Cornbread stuffing is a delicious option if your family enjoys Southern cooking.
For most people, the main course at Thanksgiving dinner is a no-brainer. Turkey is one of the defining images of the holiday, and most families would object if it was missing from the Thanksgiving table. Stuffing is another staple of most holiday menus, but there are many variations of the dish. You may choose to go the traditional route with your stuffing, or be more creative and try an alternative recipe to start your own tradition.
Traditional Bread Stuffing
One of the most common side dishes for Thanksgiving is savory bread stuffing. Serving a basic recipe may be a good idea if you are serving picky eaters because it is a fairly simple dish without any unusual ingredients that may be unappealing to picky eaters. Yet, the stuffing is also very versatile so that you can add additional flavors or ingredients to customize the recipe. Traditional bread stuffing calls for a base of diced onions and celery sauteed in butter and is seasoned with herbs like thyme and sage. Chicken or turkey stock is usually added to the mixture, while cubes of stale bread are mixed in a bowl with beaten eggs. White bread is typically used, but you may add whatever bread you have around the house. If it is not stale, you can lightly toast it in the oven for a similar effect. The onion, celery and broth mixture is combined with the cubed bread and placed in a buttered baking dish for a trip to the oven. You also may stuff your turkey with the mixture so the stuffing cooks at the same time. Some common additions to traditional bread stuffing include apple, cranberry, nuts or sausage.
Cornbread Stuffing
For a Southern twist on traditional bread stuffing, consider serving cornbread stuffing at your Thanksgiving table. In most cases, the cornbread is paired with a meat, such as sausage or ham, to help flavor the dish. The meat is usually browned in a skillet with onion and celery until the vegetables are tender. The meat and vegetable mixture is combined with salt, pepper and herbs such as parsley and sage. Cubed cornbread is added, and the mixture is moistened with warm chicken or turkey broth, so the bread breaks into smaller pieces and the stuffing becomes moister. The stuffing is placed in a buttered baking dish and cooked until heated through. You may use your favorite cornbread recipe or buy premade cornbread or muffins for the stuffing.
Wild Rice Stuffing
For a change, you may want to try a stuffing that does not contain any bread. Wild rice stuffing is a delicious alternative to a traditional bread stuffing, and is just as easy to prepare. Use a box of wild rice mix in place of cubed bread, but begin with a base of sauteed sausage, celery and onion. Simmer the mixture in chicken broth with seasonings like thyme, rosemary or poultry seasoning. Prepare the wild rice mix according to the directions, and combine the cooked rice with the sausage and vegetable mixture. Additional chicken broth can be added so the stuffing reaches the consistency that you prefer.
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