No holiday dinner is complete without a side of dressing on your plate. My Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing is the perfect recipe to enjoy the rich flavors of the season while having a nostalgic element to evoke childhood memories.
I love the aromas of this recipe as each step builds more flavor, making for a very happy kitchen and cook. It is a bit of a labor of love as there are a few steps to bring it together, but it is well worth the work to impress family and friends.
What is Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing?
Dressing is a classic dish that has been called farce, forcemeat or evening stuffing. It is a combination of slightly stale bread with fresh veggies, butter, eggs and a few seasonings. It is a wonderful side dish that is both light and fluffy with some crispy pieces that create a contrast of textures that are a treat for the palate.
Some people like to cook their dressing inside the turkey (formally known as 'stuffing') but I prefer to cook it separately for a few reasons. Cooking it inside the turkey increases the overall cook time, as the turkey is more dense with the stuffing inside. As well, the dressing will often end up being a bit soggy as it absorbs moisture. Cooking separately gives a better variation of texture making it so much more delicious!
Jump to:
- What is Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing?
- Why You Will Love This Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Recipe
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make This Recipe For Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
- What to Serve with Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
- Top Tips
- Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Recipe
This Dressing recipe was inspired by and pairs well with our holiday menu! Try it with our Herb Butter Turkey (and Gravy), Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, and Maple Brussels Sprouts.
Why You Will Love This Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Recipe
- Tasty: The combination of flavors are an absolute crowd pleaser.
- Nostalgic: This comforting, classic dish will become a staple on your holiday table as everyone will ask you to make it for their table too.
- Versatile: Turkey Dressing is a recipe that you can easily change to your preferences; feel free to add ground sausage, apples, dried cranberries, or a different variety of fresh or dried herbs.
Ingredients
The use of slightly stale bread, celery, onions, butter, eggs, milk and a selection of seasonings will come together perfectly to enjoy this delicious side dish.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Loaf of Bread: Leave it out overnight for a slightly stale texture.
- Celery: This adds a great crunchy texture to your dressing.
- Yellow Onion: The mild onion flavor is a beautiful addition to any dressing recipe.
- Unsalted Butter: Unsalted allows you to control salt content.
- Eggs: Eggs are great as a binding agent and add moisture to the bread.
- Whole Milk: Increases the moisture level.
- Sea Salt: Salt brings out the flavors of all other ingredients.
- Ground Paprika: A beautiful smoky flavor.
- Dried Parsley: A great dry herb to bring out seasonal deliciousness.
- Ground Pepper: A lovely pepper flavor.
- Poultry Seasoning: An easy way to add a punch of flavor.
- Turkey Stovetop (packaged): This is the not-so-secret ingredient for ultimate flavor.
- Chicken Stock: Use low-sodium to keep salt content down.
For this recipe, you'll want to have on hand a 9x13 casserole dish, an extra large mixing bowl, aluminum foil, measuring cups, and measuring spoons.
Substitutions and Variations
You will love how versatile this recipe can be. You can easily adapt it to different preferences and dietary requirements. Here are some helpful ideas for you to make this Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing your own.
- Gluten Free: Easily make this recipe gluten free by using gluten free bread. I keep the ends of my bread loaves in the freezer and break them all out when it is dressing time!
- Whole Grain Bread: While any type of bread works well with this recipe, if you are looking for a boost of fiber and a more rustic texture, use a whole grain loaf.
- Vegetable Broth: If you are looking for a vegetarian dressing recipe, easily swap out chicken broth for vegetable broth to make this recipe fully plant-based.
- Fresh Herbs: Instead of dried herbs, use fresh parsley, sage, thyme, or rosemary for more aromatic and vibrant flavor.
- Sausage: Add ground sausage (pork, chicken, or turkey) to boost this dressing's savory flavor.
- Sweetness: To add a hint of sweetness to contrast the other flavors of this classic dressing recipe, include diced apples, cranberries, or raisins.
How to Make This Recipe For Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
While Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing is a labor of love it is well worth the time it takes to enjoy this tasty side dish. Allow yourself enough time to get through each step and before you know it, everyone will be asking for your cooking method for their own recipe box.
Preheat the oven at 375F. Lightly grease a 9x13 casserole dish. In a large pot, melt butter, cook onion and celery for 10 minutes on medium heat and set aside. Whisk together milk and eggs in a small bowl.
Place the bread, in an extra-large bowl, add the Stovetop package, salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, parsley and ground pepper and mix. Add the onion and celery to the extra-large bowl and mix again. Add in the milk and eggs to combine.
Transfer to the lightly greased 9x13 casserole dish. Pour in 2 – 2 ½ cups of the chicken stock and cover (until just saturated). Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon paprika. Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes, then uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes or until desired crispness.
Hint: Stale bread is the best to ensure a firmer texture when finished. Cut your bread up the night before and allow it to sit on the counter or in the oven (not turned on) overnight.
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How to Store Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, place in an airtight container and store for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer: In a freezer safe container, store for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Allow your dressing to thaw or come to room temperature and microwave before serving. If using an oven, you can drizzle a little milk or stock on it, and bake it covered at 350F for about 30 minutes or until warmed throughout.
- Make Ahead: You can prep it all in advance, just do not cook it yet. When you are ready to make it, bring it to room temperature and pop in the oven while the turkey rests (cooking time may ned to be adjusted).
What to Serve with Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing
You can serve your dressing with turkey, chicken, glazed ham or even a roast beef main course. Add some roasted veggies to your plate and you have a beautiful and nutritious meal.
- Turkey: This dressing pairs perfectly alongside our Herb Butter Turkey and Gravy.
- Chicken: Whether you are oven-roasting a whole chicken, barbecuing legs, or pan frying thighs, this turkey dressing will pair well.
Top Tips
- Consider visiting your local bakery and asking for "day olds". Often you can get them at a discount, since they could not sell them fresh.
- You can also buy pre-cubed loaves of bread that are made just for stuffing.
Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about our recipe for old fashioned turkey dressing?
We love using fresh Italian bread that we chopped up and dry out, but any type of bread will work well. The more dense the bread, the more liquid you will need to ensure a moist, delicious dressing.
Traditionally stuffing is when you "stuff" your turkey with the bread and herb mixture. Dressing is when you make it on its own, cooked in an oven, slow cooker, or on the stovetop.
The amount of liquid you use for dressing is crucial. You want to make sure it is wet enough to evenly cover the bread, but not be soaked.
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Old Fashioned Turkey Dressing Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 casserole dish
- Extra Large Mixing Bowl
- Tin Foil
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of bread cut into 1” pieces and left out to dry (about 16-ounces)
- 1 cup celery finely chopped (3 stalks)
- 1 large yellow onion finely chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 2 sticks butter, unsalted
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ground paprika, divided
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 package turkey Stovetop
- 2 to 2 ½ cups chicken stock low sodium
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 375F. Lightly grease a 9x13 casserole dish.
- In a large pot, melt the butter, cook onion and celery for 10 minutes on medium heat and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs.
- In an extra-large bowl add the bread with the Stovetop package, salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, parsley and ground pepper and mix.
- Add the onion and celery to the extra-large bowl and mix again.
- Add in the milk and eggs to combine.
- Transfer to the lightly greased 9x13 casserole dish.
- Pour in 2 – 2 ½ cups of the chicken stock and cover (until just saturated).
- Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon paprika.
- Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes, then uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes or until desired crispness.
Notes
- Prep this recipe a day ahead by assembling all ingredients except chicken stock in a casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate until needed, add chicken stock, and bake.
- The best stuffing comes from day-old, dried bread, so it’s important not to skip this step! Bread that is too fresh will result in a soggy, wet dressing. If you need to dry out your fresh loaf of bread, you can leave it out overnight or dry it out in your oven by baking on low heat for about 30-40 minutes.
- Variations of this dish can include the addition of sauteed vegetables, meat like crumbled sausage or bacon, or dried fruits and nuts like cranberries and toasted pecans. Feel free to make it your own and customize any mix-ins to your liking.
Nutrition
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Eva Filer says
I was never a fan of stuffing until I had this recipe. It is so moist with a crispy top, with so much flavor. I welcome any excuse to make it!
Lisa says
Stuffing is my favorite part of a turkey dinner. I'm definitely going to try this recipe!
Eva Filer says
That is so great to hear, thank you so much!