10 Stuffing Recipes that Amp Up Flavor and Cut Back Calories

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.

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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

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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

Mark Hagen
The former owner of his own catering business, Mark’s been part of the Taste of Home team for the past 20 years. His work has also appeared in Quick Cooking, Light & Tasty and Country Woman magazines as well as in various Pillsbury and Betty Crocker cookbooks. When he’s not spending time in the kitchen with his Westie, Rocco, he’s working in his yard, doing stand-up comedy or devouring a platter of nachos. (Most likely the latter.)