Doctored Stuffing Recipe

This semi-homemade side made with a sweet and savory blend of browned sausage, apples, onion, and fresh thyme and Stovetop Stuffing Mix is an easy and wildly delicious addition to any holiday table!

My family has been doctoring Stovetop Stuffing Mix for Thanksgiving my entire life, and it is one of my all-time favorite food traditions/holiday hacks.

Honestly, the Stovetop mix is pretty excellent prepared as directed, but folding in browned sausage, a little fresh thyme, and sautéed apples and onion gives it unbeatable sweet and savory flair. One could stop there, but more is more, so be sure to dot the stuffing with butter and bake until the top is browned and crispy. The result is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and likely the first thing to go on any holiday table. (I have years of data to back this claim…)

Stovetop Stuffing Recipe

If you’re skeptical of boxed stuffing mix, I get it, but there is a certain delicious je ne sais quoi about the perfect Stovetop blend that simply cannot be matched. I’ve made countless homemade stuffing (or “dressing, ” dependent on your regionality/preferred terminology) recipes—of my own creation and others’—and every time, I’m just disappointed that I spent so much time and effort on something that doesn’t taste as good as the doctored box.

So, if you’re in need of a wildly simple, flavor-packed stuffing this holiday season, I’m hoping you’ll take my beloved Stovetop version for a spin. The recipe can be halved if you’re cooking for 1-4 and just as easily multiplied for large groups!

This “recipe” will run you about 45 minutes from start to finish, but only about 25 minutes of that is hands-on prep time. I recommend making the stuffing the day you’re serving it (it dries out a bit if kept overnight), but feel free to make the sausage/apple/onion mixture up to 2 days in advance. And you can absolutely prep through Step 4 in the morning and bake in the evening if you’d like.

Delicious Doctored Dressing Recipe

*I know some of you are loyal to Pepperidge Farm, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s stuffing mixes, amongst others. Feel free to use those in place of Stovetop, just be sure you’re substituting the correct amount of mix. (This recipe calls for 12 ounces.)A delicious medley of sauteed vegetables, giblets, and sweet cranberries with pre-made Stovetop stuffing mix makes an easy and extra tasty side dish for the Thanksgiving table.

The sides are my favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner and this doctored up Thanksgiving Stovetop Stuffing might be my very favorite of all. Using the breadcrumbs and seasoning that come in the Stovetop stuffing box are super handy, while adding freshly sautéed vegetables and the giblets from your turkey make for a flavorful, delicious side dish.

Whether you’re making this easy smoked turkey recipe, a crockpot turkey, a convection oven turkey, or cooking it the old-fashioned way, stuffing goes hand in hand with your holiday bird.

Dressed Up Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing

This glorified stuffing is out of this world amazing. And it’s so easy to make because good ol’ Stovetop has done all the prep work for us! You can adjust the add-ins for your personal tastes, but using this recipe guarantees you’ll have a crowd pleaser to set on the Thanksgiving table with Granny’s homemade sweet dinner rolls, cranberry jello salad, and creamy mashed potatoes.

Stovetop stuffing is a pre-made mixture of dried breadcrumbs and seasoning that you can cook up in just a few minutes on the stovetop by adding water and butter. A quick stir and simmer and you have fluffy, moist stuffing in minutes.

We like to use Stovetop stuffing as an easy side or to mix in with some of our other favorite, easy dinners, but for Thanksgiving, we like to spice it up a bit. Stovetop stuffing can also be stuffed into a chicken or turkey, which adds even more flavor and moisture.

Best Stuffing And Dressing Recipes For Thanksgiving

You can choose what kind of additions you’d like to make to doctor up your stuffing, but we typically start with celery and onions and saute them in some olive oil on the stovetop. We also use the giblets (heart and gizzard, but never the liver because we’re not fans), which add another level of flavor to this stuffing.

We add in dried cranberries after the stuffing is prepared. I just love the contrast of the sweetness that cranberries add. I’ve tried raisins, as well, but those need to be stirred in to the stuffing after it finishes cooking in the turkey. Otherwise, the drippings from the turkey add too much moisture to the raisins and they plump right back up into grape status. ha! Pecans or walnuts can be a nice addition also.

Step 1: Begin by sauteeing the celery, onions, and giblets in a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Cook until the celery and onions are soft, the onions are translucent, and the giblets are browned.

A Sausage Stuffing Recipe That's Delicious On Thanksgiving, Christmas And Any Other Day Of The Year

Step 2: Add the breadcrumbs, butter, and water to the pan. Mix to melt the butter and combine the ingredients. Cover the mixture and let the bread soak up all the water. This only takes a few minutes.

Step 4: This Thanksgiving stovetop stuffing is ready! If I’ve made a large batch of stuffing, I always separate the stuffing into a couple bowls. This way, I don’t contaminate any extra that might not fit into the turkey.

If you don’t want to stuff your turkey, that is fine! This stuffing is still delicious and relatively easy to make, but I would be remiss to not tell you that the yummy factor increases exponentially by giving it a few hours in the oven to soak up all the turkey drippings.

Shortcut Thanksgiving Stuffing With Sausage And Cranberries

Remember not to stuff your turkey too tight. Loosely packing the stuffing into both the neck and the body cavities is the best method. Stuffed turkeys take longer to cook, but it’s worth the wait! Be sure the stuffing registers 165°F before removing the turkey from the oven.

Remove giblets from your defrosted turkey and rinse. Pat dry with a paper towel. Dice into small pieces, discarding the tough muscle tissue and using only the soft tissue. If you like the flavor of liver, you can add it to the recipe with the other giblets.

Absolutely! The stuffing is MOST delicious if cooked in the turkey. However, it is completely cooked and delicious even if you don’t stuff your turkey.

Slow Cooker Stuffing

Yes! Since your turkey typically spends hours in the oven, it’s nice to have your stuffing ready to go early on Thanksgiving day. I usually prepare the stuffing the night before and then I just have to stuff the turkey right before I stick it in the oven.

Unless I’m cooking two turkeys, I usually do have extra stuffing that won’t fit in my turkey. I am really careful to keep the stuffing that won’t be going into the turkey in a separate bowl so that it doesn’t get contaminated by the raw turkey when I’m stuffing it.

You sure can. Look for bread cubes that have seasoning already added. I haven’t found another brand that is quite as moist and yummy as Stovetop.

Stove Top Stuffing Recipes We Love

Calories: 255 kcal | Carbohydrates: 33 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 53 mg | Sodium: 497 mg | Potassium: 176 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 10 g | Vitamin A: 1606 IU | Vitamin C: 2 mg | Calcium: 47 mg | Iron: 2 mg

It is my hope that you will find inspiration on the Girl. Inspired. blog. All photos are copyright protected by Girl. Inspired. If you wish to share something that you have seen here, I am absolutely thrilled! Please use only one picture with a direct link back to the project you are referencing. Thank you so much for your understanding!