Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

Whether you cook your dressing solo or bake stuffing inside the Thanksgiving bird, these recipes will round out your holiday table.

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©2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reseverved

©2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Photo By: Ed Anderson ©2011, Television Food Network, G.P.

Photo By: Tara Donne ©2009, Tara Donne

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Essential Thanksgiving Herbed Stuffing

This meat-free stuffing is as easy a recipe as they come: Simply mixture bread cubes with fresh herbs, onions and celery before baking until just golden (and completely perfect).

Get the Recipe: Essential Thanksgiving Herbed Stuffing

Individual Thanksgiving Stuffing Muffins

Everyone knows the best part of the stuffing is the crunchy browned top, and Justine Simmons' genius muffin tin hack allows everyone to get that bite. Now no one will have to fight — at least not about crispy stuffing.

Get the Recipe: Individual Thanksgiving Stuffing Muffins

Oyster Sausage Herb Dressing

White bread makes this dressing a little more delicate than most cornbread dressings, while the sausage and oysters add moisture and a subtle earthiness.

Get the Recipe: Oyster Sausage Herb Dressing

Dean's Sausage Stuffing in Artichokes

Instead of just stuffing the turkey, try stuffing your artichokes this Thanksgiving. Dean McDermott uses bagels as the base of his recipe, then adds classic ingredients like apples and sweet Italian sausage.

Get the Recipe: Dean's Sausage Stuffing in Artichokes

Cornbread and Wild Rice Dressing with Pine Nuts

The base of this dressing is a moist cornbread that's boosted by bacon grease and buttermilk. For well-developed flavors, let the creamy parsley-flecked custard soak into the cornbread overnight before baking.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread and Wild Rice Dressing with Pine Nuts and Parsley

Fruit and Nut Stuffing

Instead of sausage, Kelsey bakes dries fruit and nuts into her crunchy side dish recipe. Bake until golden and the top is crispy.

Get the Recipe: Fruit and Nut Stuffing

Ed Koch Stuffing

Named after the three-term New York City mayor, this stuffing might seem a little unusual on your Thanksgiving plate. But filled with smoked salmon, capers and onions, this everything bagel-based stuffing (yes, those are real bagel chunks) brings a briny bite and loads of flavor to your tower of turkey. Bonus: This cream-cheesy casserole makes the ultimate morning-after breakfast.

Get the Recipe: Ed Koch Stuffing

Cornbread Stuffing with Fennel and Sausage

Homemade cornbread is optional for Tia's stuffing, but it's even more delicious and satisfying when a recipe is scratch-made from start to finish.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Stuffing with Fennel and Sausage

Better-Than-the-Box Stuffing

Packaged stuffing mix becomes a special standout with some added texture and fresh herbs.

Get the Recipe: Better Than the Box Stuffing

Pancetta, Leek and Mushroom Stuffing with Goat Cheese

Leeks, a milder alternative to traditional onions, sweeten the flavors of this crowd-pleasing dish.

Get the Recipe: Pancetta, Leek and Mushroom Stuffing with Goat Cheese

Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing

Turn cornmeal muffins into a Thanksgiving side with Tyler's seven-ingredient stuffing. Stir the cubed muffins with heavy cream, onions and chicken stock, then stuff inside your holiday turkey.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing

Roy Rogers Stuffing

Imagine the most impossibly loaded baked potato: sour cream, cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon, plus plenty of salsa and scallions for good measure. Then imagine those ingredients converging on your Thanksgiving plate as a potato bread-based stuffing with shards of salty chips sprinkled throughout. Meet Roy Rogers: a stuffing as legendary as the iconic cowboy himself.

Get the Recipe: Roy Rogers Stuffing

Sausage, Apple and Pear Stuffing with Cranberries

Apples, pears and sausages––what's not to love? This simple stuffing makes a sweet and smoky addition to any holiday table.

Get the Recipe: Sausage, Apple and Pear Stuffing with Cranberries

Kinda Sweet Kinda Savory Stuffing that Definitely Isn’t Bread Pudding

For those who prefer their sweet potatoes buried in a cloud of baked marshmallows, here's a cranberry juice-kissed dried-fruit-and-nut stuffing built upon cinnamon-raisin bread. But lest you dismiss this as dessert disguised as a side dish, aromatic cumin and cloves bring wintry, savory flavors to the dish, giving it a rightful home alongside green beans and the like.

Get the Recipe: Kinda Savory Kinda Sweet Stuffing That Definitely Isn't Bread Pudding

Brown Bread Stuffing with Fruit

Prepping this stuffing ahead of time allows the sweet dried cherries and apples extra time to mingle with the earthy flavors of fresh sage and thyme.

Get the Recipe: Brown Bread Stuffing with Fruit

Kedgeree Gluten Free Stuffing

Borrowing ingredients and flavors from the Indian fish-and-rice dish, this "stuffing" works as a lovely gluten-free substitute in a gluten-laden meal. Bearing the distinct tint (and spice) of curry powder, it's a savory, eggy side dish –– a refreshing twist for the Thanksgiving feast.

Get the Recipe: Kedgeree Gluten Free "Stuffing"

Sage Dressing

Dress white country bread with buttery celery and sage, then top with whisked eggs and bake until lightly browned and crusty.

Get the Recipe: Sage Dressing

Mixed-Grain Dressing with Shiitakes and Apricots

In this recipe, the quinoa and rice blend have the same cook time, so it's easy to combine flavors and textures without any additional effort. The shiitakes and parsnips provide earthy depth while the apricots add sweetness and a bit of bright color.

Get the Recipe: Mixed Grain Dressing with Shiitakes, Parsnips and Apricots

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Why riff on dressing when you can go with a tried-and-true classic? This cornbread-based Southern dressing gets its richness from butter, and it's just begging to be drenched in bourbon gravy.

Get the Recipe: Catherine's Cornbread Dressing

Thanksgiving and Stuffing Casserole

Call it a one-pot Thanksgiving meal: Rachel bakes seasoned ground turkey in a casserole dish with apple and celery stuffing, creating a make-ahead meal that can be reheated just before serving. 

Get the Recipe: Turkey and Stuffing Casserole

Sourdough, Wild Mushroom and Bacon Dressing

Mushrooms are the star of this tangy dressing, with shiitake, oyster and cremini varieties lending woodsy depth to herb-studded cubes of sourdough.

Get the Recipe: Sourdough, Wild Mushroom, and Bacon Dressing

Baked Apple Pear Stuffing

Sweet meets savory in Kelsey's easy stuffing recipe, loaded with apples, pears, raisins and sweet Italian sausage.

Get the Recipe: Baked Apple Pear Stuffing

Homemade Three-Meat Stuffing

Ingrid Hoffmann's Latin take on stuffing combines finely ground pork, beef and sausage with sauteed onions. Add them to a casserole dish along with an unusual ingredient: chopped eggs.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Three Meat Stuffing

Andouille Sausage and Pepper Cornbread Stuffing

Cornbread and spicy sausage join forces to make a single, fantastic dish. Best of all, this easy recipe just needs to be mixed and baked.

Get the Recipe: Andouille Sausage and Pepper Cornbread Stuffing

Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing with Chive Biscuits

Chive biscuits are the base of Bryan Voltaggio's Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing, giving it intense flavor and texture. Meaty chanterelle mushrooms add their unique woody flavor, balancing out the biscuits' sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Chestnut and Chanterelle Dressing with Chive Biscuits

Wild Rice and Goat Cheese Dressing

Spanish-style chorizo and wild rice make for a hearty holiday duo when paired in this rustic dressing. A hefty helping of goat cheese lends unexpected tang and richness. 

Get the Recipe: Wild Rice and Goat Cheese Dressing

Cornbread Dressing with Pancetta, Apples and Mushrooms

This Southern-leaning dressing starts with the classic cornbread base and is rounded out by a trifecta of salty, sweet and savory flavors.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Dressing with Pancetta, Apples, and Mushrooms

Raffy's Turkey Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing

What could be more festive than chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Putting them into your Thanksgiving stuffing, of course! This recipe — loaded with holiday flavor — is a great way to use up leftover cornbread.

Get the Recipe: Raffy's Turkey Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing

Sourdough Bread Stuffing

Serve a stuffing that won't make a dent in your wallet. Dave Lieberman's version combines toasted sourdough bread with cremini mushrooms, celery, onions and fresh herbs.

Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bread Stuffing

Chorizo and Cornbread Stuffing

Take meat stuffing to a whole new level by using diced chorizo. Add crumbled cornbread, chicken stock and cilantro for a Latin American-inspired side.

Get the Recipe: Chorizo and Corn Bread Stuffing

Panettone Stuffing

Michael Chiarello's Italian-inspired side uses panettone (an Italian bread) instead of traditional white bread. Toss with dried apricots and dried sour cherries for a fruity flavor.

Get the Recipe: Panettone Stuffing