Thanksgiving Dressing
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Thanksgiving Dressing is the queen of all sides. It's savory, comforting, and packed with extras like onions, sausage and mushrooms. No Thanksgiving table is complete without it!
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What's Special About This Recipe?
During the holidays, the dish my family anticipates most is Thanksgiving Dressing. I don't fix it any other time of year, so it's exclusive to turkey day. This makes it a special recipe reserved just for family and friends.
And now, you can make it too!
Over the past few years, Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. I love how everyone gathers around the table and shares stories, food, and laughter.
Thanksgiving is slower, more mellow, and definitely less stressful than other get-togethers. The focus is on fellowship...which I am eternally grateful to have with my family.
How to Make Thanksgiving Dressing
Like all good southerners, I bake Easy Southern Cornbread ahead of time so it will be ready to crumble into the mix. Once the aroma starts spreading throughout the house, everybody knows what's coming next.
To begin making the dressing, brown a pound of mild sausage in a cast iron skillet for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle a little poultry seasoning over the sausage while cooking.
When there's no pink left in the sausage, remove crumbles and place in a large pan. Reserve the drippings and add a tablespoon of butter to the skillet.
Add celery, onion, and chopped mushrooms to the skillet. (We love mushrooms, but not everyone does, so feel free to leave them out if you wish.) Sauté veggies until tender, then pour into the pan with sausage.
Crumble that Southern Cornbread you made ahead of time, and add it to the pan along with herb seasoned stuffing. (ad)
How Much Liquid Should I Add?
Bring chicken broth to a boil and pour over entire contents in the pan. The dressing should be moist, but not soaking in liquid, so pour and stir as you go...making sure to stop when it's just right. I usually need about 4 cups, but sometimes it takes a little less.
The best way to mix everything at this point is to get in there with your hands! Once it's fully incorporated, beat two eggs and mix it into the dressing. Spoon the entire contents into a large serving dish and add pats of butter to the top.
How Long Should I Bake It?
Bake dressing at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown and crunchy on top. Feel free to leave out any veggie or meat you don't like, but this version is definitely our family's favorite.
Related Recipes
If you have any leftovers, be sure to try my Leftover Turkey Bake. I like it even better than the sides on turkey day.
Looking for an old-fashioned Southern Cornbread Biscuit Dressing? Try this recipe if you want to make it just like Granny does!
If you're looking for the best sides in one place, visit 15 Best Holiday Sides for a collection of delicious holiday recipes.
Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!
Sides to Serve on Thanksgiving
- Creamed Corn with Bacon
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- The Best Squash Casserole
- Cranberry Pecan Salad
- Taylor's Collard Greens
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Recipe Card
Thanksgiving Dressing
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. mild ground pork sausage cooked and crumbled
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 4 stalks celery diced
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 1 pint fresh mushrooms chopped
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 14 oz bag herb seasoned stuffing
- 1 recipe of Southern Cornbread crumbled
- 4 cups chicken broth heated
- 2 large eggs beaten
- several pats of butter
Instructions
- Brown sausage in skillet over medium heat until cooked through.
- Add poultry seasoning to sausage while cooking.
- Remove sausage from skillet and keep warm in a large pan.
- Add 1 Tbsp. butter to skillet with drippings from sausage.
- Add celery, onion and chopped mushrooms to skillet and sauté until tender.
- Pour veggies into pan with sausage.
- Add herb stuffing (ad) and cornbread crumbles to pan.
- Boil chicken broth and pour over dressing.
- Beat 2 large eggs and mix into dressing until it is fully incorporated.
- Spoon dressing into a large serving dish (or leave in pan if you wish).
- Add pats of butter to top of dressing before baking.
- Bake dressing at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
- Feel free to leave out any veggie you don't like, or delete the sausage if desired, but this version is our family's favorite.
- If you prefer stronger herb flavor, add fresh sage or rosemary to the mix.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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I’ve always loved your dressing at Thanksgiving, Debi-now I know why! It’s the sausage! Look forward to this treat every year.
Ah! You discovered my secret! I love making this dressing for our family every Thanksgiving. 🙂