These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (2024)

Opinion

Take your family's favorite holiday side to the next level this year.

By Christopher Michel
These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (1)

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If we had to pick a favorite from our Thanksgiving side dishes, it would be a tough call, but Thanksgiving stuffing (or dressing, depending on where you live) would come out on top.

The combo of bread, veggies, and various other ingredients soaked in stock and turkey drippings, then slowly roasted to perfection is just too hard to beat. And there are so many different ways to make stuffing! You can add fresh oysters and a rich bacon-cream sauce. You can use buttermilk cornbread and sweet sausage. You can go with apples and walnuts, or sourdough and cranberries. In fact, we tend to make at least two different stuffings every year, just because they're so good!

Scroll through our list and pick one to make this year. All have been tested in the Country Living test kitchen, so you know they're delicious and easy to make!

1

Pork-and-Sage Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (3)

Think of this as the quintessential stuffing recipe: Sourdough bread, sweet Italian sausage, and plenty of veggies and herbs.

Get the recipe for Pork-and-Sage Stuffing.

2

Oyster Stuffing with Bacon-Scallion Cream Sauce

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (4)

Oyster stuffing is a Southern coastal tradition. The cream sauce is a "why-didn't-we-think-of-this-before" innovation.

Get the recipe for Oyster Stuffing.

3

Best Easy Fresh Herb Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (5)

This recipe is sure to wow a crowd, and it even takes under an hour to prepare.

Get the recipe for Fresh Herb Stuffing.

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4

Turkey Roulades with Sourdough Pancetta Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (6)

This easy and tasty dish is a great way to get turkey and stuffing all together in a much simpler — and still beautiful — presentation.

Get the recipe for Turkey Roulades with Sourdough Pancetta Stuffing.

5

Classic Southern Cornbread Dressing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (7)

In the great debate between dressing and stuffing, we say have both!

Get the recipe for Classic Southern Cornbread Dressing.

6

Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (8)

Serving stuffing by the slice may be the smartest idea since the first Thanksgiving.

Get the recipe for Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing.

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7

Apricot-Wild Rice Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (9)

Wild rice and apricots give classic stuffing a sweet spin.

Get the recipe for Apricot-Wild Rice Stuffing.

8

Tamale Dressing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (10)

Yellow beets and green chile-chicken tamales add color and bold flavor to this classic stuffing—ahem, dressing—recipe.

Get the recipe for Tamale Dressing.

9

Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing with Pecans and Sweet Sausage

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (11)

This recipe by the Beekman Boys calls for Super-moist Cornbread. If using cornbread for stuffing, make it two days prior: Cut cornbread into 1-inch chunks, place on a large baking sheet in a single layer, and let dry out at room temperature for two days.

Get the recipe for Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing with Pecans and Sweet Sausage.

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10

Apple-Walnut Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (12)

An assortment of breads helps enhance the flavor and texture of your homemade stuffing.

Get the recipe for Apple-Walnut Stuffing.

11

Basic Herb Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (13)

You simply can't go wrong with this simple Thanksgiving stuffing, which requires only 20 minutes of prep.

Get the recipe for Basic Herb Stuffing.

12

Ina Garten's Herb and Apple Stuffing Recipe

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (14)

This French bread, rosemary, and apple stuffing comes straight from Ina Garten's kitchen. If it's good enough for the Barefoot Contessa, it's good enough for us!

Get the recipe for Ina Garten's Herb and Apple Stuffing Recipe.

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13

Sausage and Herb Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (15)

While you could opt for a stuffing without meat, this hearty sausage variety is just the thing to fill up your Thanksgiving guests.

Get the recipe for Sausage and Herb Stuffing.

14

Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Cranberries, and Apples

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (16)

Take advantage of autumn's harvest by adding sweet apples and cranberries to your Thanksgiving stuffing.

Get the recipe for Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Cranberries, and Apples.

15

Sourdough and Mushroom Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (17)

A lighter-than-expected stuffing. Serve this Thanksgiving favorite with The Perfect Roast Turkey.

Get the recipe for Sourdough and Mushroom Stuffing.

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16

Bagelshroom Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (18)

The everything bagel makes its dinnertime debut in this wild-mushroom stuffing flavored with fresh thyme and rosemary.

Get the recipe for Bagelshroom Stuffing.

17

Wild Rice and Basmati Dressing with Sausage and Sage

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (19)

For this take on Thanksgiving dressing, two types of rice are cooked in a fragrant medley of mushrooms and onions sautéed in butter, bay leaf, and fresh sage.

Get the recipe for Wild Rice and Basmati Dressing with Sausage and Sage.

18

Matzo Stuffing

These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (20)

Matzo meal and chicken broth are added together slowly to ensure this stuffing is deliciously moist. Apples and cinnamon impart a surprising hint of sweetness.

Get the recipe for Matzo Stuffing.

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These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (21)

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These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes Will Make the Feast Legendary (2024)

FAQs

Why put eggs in 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 is the best bread for stuffing? ›

Sourdough, Italian, and white bread are standard choices for stuffing; however, journeying beyond your comfort zone can produce excellent results.

Is it OK to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

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.

Do you actually put stuffing inside turkey? ›

Should I stuff my turkey? Stuffing cooked inside the turkey cavities is delicious, but it does slow down the cooking time and could be a potential health hazard if done incorrectly. For perfect no-worry results, opt for "dressing" instead – stuffing cooked alongside the bird instead of inside.

How do you keep stuffing moist? ›

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.

Why is turkey stuffing so good? ›

When made from scratch and seasoned right, it is rich, moist and savory, shot through with different textures and flavors that give cooks plenty of room to play. That basic amalgamation of starch, fat and aromatics is indisputably delicious.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

16 egg substitutes
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

Why is stuffing cooked inside the turkey? ›

But stuffing is soft and porous by nature. That's the main reason to cook stuffing inside a turkey: The bread cubes soak up roasting turkey juices and transform into incredible-tasting flavor bombs. That means the stuffing needs to reach a safe temperature (165°), so it won't make you sick.

Is Italian or French bread better for stuffing? ›

What is the best bread to use for stuffing? Pick a bread, any bread! The best part about stuffing is that there are so many types of bread based on your families preferences. You can use cornbread, Italian bread, French bread, white sandwich bread, challah, or even sourdough.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

Is it better to toast or dry bread for stuffing? ›

The Best Bread for Stuffing Is Oven-Dried | Epicurious.

Can you use week old bread for stuffing? ›

In fact, using stale bread and fresh bread will both leave you with equal amounts of mush. The longstanding tip to use old, stale bread for the perfect stuffing is actually a myth. Letting bread go stale doesn't actually dry it out. After sitting out on your counter, bread goes through the process of retrogradation.

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 I freeze stuffing? ›

Like we said, you can also freeze stuffing after it's baked. This option is better for freezing leftovers rather than prepping ahead. If you happened to make too much stuffing, you can portion the leftovers into food storage containers and pop in the freezer to enjoy during the days to come.

What is stuffing usually made of? ›

According to question, Traditionally, stuffing is often made using poultry meats like turkey or chicken. However, other meats like pork, sausage, or even vegetarian options can also be used based on personal preferences and regional variations. Stuffing is usually large bread crumbs with herbs.

What is stuffing mostly made of? ›

Stuffing is a mix of edible ingredients such as herbs, bread and a binder such as egg, traditionally stuffed into a meat cavity before it is cooked. Other ingredients in stuffing might be meat, nuts, butter, chopped vegetables and even fruit or oysters.

What is the difference between turkey stuffing and turkey dressing? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

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