Stuffing is one of those Thanksgiving sides I always look forward to because there are so many ways to make it your own. You can keep it buttery and traditional, add sausage or bacon, use cornbread or sourdough, or mix in apples, cranberries, mushrooms, and fresh herbs.
If you’re planning the rest of your holiday menu too, you might want to save these easy make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes, these Thanksgiving appetizers for a crowd, and these easy Thanksgiving casserole recipes.
Here are 19 easy Thanksgiving stuffing recipes, from traditional favorites to sausage, cornbread, cranberry, and make-ahead options.
1. Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing by Damn Delicious
This classic stuffing keeps things traditional with plenty of butter, bread, fresh herbs, onion, and celery. It bakes until golden on top while staying soft and flavorful underneath, making it a great choice when you want familiar Thanksgiving flavors everyone will recognize.
2. Sausage Stuffing by Two Peas & Their Pod
Hearty bread, savory sausage, onions, celery, garlic, fresh herbs, and dried cranberries come together in this cozy stuffing. The cranberries add just enough sweetness to balance the sausage, making this an especially good option for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
3. Cornbread Stuffing by Delish
This Southern-inspired stuffing starts with crisp cornbread croutons and combines them with buttery onion, celery, and sage. The cornbread gives the dish a slightly different texture and richer corn flavor while still keeping all those comforting Thanksgiving stuffing flavors.
4. Cranberry-Sage Stuffing by Martha Stewart
Sweet-tart cranberries give this savory stuffing an easy holiday twist. Bread, sausage, herbs, and sage create the traditional savory base, while cranberries add color and a little sweetness that works especially well alongside turkey, gravy, and other classic Thanksgiving sides.
5. Bacon Stuffing with Radicchio and Chestnuts by Food Network
If you want something a little different from standard bread stuffing, this version combines ciabatta with smoky bacon, chestnuts, and radicchio. It has plenty of rich, savory flavor while the chestnuts add a seasonal touch that feels especially appropriate for a Thanksgiving table.
6. Crockpot Stuffing by The Recipe Rebel
This slow cooker stuffing is perfect when your oven is already full of turkey and casseroles. Bread cubes are mixed with buttery onions, celery, apples, garlic, sage, and thyme, then slowly cooked until everything is tender, savory, and ready for the holiday table.
7. Wild Mushroom Stuffing by What’s Gaby Cooking
Mushroom lovers will appreciate this earthy Thanksgiving stuffing packed with sautéed wild mushrooms and fresh herbs. A rich, savory mixture gives the bread plenty of flavor, creating a vegetarian-friendly side that still feels hearty enough to stand beside all the traditional holiday favorites.
8. Vegetarian Stuffing by Budget Bytes
This colorful vegetarian stuffing proves that you don’t need turkey drippings or sausage to make a flavorful holiday side. Toasted bread, vegetables, herbs, butter, and vegetable broth create a savory stuffing that works well for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
9. Butternut Squash, Pomegranate and Wild Rice Stuffing by Cookie and Kate
For something completely different from traditional bread stuffing, this vegetarian version uses wild rice, roasted butternut squash, kale, pomegranate, goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds. It’s colorful, festive, and a nice option when you want a lighter Thanksgiving side with plenty of texture.
10. Stuffing Muffins with Sausage, Cranberries and Apples by Well Plated
These individual stuffing muffins are a fun way to serve a Thanksgiving classic. Sausage, tart apples, cranberries, bread, and herbs are baked in muffin tins, giving everyone their own portion with plenty of those crispy golden edges people usually fight over.
11. Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing by Once Upon a Chef
This rich sausage stuffing combines sweet Italian sausage with onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, sage, parsley, and plenty of savory broth. Store-bought stuffing cubes simplify the preparation, and the dish can also be assembled ahead of time for easier Thanksgiving cooking.
12. Best Stuffing Recipe by Love and Lemons
This homemade stuffing is simple but full of classic holiday flavor. Crusty bread is combined with butter, celery, leeks, and plenty of fresh herbs, creating a stuffing that turns golden and crisp on top while staying moist and tender inside.
13. Thanksgiving Stuffing by Dinner at the Zoo
If you’re looking for a straightforward traditional stuffing, this one combines rustic bread with onion, celery, garlic, sage, parsley, rosemary, and thyme. It’s baked until golden brown and has all the familiar savory flavors most people expect on Thanksgiving.
14. Homemade Stuffing by JoyFoodSunshine
Made completely from scratch, this hearty stuffing combines French bread with sausage, vegetables, herbs, and broth. The finished casserole has a crisp top with a softer savory center and can also be prepared ahead, which is always helpful when Thanksgiving gets busy.
15. Apple-Cranberry Stuffing by The Pioneer Woman
This festive stuffing combines hearty bread with apples, dried cranberries, celery, onion, and plenty of savory herbs. The fruit adds a slightly sweet contrast to the buttery bread, making it a colorful Thanksgiving side that pairs especially well with turkey and gravy.
16. Easy Homemade Stuffing by The Real Food Dietitians
This homemade stuffing mixes bread with plenty of vegetables, including celery, onion, leeks, and garlic, plus sage and other traditional seasonings. It bakes with a crisp golden exterior and soft center and also includes options for vegetarian or gluten-free adaptations.
17. Cornbread Stuffing by The Modern Proper
Large pieces of cornbread give this Thanksgiving stuffing a soft, hearty texture and plenty of corn flavor. Butter, onion, celery, herbs, broth, and eggs keep it savory and traditional enough to pair easily with turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
18. Make-Ahead Stuffing by Bites with Bri
Thanksgiving cooking gets easier when one of your biggest side dishes can be prepared early. This make-ahead stuffing uses browned butter, garlic, fresh herbs, vegetables, hearty bread, and savory broth, then reheats beautifully with a crisp golden top.
19. Crockpot Cranberry Stuffing by McCormick
This slow cooker stuffing combines savory sage, parsley, onions, and bread with chopped apples and dried cranberries for a sweet-and-savory holiday flavor. Best of all, it cooks in the Crockpot, leaving valuable oven space free for turkey and other Thanksgiving dishes.
Final Thoughts
Whether your family loves traditional herb stuffing or prefers something with sausage, cornbread, apples, cranberries, mushrooms, or bacon, there’s plenty here to choose from.
Pick the one that fits your Thanksgiving menu and make a little extra—stuffing is usually one of the first sides to disappear.
You May Also Like
- 21 Easy Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- 19 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers for a Crowd
- 21 Easy Thanksgiving Casserole Recipes
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