We Tried 9 Different Stuffing Mixes and the Winner Totally Surprised Us

I think by now we've established that Thanksgiving is all about the sides, but when it comes to sides there are some great debates. Some people are all about the mashed potatoes, others can't imagine Thanksgiving without green bean casserole. And then there are the stuffing folks. It's a large and enthusiastic group that looks forward to the bread-based side. In fact, this year stuffing dethroned mashed potatoes as America's favorite side in Campbell's State of the Sides Report.

We get it. The combination of soft bread, tender veggies, fall spices and plenty of butter screams Thanksgiving. And whether you call it stuffing or dressing, you know that it must be on the table. Stuffing is great with turkey, perfect with mashed potatoes and even better with gravy. It's also a versatile leftover. You can heat it up as-is for dinner round 2, top it with a fried egg for breakfast or crisp it up in a waffle iron.

But let's back up a step. When you're making stuffing, do you go the all-scratch route or lean on a box? If you're in the latter camp you might have a preferred box or bag to buy but is it really the best one out there? Stuffing preferences sometimes come down to pure nostalgia, but we wondered what would happen if we did a blind taste test to pit stuffing mixes against one another.

And that's just what we did. We cooked up 9 different boxed stuffing brands and tried them side-by-side. At the end of the tasting, we were really full, but we also had a clear winner. Here are 9 stuffing mixes, ranked worst to best.

Related: How Much Stuffing Do You Need for Your Thanksgiving Dinner?

How We Tested These Stuffing Mixes

To keep things fair and simple, we stuck to traditional stovetop directions, because the majority of these mixes called for just that. We used the same type of butter for each recipe, however if a recipe called for broth instead of water, or fresh vegetables, we followed those directions faithfully. In the end, each stuffing mix was judged based on texture, flavor and fluffiness, as well as the ability to leave us craving more.

To find the contenders, we went to grocery stores near us, making sure to hit fan favorites like Trader Joe's and Aldi. We grabbed all of the options that we could find on the shelves. When we were done, it was a good mix of classic options with a few wild cards thrown into the mix to see how they fared.

Related: The Store-Bought Item Martha Stewart Admits to Using for Her Thanksgiving Menu

9 Popular Stuffing Mixes, Ranked Worst to Best

Ok, it's finally time for the good stuff—after all of the scores were tallied, we had a clear winner. Here's where all of the options ranked, from bottom to top.

9. LiveGfree Gluten-Free Chicken Flavored Stuffing Mix

Gluten-free always gets a bad rap, and unfortunately, that reputation seems to hold true for this option. What started as a soupy mess turned into a stuffing-adjacent mush while sitting through the oddly long 12-minute rest time called for on the package. The chicken flavoring is present within each bite, though not wholly enough to get the job done. To really make this mix shine, you’ll need to work some culinary magic of your own if it’s going to be a Thanksgiving-worthy dish.

8. Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix

When you think of boxed stuffing mix, this is probably what you think of. The iconic Stove Top brand has been a staple on Thanksgiving tables since the early 1970s. The directions are as straightforward, but the results were a bit lackluster in the flavor department. The stuffing is light and fluffy, looks appetizing and smells great, but just doesn't hit the mark in terms of herbal presence. That said, it's still a reliable option that can be improved with the addition of some (or quite a few) herbs and some time in a hot oven to crisp up the top.

7. Pepperidge Farm Country Style Cubed Stuffing

We had high hopes for this one because of the two types of bread and the instructions that call for chicken broth and freshly diced onion and celery. The fresh vegetables do help bring this bagged mixture to life, but the final product’s flavor was a bit too subtle. The packaging claims that the bread is dusted in “select seasonings,” but we couldn't find those seasonings anywhere. Depending on your tastes, a glow-up might be called for, if you choose this option. We suggest adding some herbs, like fresh sage, thyme, rosemary and parsley. We also think this one would be improved if you crisped up the top in the oven for a little extra texture.

6. Chef’s Cupboard Herb Stuffing Mix

This Aldi-exclusive brand makes the best budget stuffing mix out there. It costs only 95 cents and packs a decent variety of herbaceous flavors paired with classic stuffing texture and consistency. It’s a great option for cooks on a budget and is easy to jazz up with diced onions and celery and herbs. A little browned sausage would also be a welcome addition.

5. Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing Mix

On paper, Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing sounds amazing. The crouton-like cubes were tasty on their own, albeit subtle in terms of cornbread flavor. It’s worth noting that the mix does include a packet of “savory herbs,” whose flavor is present even in the aftertaste of each bite. This stuffing landed in the middle of the pack because it had an extremely fluffy texture that falls apart in your mouth, which we didnt' love. This is an ok pick, but we liked a few of the other brands more.

4. 365 Organic Traditional Chicken Flavored Stuffing Mix

Perhaps the least attractive of the bunch right out of the bag, this Whole Foods exclusive stuffing mix sure changes your opinion once cooked. The consistency is nice and soft, with crumbly bites to keep things interesting. The texture is a bit grainy, which was giving us slight cornbread vibes without actually being cornbread. We liked that the mixture had just the right amount of chicken flavoring. This is a solid choice as-is and could be improved with your favorite mix-ins at home.

Related: Our 15 Very Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

3. Life Everyday Turkey Stuffing Mix

This stuffing mix is what you call a sleeper hit. The bread cubes were firm but soft with defined edges and incredible flavor. All of that packed into an unsuspecting box that I found at my local grocery store. Let's just say we made the whole box for our taste test because it was that good. The box claims that the mix is made with real turkey broth and that flavor is absolutely present in each bite. Boxes generally sell for under $2, so it's a great budget option for holiday dinners as well. The only issue with this option is that it's a smaller brand that might not be available near you. That said, keep your eyes peeled for it and also take this as a reminder to branch out beyond the big brands because sometimes you'll find a hidden gem.

2. Specially Selected Garlic Rosemary Brioche Stuffing Mix

This Aldi-brand stuffing mix completely surprised us and almost took the #1 position. This boxed stuffing is an extremely popular item for Aldi going into the holiday season and usually sells out fast thanks to its less-than-$2 price tag. The stuffing cooked up soft, smooth and sweet, thanks to the brioche. We loved the combination of garlic, rosemary and brioche and this stuffing was packed with flavor. This stuffing would be great on the Thanksgiving table and would also be perfect on a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich. (Yes, we know that that's bread on bread and that's totally fine with us.) We found ourselves snacking on this stuffing throughout the tasting, which is saying something.

1. Kinder’s Homestyle Stuffing Mix Brown Butter & Herbs with Garlic & Sea Salt

This classic homestyle stuffing requires a little extra prep and a slightly different cooking process but the extra work is 100% worthwhile.

If you’re making Kinder’s homestyle stuffing at home, you can make it one of three ways: Easy Everyday, Classic Homestyle or Ultimate Umami. We were out of half and half, so we combined the Easy Everyday recipe with the Classic Homestyle and made ours with chicken broth, eggs, butter, minced yellow onion, minced celery and ham instead of sausage. We transferred the mixture to a baking dish and stuck it in a 375° oven for 30 minutes.

The finished stuffing was soft and fluffy on the inside, the top was perfectly toasted, and the seasonings were spot on. Kinder’s advertises this stuffing blend as “timeless,” and we couldn't agree more. The flavors and textures are classic and on point and it's a stuffing we'd be proud to serve at our Thanksgiving feast.

Up Next:

Related: The Top Chef-Approved Two-In-One Stuffing That's My New Favorite Thanksgiving Side