From Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing to Chicago Style, White Castle and More

I have said this before and I will say it again: stuffing is the best part of Thanksgiving dinner.

I love the turkey. I love the mashed potatoes and gravy. I will absolutely make room for the green bean casserole. But stuffing is the thing I am going back for when everyone else has moved on to pie.

Over the years I have shared quite a few stuffing recipes here on The Tipsy Housewife because there really isn’t just one kind of stuffing.

There is the classic Thanksgiving stuffing most of us grew up eating. There is my family’s World’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing, which is its own very special thing. There is a buttery stuffing, a Chicago-style version, a stuffing made specifically to serve with ham, and yes, there is even a White Castle stuffing.

And then there is Bell’s Seasoning Stuffing, which is exactly the kind of old-fashioned, savory stuffing I want piled next to turkey and covered in gravy.

Since Thanksgiving recipes start flying around the internet this time of year, I wanted to put all seven of my stuffing recipes in one place so you can decide which one belongs on your holiday table.

Some are traditional. Some are a little quirky. Some are practically a meal on their own.

There is no wrong choice here.

1. Bell’s Seasoning Stuffing

The Old-Fashioned, Savory Thanksgiving Stuffing

If the smell of poultry seasoning immediately makes you think of Thanksgiving, this is the stuffing for you.

Bell’s Seasoning has that very particular old-fashioned flavor that tastes like the holidays before you even put the turkey in the oven. It is herby, savory and familiar without needing a million ingredients.

This is a great recipe for anyone who wants their stuffing to taste traditional but still have plenty of flavor. It works beautifully alongside turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes and all those classic Thanksgiving sides.

I especially like this one for people who say, “I just want normal stuffing.”

And I mean that as a compliment.

Sometimes Thanksgiving does not need reinventing.

2. Stuffing for Ham

A Savory Stuffing Made Specifically for Your Holiday Ham

Stuffing gets so closely associated with turkey that people forget how delicious it can be with ham.

This recipe was created specifically with ham in mind.

Ham already brings a salty, smoky and slightly sweet flavor to the table, so the stuffing needs to complement it instead of competing with it. This one gives you all of those savory stuffing flavors while working beautifully alongside a glazed or baked ham.

It is perfect for Thanksgiving if your family serves ham instead of turkey, but I also love this idea for Christmas and Easter.

And frankly, I don’t believe stuffing should be limited to Thanksgiving anyway.

3. Chicago Style Stuffing

A Hearty Stuffing With Big Chicago Energy

Of course I had to have a Chicago stuffing.

This one is for the people who do not want stuffing to simply sit quietly on the side of the plate.

Chicago-style food is not exactly known for being shy, and neither is this recipe. It is hearty, savory and substantial enough that you may find yourself sneaking forkfuls directly from the baking dish.

This is a fun one to add to Thanksgiving when you want something that still feels familiar but has a little more personality than your basic boxed stuffing.

It is also a great conversation starter if you are feeding people who grew up in Chicago or have Chicago roots.

4. White Castle Stuffing

The Unexpected Stuffing That Absolutely Works

I know.

White Castle.

Just stay with me.

Using White Castle sliders in stuffing is one of those ideas that sounds a little questionable until you think about what is actually in a White Castle slider: seasoned beef, onions and soft bread.

Those happen to be pretty excellent building blocks for stuffing.

This recipe is savory, beefy, oniony and ridiculously fun to put on a holiday table.

It is also one of those recipes people will ask you about the second you tell them what is in it.

Thanksgiving is full of traditions, but I think there should always be room for one recipe that makes everyone at the table say, “Wait. WHAT is in this?”

5. Butter Stuffing

Simple, Rich and Exactly What Stuffing Should Be

Sometimes the best holiday recipes are the simplest ones.

This stuffing is all about that buttery, savory flavor that makes you keep going back for another spoonful.

There is something especially comforting about a simple stuffing where the bread gets those delicious crisp edges on top while the inside stays soft and buttery.

This is also a good choice when the rest of your Thanksgiving menu already has a lot going on.

You do not always need another complicated side dish.

Sometimes you just need really good stuffing.

6. Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing

The Familiar Thanksgiving Stuffing Everyone Wants on Their Plate

This is the stuffing you picture when someone says Thanksgiving dinner.

Savory bread, herbs, vegetables and all those familiar holiday flavors come together in a recipe that belongs right next to the turkey.

If you are hosting people with different tastes, this is a very safe bet.

There are no surprises here, and that is exactly the point.

It is cozy, traditional and perfect covered with turkey gravy.

This is also the kind of recipe I think people should keep in their back pocket because once you know how to make a good classic stuffing from scratch, you can adjust it to your family’s tastes year after year.

7. World’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing

The Tipsy Housewife Family Favorite

I realize calling something the World’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing is a bold statement.

I stand by it.

This recipe has been part of my site for years and it is very personal to me because it comes from the kind of Thanksgiving food I grew up eating.

The thing that makes this stuffing different is the bread dumpling component. For years I used Château Foods dumplings, and when they were no longer available I had to figure out how to preserve what made this stuffing so special.

That is why I also shared my Easy Czech-Inspired Bread Dumplings so people could continue making this recipe even without the original dumplings.

This is not your basic bread stuffing.

It has history behind it, it has texture, and it has that very specific holiday flavor that immediately takes me back to family Thanksgiving dinners.

Of all the stuffing recipes on this list, this is the one that is most connected to my own Thanksgiving traditions.

Seven Stuffings, Seven Completely Different Reasons to Make Them

Still trying to decide?

Here is the easiest way I can break it down.

If you want old-fashioned Thanksgiving flavor:
Make the Bell’s Seasoning Stuffing.

If you are serving ham:
Make the Stuffing for Ham.

If you want something hearty with Chicago personality:
Make the Chicago Style Stuffing.

If you want the recipe everyone will talk about:
Make the White Castle Stuffing.

If you want something simple and buttery:
Make the Butter Stuffing.

If you want the traditional crowd-pleaser:
Make the Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing.

If you want my family’s special holiday stuffing:
Make the World’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing.

And there is absolutely no rule saying you can only make one.

I have been to plenty of Thanksgiving dinners where there are multiple kinds of stuffing on the table, and those are the kinds of Thanksgiving dinners I support.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thanksgiving Stuffing

Can I make stuffing ahead of time?

Most stuffing recipes can be partially or completely prepared ahead of time, but check the individual recipe you choose for specific instructions.

For Thanksgiving, I always recommend doing as much prep as possible before Thursday. Chopping vegetables, drying or preparing bread and measuring seasonings ahead of time can make Thanksgiving morning much easier.

Is stuffing better inside or outside the turkey?

I prefer baking stuffing separately.

You have much more control over the texture, and you can get those crispy edges that everyone fights over.

It also makes cooking the turkey much simpler because you do not have to worry about the stuffing inside the bird reaching a safe temperature.

What’s the difference between stuffing and dressing?

Traditionally, people use the word stuffing when it is cooked inside the bird and dressing when it is baked separately.

In everyday life, however, the terminology mostly depends on where you grew up.

I call it stuffing whether it is inside the turkey or sitting in a casserole dish.

How do I keep stuffing from getting dry?

Moisture is important, but stuffing should not be swimming in liquid.

Follow the amount of broth or other liquid listed in the individual recipe and remember that the bread continues absorbing moisture as the stuffing sits and bakes.

Covering the casserole dish during part of the baking time can also help retain moisture before uncovering it to crisp the top.

Can I make two different stuffings for Thanksgiving?

Please do.

If you have a large group, making one traditional stuffing and one more unusual recipe is actually a great way to give everyone options.

A Classic Thanksgiving Stuffing plus White Castle Stuffing, for example, gives you one familiar choice and one fun one.

Or make my World’s Best Thanksgiving Stuffing along with Bell’s Seasoning Stuffing if your family is serious about stuffing.

Save This List for Thanksgiving

If you are the person responsible for Thanksgiving stuffing this year, bookmark this page now.

You have seven recipes here ranging from very traditional to slightly ridiculous in the best possible way.

Try one this Thanksgiving, come back and make another at Christmas, and eventually you can work your way through the entire list.

That sounds like a perfectly reasonable holiday goal to me.

Because as far as I am concerned, the turkey may be sitting in the middle of the table, but stuffing is the real star of Thanksgiving.

Seven Stuffing Roundup