I Asked 5 Chefs To Name the Best Store-Bought Stuffing, and They All Said the Same Thing

Without a doubt, my favorite Thanksgiving side dish is stuffing (drowned in gravy). In fact, my love for stuffing runs so deep that I often serve it throughout the fall and winter. While I enjoy making it from scratch with homemade sourdough, fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices, my stuffing obsession is often fueled by a store-bought mix. It cuts down on time, is easy to dress up, and (usually) tastes delicious.

Not all store-bought stuffings are created equal when it comes to taste and texture. I decided to ask a handful of food professionals to determine which store-bought stuffing reigns supreme, and they all named the same brand.

The Food Experts I Asked

• Charlie Ray: Private chef and founder of The Culinary Wildling
• Ashia Aubourg: Recipe developer and food writer
• Allison Rittman: Chef and owner of Culinary Culture
• Henry Hill: Chef and CEO at Hill’s Research Kitchen
• Jill Houk: Research and development chef at Culinary Culture
  

The Best Store-Bought Stuffing Mix

In the eyes of these hardworking food folks, the best widely available store-bought stuffing is a classic: Stove Top. This is thanks to its taste, versatility, soft yet crunchy texture (when baked), and nostalgic appeal.

“Stove Top really nails the seasoning blend in its stuffing mix. It's savory, with warm notes of herbs like rosemary,” says Aubourg. Hill concurs, saying, “I think there’s something nostalgic and comforting about the seasoning blend.”

Speaking of nostalgia, this brand elicits plenty of fond memories. “Stove Top is a childhood favorite, mainly because it has such nostalgia for me," Rittman says. "As a child, I can remember my Mom preparing this for special occasions, so this is a food memory I tie closely to family and holidays with good memories." Houk agrees, adding, “It tastes like going to my grandma's house at Thanksgiving.”

While the Traditional Sage variety gets the stamp of approval from our chefs, they also note that the Savory Herbs, Turkey, and Chicken Stove Top stuffings are equally delicious. Stove Top mixes can be found in most national grocery stores for about $3.49 a box, though in November, they're often on sale for much less.

How To Dress up Store-Bought Stuffing

There's no shortage of creative ways to prepare and serve Stove Top stuffing at home. Ray recommends browning some butter, sautéing onions until translucent, then adding chopped garlic, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts." Then, she says, "I add the stuffing to the pan to soak everything up, toss it around, add it to a baking dish, and broil for five minutes.” This yields that crispy crust we all fight over at the holidays.

“It's easy to elevate this stuffing with extra ingredients like chorizo, bacon, or jalapeños," Aubourg says. "My family also prepares it according to the package directions, then mixes in crumbled homemade cornbread to turn it into a flavorful cornbread dressing."

Meanwhile, Rittman prepares Stove Top according to the package instructions, then stuffs it into pork chops or savoy cabbage leaves destined for a hearty tomato sauce. This chef has also transformed it into savory stuffing waffles served with fried eggs and gravy.

Houk packs roasted butternut squash to the brim with Stove Top stuffing mix. “Mix prepared stuffing with slivered almonds and dried cranberries and place in the cavity of the squash. Then top with feta cheese and broil until melted," she says.

There you have it—even the pros reach for a shortcut when holiday chaos hits. Whether you doctor it up or follow the directions on the box, you can feel good knowing your stuffing has chef approval. Sometimes the easiest choice really is the best one.

_{To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE.}