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Easy Grandma's Thanksgiving Dressing - Southern Style Holiday Recipe

Grandma's Thanksgiving Dressing is a treasured family recipe passed down for generations. With savory herbs, rich turkey stock, and perfectly seasoned bread, this southern-style dressing is the ultimate holiday side dish that brings comfort and nostalgia to your Thanksgiving table.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Southern American
Calories: 285
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Turkey neck and giblets
  • 8 cups of water
  • 2 loaves Italian bread torn into 1-inch pieces
  • 1-2 tablespoons 'Thanksgiving Seasoning'
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup diced celery leaves and top stalks
  • 1 cup diced onions about 1 medium onion
Substitution Options:
  • Bread alternatives: cornbread white sandwich bread, or sourdough
  • Butter substitute: olive oil or vegan butter
  • Vegetarian option: vegetable stock instead of turkey stock
  • Herb variations: sage thyme, or rosemary

Method
 

  1. Place turkey neck and giblets in a saucepan with 8 cups water and 1 tablespoon seasoning. Simmer 20 minutes to create turkey stock.
  2. Tear bread into 1-inch pieces. Sprinkle with seasoning and toss well.
  3. In a skillet, melt butter. Add celery and onions, cook 8-10 minutes until soft.
  4. Pour butter-vegetable mix over bread. Gradually ladle in turkey stock until moist but not soggy (like wet sand).
  5. Transfer to a buttered 9×13 baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30-40 minutes. Remove foil last 10 minutes for browning.

Notes

For healthier alternatives, swap half the bread for whole grain, use olive oil instead of butter, or substitute vegetable stock for a lighter option. A gluten-free or vegan version is also easy to prepare.