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Grandma’s Thanksgiving Dressing

Grandma’s Thanksgiving Dressing is a classic homemade holiday side dish made with Italian bread, buttery celery and onions, savory turkey stock, and Thanksgiving seasoning. It bakes until golden with crisp edges and a soft, moist center.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Thanksgiving
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Turkey Stock
  • turkey neck and giblets
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning for the turkey stock
Thanksgiving Dressing
  • 2 loaves Italian bread torn into 1-inch pieces
  • 1-2 tablespoons Thanksgiving Seasoning see notes
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 1 cup celery leaves and top stalks diced
  • 1 cup onion diced, about 1 medium onion

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium skillet
  • 9×13-inch baking dish
  • Aluminum foil

Method
 

Prepare the Turkey Stock
  1. Place the turkey neck and giblets in a medium saucepan. Add 8 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning.
  2. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for at least 20 minutes to create the turkey stock.
Prepare the Dressing
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Place the torn Italian bread pieces in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of Thanksgiving Seasoning and toss until the bread is evenly coated.
  3. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the diced celery and onions and cook until very soft.
  4. Pour the melted butter, celery, and onion mixture over the bread pieces and toss well to evenly coat the bread.
  5. Add the prepared turkey stock about 1 cup at a time, tossing the bread mixture after each addition. Continue adding stock until the bread is moist enough for dressing but not overly soggy.
  6. Transfer the dressing mixture to the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish and gently press it into an even layer.
  7. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes, until the edges are browned and the center is golden.
  8. Serve warm with gravy, turkey, and your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes.

Notes

Thanksgiving Seasoning: The original recipe lists 1 to 2 tablespoons of Thanksgiving Seasoning and says to see a note, but the seasoning note was not included in the provided recipe.
Add the turkey stock gradually. The exact amount needed will depend on how dry the bread is. The bread should be moist but not soupy.