56 Stuffing Recipes You Won't Want to Miss

Stuffing might just be the most loved side dish on the Thanksgiving table (along with cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes) — and everyone has their own version they swear by. Whether you like yours baked crisp in a casserole dish or spooned straight from the bird, this collection of 56 Stuffing Recipes You Won’t Want to Miss has something for everyone. You’ll find the best stuffing recipes made with bread and herbs, Southern-style cornbread stuffings, hearty sausage versions, and even creative twists with fruit or vegetables. It’s the perfect place to find easy stuffing ideas- perhaps discovering your new holiday favorite or rediscovering an old one.

56 stuffing recipes collage pinterest pin

Recipe Tips

Use day-old bread: Slightly dried bread absorbs flavor without turning mushy.
Toast the bread cubes: A few minutes in the oven deepens flavor and texture.
Don’t skip the aromatics: Onion, celery, and herbs are essential for that classic Thanksgiving flavor.
Add moisture gradually: Drizzle in broth until the mixture feels damp, not soggy.
Bake uncovered for crispness: Tent with foil if it browns too quickly.

The History of Stuffing

A 3700 year old clay tablet dug up in Lara (Iraq) contained several poultry recipes. One was for a roasted bird with a side dish of soft bread. This may have been the earliest precursor to Thanksgiving stuffing.

Between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, a chef named Apicus shared recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit and pig in his cookbook. Ingredients included vegetables, herbs, nuts, liver and brain).

We don’t know if the Pilgrims had stuffing at the first Thanksgiving. We do know that they had access to wild game and rice. So they may have stuffed birds with rice!

Written records dated back to 1836 suggest that it was around that time that stuffing became part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal as one of the holiday side dishes.

In 1972, the introduction of Stovetop Stuffing in a box appeared. Nowadays, Stovetop sells about 60 million of those boxes around Thanksgiving.

Classic Bread Stuffing Recipes

This Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing recipe is a classic, amazing, easy, homemade stuffing that everyone loves!
Slow Cooker Stuffing is the perfect stuffing recipe to make when you have limited space in the oven.
Traditional Herb Stuffing is very easy to make and filled with fresh, flavorful herbs.
Based on a family recipe, this Thanksgiving Stuffing rich and savory, made with fresh herbs, celery, butter, and leeks.
In this Buttery Herb Stuffing, the edges are golden and crunchy, the inside is soft, and it’s wildly flavorful, buttery and filled with herbs.
Make-Ahead No-Fuss Stuffing is so easy to make! Forget the boxed stuff and make it from scratch. It is full of fresh herbs and all the classic stuffing ingredients.
Easy Cube Stuffing is made with comforting flavors from rosemary, sage, thyme, and chicken broth.
Easy Sourdough Stuffing is made with fresh herbs, delicious sourdough bread, and savory chicken stock.

Sausage Stuffing Recipes

Sausage Herb Stuffing with Butternut Squash and Cranberries is a hit-out-of-the-park, grand-slam stuffing recipe. The sausage and fresh herbs help boost the flavor, the butternut squash + other vegetables add interest and nutrition, and the dried cranberries add a pop of sweetness.
Low Fat Sausage Stuffing recipe is one way to try and lighten things up a little for your holiday dinner.
My Mom’s stuffing recipe from so long ago, this Classic Stuffing recipe is the one I always make. Mom had a couple of secrets, and those are shared in the recipe!
Old Time Stuffing is a recipe found many years ago on a grocery store sale flyer! It is buttery and filled with the sweet crunch of sautéed onions and celery.
Pecan Sausage Croissant Stuffing is savory, herbaceous, slightly rich and completely delicious! It features cubes of buttery croissants, crunchy pecans, salty sausage, and sweet caramelized onions.
Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing is the perfect side dish for a large family meal, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Easy to make and baked in the oven, this hearty stuffing is perfect to serve with chicken, Cornish hens, turkey or ham.
Sausage Stuffing with Apples, Cranberry and Herbs is not too mushy or soggy! It’s a mixture of Sage Pork Sausage, veggies, homemade bread cubes, fresh herbs, apples, and dried cranberries.
Easy Maple Sausage Stuffing is made with French baguette, peppers, garlic, and maple sausage.

Mushroom Stuffing Recipes:

This Shiitake Mushroom Stuffing is my favorite stuffing recipe! It’s so good and so moist, and it’s full of the flavors of mushrooms, dried apricots and sage.
Portobello Stuffing recipe is a great holiday side dish for mushroom lovers! Bacon and plenty of mushrooms are added to this delicious cornbread stuffing recipe.
This is a stuffing recipe for major mushroom lovers. There are loads of mushrooms in this stuffing- porcini, cremini and shiitake! This Wild Mushroom Stuffing recipe also calls for using egg bread instead of plain ‘ol French bread.
Mushroom Stuffing with Leeks is a savory classic side dish for Thanksgiving! This recipe is easily made vegetarian but is packed with flavor from umami mushrooms and fragrant herbs.
Parmesan Bacon Mushroom Stuffing is made with sourdough bread and toasted pecans in every bite.
Mushroom Brioche Stuffing with Fontina and Herbs transforms any ordinary meal into an extraordinary feast.
Savory roasted garlic and herby sautéed mushrooms bump all the flavors up in this easy Roasted Garlic Mushroom Stuffing.
In this recipe for Chestnut and Mushroom Stuffing, sweet chestnuts and meaty mushrooms add fall flavor to an otherwise classic stuffing.

Cornbread Stuffing Recipes

This recipe for Cornbread Stuffing with Bacon and Sage has tons of bacon as well as sage and thyme to get those classic Thanksgiving aromas going on. It’s the perfect side dish to go with turkey and gravy!
Southern Cornbread Dressing is a classic side dish perfect for Thanksgiving dinner and many other holidays. The best cornbread dressing is made from scratch with homemade cornbread and classic combination of onion, celery, and sage.
This Bundt Pan Herbed Corn Bread Dressing is a spectacular visual update on classic dressing. Serve it on a decorative cake stand drizzled with warm turkey gravy then stand back and enjoy the “oohs” and aaahs.”
This is the Best Southern Cornbread Stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving. It’s rich, savory and full of flavor without using a pound of butter.
Fresh herbs, savory sausage, and homemade cornbread stuffing mean unbelievable flavor in this from-scratch Cornbread Stuffing recipe.
This quick, easy Jiffy Cornbread Dressing is baked in a casserole dish and flavored with sausage, celery, onions and sage.
Cornbread Sage and Onion Stuffing is mixed with onion, celery and fresh sage, chicken stock is added, then baked to achieve a crispy crunchy top.
This Savory Cornbread Dressing is a moist dressing packed with aromatic veggies, warm spices, chicken, and tasty Southern cornbread.

collage of 8 stuffing recipes with fruit

Stuffing with Fruit (Apple, Cranberry, Pear)

Cranberry and Walnut Stuffing is a simple turkey stuffing recipe is studded with dried cranberries, walnuts, celery, and onions, and scented with a mix of fresh herbs, for an easy and comforting addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Packed with crispy apples, tart cranberries, fresh herbs, onions, celery, butter and chicken broth, you’re going to LOVE this recipe. Just as easy as regular, out of the box stuffing, this Cranberry Apple Sage Stuffing will really add some extra oomph to your Thanksgiving table this year!
This Cranberry Pecan Stuffing blends whole wheat and country croutons with sweet-tart cranberries, toasted pecans, and herbs.
Easy Apple Stuffing is a savory and buttery stuffing made with hearty bread chunks, crisp apples and fresh herbs.
This Stuffing with Bacon, Apples, Sage, and Onions is classic Thanksgiving fare and can be cooked inside or outside the turkey.
Caramelized Onion Pear and Walnut Stuffing is a flavorful and easy-to-make Thanksgiving stuffing made with caramelized onions, pears, celery, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
A hearty, chewy, moist, but also a little crispy, sweet and flavorful Sage and Sausage Stuffing with Pears! PERFECT for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any roast dinner!
You can serve this hearty, fruit-studded Stuffing with Apples, Pears and Mushrooms with turkey, roasted or grilled pork, chicken or ham.

collage of 8 vegan and vegetarian stuffing recipes

Vegetarian & Vegan Stuffing Options

This delicious Vegan Stuffing Recipe is brimming with the most wonderful holiday flavors from vegetables, sage and rosemary. It’s eggless, and there is no butter needed.
Easy Cauliflower Stuffing is flavorful, caramelized, herby and savory. With 10 minutes of prep, it’s perfect for your Thanksgiving table!
This Seriously Good Vegetarian Stuffing with Fresh Herbs will be a hit at your holiday dinner table!
This Easy Vegan Stuffing—made with hearty sourdough, golden sautéed veggies, and a pop of apple sweetness—has been tested (and devoured) at many holiday tables.
Classic Vegan Stuffing is a veganized version of the classic side dish that’s actually pretty easy to make. All you need is some good bread, a vegan butter that you like, some herbs and aromatics, and you’re all set!
Super Traditional Vegan Stuffing tastes just like traditional versions of the dish that you probably grew up eating, but it’s completely vegan!
This Simple Vegetarian Stuffing recipe should be a staple at every Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration! It’s savory, flavorful, and delicious with no need to bake bread or toast bread crumbs ahead of time.
Butternut Squash Stuffing with Mushrooms and Apples is “stuffed” with butternut squash, cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, and apples, and seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon, and fresh sage and rosemary. And, it’s vegan!

Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipes

This recipe for Gluten Free Cornbread and Bacon Stuffing doesn’t skimp on flavor and texture just because it’s gluten free.
This easy Gluten Free Cornbread Stuffing is a popular Thanksgiving side dish with comforting classic flavors from fresh thyme and sage, along with apples, carrots, and celery. It’s moist and fluffy in the center with perfectly crispy edges.
This is the Best Gluten Free Stuffing recipe! It’s so tasty it will be the most requested dish at your table… even by people who don’t have to eat gluten-free! It’s moist and tender, with a crispy top and amazing flavor!
In this recipe for Gluten Free Bread Stuffing with Apples, using a higher ratio aof eggs binds the ingredients, while diced sweet apples, celery, and onions add extra moisture and flavor.
This savory Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing (dressing) with carrots, cranberries, apple and sage is always a hit.
This Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing with Sausage tastes just like regular stuffing! Nobody will even know it is gluten-free until you tell them.
This Traditional Gluten Free Stuffing with Fresh Herbs is one of the best.
This flavorful Easy Gluten-Free Stuffing is made in your slow cooker, saving valuable space in your oven during holiday meals.

FAQs

Can stuffing be made ahead of time?
Yes, make-ahead stuffing can be done! You can assemble stuffing up to one day ahead and refrigerate it tightly covered. Bake it just before serving for the best texture.

Should stuffing be baked covered or uncovered?
Start covered for moisture, then uncover during the last 15 minutes to get that golden, crispy top.

Can stuffing be frozen?
Yes — cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze up to one month. Reheat covered in the oven until warmed through.

Fun Facts about Stuffing:

The names for stuffing have changed throughout the years. In 1390, it was called “farce.” In 1538, it was called “stuffing.” In 1688, it was called “forcemeat.” And in 1850, it was called “dressing.”
50% of Americans stuff their Thanksgiving turkey.
The USDA states that cooking animals with a body cavity filled with stuffing can cause safety hazards. Even when a safe temperature is reached, the stuffing can still harbor bacteria.
New Englanders add oysters to their stuffing. Southerners make cornbread stuffing. In the Northwest, wild rice stuffing is popular.
The Pennsylvania Dutch call stuffing “filling.”
Southerners call it “dressing,” regardless of whether or not the stuffing is cooked in the bird.
In 2010, the Guinness Book of World Records listed a Bedouin wedding dish of roasted camel stuffed with sheep, chickens, fish and eggs the largest item on any menu in the world.