Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (2024)

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (1)

Call it stuffing, call it dressing — either way, we call it a Thanksgiving must. Complete your feast with one of these triple-tested turkey stuffing recipes, perfect for vegans and meat lovers alike. Although turkey is the main event, Thanksgiving dinner isn't complete without turkey's best friend (stuffing!), so load your table with one of these delicious options. From turkey stuffing with sausage to easy stuffing recipes, one of these is sure to please. Or, if you're a stuffing fanatic make two or three different flavors to add some variety to your plate.

But before you start cooking up your Thanksgiving feast, you may be asking, Can you cook stuffing inside your turkey? While turkey and stuffing go together like peanut butter and jelly, we suggest baking stuffing outside of the bird, in a deep casserole dish. This will ensure a moist, crisp-topped stuffing, and will help avoid the spread of any potential food-borne illnesses. Stuffing is the perfect make-ahead Thanksgiving dish, too! Simply make the mixture the day ahead, and bake on the day for a show-stopping side dish to your golden brown bird.

Whether you're cooking for four or 20, turkey stuffing is a must-have on the dinner table, and no matter the flavor preferences of your family and friends, you're sure to find a recipe that suits everyone. This Thanksgiving, you'll be armed with the best turkey stuffing recipes, and all of the knowledge to serve up the best stuffing ever.

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1

Traditional Bread Stuffing With Herbs

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (2)

Sage and parsley make this tried and true stuffing recipe the perfect partner to your turkey.

Get the recipe for Traditional Bread Stuffing with Herbs »

RELATED: 18 Turkey Recipes That Will Wow Your Guests This Thanksgiving

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2

Northwest Fruit Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (4)

This classic recipe comes from the 1956 Good Housekeeping Cookbook, but we updated it with dried cranberries and pecans for even more flavor.

Get the recipe for Northwest Fruit Stuffing »

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3

Croissant Mushroom Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (6)

One of the best flaky, buttery breakfast breads makes its Turkey Day debut in this tasty twist on a Thanksgiving staple.

Get the recipe for Croissant Mushroom Stuffing »

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4

Easy Herbed Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (8)

One basic recipe with endless ways to enjoy it — mix it with nuts, raisins, or fresh fruit for additional flavor.

Get the recipe for Easy Herbed Stuffing »

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6

Apple-Walnut Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (12)

Sure, this stuffing is packed with sausage and walnuts, but the mix of breads (try: pumpernickel, sourdough, and something multigrain) and the different textures that come along with each, are really the unsung heroes of this casserole.

Get the recipe for Apple-Walnut Stuffing »

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7

Herb and Apple Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (14)

Ina Garten's go-to stuffing recipe is studded with fresh seasonal flavors and is guaranteed to impress your guests.

Get the recipe for Herb and Apple Stuffing »

RELATED: 19 Delicious Ina Garten Thanksgiving Recipes to Wow Your Dinner Guests

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8

Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing With Sausage

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (16)

It really doesn't get any better than this classic cornbread and sausage combo.

Get the recipe for Buttermilk Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage »

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9

Sourdough Mushroom Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (18)

Want even more rich flavor? Assemble this stuffing on Tuesday night and pop it in the oven on Turkey Day.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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10

Basic Herb Stuffing

Don’t even consider that boxed imposter. With a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes of prep (easy chopping, sautéing and mixing), this classic side dish is the definition of comfort.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

RELATED: 40 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Will Steal the Show

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11

Chorizo-Chestnut Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (22)

Spice up your traditional bread and sausage stuffing with this bold dish. The Spanish sausage gives the dressing a hint of smokiness.

Get the recipe for Chorizo-Chestnut Stuffing »

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12

Sourdough Stuffing With Sausage and Herbs

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (24)

Get ready for the easiest Thanksgiving ever! This flavor-packed, make-ahead turkey stuffing can be prepped the day before and simply warmed through before serving.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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13

Cheddar and Herb Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (26)

Trust us: This easy, cheesy casserole is about to become the MVP of your Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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14

Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (27)

This is the year to drop that spoon for scooping and grab a knife. Rosemary-studded focaccia is packed into a springform pan, baked up, and served like a cake.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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15

Tamale Dressing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (29)

This spicy stuffing is a meal in itself — seriously, there are diced chicken tamales mixed in.

Get the recipe from Country Living »

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16

Cornbread, Sausage, and Chestnut Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (31)

Cornbread adds sweetness to this sophisticated side.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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17

Crescent Roll Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (32)

OH. MY. DOUGH. Our friends at Delish prove that there really isn’t anything a crescent roll can’t do.

Get the recipe from Delish »

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18

Sausage and Herb Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (34)

Load up your stuffing with sausage for an easy flavor addition.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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19

Caramelized Onion Stuffing With Apples and Sage

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (35)

Sweet caramelized onions and apples add delicious depth of flavor to this Thanksgiving side.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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20

Bacon, Cheddar, and Beer Stuffing

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (36)

This beer cheese-inspired stuffing is the perfect Thanksgiving Football-watching food.

Get the recipe from Delish »

Ditch the Boxed Stuffing for One of These 35 WOW-Worthy Turkey Stuffing Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

How many people can one box of stuffing feed? ›

How much stuffing per person? A 14-ounce bag of stuffing makes about 11 servings; a 6-ounce box of stuffing mix makes 6 servings.

Do you have to cook stuffing before putting it in the turkey? ›

Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing. Combine the ingredients and place them in your bird immediately before cooking. Don't stuff whole poultry with cooked stuffing. In addition to the turkey, the stuffing's center needs to reach 165 F.

How to make stuffing for turkey Gordon Ramsay? ›

Make the stuffing, melt butter in a large frying pan and gently sauté onion and garlic for five minutes until soft. Stir in the herbs for one minute then add breadcrumbs to absorb butter. Mix in zest, pine nuts and seasoning and cook over medium heat for about seven minutes until crumbs start to brown and crisp.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

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

How much stuffing do I need for 25 people? ›

21, 2011— -- Everyone loves your Thanksgiving turkey, but do you really know how much stuffing is the right amount to make? In order to fill the cavity of the bird you are stuffing, you should make 3/4 cup of stuffing per person. You may not be able to fit all the stuffing into your turkey.

How many bags of stuffing do I need for a 22 pound turkey? ›

As a general guideline, you'll need about 3/4 to 1 cup of stuffing per pound of poultry. Ensure the stuffing is cooked thoroughly to a safe internal temperature, which is 165°F (74°C). It's essential to pack the stuffing loosely inside the bird, as it will expand during cooking.

Is it better to cook a turkey at 325 or 350? ›

Oven-Roasted Turkey

We recommend starting the turkey in a 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes before tenting the pan with foil and lowering the temperature to 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the bird.

Do you cook a stuffed turkey at 325 or 350? ›

A stuffed turkey takes longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey. Roast a stuffed turkey for 15 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). It is important to check the temperature of the stuffing; it should be 165 degrees F (75 degrees C) when you insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing.

What to stuff a turkey with for flavor? ›

Alliums: Add quartered onions, shallots, leeks, or garlic cloves for a delicious, earthy aroma. Fruits: Insert quarters of apple, lemon, orange, lime, or even grapefruit to add moisture and brightness to the turkey. You can even go with dried fruit, like cranberries, to double down on the autumn vibes.

Why is my turkey stuffing soggy? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture.

Is stuffing a turkey worth it? ›

The primary advantages to in-bird stuffing are that it's unbelievably moist and looks super-Thanksgiving-y, but to be safe (with the raw eggs in the stuffing and the raw turkey touching it), you need to cook it to 165 degrees F, which means the bird's going to have to cook to an even higher temperature, which means a ...

Why use an egg as a thickener? ›

Creamy desserts such as crème brûlée also benefit from eggs' ability to emulsify and produce smooth, satiny, hom*ogeneous mixtures. Their ability to hold up to four times their weight in moisture makes eggs a good thickener for sauces, custards and curds. The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures.

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 do we need to apply egg yolk in some dressing? ›

Egg yolks are especially recommended for their emulsifying and thickening properties in mayonnaise, salad dressings, ice cream, and baked goods, combined with their coloring properties.

What makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.

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