Happy Almost Thanksgiving, Seafoodies!
One of the things we’re always thankful for as we sit down to enjoy another Thanksgiving spread is one of our favorite traditional side dishes—stuffing … or is it dressing? Well, that all depends on how literal you are and where you live.
But we’re not going to resurrect the perennial stuffing vs. dressing debate here. The only thing that matters is the taste! Hands down, whatever you call it, stuffing (or dressing) is often the first dish to disappear from the Thanksgiving table.
And you know what makes this popular Thanksgiving must-have even better? Plenty of seafood! Serving seafood-based stuffing is a great addition for many reasons.
One—it’s a protein-filled alternative to offer the pescatarians (or seafood lovers) at your table.
Two—it helps you get some extra seafood servings and taste variety during what’s often a totally turkey-intensive week!
And three—seafood may be more authentic to the original story of this traditional celebration than you might think.
While no record exists of exactly what was on the menu back in November 1621, many historians believe that seafood was likely on the very first Thanksgiving table! So, in a way, we’re bringing the tradition full circle.
We know you have a lot on your plate preparing for Thanksgiving, so we’ve done the recipe research for you! While we think seafood could be the star of the show on Thanksgiving (no offense, turkey), we think seafood makes a great holiday side dish too. To make it easy, we gathered some of the very best seafood stuffings, ranging from the classic to the unexpected. These recipes share some basics: seafood (of course!), some form of breading, aromatic veggies, moistening and binding agents like eggs or cream, seasonings and some oven time.
But that’s where the similarities end. It’s amazing that one dish can have so many different regional variations: Shrimp or oysters? Cornbread, herb stuffing or crackers? Chicken broth or seafood stock? Old Bay or hot sauce?
Mouthwatering options abound, and you really can’t go wrong with any of these recipes!
P.S. In the unlikely event you have any leftovers of these spectacular stuffings— it also makes great seafood cakes, muffins or squash filling! Just divide as needed, then sauté or bake.
Ok! It’s time to give that turkey a little competition!
Gluten-Free Crab-Stuffed Acorn Squash
This dish is a double myth-buster, debunking the falsehoods that: (1) Cravable dishes can’t be good for you and (2) you can’t serve seafood with cheese. Wrong, and wrong!
Savory Seafood Cornbread Dressing
No mush here! This is a dryer dressing with a little extra chew, but you can always loosen it up by adding more broth by the 1/2 cup until it’s the texture you desire!
Soul Food Style Seafood Cornbread Dressing
As an ode to the Third Coast’s southern, creole and Cajun cuisines—serve up a stuffing brimming with indulgence, thanks to the inclusion of lobster, shrimp and crab!
A delicious option as a stand-alone side dish, you can also use stuffing as a filling for clams, baked on a fish fillet or as a crab cake topper too!
Starting simple with a twist on mirepoix—celery, onion and bell pepper—this traditional southern cornbread dressing comes together into a flavorful masterpiece with a Louisiana twist.
Simple Seafood Cornbread Dressing
A homemade seafood stock is at the heart of this ode to southern cooking—which elevates the familiar taste of shrimp, lump crab and fresh herbs into something scrumptious!
Less liquid and a little heavy cream work well with the crab and shrimp—for a balanced bite of stuffing in every forkful!
Start with a traditional cornbread-style stuffing that everyone knows and loves—and add sweet lump crab meat—for a dish reminiscent of a traditional Maryland Thanksgiving!
Oysters are a surprising addition to stuffing, but don’t knock it till you try it—they add a unique smokiness that your guests will love!
Butter, savory, rich and indulgent—just a few words used to describe the flavors of this tried-and-true favorite!
Mix together part herb and part cornbread stuffing mix—for a solid base to really let the shrimp, crab and ample seasonings shine!
Traditional Holiday Seafood Stuffing
The recipe uses Gulf shrimp and Dungeness crab for their bold, sweet flavors and firm texture, but feel free to substitute with any other type of shrimp or crab you prefer—it’ll still be delicious!
Comfort food lovers—this one’s for you! Shrimp, clams, crab and more mix and mingle in this outrageously delicious seafood stuffing!
Baked Seafood and Cornbread Stuffing
Going the extra mile to make the cornbread from scratch is so worth it when you see how well the sweetness plays off the ‘meatiness’ of the shrimp and crab!
