Rice Dressing with Bacon

Name: Rice Dressing With Bacon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 cups White Rice (Long Grain); 4 cups Chicken Broth (Low Sodium); 1/2 lb Bacon (6 or 7 slices); 1 cup Onions (Chopped); 1 cup Celery (Chopped); 2 cups Cremini Mushrooms (Sliced)

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A change from traditional stuffing, this rice dressing is packed full of bacon, mushrooms, and fluffy rice. It's a great make ahead Thanksgiving side dish that is so easy and so delicious!

A straight on view of the rice dressing in a bowl

This dressing is a twist on the classic stuffing. My grandma used to make this then I was growing up and it was always my favorite side dish. You can make this dressing ahead of time and then the morning of Thanksgiving heat it up in the oven.

If you're looking for a gluten free side dish, look no further! Since rice is naturally gluten free, this side dish is perfect! Double check that your chicken broth you are using is gluten free as well, and you can always use regular water to cook the rice instead of chicken broth.

And don't forget to check out the rest of these Thanksgiving sides:

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Dressing Vs. Stuffing
Ingredients You'll Need
Equipment You'll Need
Let's Make Rice Dressing with Bacon!
Make This Ahead Of Time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Recipes To Try
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Dressing Vs. Stuffing

The only difference between dressing and stuffing is that stuffing is stuffed into the turkey. You don't want to stuff this recipe into a turkey. There is no egg or binder to keep this dressing together like a traditional stuffing would, and the rice will get overcooked in the bird. Keep this rice dressing in a baking dish and heat it up the day of.

Ingredients You'll Need

Onions and celery- to add flavor to the rice dressing.
Chicken broth- use low sodium chicken broth so the rice does not get too salty.
Bacon- use your favorite type. For this recipe, I used hickory smoked bacon.
Rice- long grain rice is best for this recipe. You can use brown rice if you would prefer, but the cooking time would increase.
Mushrooms- Cremini, or baby portabellas give a this recipe a meaty texture. Button mushrooms can be used instead of cremini mushrooms.

Equipment You'll Need

Let's Make Rice Dressing with Bacon!

Clean and slice the mushrooms and set them aside. Chop the celery and onions into small pieces and set that aside.

Cook the rice according to package instructions using the chicken broth to cook the rice in. While the rice cooks, cut the bacon into pieces and cook the bacon in a large saute pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the bacon gets crispy and renders it's fat, meaning the fat melts.

The rice is being cooked in chicken broth — Cook the rice according to package instructions

The bacon is being cooked in a pan — Cook the rice according to package instructions

Take the bacon out of the pan and place the bacon pieces onto a paper towel lined plate, but leave the bacon grease in the pan. Add the chopped onions, chopped celery, and sliced mushrooms to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, until the onions and celery soften and the mushrooms are cooked.

The vegetables are being sautéed in the bacon fat — Add the vegetables to the pan

The rice and bacon are added to the vegetables — Add the vegetables to the pan

When the rice is cooked, add the rice and the bacon back into the pan and mix all the ingredients to combine. Serve immediately or place the rice dressing in a baking dish and cover to reheat when you are ready to cook.

Make This Ahead Of Time!

This rice dressing is perfect to make a day or two ahead of when you need it. Make the dressing completely and place the rice in a baking dish. When you are ready to heat up the rice, add one cup of chicken broth to the baking dish and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the rice is heated through. Serve immediately.

The rice dressing is in a square baking dish

Frequently Asked Questions

What else can I add to this rice dressing?

This rice dressing is fantastic just the way it is, but to change it up, add mozzarella to the recipe or sausage to bulk it up. Add a teaspoon of poultry seasoning for a little extra herby goodness!

What type of rice should I use?

Long grain rice is best. When it cooks the rice kernels stay separate and don't stick together. I don't recommend Arborio rice or sushi rice as they would stick together or become too creamy. You can use brown rice if you would prefer, just make sure to cook the rice according to the package instructions.

Can this recipe be doubled?

Yes! This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you are feeding a large crowd!

How long will this dressing last?

You can make this ahead of time and serve it the day of Thanksgiving. It's great for leftovers too! It will last up to five days after Thanksgiving in an air tight container.

Other Recipes To Try

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