Description
A classic Thanksgiving turkey dressing made with toasted bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, fresh herbs, and savory seasonings, baked to golden perfection. This hearty side dish complements your holiday meal with rich flavors and a crisp, golden top.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 loaf (16 ounces) day-old bread, cubed (white or whole grain)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon sage
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups chicken or turkey broth (more if needed)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Toast the bread cubes: Spread the cubed day-old bread evenly on a baking sheet. Toast in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to enhance flavor and texture. Once toasted, transfer the bread cubes to a large mixing bowl.
- Sauté vegetables and herbs: In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and celery, cooking for 5 to 7 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic, fresh thyme, poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and black pepper, and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to release aromatic flavors.
- Combine vegetable mixture and bread: Pour the sautéed vegetable and herb mixture over the toasted bread cubes. Toss thoroughly to evenly distribute the flavors. Add the chopped fresh parsley and mix gently.
- Mix broth and eggs: In a separate bowl, whisk together the chicken or turkey broth and beaten eggs. Gradually pour this liquid mixture over the bread and vegetable mixture, tossing gently until the bread is fully moistened. If the mixture appears too dry, add additional broth as needed.
- Transfer to baking dish and bake covered: Place the moist bread mixture into the greased baking dish. Cover the dish with foil to retain moisture and bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and finish baking: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp, indicating that the dressing is cooked through and has a desirable texture.
- Serve warm: Remove from the oven and serve the dressing warm alongside your turkey and other Thanksgiving dishes.
Notes
- Using day-old bread is key to achieving the perfect texture in the dressing; fresh bread can make it soggy.
- Feel free to substitute turkey broth for chicken broth to enhance the turkey flavor.
- You can prepare the bread cubes and sautéed vegetables ahead of time for quicker assembly before baking.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste, especially the salt and poultry seasoning, depending on your broth’s saltiness.
- This recipe yields 8 generous servings, perfect for a family holiday meal.
