
Happy Thanksgiving

SK19118

wonderful stuffing! followed recipe exactly except for the chestnuts. Took longer to bake than 30 min - more like an hour.

Wes

I made this pretty much to the recipe except that I added a lot more broth, maybe 3 cups. Everyone loved it.

Julee Jackson

Made this last year as I had vacuum packed chestnuts I wanted to use up and this year too. Delicious with right amount of moisture and really prefer the apple, onions, celery and chestnuts to turkey giblets, no mystery meat! Didn’t make gravy as wasn’t needed, this stands up on its own!

JCP

Great recipe! It hit the classic flavor and texture notes I wanted. I couldn’t get chestnuts where I live so I used chopped walnuts instead. Moist, a little chewy (I just used generic grocery store “French” bread), and a little crunchy too. Herbaceous and just a little tangy in the best way possible. Will make again!

lisa

No Apples, No chestnuts*Add pecans, mushrooms

julie

Used gluten free bread. Left out chest nuts, apples, Worcestershire, hot sauce. Added mushrooms.

Victoria D.

It would help if a measurement for the bread was given - either weight or # cups for cubed bread. I'm puzzled!

Lee Norris

1-2T bourbon?extra broth. red pepper flakes rather then worcestersgure,dded onion, melted butter, and some chopped celery leavesused a lot of extra thyme and sageadded whole milk in lieu of some of the chicken stockused extra chestnutsleft out hot pepper sauceleft out worcestershireused red apples

me myself and i

I used brandy instead of W. Pecans instead of Chestnuts, 2 eggs, safeway bread cubes 5 cups…and made it the day before.

me myself and i

I used brandy, 2 eggs, safeway bread cubes, pecans, and the day ahead, otherwise as written.

private

Add more salt and pepper; add 1 tablespoon of hot sauce; cut bread into small pieces

KT

Chestnuts are new to me. The ones I see for purchase online are roasted and peeled.This recipe does not say if they should be raw or roasted. Help!

Gina

I used half wheat & half white bread & substituted pecans for chestnuts. My family enjoyed it with the following feedback:“Only use one apple & dice it smaller.”

Petrr

timing instructions:- step 1 can be done ahead of time; then hold in a large bowl until needed- add eggs and stock in (step 2) up to 15 minutes before tossing into the oven or the bread gets too mushy (sourdough stands up better to soaking, so if using white bread be careful of the timing)- if timing with other baked things, bake for a second pass so then it gets toasted when something else is going in at 425/450

Robert

Do I need to cook the Chestnuts first?

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Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

What is dressing for Thanksgiving made of? ›

Dressing: Dressing typically includes ingredients like cornbread, white bread, or biscuits, mixed with vegetables, herbs, spices, and sometimes sausage or other meats. It is often moistened with broth or stock and baked in a casserole dish until it forms a crust on top.

What's the difference between stuffing and dressing for Thanksgiving? ›

To understand the difference between the two, all you have to do is look at the cooking method. Stuffing is stuffed (literally) inside the cavity of the turkey, while dressing is roasted in a separate casserole dish.

Why is my cornbread dressing mushy? ›

If your cornbread dressing is mushy, be sure you baked it in a wide enough pan. Plenty of surface area will help the top crisp and the bottom bake completely. Also, be sure you measured your ingredients properly and didn't add too much liquid.

Can you put too much broth in dressing? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

What happens if I use broth instead of stock? ›

In most cases, stock and broth are interchangeable. If you're in the soup aisle and can't remember whether the recipe called for stock or broth, either will do for making soup, gravy, or a flavorful pot of rice or grains. Keep in mind that stock is unseasoned, and broth is seasoned.

Who makes the best stuffing for Thanksgiving? ›

Our Top Store-Bought Stuffing Picks
  • Best Overall: Arnold Herb Seasoned Premium Cubed Stuffing.
  • Best Classic: Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing.
  • Best Instant: Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix.
  • Best Gluten-Free: Williams-Sonoma Gluten-Free Stuffing Mix.
  • Best for Celiac: Trader Joe's Gluten Free Stuffing Mix.
Nov 13, 2023

What is Pepperidge Farm stuffing made of? ›

MADE FROM: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, SUGAR, YEAST, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: VEGETABLE OILS (CANOLA AND/OR SUNFLOWER AND/OR PALM), MOLASSES, SPICES, CELERY, ONION POWDER, CALCIUM PROPIONATE TO EXTEND FRESHNESS, MALTED BARLEY ...

What do southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

Which dish was not eaten at the first Thanksgiving? ›

Potatoes. Whether mashed or roasted, white or sweet, potatoes had no place at the first Thanksgiving.

What is stuffing called when it's not in a turkey? ›

Stuffing and dressing are commonly used as different names for the same thing—a dish consisting of bits of bread (or other starchy things) and various seasonings. The dish can be made by stuffing it (hence the name) inside a turkey or other bird that will be roasted, or by baking or cooking it separately.

What temperature should dressing be cooked at? ›

Cook until the center of the dressing reaches 165 degrees. When checked with a food thermometer. Never place frozen dressing or other frozen food in a slow cooker, it will not reach proper safe temperature fast enough.

How to know if dressing is done? ›

The cornbread dressing is done cooking when it is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. You can also check for doneness by gently pressing down on the center of the cornbread dressing with a spoon or fork – it should feel firm and hold its shape.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

When should you use broth or stock? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

Which tastes better stock or broth? ›

Stock has a richer, deeper flavor and mouthfeel, making it better at adding body to a dish, whereas broth might be a better choice when you want to let other flavors to shine.

Can you substitute beef broth for chicken broth in stuffing? ›

But, if you are in a pinch, and your recipe calls for chicken broth and all you have is beef broth, you can substitute one for the other without ruining the dish. You will notice subtle changes in the color or flavor of the finished dish, but it will still taste great, and it will get dinner on the table on time.

Which is healthier, broth or stock? ›

And the Winner Is..

Stock! Whether homemade or store-bought it has more protein and usually less sodium per serving as compared to broth. Plus, the flavor is just better which means you'll start with something tastier and will hopefully use less salt to taste at the end.

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