25 Earthy Dressing and Stuffing Recipes
Bake a stuffing or dressing that will steal the show in your Thanksgiving spread.
Whether you're looking to stay traditional or seeking to shake up your usual holiday spread, we've got a stuffing recipe to fit the bill. Find something vegetarian-friendly, quick and easy, or indulgently delicious (we're partial to bacon). From classic sausage-and-bread stuffing to upgrades that include sesame, pastrami, and cranberries, these Thanksgiving stuffing recipes will become instant family and friend favorites.
Cornbread-Pecan Dressing
Food & Wine / Photo by Rachel Marek / Food Styling by Holly Dreesman / Props Styling by Gabriel Greco
Get a taste of the South with this pecan and bacon-laced cornbread dressing from legendary culinary duo Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock. It's baked outside of the bird to reduce the risk of overcooking the turkey while fully cooking the dressing. Use the freshest pecans for the sweetest flavor and be sure to dry your cornbread overnight.
Sweet Onion Challah Stuffing
Crusty Italian bread is paired with soft challah for this crisp-edged stuffing. The unexpected addition of orange juice adds a lightly sweet, floral flavor.
Cranberry-Walnut Stuffing
For this holiday crowd-pleaser, dried cranberries are plumped in sweetened red wine vinegar and combined with toasted walnuts to provide delightful tang and crunch. They're tossed with rustic hunks of toasted bread and a buttery sautéed mixture of onion, celery, fresh herbs, and Italian sausage for a seconds-worthy side dish you'll look forward to every fall.
Pastrami and Rye Stuffing
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
Earthy rye, smoky and meaty pastrami, sweet onions, and sharp mustard round out the layers of flavor in this deeply savory, deli-inspired stuffing.
Cornbread Dressing with Celery and Fresh Sage
"While many seem to enjoy a yeast bread-based 'stuffing' alongside their turkeys each November, my family always has cornbread 'dressing' to eat with our bird," says food writer and recipe developer Aaron Hutcherson. He bakes his cornbread a day before so it's ready to be crumbled into the dressing.
Cheesy Scallion Stuffing with Sesame Seeds
Cookbook author Eric Kim prepares a sourdough-scallion casserole topped with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and toasted sesame seeds that evokes the sweet umami richness and slight crispness of Korean pajeon (pancakes). The combination of ingredients is well calibrated and delicious.
Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Red Onion, and Kale
With curly green kale and wedges of red onion, this sourdough stuffing is a festive addition to any holiday table. Sweet Italian sausage crumbles add a little something special to each bite.
Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing
Top Chef winner and host Kristen Kish’s mom came up with this homey two-bread stuffing to please both sides of her family: half from Michigan, where white bread stuffing is essential, and half from Texas, where they demand cornbread. Make it uniquely yours by using your favorite cornbread recipe.
Rustic Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Chestnuts
If you like to keep your stuffing meat-free and baked outside the bird, this vegetarian recipe from former F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple is for you. Swiss chard lends the dish a pleasant earthiness; hearty chestnuts add texture and richness.
Mushroom and Chestnut Stuffing with Giblets
Anthony Bourdain's rich and delicious make-ahead stuffing calls for a whole pound of mixed mushrooms and lots of fresh herbs; a super-simple homemade turkey stock gives the dish an extra boost. It's a definite crowd-pleaser.
Mushroom, Sourdough, and Poblano Stuffing
Made with mild poblanos and savory oyster mushrooms, this stuffing can be prepared a day in advance and reheated — just add a little stock beforehand to keep it from drying out.
Multigrain Bread Stuffing with Sausage and Herbs
Soft multigrain bread makes for the perfect stuffing — it's moist in the middle and crisp on the top. The duo of fresh minced sage and thyme lends the dish a classic holiday flavor.
Chestnut Stuffing with Fennel
Los Angeles chef Suzanne Goin's chestnut-laced stuffing with pancetta and fennel is adapted from Sunday Suppers at Lucques. The crispy olive oil-soaked bread cubes on top are especially delectable.
Sausage and Bread Stuffing
This recipe from former F&W senior test kitchen editor Grace Parisi was inspired by the simplicity of nostalgic Stove Top stuffing. Using homemade turkey stock gives it a rich flavor ?— for a shortcut, use chicken broth instead.
Wild Rice Salad with Ciabatta Croutons
Studded with salty pancetta, crunchy pine nuts, buttery olives, and plenty of fresh parsley, this dressing-meets-salad mash-up combines wild rice and toasty ciabatta for a fun twist on the holiday staple.
Bacon, Onion, and Rye Bread Stuffing
The key to a stuffing that's crisp on top and moist within? Chilling the assembled dish for at least an hour before baking ensures the bread thoroughly soaks up the liquid. We use cubed rye here to layer in a nutty, slightly malty flavor.
Smoky Chorizo Stuffing
Chef George Mendes of NYC's Aldea uses rich brioche as the foundation for his smoky take on sausage stuffing with chorizo and hot pimentón de la Vera.
Cornbread Stuffing with Country Sausage
? Lucy Schaeffer
Enrich traditional stuffing with hearty country sausage, buttery cornbread, and poblano chiles for just a touch of heat. This can be prepared up to two days in advance.
Cornbread Stuffing with Bacon and Greens
Chef David Tanis tweaks his mother's stuffing recipe by adding a smoky element. "She'd roll over if she saw the bacon," he says. Use stone-ground cornbread for the best flavor and texture here.
Sticky Rice Dressing
"A Chinese meal isn't complete without rice; Thanksgiving isn't complete without stuffing. This sticky-rice dressing combines the best of both worlds," says chef Joanne Chang. Chinese sausage makes the rice deliciously sweet and savory.
Shiitake Mushroom and Fresh Herb Stuffing
Tender mushrooms browned in butter add an earthiness alongside sage and thyme in this classic holiday side. Use mushroom or veggie stock instead of chicken to keep the dish vegetarian-friendly.
Sausage and Apple Stuffing Bites
For these fun little hors d'oeuvre bites, stuffing balls made with sweet Italian sausage, homemade croutons, and Granny Smith apple are packed into muffin cups and baked until golden.
Whole-Grain Stuffing with Mustard Greens, Mushrooms, and Fontina
Put an Italian spin on your stuffing by incorporating farro, Fontina, and lots of garlic to complement the bitter mustard greens and cremini mushrooms. A combination of leeks and scallions imparts a gentle onion flavor.
Spiced Lamb and Rice Dressing with Chickpeas
This hearty, savory Palestinian stuffing is traditionally used as a filling for grape leaves or halved zucchini, but its Middle Eastern flavors make it a tasty accompaniment to turkey as well.
Pumpkin Seed Bread Salad
If you're seeking something a bit lighter than traditional stuffing, combine crusty country Italian bread with seasonal pumpkin seeds and sherry for this rich, warm bread salad.
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