Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes & Ideas - Cooking Light

1111 Wild Rice Stuffing With Dried Cherries and Toasted Pecans

Photo: Charles Masters

What’s Thanksgiving without the stuffing? From classic sausage stuffing to whole-grain farro stuffing, it’s hard to beat toasty-yet-tender, craggy-edged stuffing—and these easy recipes will help you perfect it with ease this year. So whether you're looking for a traditional recipe or an exciting twist, our Thanksgiving stuffing collection is full of delicious ideas.

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Healthy Stuffing Recipes

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Triple-Herb Pumpernickel and Sourdough Stuffing

When it comes to making Thanksgiving stuffing, there is one big decicion you'll want to make—Bread, Corn Bread, or Grains? These healthy stuffing recipes are sure to surprise while delivering that perfect Thanksgiving combination of earthy flavors and starchy comfort.

First up, our Triple-Herb Pumpernickel Sourdough Stuffing. This delicious stuffing actually boasts five herbs, though hearty sage, rosemary, and thyme are most prominent. Look for bakery-style bread loaves, not presliced sandwich bread. If you can’t find pumpernickel, you can substitute seeded rye bread.

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Ezekiel Bread Stuffing

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Ezekiel Bread Stuffing

Ezekiel Bread—that extra hearty sprouted-grain loaf you often find in the freezer section—is fantastic for making stuffing. Not only is it chock full of protein and free of added sugars, but the thicker bread also yields a crisp, less soggy stuffing that’ll hold up to the rest of the Thanksgiving plate.

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Pancetta, Kale, and Raisin Stuffing

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pancetta, Kale, and Raisin Stuffing

Torn bread gives this healthy stuffing a lovely rustic appearance, but you can cube it if you’d rather. Kale, pancetta, and raisins all provide a flavor update, and there’s just enough red pepper to give a hint of heat.

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Classic Herb Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Classic Herb Stuffing

A straightforward holiday stuffing calls for great bread; we love the nutty toasty dimension of a bakery whole-grain loaf. Sauté the onion, celery, and carrot mixture until tender but not browned. The added moisture from the veg will help soften the bread and make for a more cohesive stuffing. Combine the wet and dry ingredients in a bowl rather than a baking dish for more even coverage, and let the mixture stand a few minutes before baking. The bread will soak up the eggy liquid like a sponge so nothing is left behind.

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Sausage, Apple, and Herb Stuffing

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Sausage, Apple, and Herb Stuffing

This healthy stuffing recipe captures the traditional stuffing vibe with the flavors of sausage, aromatic vegetables, sage, and thyme. The bread soaks up all the goodness and stays moist inside, with a crispy layer on top. Bulk sausage is ideal, but you could use links and just remove the casings. You can skip the first step if you cut the bread into cubes and let them dry on the counter for 24 hours.

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Wild Mushroom and Barley Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Wild Mushroom and Barley Stuffing

This stuffing is full of hearty texture from chewy barley, crunchy pecans, and meaty mushrooms. Tart-sweet dried cherries and nutty Gruyère cheese build even more flavor for a substantial side guests will love. Swap the chicken stock for unsalted vegetable stock or water to make the dish vegetarian. Reheat leftovers with a splash of stock for a slightly looser, though equally delicious, stuffing.

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Sausage and Chestnut Dressing

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Sausage and Chestnut Dressing

Chestnuts bring rich, nutty flavor without adding much fat or many calories, as would pecans or walnuts. You can find whole roasted chestnuts in the baking aisle.

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Acorn Squash With Wild Rice Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Acorn Squash With Wild Rice Stuffing

This two-for-one dish of wild rice stuffing and roasted acorn squash is a sure crowd-pleaser. You can cut the stuffed halves into quarters so they don’t take up as much room on the plate. Wild rice takes about as much time to cook as long-grain brown rice, which you can use as a substitute. You can also make the rice ahead and refrigerate. Reheat with a splash of water before adding to the sausage mixture.

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Pear, Sage, and Golden Raisin Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pear, Sage, and Golden Raisin Stuffing

Pears are at their peak in late fall and their firm texture is ideal for baking. Here we fold them into a classic sourdough stuffing with plump golden raisins and fresh sage. A little thick-cut bacon goes a long way here, leaving just enough drippings in the pan to sauté the vegetables. You could also use diced pancetta (such as Boar’s Head). Look for a whole-wheat sourdough loaf from the bakery section—the thick crust and hearty texture will absorb more liquid. Cut leftover stuffing into squares and reheat in the oven to crisp the edges.

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Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

This stovetop recipe would make a tasty addition to your Thanksgiving table. Both wild and brown rice reach the perfect level of tenderness (without getting mushy); the wild rice gets a bit of a head start so that everything cooks to the ideal texture at the end.

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Whole Grain Farro Stuffing With Miso Mushrooms

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Whole Grain Farro Stuffing With Miso Mushrooms

While a miso-flavored whole-grain stuffing might not be traditional, the savory, earthy flavor is right at home on the holiday table.

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Dirty Farro Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Dirty Farro Stuffing

Give nutty whole-grain farro the dirty rice treatment with the classic trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery) and spicy andouille sausage. The chicken liver adds incredible richness without any livery flavor—it's the "secret" ingredient that will have guests scraping the dish clean. Use turkey liver if your bird comes with one, or omit the liver all together for a side with a little less depth that’s still delicious. You can try brown rice, barley, or wild rice in place of farro. To turn this side into a leftover main, reheat with a splash of chicken stock and stir in a can of unsalted, rinsed, and drained black-eyed peas.

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Southern Corn Bread Dressing Squares

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Southern Corn Bread Dressing Squares

The original recipe is made with two sticks of butter, but we lightened it by saving most of the butter for the crispy top. Look for stuffing mixes free of additives, unhealthy fats, and sugar, such as Arrowhead Mills, Trader Joe's, or Whole Foods 365.

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Chorizo and Roasted Poblano Wild Rice Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Chorizo and Roasted Poblano Wild Rice Stuffing

Hot cooked wild rice is incredibly nutty and fragrant, a perfect counter to smoky paprika, quick roasted poblano peppers, and spicy fresh chorizo. Look for ground, raw Mexican chorizo rather than Spanish chorizo (cured, cased sausage). The rice will absorb the drippings from the sausage as the two bake together in the casserole dish. If you can’t find Mexican chorizo, try hot Italian pork or turkey sausage. We treat the rice the same as a bread stuffing—binding it with a mixture of stock, eggs, and butter—for a richer, more cohesive stuffing that will brown beautifully in the pan.

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Classic Corn Bread Dressing

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Classic Corn Bread Dressing

This is the quintessential Thanksgiving side dish in the South. It is made from crumbled corn bread, with no added French or sourdough bread to cut it, so the texture is unique. Loads of aromatics give this dressing its flavor; don't be tempted to use less.

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Stuffing-Flavored Cornbread

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Stuffing-Flavored Cornbread

This hearty bread captures the essence of classic cornbread stuffing but is quicker and easier to make.

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Stuffing Muffin Cups

Kelsey Hansen

There's a whole lot of Thanksgiving dinner flavor packed in these hand-held muffin cups. Stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy all get used up—and, they can be assembled in a snap.

View Recipe: Stuffing Muffin Cups

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Acorn Squash With Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

Photo: Victor Protasio

View Recipe: Acorn Squash With Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

Hack the cooker so that you can make smaller amounts with great results. For a stew or braise, use smaller amounts, place into 8- or 10-ounce ramekins, and set those down in the cooker to slowly simmer to perfection while you’re at work. With this recipe, you’re basically treating the slow cooker like a small steam oven.

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Apple, Cranberries, and Pecan Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Apple, Cranberries, and Pecan Stuffing

We give the classic holiday side a fall spin with fresh apple, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries. For the vegetarians at your table, you can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock. Raisins and walnuts can work in place of the cranberries and pecans.

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Farro Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Red Onion, and Almonds

Photo: Chis Court

View Recipe: Farro Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Red Onion, and Almonds

In this nontraditional stuffing, earthy flavors and starchy comfort come from whole-grain farro, not bread. You can assemble up to 2 days ahead. Take out of the fridge, let stand at room temperature 45 minutes, then bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

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Triple-Mushroom Stuffing

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Triple-Mushroom Stuffing

For a holiday side with earthy, savory depth, add a trio of mushrooms: creminis, meaty shiitakes, and mild white button mushrooms. A splash of sherry vinegar picks up the browned bits in the pan and rounds out the flavors beautifully. The mushrooms will release plenty of liquid after a couple of minutes in the pan; be patient and let these juices evaporate so your stuffing will be rich, not soggy.

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Apple-Sage Stuffing Cups

Photo: Chris Court

View Recipe: Apple-Sage Stuffing Cups

The muffin cups give you crispy edges and a tender interior in half the time, though the stuffing won't hold its shape like a traditional muffin. Presliced bread and prechopped onion and celery save time.

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Simply Herby Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Simply Herby Stuffing

Sometimes less is more. This simple stuffing still makes a bold flavor impact.

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Tri-Pepper Chorizo Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Tri-Pepper Chorizo Stuffing

The Mexican pork chorizo in this recipe takes your stuffing on a tasty trip south of the border.

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Sausage-Apple Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Sausage-Apple Stuffing

The apples offer this recipe a unique crunch and fun fall flavor.

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Mushroom-Artichoke Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Mushroom-Artichoke Stuffing

Make your stuffing stand out from the bunch. Mushrooms lend an almost meaty texture to this holiday side dish.

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Greek-Style Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Greek Style Stuffing

After you've tried this delectable dish, you'll wonder why you waited so long to bring the flavors of the Mediterranean to your Thanksgiving table.

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Ham, Gruyère, and Onion Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Ham, Gruyère, and Onion Stuffing

This recipe brings a hearty dose of comfort food to an already-classic side dish.

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Chestnut, Cranberry & Leek Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Chestnut, Cranberry & Leek Stuffing

The delicious mix of flavors in this side dish are sure to make an impression on your family and friends.

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Butternut-Bacon Stuffing

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Butternut-Bacon Stuffing

Guests will adore this autumn-inspired recipe, stuffed with diced butternut squash and flecks of crispy bacon.

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Corn Bread, Chorizo, and Jalapeño Dressing

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Corn Bread, Chorizo, and Jalapeño Dressing

On the corn bread side, our version veers away from Dixie toward the Southwest, with chorizo sausage and a little kick from a jalapeño pepper.

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Farro, Caramelized Onion, and Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Farro, Caramelized Onion, and Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Farro has earthy flavor and a satisfying chew—a bold choice for nontraditional stuffing. Blended with wild mushrooms and sweet caramelized onion, this dish bursts with fall flavors.

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Ciabatta Stuffing With Chestnuts and Raisins

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Ciabatta Stuffing With Chestnuts and Raisins

Italian Ciabatta bread is studded with chestnuts and raisins. This recipe is perfect for the bread stuffing lovers–but with a little Mediterranean flair.

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Fennel, Sausage, and Caramelized Apple Stuffing

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Fennel, Sausage, and Caramelized Apple Stuffing

Go traditional with a twist: Sourdough bread, sausage, and apple is a classic combo, but our bread stuffing also has licorice notes from fresh fennel.

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Wild Rice Stuffing With Dried Cherries and Toasted Pecans

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Wild Rice Stuffing With Dried Cherries and Toasted Pecans

Wild rice stuffing flecked with pecans and dried cherries offers another whole-grain medium. Be sure to cook the rice to al dente first before assembling the stuffing to bake—this way, the grain cooks to the right consistency. If you're worried about mushiness, start with a pilaf method: Sauté the grains in a few teaspoons of oil for a minute or two. The oil coating helps prevent over-absorption.

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35 Crave-Worthy Stuffing Recipes to Make for Thanksgiving

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Healthy Stuffing Recipes

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Ezekiel Bread Stuffing

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Pancetta, Kale, and Raisin Stuffing

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Classic Herb Stuffing

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Sausage, Apple, and Herb Stuffing

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Wild Mushroom and Barley Stuffing

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Sausage and Chestnut Dressing

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Acorn Squash With Wild Rice Stuffing

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Pear, Sage, and Golden Raisin Stuffing

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Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

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Whole Grain Farro Stuffing With Miso Mushrooms

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Dirty Farro Stuffing

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Southern Corn Bread Dressing Squares

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Chorizo and Roasted Poblano Wild Rice Stuffing

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Classic Corn Bread Dressing

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Stuffing-Flavored Cornbread

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Stuffing Muffin Cups

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Acorn Squash With Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

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Apple, Cranberries, and Pecan Stuffing

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Farro Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Red Onion, and Almonds

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Triple-Mushroom Stuffing

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Apple-Sage Stuffing Cups

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Simply Herby Stuffing

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Tri-Pepper Chorizo Stuffing

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Sausage-Apple Stuffing

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Mushroom-Artichoke Stuffing

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