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Simple Southern Thanksgiving: Turkey, Dressing, and Gravy

Ingredients

Roasted Turkey Ingredients

  • 1 whole turkey about 12 lbs, adjust for your crowd
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 2 tablespoons dry minced onion or to taste
  • Salt and pepper mix equal parts coarse salt and coarse pepper

Cornbread Dressing Ingredients

  • 8 slices plain white sandwich bread
  • 4-5 cups dry homemade cornbread make a day ahead, use your favorite recipe
  • 2 stalks celery chopped (optional)
  • 2½ tablespoons dry minced onion or 1 medium fresh onion, chopped
  • 1½ tablespoons rubbed sage to taste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 eggs beaten
  • 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup or equivalent homemade
  • 3 cups chicken broth prepared from bouillon, stock, or carton
  • ¼ cup butter

Turkey Gravy Ingredients

  • 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup or 3+ cups homemade
  • Turkey drippings from oven bag about 1 cup or more, as available
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch or flour
  • Water

Instructions

Roasted Turkey Instructions

  • Thaw turkey in the refrigerator for 3–4 days, or submerge in cold water (change water every 30 minutes).
  • Remove the bag of giblets and the neck from inside the turkey cavity.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Place oven bag in a roasting pan. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour inside.
  • Sprinkle dry minced onion (about 1–2 tablespoons) into the bag for extra flavor.
  • Generously rub the turkey all over with the salt and pepper mix.
  • Place the turkey into the oven bag. (No need to stuff the bird—make dressing on the side!)
  • Tie up the oven bag according to instructions. Make a few slits in the top to vent steam.
  • Roast at 350°F. For 10–12 lbs, cook 1½–2 hours. For 12–16 lbs, cook 2–2¼ hours. (Check the oven bag box for time per weight).
  • Let the turkey rest, still in the bag, for 15 minutes before slicing.

Cornbread Dressing Instructions

  • Tear bread and cornbread into a large bowl.
  • Add chopped celery (if using), dry minced onion, sage, salt, and pepper.
  • Beat eggs, then mix in.
  • Add the cream of chicken soup (homemade or canned), and pour in chicken broth.
  • Mix everything well until it looks like dressing.
  • Grease a crock pot. Spread mixture in crock pot. Dot top with pieces of butter.
  • Cook on low 4 hours (or high 2 hours). Halfway through, stir dressing to prevent hard edges and help even cooking.
  • Dressing is done when hot and set, with golden edges. Serve hot.

Turkey Gravy Instructions

  • Strain the turkey drippings from the oven bag into a saucepan.
  • Whisk in condensed cream of chicken soup until smooth; bring to medium-high heat.
  • If needed, add more turkey drippings for flavor and consistency.
  • Mix corn starch with a little water to make a slurry. Whisk slurry into gravy to thicken.
  • Continue cooking until bubbling and thick. Add more slurry for thicker gravy, as desired.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot over turkey and dressing.

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