Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (2024)

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Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe

Most people would consider turkey to be the highlight of Thanksgiving Dinner. Not for me!

I always look forward to eating a big plateful of dressing on Thanksgiving. Nothing fancy, just classic bread dressing.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (1)

Old-fashioned, classic dressing turned into Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing

You know the kind. Bread cubes flavored with buttered onions and celery and of course a little sage. No sausage, no cranberries, just old-fashioned dressing.

The inspiration behind Instant Pot Thanksgiving dressing…

I can remember my parents pulling out the hard bound, red and white checkered Betty Crocker cookbook the night before Thanksgiving.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (2)

Torn pieces of bread waiting to get dried out.

They would look up the recipe just to refresh their memory on how they made it the previous year.

We would all gather around the kitchen counter and begin tearing up pieces of cheap white bread from the grocery store.

We used the same large bowl, year after year, that the bread would sit in overnight to dry out.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (3)

After pushing the Saute button, wait until the display reads Hot before adding the butter.

Early the next morning my dad would put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and let the dressing begin the slow cooking process.

By mid-morning the smell of Thanksgiving dinner filled the house. I would always stay close by because I knew that my dad would give the dressing a taste to adjust the seasonings as needed.

I would always offer a second opinion on the taste each and every time.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (4)

Use the Instant Pot to saute the onions and celery in butter.

You would think that I would have grown tired of the taste by the time dinner arrived, but I never did.

When it was time to eat I would take a huge spoonful of the dressing that covered most of my plate.

How to make Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing…

So now that I host Thanksgiving dinner for my family, I have had to try to figure out ways to utilize my kitchen appliances efficiently.

Of course, having both the 6 quart and8 quart Instant Pots have become necessities in our house.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (5)

Pour the butter mixture over top of the bread and gently toss to coat.

In order to save space on the stove and in the oven, we will utilize them to make our Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Corn Casserole and of course Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing.

To make sure my dressing comes out perfect I use the dual stainless steel stackable insert. I didn’t want my dressing too soggy, and I was afraid if I didn’t add enough liquid cooking it directly in the liner of the Instant Pot, that the bread cubes would burn.

Of course, I didn’t buy the stackable inserts just for the Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing. I actually use them quite often for my pot in pot recipes.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (6)

Using the stackable inserts will prevent the dreaded Burn message.

I make chicken in one, potatoes in the other. Rice and beets, pork and beans, the combinations are endless.

These stackable inserts have been well worth the purchase!

The best part about using them for dressing is that I can actually make two different varieties of dressing at the same time.

Some of my family prefer their dressing a little more on the moist side. While others prefer the dressing on the dry side.

Great! Now I can make both types and please everyone!

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (7)

Our two bowls of dressing, one moister than the other based on family preference.

Of course, if you are a little adventurous, add a little dried cranberries or sausage crumbles to one. But be sure to keep the other bowl full of the classic dressing recipe – it’s that good!

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Yield: 10

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (8)

Classic bread dressing made in the Instant Pot – the perfect Thanksgiving side dish.

Ingredients

  • 12 cups of soft bread cubes, approximately 18 slices
  • 1 cup butter, unsalted
  • 3 large stalks of celery
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Chicken/vegetable stock, to taste

Instructions

  1. The night before tear bread into small cubed pieces and let sit overnight to dry out. Or the day of, place the bread in a large foil pan and heat in oven on 200°F for approximately 20-30 minutes until it begins to dry out. You don’t want toasted bread, just dried bread.
  2. Place Instant Pot on Sauté mode. Once HOT appears on the display add the butter.
  3. Once the butter melts, add the celery and onion and sauté until tender.
  4. Add salt, pepper, and sage – sauté for an additional 3 minutes.
  5. Hit the Cancel button. Add 1/3 of hot mixture to bread cubes. Toss lightly to coat. Repeat until butter mixture is gone.
  6. Add chicken/vegetable stock to moisten the bread as desired.
  7. Wash the liner of the instant pot and place 1 cup of water in the bottom.
  8. Place stuffing in stackable bowls, cover and insert into the Instant Pot.
  9. Pressure cook/Manual for 20 minutes.
  10. Once cooking time expires, allow for 5 minutes of natural pressure release. Then perform a quick pressure release.
  11. Carefully remove the stackable containers and serve.

Notes

Recipe provided by Make Your Meals

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving:Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's all about personal preference. If you want a sturdier dressing, eggs can help do that. I don't use eggs in this recipe, though, because I like a lighter, more crumbly texture in my dressing.

What's the difference between stuffing and dressing for Thanksgiving? ›

The primary difference between stuffing and dressing is that stuffing is cooked inside a bird and dressing is made on the side. As with many food traditions in the U.S., regional loyalties to stuffing vs dressing abound.

How soggy should stuffing be before baking? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

Why add eggs to turkey stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

What can I substitute for eggs in stuffing? ›

Cornstarch makes a great egg substitute in vegan baked goods. Turns out it's great for making an eggless stuffing as well!

Should you stuff a turkey or cook stuffing separately? ›

Here's an important Thanksgiving food safety tip that will surprise many: USDA doesn't recommend stuffing a whole turkey. The practice increases the risk of cross-contamination and takes the turkey longer to cook. Cook stuffing separately instead.

What do southerners call stuffing? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

What is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Honestly, there's no bad way to cook a potato. Three of the New York Times cooking section's most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes.

Should you make stuffing the day before or the day of? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

Why can't you refrigerate uncooked stuffing? ›

USDA recommends that you never refrigerate uncooked stuffing. Why? Remember, stuffing can harbor bacteria, and though bacteria grow slower in the refrigerator they can cause problems because stuffing is a good medium for bacteria growth, therefore a higher risk food in terms of cooking safely.

Can you mess up stuffing? ›

Your Bread Is Too Fresh

There's nothing better than soft, fresh bread—except for when it comes to stuffing. If you want your stuffing to hold up and not end up a soupy, soggy mess, make sure your bread is dried out or staled for a few days.

Is it better to use broth or stock for dressing? ›

You can use either stock or broth for keeping dressing moist or as a basis for gravy, but a strong flavor will give you better results.

How do you know if your stuffing is moist enough? ›

We recommend adding stock a little at a time--1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on how much stuffing you're making--and waiting for the bread to absorb the liquid before adding more. Once the bread is moist but not sitting in a pool of stock, it's ready.

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

Are you supposed to cook the stuffing before putting it in? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

Is it better to make stuffing the night before? ›

The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes. "Making stuffing ahead saves time, allows stove and oven space for other things, and making it ahead gives time for the flavor to fully develop," Chef David Tiner, Director at Louisiana Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge, tells Southern Living.

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