Grandma’s Thanksgiving Dressing – Simple Classic Recipe

There’s something about Thanksgiving dressing that just tastes like home, don’t you think? Maybe it’s the aroma of onions, celery, and herbs sizzling in butter, or the way the bread cubes soak up all that savory goodness.

This dressing recipe is my go-to for a classic, no-fuss dressing that lets the flavors of Thanksgiving shine without too many frills. It’s simple enough for beginners but satisfying enough to make everyone at the table feel like they’re wrapped in a warm, cozy hug.

I grew up eating what we deliciously call “Thanksgiving Dressing”. There’s probably as many homemade dressing recipes as there are Thanksgiving tables but this one is simple and delicious. Grab your favorite mixing bowl and let’s make this easy, comforting Thanksgiving essential together!

Just like world peace, I can’t solve the stuffing versus dressing debate. However, in my humble opinion, Thanksgiving stuffing is dressing put into the Thanksgiving turkey, and dressing isn’t put in the turkey.

That just makes sense to me. Well, maybe I will work on world peace after all.

Growing up we always had Dressing on Thanksgiving. In the early days, my Grandmother always hosted. She’d stuff the bird with dressing and make another casserole dish of it so we had plenty.

Later, when my mother took over, she always made this bread dressing in a casserole dish. She didn’t stuff the bird, and now that I’ve taken over the Thanksgiving Holiday festivities, that’s the way I do it too.

Even though this is a simple dressing recipe, we all have our own way of seasoning it. My Aunt’s dressing was so full of sage that it was green. I was always grateful we had our own homemade dressing at home before going to her house.

What is this Simple Thanksgiving Dressing made of?

Simple ingredients assure that anyone can have this recipe on their Thanksgiving table. We use unsalted butter to saute onion and celery. You can choose the type of onion you prefer.

Bread is the main ingredient. You can either dry your own or purchase it. Your dressing will take on the flavor of the bread. For example, if you use sourdough it will have a tang to it. Whole grain will be a little nuttier. If you dry your own bread you’ll want to season it with oregano, sage, or a poultry blend

Sometimes I dry my own bread but most of the time buy the Pepperidge Farms® Herb Seasoned Bread Cubes. They also have bread crumbs but I like a cubed texture in my Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe and add enough liquid to mash most of it and leave some cubes intact.

Stock or broth is the liquid we use to hydrate our dried bread. You can make your own, or buy it. We often use canned chicken broth but you can use vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.

Many recipes call for eggs which are used as a binding agent. We don’t use eggs in this recipe. It bakes up beautifully without it.

How to make Dressing:

Preheat the oven and grease a 2-quart baking dish or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.

Add the bread cubes to the dish or mix the ingredients in a separate dish pouring the mixture into the dish before baking. This keeps the casserole dish presentable.

In a medium-sized saucepan or skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and cook until vibrant and slightly soft.

Add the onion and celery mixture to the bread cubes and add the spices. Stir to combine and add the broth until you think maybe you’ve added just a little too much. Moisture will cook out of the dressing but you don’t want it dry.

Pour the bread dressing mixture into the prepared dish. Cover it with a lid or foil.

Half-way through baking remove the foil and allow the top to brown.

Remove from the oven and cover lightly with aluminum foil or a lid until your ready to serve it.

Thanksgiving Dressing Tips:

Chop the celery and onion the same size so they cook at the same rate.

You can mix up your dressing the day before and refrigerate it. Remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you want to bake it.

We often make 1 1/2 batches. I put one in a 2-quart dish and a second in a freezer-safe dish. I bake both of them and have plenty just in case. If I don’t need the second one I will put it in the freezer to enjoy with roasted chicken or pork chops. What a delicious treat!

You can also bake half in a casserole dish and use the other half for turkey stuffing.

We’ve cooked dressing in a crockpot before to free up my oven. Just make everything as required and spoon it into the crockpot. Cook it on low for 4 to 5 hours and then turn it on warm until you’re ready to serve it. It’s oven-safe so you can crisp it up in the oven if that’s the way you like it. It’s delicious either way.

If you choose to stuff your turkey with dressing, the CDC has some Food Safety Guidelines to help you out.

I’m Thankful

Depending on where you are your homemade dressing recipe may be made with cornbread, oyster-based, or with wild rice. It doesn’t matter as much as it does to spend time with people you love and give thanks that you’re together.

• Apple Cranberry Crockpot Stuffing
• Mom’s Sausage & Sage Dressing
• Vegan Stuffing with Mushrooms and Artichokes
• Easy Cornbread Dressing
• Gluten-Free Quinoa Stuffing

If you happen to have leftover dressing, this Leftover Turkey Casserole is delicious!

Here’s our tutorial on How to Spatchcock and Carve your Thanksgiving Turkey as well as some easy tips for making it stress-free!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

Here are a few more recipes that will be great for the Thanksgiving Holiday!

Thanksgiving Side dishes:

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Mushrooms
• Cranberry Relish Recipe with fresh Cranberries
• Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms
• How to make Candied Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving Bread and Desserts

• Pumpkin Yeast Bread and Rolls
• Cinderella Cake (Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting)
• Smooth & Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Bars
• Rich and Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie