The Best Store-Bought Stuffings for Thanksgiving
Need to skip homemade this year? Go with one of these boxes.
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When it comes to a holiday as hectic and time-consuming as Thanksgiving, you're allowed a shortcut or two. And, if that means opting for store-bought boxed stuffing mix, we believe it's worth picking up the best one available. To help you sift through all the boxed options out there, we tried a bunch ourselves and have ranked them in our order of preference. While there was one mix that reigns supreme, we were actually pleasantly surprised in how many of these quick fixes we found enjoyable.
We can't speak highly enough of this stuffing mix. The croutons remained crunchy yet chewy, and the flavor was balanced and fresh. The process took a little longer than the rest (this recipe actually calls for the addition of an onion and celery), but it was more than worth it in the end.
This Stove Top version was a favorite amongst tasters (i.e. my roommates), who loved how much flavor came through but never felt overwhelming.
On the contrary, we loved this stuffing for how simple and classic it was. Sure, it wasn't the most flavor-packed of the bunch, but it left room for the chef to doctor it up or pair it with anything else on their Thanksgiving menu.
Our feelings on this stuffing mimmicked that of the turkey Stove Top flavor. But, since chicken isn't exactly a Thanksgiving staple, it fell a little lower on the list.
Another We Liked: Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing
Trader Joe's version of cornbread stuffing was our favorite of all the cornbread options we tried, but it still fell short in overall comparison. For having the added touch of being a cornbread stuffing, we felt this one was lacking seasoning and flavor.
Stove Top definitely delivers on flavor, but this cornbread stuffing fell a little lower simply due to texture. We want a stuffing mixture that will hold onto a little crunch and cripsness once cooked, and this boxed stuffing didn't deliver that.
In comparison to Stove Top's other meat-focused stuffing mixes, this version was intense on flavor. Some loved that, others felt it was too intense for a side dish. Either way, we found Stove Top to be a strong option no matter what flavor you pick up.
This was the only flavor that tasters felt had too much going on. If you feel like your Thanksgiving plate is looking a little bland, this might be a good option. But, fair warning, it's heavy on the herbs.
Good If You're Gluten Free: Trader Joe's Gluten Free Stuffing Mix
We love that Trader Joe's is offering an option that makes it easy for those avoiding gluten to still enjoy this Thanksgiving staple. But, unfortunately, it didn't exactly deliver on texture. When we made this version, it got a little too mushy for our liking.
