We tried 8 boxed stuffings - these 5 taste homemade enough to fool your guests
Stuffing is the crown jewel of a Thanksgiving plate, but not everyone has time to cube a loaf and sweat aromatics on the big day. So Delish food editor Francesca Zani did the legwork: she tested eight boxed stuffings to find the ones that could pass for homemade, and only five earned a spot on the holiday table.
The bar was high. Zani wanted a balanced texture - buttery, crispy top with a moist, tender middle - plus real seasoning, not just salty bread. Here's what actually delivered.
The one that fooled everyone
The clear showstopper was Kinder's Brown Butter & Herbs Stuffing Mix. One bite of its garlicky, nutty flavor had Zani saying out loud, "Oh, this is deluxe." It's also the most flexible of the bunch, with three ways to prepare it: a sausage-spiked version, a skillet version, and an ultra-savory take with leeks. If you want guests to believe you made it from scratch, this is the box to grab.
Stovetop's Savory Herbs was the nostalgic winner. Zani admitted it had been years since she'd had her childhood favorite, and it still holds up - loaded with herbs, with a buttery, peppery backbone and perfectly crispy edges. It's good enough to keep on hand long after Turkey Day.
For the easiest route, Mrs. Cubbison's Traditional Stuffing won her over with herby, buttery croutons that toast and caramelize just right - tender in the middle, crispy at the edges, no mush. Bonus: it can be made in the slow cooker, freeing up oven space.
Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic was the surprise. Its whole-wheat base makes it darker than the rest, but the flavor was excellent, and Zani loved the homemade feel of adding your own fresh chopped onion and celery. Bowl & Basket Chicken Stuffing Mix rounded out the list as a solid weeknight side - because it's made with chicken broth, you can use plain water without losing much flavor.
Three mixes didn't make the cut, so if you're standing in the grocery aisle this November, the five above are the ones worth your cart space.