No Thanksgiving feast is complete without some showstopping stuffing. We’ve rounded up a handful of interesting and innovative options you can try this year, from a Southern-style cornbread version to one straight out of New England. How to choose? Check out these holiday table–worthy dressings below.
Chorizo and Chiles Stuffing
Bon Appétit adds a bit of Tex-Mex to Thanksgiving with this chorizo stuffing! Spicy sausage, crunchy celery, and Calabrian chiles come together to create a unique stuffing that you’ll return to after each bite of savory turkey and sweet cranberry. It’s all about the balance!
Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Red Onion, and Kale
Our favorite part of this stuffing? The crispy corners and edges, of course. And this recipe from Food & Wine has the unexpected addition of kale, which adds some nutritional oomph and gets extra crispy on top—like a kale chip!
Pecan Sausage Croissant Stuffing
One of the star ingredients in a stellar stuffing is butter! This recipe from No Spoon Necessary uses buttery croissants that melt in your mouth. Baked with sweet caramelized onions, savory sausage, and toasty pecans for some crunch, this stuffing is guaranteed to please. Want to make it vegetarian? Swap out the sausage for roasted mushrooms instead.
Oyster Stuffing
Oyster stuffing is a classic New England side dish that early American settlers first created because oysters were cheap (can you imagine!). This one from Taste of Home is full of all the classic ingredients such as celery, onion, and dried cubed bread, seasoned with the robust flavors of parsley, thyme, nutmeg, and sage. The oysters add a savory, briny flavor to the stuffing without making it overly seafoody.
Pumpernickel and Rye Dressing with Bourbon and Bacon
This dressing is so unique and delicious, it’ll become an absolute favorite of all time! Don’t reserve it for just Thanksgiving, either—it’s a great side dish for lamb and beef too.
Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Corn Nuts
This Southern take on stuffing from Bon Appétit has some sweetness from the cornbread and then the aromatic, savory notes from sausage, celery, onion, and herbs. What really sets it apart? The corn nut “magic dust” that provides crunch and an extra hit of corn-flecked goodness.
The New England Oyster Stuffing link leads to Cajun Style Oyster Stuffing. I think there’s a difference.
haha! You are so right…we’ll dig a little deeper and get that fixed. Thank you!
I have enjoyed this Newsletter since you first started years ago. I also love your show & the different restaurants you visit throughout Texas. I like trying the wines suggested. Thank you for a delightful 30 minutes every week.
Thank you, Melinda, for just making my day! Hope yours is fantastic too 🙂