39 Stuffing Recipes for the Best Part of Thanksgiving Dinner
We take Thanksgiving dinner very seriously, and part of what makes Thanksgiving day so special is our various culinary traditions. And by that, we do mean our favorite stuffing recipes. Or dressing recipes. Or savory bread pudding recipes. Call the dish what you want; we’re not here to judge (well, most of us). We’re just here to shower you in fresh herbs and dried bread cubes and spread a little holiday love to the carbohydrate casserole of your choice.
In case you’re unsure of the difference (or just looking for some talking points to bring to the Thanksgiving table), here’s a quick rundown: Traditionally, stuffing is cooked (safely) inside the turkey. Dressing gets cooked in a casserole dish (or a large skillet, crock pot, slow cooker, a baking sheet, or any baking dish, really). Savory bread pudding is cooked like dressing, but instead of the cornbread found in the most traditional dressing recipes, these may call for any kind of bread, like sourdough or plain white bread. But honestly, there are no rules, and the best stuffing recipe for your family may not be the “most traditional stuffing recipe,” but it’s sure to be the star Thanksgiving side dish of your holiday table. Still have questions? Find the answers you seek in our Thanksgiving stuffing FAQ. Now, on to the recipes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/39Our Favorite Stuffing With Cornbread and Sausage
In our (admittedly biased) opinion, the best Thanksgiving stuffing recipes are made using a mix of country bread and cornbread. Tear—don’t slice—both breads into bite-size pieces and dry the craggy chunks out slowly in the oven at a steady medium heat so they retain texture and body when mixed with the melted butter, chicken stock, fresh sage, and cooked breakfast sausage.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege3/39Skillet Dressing With Cornbread and Biscuits
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Laura Rege4/39Spicy Cornbread Stuffing With Chorizo and Sweet Potatoes
This flavor-packed holiday side dish yields 20 servings and takes care of both the stuffing and the sweet potatoes. If you're feeding a gluten-free crowd, be sure to use a gluten-free cornbread recipe and double-check your package of chorizo.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson5/39Garlicky Sausage Stuffing
This classic stuffing recipe comes from the pages of Gourmet. It’s made with Italian sausage and lots of Parmesan cheese.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/39Savory Herb Bread Pudding
To make this vegan stuffing recipe even more flavorful, consider making an herb-infused oil to use for the fat in the recipe. It’ll give it a savory backbone that melds perfectly with the fresh ingredients.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog8/39Skillet Stuffing With Italian Sausage and Wild Mushrooms
Use any kind of mushrooms you like for this easy skillet stuffing. It calls for Parmesan or Pecorino cheese—go with Pecorino and add lots of freshly ground black pepper for a cacio e pepe (e funghi) vibe.
Linda Pugliese, food styling by Diana Yen9/39Sticky Rice Stuffing With Chinese Sausage and Shiitakes
This stuffing recipe is made with savory-sweet Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry). Jarred chestnuts add even more texture and flavor to this umami powerhouse.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton10/393-Ingredient Thanksgiving Stuffing
Diced cranberry-nut bread and sweet Italian sausage pack a surprising amount of flavor into one baking dish in this super-simple, 3-ingredient stuffing recipe. Can’t find cranberry-nut? Go with a raisin- or fig-studded loaf instead.
Photo by William Meppem, Chris Court, Con Poulos, and Anson Smart12/39Chestnut, Bacon and Sage Stuffing Rolls
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Laura Rege13/39How to Make Stuffing
Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell14/39Cider, Bacon, and Golden Raisin Stuffing
Jennifer May16/39Chestnut, Wild Rice, and Pistachio Dressing
Tender, buttery chestnuts and crunchy salted pistachios add lots of nutty flavor to this gluten-free Thanksgiving recipe. While a mixture of fresh parsley and thyme keep it fresh tasting.
Gieves Anderson, food styling by Anna Hampton17/39Skillet Stuffing With Apples, Shallots, and Cranberries
Photo by Christopher Testani19/39Pork Walnut Stuffing With Squash and Sage
This gluten-free option forgoes bread entirely. It’s made with diced butternut squash, ground pork, almond flour, and a heap of fresh herbs.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi22/39Simple Classic Stuffing
This stuffing recipe calls for any good-quality white bread, but it doesn’t mean a sandwich loaf. Use torn French bread, a hearty country loaf, or a tangy sourdough boule for exceptional stuffing. If you want to simplify this recipe even further, add a few shakes of poultry seasoning to your mixing bowl and skip the fresh herbs.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Judy Mancini23/39Fall Squash and Leek Bread Pudding
Another stuffing recipe that can act as a stand-in for a favorite Thanksgiving vegetable side. Here, butternut squash extends the volume of buttery brioche bread cubes. A blend of Emmenthal, Comté, and aged Gouda adds even more flavor.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich24/39Wild Rice Dressing
This wild rice dish is a great gluten-free stuffing alternative. It’s basically a Thanksgiving-ready grain salad full of toasted pecans, leeks, and mushrooms all tossed together in a large bowl with a honey-orange vinaigrette.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich25/39Cornbread Stuffing With Sausage and Collard Greens
Photo by Brian W. Ferry27/39Parmesan Bread Pudding With Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta
The really great thing about this stuffing recipe is its remarkable similarity to a good breakfast sandwich. Warm up a slice and top it with a fried egg for a day-after-Thanksgiving brunch, won’t you?
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott29/39Rye, Kale, Mushroom, and Pumpkin Seed Stuffing
Sauté the wild mushrooms and toast the pumpkin seeds to bring even more flavor and texture to this Thanksgiving side dish. Swap in vegetable broth for the chicken stock, and you've got one crowd-pleasing vegetarian stuffing.
Christopher Testani32/39Cornbread, Sausage, and Pecan Dressing
The truth about this dressing recipe? We used two boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix for the cornbread used to make it. Holiday smarter, not harder.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich33/39Classic Herb and Fennel Stuffing
If your favorite part of a golden-brown, fresh herb–laced stuffing is the crispy corners, why stop at one baking dish? Make two: Having a casserole of dressing at each end of the table will ease any traffic jams and maximize those crusty scoops.
Christopher Testani34/39Italian Mother-In-Law Dressing
Swiss chard, olives, raisins, pine nuts, and torn country bread make up this dressing. A big pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and a combination of fresh rosemary and oregano keep it lively.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott38/39Cornbread, Chorizo, Cherry, and Pecan Stuffing
Reaching for store-bought cornbread makes this savory-sweet stuffing easy to prep and quick to assemble. You can also bake it a day ahead and then reheat it while you're carving the turkey.
