Of all the arguments that inevitably take place around the Thanksgiving table—and there are plenty of potential, um, disagreements—the most enjoyable one revolves around which side dish is the best. Our money’s on stuffing. For starters, it’s a dish everyone loves, yet unlike, say, mac and cheese, it doesn’t get much attention throughout the year.
That’s a shame, because stuffing is essentially a savory bread pudding: buttery, delicious, and a carb-fueled vehicle for everything from apples to mushrooms, cheese, and sage. But most crucially, it’s a dish that always gets better when you add sausage. And when our chicken sausage meets stuffing, the party really gets started.
Here are eight spectacular recipes that get even better with The Sausage Project’s juicy links. Putting any of these on your table will all but end the argument over which side reigns supreme. Now, whether you call it stuffing or dressing is between you and Aunt Betty—who, let’s face it, has opinions.
Chicken Sausage Cornbread Stuffing
Created by the same chef who launched our flavor revolution, this stuffing recipe adds cornbread to the mix—and cornbread is scientifically proven to make everything better. Playing alongside Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage—which blends seamlessly into the mix—the cornbread’s sweetness gets balanced by the tang of craisins and the nuttiness of pecans. The result is a magical balance of sweet and salty that feels both fresh and familiar.
Make it yourself: Chef Kirk really outdid himself with this one.
Gluten-Free Apple Chicken Sausage Stuffing
Gluten is a pretty key ingredient in most stuffings—what with the main ingredient being bread. For a gluten-free and lighter stuffing option, try this healthier apple and chicken sausage stuffing recipe. The flavors are still reminiscent of classic stuffing: brightness from Granny Smith apples and fragrant mirepoix and sage. But swapping in our chicken sausage and gluten-free bread makes this version something everyone can enjoy.
Make it yourself: Erin Lives Whole has all the flavors, none of the gluten.
Cheesy Sausage and Sage Stuffing
Bon Appétit describes this recipe as “somewhere between a strata, a gratin, and a traditional Thanksgiving stuffing.” Translation: it’s impossibly creamy, rich, and cheesy—something you’ll definitely want to add to your Thanksgiving lineup this year.
Make it yourself: Bon App makes it easy to make it cheesy (sorry/not sorry).
Sticky Rice Stuffing
For a Chinese-inspired twist, try swapping out cubed bread for sticky rice. This stuffing is reminiscent of lo mai gai, a dim sum classic combining sticky rice with Chinese sausage, mushrooms, and dried shrimp—all wrapped in lotus leaves. Instead of lotus leaves, this version comes together entirely in one pot. As with our fried rice recipe, you can substitute the Chinese sausage (lap cheong) for our chicken sausage; just add a little brown sugar to bring out that signature sweetness.
Make it yourself: Omnivore’s Cookbook mastermind Maggie Zhu brings dim sum to your Thanksgiving spread.
Chorizo and Cornbread Stuffing
Although this recipe calls for Mexican chorizo, the pork sausage can easily be subbed with our Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage to achieve the same salty heat—just season with a couple shakes of cayenne or your favorite taco blend. Fresh cilantro and a sprinkle of cotija cheese tie the Mexican-inspired flavors together beautifully.
Make it yourself: Food Network’s Aarón Sánchez dialed this one in nicely.
Hawaiian Roll Stuffing
Bulk-buying Hawaiian rolls for Thanksgiving is already a great hack—they’ll disappear fast—but you can also use these sweet little rolls as a stuffing base. Everything else about this recipe is pretty classic (sausage, mirepoix, rosemary, sage), but the bread’s sweetness is enhanced by pops of cranberries and the addition of Italian sausage (our pick, naturally, is Italian Herb Chicken Sausage)
Make it yourself: Thai Caliente makes it easy to sweeten the deal.
Spicy Jalapeño and Cheddar Cornbread Stuffing
For a combo of two of the best Thanksgiving sides in one, try this jalapeño and cheddar cornbread stuffing. You’ll get heat from jalapeño, sweetness from cornbread, and savoriness from sausage—plus extra creaminess if you opt for our Melty Cheddar links. Thyme, parsley, and sage coax out even more autumnal flavor. It’s like knocking out two dishes with one delicious recipe.
Make it yourself: Real Food by Dad brings the sweet heat.