If you're searching for the best Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing recipes, this collection of 27 tried-and-true favorites has you covered. From classic Southern cornbread dressings to sourdough, wild rice, and make-ahead stuffings, you'll find cozy, flavorful recipes that will make your holiday table shine.
Looking for a particular kind of dressing? Use the Table of Contents below to jump straight to your favorites!
Jump to:
- Why you'll love these Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing recipes
- The Secret to a Great Dressing (and my Southern Make-Ahead Tip)
- 27 Thanksgiving Dressing and Stuffing Recipes
- Southern and Classic Cornbread Dressings
- Bread-Based and Sourdough Stuffings
- Wild Rice, Gluten-Free & Vegetarian Options
- Savory Sausage and Speciality Stuffings
- Recipe FAQs
- More Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
- Join the conversation
Why you'll love these Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing recipes
- A mix of Southern classics and modern twists, including cornbread, sourdough, wild rice, and gluten-free favorites.
- Make-ahead and freezer-friendly recipes that free up oven space and holiday stress.
- Options for every table - vegetarian, vegan, or meat-lover approved.
- A celebration of flavor and tradition that brings back memories of Grandma's kitchen, with a few new ideas you'll make every year.
The Secret to a Great Dressing (and my Southern Make-Ahead Tip)
In the South, dressing isn't just a side dish, it's the side dish. The kind that gets second helpings and inspires debates about whose family recipe reigns supreme.
After testing Thanksgiving recipes for over a decade, I've learned one of the best secrets, besides plenty of butter, is to start early. I make my cornbread now (yes, in October!) and tuck it away in the freezer. Then, a week or even several weeks before Thanksgiving, I pull it out to make my dressing. Most dressing recipes freeze beautifully, so you can have your holiday prep nearly done before the big day even arrives.
That little freezer trick has saved my sanity more times than I can count, and it lets me actually enjoy Thanksgiving morning instead of juggling casserole dishes.
27 Thanksgiving Dressing and Stuffing Recipes
Below, you'll find a festive mix of traditional, Southern, gluten-free, vegetarian, and make-ahead options, all from talented cooks and bloggers who know their way around a holiday table.
Southern and Classic Cornbread Dressings
Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing – Grits and Pinecones
Old-fashioned and full of flavor, this classic can be made ahead and freezes beautifully.
Make-Ahead Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Pecans – Grits and Pinecones
A crowd-pleaser that's easy, freezer-friendly, and deliciously Southern.
Gluten-Free Southern Cornbread Stuffing – Bessie Bakes
A family recipe passed down with love - and yes, it's gluten-free!
Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing – What Molly Made
Spicy, savory, and loaded with flavor.
Bacon Sage Cornbread Stuffing – Souffle Bombay
Because everything's better with bacon!
Jiffy Cornbread Dressing – The Feathered Nester
A shortcut classic that delivers big Southern flavor.
Bread-Based and Sourdough Stuffings
Sourdough Thanksgiving Stuffing – Living Lou
Rustic bread, sausage, and mushrooms - baked golden perfection.
Sourdough Sun-Dried Tomato Artichoke Dressing – Pinch Me, I’m Eating
A Mediterranean-inspired twist that still tastes like the holidays.
Traditional Herb Stuffing – Persnickety Plates
Fresh herbs make this simple recipe shine.
Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing with Sausage – The Hungry Blue Bird
Simple, classic, and utterly comforting.
Wild Rice, Gluten-Free & Vegetarian Options
Vegetarian Wild Rice and Fennel Stuffing – The Rustic Foodie
Aromatic herbs and fennel make this gluten-free stuffing stand out.
Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries – Marisa Moore
Vibrant, wholesome, and holiday-ready.
Mushroom Wild Rice Dressing – Pudge Factor
Earthy, hearty, and make-ahead friendly.
Wild Rice Stuffing – Beyond the Chicken Coop
Gluten-free, colorful, and full of fall flavor.
Easy Wild Rice Dressing Recipe (Vegetarian) – Celebrations at Home
A simple, elegant rice-and-bread combo side.
Gluten-Free Stuffing – Sunday Supper Movement
An enticing and elegant gluten-free side for any holiday meal.
Savory Sausage and Speciality Stuffings
Sausage, Fig, and Cranberry Stuffing – The Merchant Baker
Sweet, savory, and aromatic - it smells like Thanksgiving!
Fig Apple Sausage Stuffing – Celebrating Sweets
Classic bread stuffing with a fruity twist.
Thanksgiving Sausage, Pear, and Pecan Stuffing – Jessica Gavin
Sweet pears and savory sausage - a flavor powerhouse.
Italian Sausage and Apple Stuffing – The Organic Kitchen
A hearty, fragrant classic you'll make again and again.
Butternut Sausage Stuffing – Wanderlust and Wellness
Gluten-free, savory, and full of flavor.
Sausage Stuffing with Fennel and Leeks – From a Chef’s Kitchen
Elevated yet easy - the perfect make-ahead side.
Sausage Apple and Sage Dressing – 4 Sons R Us
This semi-homemade stuffing recipe will be a Thanksgiving favorite.
Apple Cranberry Crock Pot Stuffing – West via Midwest
Elevated yet easy - the perfect make-ahead side.
Instant Pot Stuffing Recipe – This Old Gal
Set it and forget it - easy, flavorful, and hands-off.
Sage and Onion Stuffing- Pudge Factor
A British-inspired classic with Southern charm.
Butternut Squash Stuffing with Bacon – Went Here 8 This
Comforting, colorful, and holiday-worthy.
A Simple Traditional Cheater Stuffing Recipe with Smoked Oysters, Ham, and Pecans – Fusion Craft
Quick, quirky, and full of smoky flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Traditionally, stuffing is cooked inside the bird, while dressing is baked separately in a casserole. But in the South, we call it dressing no matter what. You can use most of these recipes either way - in the bird or in the pan!
Usually, yes. The flavor from fresh herbs, homemade cornbread, and good sausage can't be beat. But in a pinch, store-bought mixes like Pepperidge Farm or Stove Top are surprisingly good shortcuts when you're pressed for time.
Absolutely! Most dressings and stuffings freeze beautifully. Prepare them in advance, cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake until heated through.
You can assemble dressing up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it, or bake it and freeze it for several weeks. Just be sure to cool it completely before freezing - your future self will thank you.
More Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Still planning your Thanksgiving menu? You can find all of my Thanksgiving recipes here – from classic sides and desserts to make-ahead casseroles.
Looking Ahead to Christmas Baking and Treats
Still planning your holiday menus? You can find all of my Christmas recipes here – from elegant desserts to festive candies and make-ahead classics.
And, if you like to give homemade edible gifts to the foodies in your life, check out this collection of recipes: 31 Easy Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts
Join the conversation
⭐ If you make any of these Thanksgiving dressing or stuffing recipes, please leave a comment and a star rating on the recipe post!
I love hearing which ones make it to your holiday table, and if your family has a favorite twist, share it below so we can all try it.
G&P Wisdom
"In the South, dressing isn't just a side, it's the soul of the Thanksgiving table. And like any good story, it gets even better when you share it."
Thank you for visiting Grits and Pinecones!
Wishing you a warm, laughter-filled Thanksgiving surrounded by good food, good company, and something sweet enough to make you smile all weekend long. 🧡
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