10 Stuffing Recipes that Amp Up Flavor and Cut Back Calories

Updated: Nov. 22, 2023

Want the skinny on a healthy, happy and yummy Thanksgiving? These easy stuffing recipes are loaded with the comforting flair you expect and only a fraction of the calories and fat.

1 / 10

Stuffing from the Slow Cooker

If you’re hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner this year, add this simple slow-cooked stuffing to your menu to ease entertaining. The recipe comes in handy when you run out of oven space at large family gatherings. I use this Crock Pot dressing recipe often. —Donald Seiler, Macon, Mississippi

Go to Recipe

2 / 10

Bacon & Sausage Stuffing

This was inspired by my mother's stuffing recipe. It smells like heaven while you're making it, and people can never seem to get enough. —Stephan-Scott Rugh, Portland, Oregon
3 / 10

Cranberry Cornmeal Dressing

This moist dressing is perfect when paired with poultry or even pork. The sweet-tart flavor of the dried cranberries really complements the dish's turkey sausage. —Corinne Portteus, Albuquerque, New Mexico
4 / 10

Mom's Apple Cornbread Stuffing

My speedy recipe is the be-all and end-all stuffing in our family. Not surprisingly, we never have leftovers. —Marie Forte, Raritan, New Jersey
5 / 10

Slow-Cooker Dressing

Here’s an easy dressing that’s perfect for Thanksgiving get-togethers. Once it’s in the slow cooker, you’re free to turn your attention to the other dishes. —Rita Nodland, Bismarck, North Dakota
6 / 10

Smoked Sausage & Potato Dressing

I tried this recipe for Thanksgiving. My husband is a picky eater, but he ate more of the stuffing than the turkey! If you have leftovers, top some with an over-easy egg for breakfast. —Adriana Torres, El Paso, Texas
7 / 10

Sweet Potato Stuffing

Mom likes to make sure there will be enough stuffing to satisfy our large family. For our holiday gatherings, she slow-cooks this tasty sweet potato dressing in addition to the traditional stuffing cooked inside the turkey. —Kelly Pollock, London, Ontario
8 / 10

Traditional Holiday Stuffing

Sausage and sage add a gourmet taste to this stuffing. It's perfect for large family gatherings, but you can also save some for later. —Lorraine Brauckhoff, Zolfo Springs, Florida
9 / 10
10 / 10

Slow-Cooked Sausage Dressing

This savory dressing gets amped up with apples and pecans. It cooks easily in a slow cooker so the stove and oven are free for the other dishes you're preparing. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma