Honestly, I’m not really sure why we only make homemade stuffing once a year. It’s so good, I can’t help but serve myself a second, heaping spoonful anytime it’s placed on the dinner table! After all, who could say no to a casserole that’s packed full of savory flavor? Not to mention the texture of those croutons, which soak up every bit of moisture to create a crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside bite filled with unforgettable flavor.
Luckily, it’s easy to make a homemade stuffing that’s so good, your family will ask you to make it all year long. Just follow these tips and tricks!
1. Use plenty of fresh herbs
If you’re only going to follow one tip from this article, make this the one. Dried herbs have their place in plenty of recipes, but stuffing isn’t one of them. Using a combination of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (isn’t there a song about that?) creates the ideal herbaceous backbone to support the savory flavors in the stuffing. So don’t skimp!
2. You don’t have to stuff it inside anything
We’d rather not get into the debate about stuffing vs. dressing, but technically the dish is only called stuffing if it’s (you guessed it) stuffed inside a turkey. Otherwise, it’s bread dressing. I’ve never called it that, and I’ve also never stuffed anything inside a turkey. There are some legitimate safety issues involved with cooking stuffing inside a turkey, and it also slows down the rate at which the turkey cooks. You’ll get plenty of flavor in your stuffing if you use poultry stock (preferably homemade), so don’t feel pressured to actually stuff anything. If you want to make meatless stuffing, then here are a few tips for making vegan stuffing.
3. Keep things simple
Some people make really complicated stuffing, adding ingredients like oysters, mixing up a 50/50 cornbread and white bread mixture or chucking in cranberries, pecans and pears. I’ve even seen sticky rice and tortilla chips in stuffing recipes! You can make your stuffing however you like, but the best versions I’ve ever had kept things simple. Bread, onions, celery, herbs, butter, broth, eggs and sausage. That’s really all you need!
4. Make your own broth
If you really want that stuffing to shine, use homemade broth. This is especially important if you’re following tip number 3! In the end, the richer the broth, the better the stuffing, so don’t be afraid to go all-out. I always have a container or two of homemade broth in the freezer for occasions like this, but you can also make an incredibly rich broth using the turkey neck.
5. While we’re at it, use homemade croutons
We know not everyone has time to make everything from scratch, so feel free to use boxed croutons if you’re feeling stressed. But, trust us: Homemade croutons will really make your stuffing shine. Any loaf of bread will work, but a country loaf, sourdough, brioche or rye loaf are my personal favorites. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and toss them into a 300°F oven until they’re dry and crisp, about 45 minutes.
6. Unless you’re vegetarian, don’t skip the sausage
There are some great vegetarian stuffing recipes out there, but there’s just something about the combination of sausage and sage that screams Thanksgiving! Plus, the pork fat binds with the breadcrumbs, adding an extra layer of delicious flavor. Choose the best sausage to fit your meal: spicy Italian sausage to add a nice kick to the dish, breakfast sausage for its sweet finish or smoky Andouille to create extra depth of flavor.
If you’re running short on time or oven space on Thanksgiving day, consider making your stuffing the day before. Like most casseroles, it will definitely taste better when reheated the next day. You could also pull out the slow cooker; this recipe makes an incredible, hands-off stuffing!
Stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving
Stuffing from the Slow CookerIf you're hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner this year, add this simple slow-cooked stuffing to your menu to ease entertaining. It cooks in just three hours and stays moist. Best of all, it doesn't use precious oven space.
Badger State StuffingThe contrasting sweet, savory and slightly tart flavors in this Thanksgiving classic are what make it so special. Bacon, fruit and sauerkraut give the stuffing a strong and memorable taste.
Sausage Bread DressingThis Italian sausage stuffing has some hidden sweetness. With apples and pecans, this must-have dish tastes just like fall.
Pecan-Cornbread DressingUsing cornbread stuffing mix cuts down on the time it takes to prep this smoky stuffing. Bacon and pecans give it a savory and sweet mix that'll perfectly complement your other Thanksgiving dishes.
Savory Zucchini Bread PuddingThis stuffing hits all the best flavor notes; savory, sweet and cheesy. Canned pumpkin and cinnamon work to make an aromatic and colorful dish.
Hearty Rice DressingThe creamy beef and pork dish packs just the right amount of heat. With 50 servings, you're going to want to invite everyone you know to dinner. Or cut the recipe in half!
Oyster StuffingBeef and pork stuffings are tried and true, but if you're looking to switch things up a bit this year, this is the recipe for you. Oyster lovers can leave them whole instead of chopping them up.
Smoked Sausage & Potato DressingThis dish has all the makings of smoky stuffing but with potatoes as the base instead of bread. If you have leftovers, top some with an over-easy egg for breakfast.
Slow Cooker Bacon-Mushroom DressingThis stuffing cooks in the slow cooker while the turkey's in the oven. It uses two types of prepackaged mix: cornbread and seasoned cubes.
Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato StuffingNo gravy is required for this creamy mashed potato stuffing. This dressing is the combination of the two best Thanksgiving side dishes with some great add-ons like bacon and mushrooms.
Traditional Holiday StuffingYou can't beat the classics. Sausage and sage add a gourmet taste to this classic stuffing.
Special Herb DressingThis satisfying dressing has all the great tastes people crave. With meat, fresh herbs, earthy mushrooms, crunchy apples and a burst of tart cranberries, this large-serve stuffing is great for a potluck.
Moist Poultry DressingMushrooms and onions complement the big herb flavor in this stuffing. The slow cooker lends a hand to how it stays so moist.
Cranberry Pecan StuffingCranberries and pork really make this stuffing something special. The pecans add just the right amount of sweetness and crunch.
Wild Rice StuffingUse up your giblets in this buttery rice stuffing. It soaks up all the best flavors of your turkey and only bakes for 30 minutes.
Slow Cooker Mushroom StuffingPut your slow cooker to work! This herby mushroom stuffing is vegetarian for any guests that require it.
Southern Cornbread DressingThis southern dressing has hard boiled eggs and turkey giblets woven into it for a nice blended taste. It turns out moist, hearty and ready for more turkey.
“Everything” StuffingThis stuffing really does have it all. From the earthiness of the mushrooms to the sweetness of the apples, you get every flavor profile without overshadowing any of them.
Grandma’s Cornbread DressingThis creamy chicken-flavored dressing is pillow-soft. You can chop up your Thanksgiving meat of choice into the dish.
Amber’s Sourdough StuffingSourdough is a nice change of pace from your usual prepackaged stuffing mixes. The natural tang blends nicely with the mushrooms and celery. This stuffing is great for a small night in, or you can double it for a larger crowd.
Rice DressingThis mushroom and chicken flavored rice dressing is a nice change of pace from traditional bread stuffings. It stays moist and can soak up lots of flavor.
Cranberry Cornmeal DressingThis sweet and tart dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The dried cranberries really complement the dish's turkey sausage.
Sausage and Cornbread DressingA little steak sauce goes a long way in this dressing. Cornbread and cubed bread add a savory burst of flavor.
Raisin-Studded Apple StuffingRaisins and tart apples adorn this satisfying sausage stuffing. With the soft bread and crisp apples, you'll forget about the other side dishes entirely.
Apple-Cranberry StuffingFruit and wild rice make this sweet and tart dressing just a bit earthy. You can use any type of apple, but Granny Smith yields great results.
Grandma’s Poultry DressingThis poultry dressing requires simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Relying on the pork sausage flavor, this hearty stuffing goes great with any turkey.
Cornbread Dressing with OystersThis hard-boiled egg and oyster dressing is not short on flavor. It cooks separately from the turkey, since
cooking stuffing inside the turkey can be dangerous.
Cornbread StuffingIf you're from the South, you might get the appeal of a hard-boiled egg stuffing. While other dressings have sausage, and even oysters, this one has chicken for a nice classic taste.
Fruit & Nut Andouille StuffingThis six-ingredient stuffing utilizes seasoned cubes. With mixed fruit and pork sausage, everything's thrown together really easily for a big flavor payout.
Bacon & Sausage StuffingWith bacon and sausage, this smoky stuffing doesn't lose any moisture. The bacon even adds a nice coloring to the dish.
Dried Cherry & Sausage DressingApples and dried cherries add a sweet-tart flavor to this Italian-seasoned stuffing. The texture of the cherries are similar to raisins, but they have a richer flavor.
Slow-Cooker DressingThis very simple dressing is made with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Use unseasoned cubes so you can season them to your liking. Once it’s in the slow cooker, you’re free to turn your attention to the other sides.
Herbed Apple-Cranberry Bread DressingApples give a nice crunch to this stuffing while applesauce and orange juice pack on the sweetness. This breadcrumb dressing is soft and takes in a lot of flavor.
Savory Sausage StuffingPork sausage can be a game changer to your usual stuffing recipe. This simple dressing uses two types of bread and dried cranberries for extra tartness.
Skillet Sausage StuffingThere's nothing easier than a skillet stuffing. The savory dish comes together in under a half hour which gives you more time to focus on your day. To make this sausage stuffing, you dress up a package of stuffing mix with pork sausage, mushrooms, celery and onion.
Sweet Potato StuffingSweet potatoes find their way to most Thanksgiving tables. This slow cooker dressing breathes new life into the starch. It's versatile and able to withstand adding your family's favorite ingredients to the mix.
Sausage-Herb DressingHave you ever heard of coffee in a stuffing? This slow cooker dressing has a deep and herby flavor that you won't be able to get enough of.
Make-Ahead Cornbread DressingThis dressing has a few surprising elements, the most notable being spaghetti squash. Spaghetti squash is great for a dressing because like rice, it takes to flavor really well. So with the added sausage, walnuts and cheese you end up with a delightfully rich and textured dish.
Mushroom StuffingA hearty cornbread mix combines with mushrooms and bacon for a spectacular result. This dressing is creamy and soft.
Apple & Apricot StuffingThis fruit and veggie stuffing is both sweet and tart. The apricots give it a nice orange coloring that will brighten your Thanksgiving table.
Updated: May 04, 2023
