21 Earthy Dressing and Stuffing Recipes

Bake a stuffing or dressing that will steal the show in your Thanksgiving spread.

By

Food & Wine Editors

Updated on October 11, 2023

Cranberry Walnut Stuffing — Photo: Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

Whether you're a Thanksgiving stuffing traditionalist or need a new family side dish, Food & Wine's stuffing recipes are ideal for any holiday dinner. Find something vegetarian-friendly, quick and easy, or indulgently delicious (we're partial to bacon). From classic sausage-and-bread stuffing to upgrades that use tarragon, prosciutto, and cranberries, these Thanksgiving stuffing recipes will become family and friend favorites.

01 of 21

Rustic Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Chestnuts

Bread stuffing with Swiss chard and chestnuts — David Malosh

Swiss chard lends a pleasant earthiness to this hearty vegetarian stuffing; meaty chestnuts add texture and richness.

02 of 21

Pastrami and Rye Stuffing

Pastrami and Rye Stuffing — Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Earthy rye, smoky and meaty pastrami, sweet onions, and sharp mustard round out the layers of flavor in this deeply savory, deli-inspired stuffing.

03 of 21

Cheesy Scallion Stuffing with Sesame Seeds

Cheesy Scallion Stuffing with Sesame Seeds — Photo: HEAMI LEE / FOOD STYLING CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING / CHRISTINE KEELY

Cookbook author Eric Kim prepares a sourdough-scallion casserole topped with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and toasted sesame seeds that evokes the sweet umami richness and slight crispness of Korean pajeon (pancakes). The combination of ingredients is well calibrated and delicious.

04 of 21

Sweet Onion Challah Stuffing

Sweet Onion Challah Stuffing Recipe — Victor Protasio

Baked in thin layer in a sheet pan, this nostalgic stuffing has plenty of deliciously crispy edges. The addition of orange juice adds a lightly sweet, floral flavor to this otherwise-traditional dish.

05 of 21

Cranberry-Walnut Stuffing

Cranberry Walnut Stuffing — Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

Tart cranberries and toasted walnuts add flavor and a crunch to this crowd-pleasing holiday side dish. Rustic hunks of toasted bread form the backbone of this stuffing; a buttery sauteed mixture of onion, celery, herbs, and cooked sausage fills it out with rich flavor.

06 of 21

Mushroom-and-Chestnut Stuffing with Giblets

Mushroom-and-Chestnut Stuffing with Giblets — © Bobby Fisher

This rich and delicious make-ahead Mushroom-and-Chestnut Stuffing with Giblets from Anthony Bourdain gets flavor from fresh herbs. The dish also gets a boost from a super simple homemade stock made from turkey wings and necks. It's a definite crowd-pleaser.

07 of 21

Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Red Onion and Kale

Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Red Onion and Kale — Con Poulos

Folding kale into this delicious and easy stuffing is a nice surprise, especially when you get crispy bites of it (as well as crunchy bits of sourdough) off the golden top.

08 of 21

Chestnut Stuffing with Fennel

Chestnut Stuffing with Fennel — © John Kernick

When Suzanne Goin was a child, making stuffing for the holidays was one of her first forays into cooking. "My mom always used store-bought crumbs, and it became my job to doctor them up," says Goin. "I'd just raid the spice cabinet and the first batches were a little [wild]. But I figured out what I liked best." This chestnut-laced stuffing with pancetta and fennel is adapted from Sunday Suppers at Lucques. The crispy olive oil-soaked bread cubes on top are especially delectable.

09 of 21

Multigrain Bread Stuffing with Sausage and Herbs

Multigrain Bread Stuffing with Sausage and Herbs — © John Kernick

This is the perfect stuffing — moist in the middle and crisp on the top. Two bonuses: It's made with healthful multigrain bread and can be assembled one day ahead.

10 of 21

Sausage-and-Bread Stuffing

Sausage-and-Bread Stuffing — © David Malosh

Gary Vaynerchuk's mother, Tamara, makes Stove Top stuffing every Thanksgiving, and he proudly admits loving it. Its simplicity inspired this recipe by former F&W editor Grace Parisi. Using homemade turkey stock gives it a rich flavor ⁠— for a shortcut, use chicken broth instead.

11 of 21

Bacon, Onion, and Rye Bread Stuffing

Bacon, Onion and Rye Bread Stuffing — © Frances Janisch

After tossing the ingredients and spreading them in a pan, Melissa Rubel Jacobson chills the stuffing for at least an hour before baking. This ensures that the bread soaks up the liquid — key to a stuffing that's crisp on top and moist within.

12 of 21

Smoky Chorizo Stuffing

Smoky Chorizo Stuffing. Photo © Con Poulos — © Con Poulos

Rather than traditional sausage stuffing, chef George Mendes of NYC's Aldea serves a smoky version using chorizo and hot pimentón de la Vera (smoked paprika).

13 of 21

Cornbread Stuffing with Country Sausage

Corn Bread Stuffing with Country Sausage — Â© Lucy Schaeffer

Enrich traditional stuffing with country sausage and cornbread and add a kick with poblano chiles. This can be made two days in advance.

14 of 21

Mushroom, Sourdough, and Poblano Stuffing

Mushroom, Sourdough and Poblano Stuffing — Abby Hocking

F&W's Justin Chapple keeps the big day stress-free by baking his stuffing the day before and then reheating it just before serving. The trick to make-ahead Thanksgiving stuffing is adding a little stock before reheating it.

15 of 21

Cornbread Stuffing with Bacon and Greens

Corn Bread Stuffing with Bacon and Greens — © Fredrika Stjärne

Chef David Tanis grew up in the Midwest, with rich corn bread stuffing for Thanksgiving. He tweaks his mother's recipe by adding a smoky element. "She'd roll over if she saw the bacon," he says. But it's not critical to the stuffing, which also gets savory flavor from hearty kale, so you can leave it out.

16 of 21

Shiitake Mushroom and Fresh Herb Stuffing

Shiitake Mushroom–and–Fresh Herb Stuffing — © Frances Janisch

Tender and browned mushrooms add an earthiness alongside sage and thyme in this golden side dish.

17 of 21

Whole-Grain Stuffing with Mustard Greens, Mushrooms, and Fontina

Whole-Grain Stuffing with Mustard Greens, Mushrooms and Fontina — © Con Poulos

This wonderfully hearty stuffing can double as a vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving. Just substitute mushroom broth or water for the chicken stock.

18 of 21

Sausage-and-Apple Stuffing Bites

Sausage-and-Apple Stuffing Bites — © Con Poulos

Since stuffing is one of the most popular parts of a Thanksgiving meal, try doing it as fun little hors d'oeuvre bites.

19 of 21

Sticky-Rice Dressing

Sticky-Rice Dressing — © Con Poulos

Joanne Chang says, "A Chinese meal isn't complete without rice; Thanksgiving isn't complete without stuffing. This sticky-rice dressing combines the best of both worlds." Chinese sausage makes the rice deliciously sweet and savory.

20 of 21

Spiced Lamb-and-Rice Dressing with Chickpeas

Spiced Lamb-and-Rice Dressing with Chickpeas — © Quentin Bacon

Instead of the more common bread-based dressing, Sam Mogannam's mother, Mariette, always serves turkey with this hearty, savory Palestinian stuffing, traditionally used as a filling for grape leaves or halved zucchini.

21 of 21

Pumpkin Seed Bread Salad

Pumpkin Seed Bread Salad — © Frances Janisch

Combine crusty country Italian bread with timely pumpkin seeds and sherry for a rich, warm bread salad.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

Smoky Chorizo Stuffing. Photo © Con Poulos

Smoky Chorizo Stuffing

Sweet Onion Challah Stuffing Recipe

Sweet Onion Challah Stuffing

Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing

Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Brown Butter

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberry Brown Butter

Corn Bread Stuffing with Country Sausage

Cornbread Stuffing with Country Sausage

A large bowl of Robuchon-style mashed potatoes topped with melted butter

Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style

Bacon, Onion and Rye Bread Stuffing

Bacon, Onion and Rye Bread Stuffing

Sweet Potato Pave Recipe

Sweet Potato Pavé

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Acorn Squash Saltimboca Recipe

Acorn Squash Saltimbocca

Root vegetable gratin

16 Holiday Side Dishes to Make Ahead

Warm Barley and Caramelized Mushroom Salad

Warm Barley and Caramelized Mushroom Salad

Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon

Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon

Coal-Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Maple-Chile Butter

Coal-Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Maple-Chile Butter

Card Placeholder Image

Mashed Potatoes with Crème Fraîche and Chives

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Coconut and Ginger

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Coconut and Ginger