Give Stovetop Stuffing A Delicious Upgrade With A Canned Pantry Staple

For so many of us, stovetop stuffing is inextricably linked to Thanksgiving. This iconic comfort food is beloved by its fair share of diners but can present a problem for home cooks, especially if they're making it for the first time. Chances are, the stovetop stuffing they ate growing up was made by a relative who didn't write down a recipe for them to follow in that boomer-classic recipe box. The thought of replicating it might feel intimidating, but a can of cream of chicken soup is all that stands between you and a stovetop stuffing that will have everyone at your table eagerly scooping up seconds.

Most boxed stovetop stuffing mixes require a slug of water, but many home cooks switch that out for chicken or veggie stock to amp up the taste a little. But why stop there? Just as canned soup does wonders for mashed potatoes, using cream of chicken for this purpose will turn the flavor of your stovetop stuffing all the way up. It gives the whole dish a creamy richness, while the savory taste of the soup infuses the dried mix with chicken goodness that will pair deliciously with slices of turkey meat. Plus, if you opt for a low-sodium brand of soup, you can keep an eye on your salt intake too.

The debate about whether homemade stuffing is better than a gussied-up store-bought version will run and run, but at Thanksgiving, when there is so much cooking to do (and so many potential pitfalls just with the turkey), we think the balance tips in favor of stovetop for sheer convenience. And cream of chicken isn't the only soup that can help elevate this boxed mix. We love to throw in a can of cream of celery and/or cream of mushroom, as they both have the richness of their chicken counterpart but also help lay down earthy, umami flavor layers within the stuffing.

It's up to you whether you replace the stock entirely from the stovetop stuffing recipe with soup or cut it to create a thinner liquid. Our preference is pairing a cup of broth with a full can of cream of chicken soup for each box of stuffing, so we get our Goldilocks dish (not too wet and not too dry!), but it's worth tinkering around to find a taste and texture that works for you.

We would be remiss in talking about stovetop stuffing if we didn't mention how it also makes the best year-round comfort-food casserole. When the thermometer heads south, that's our cue to stock up on cream of chicken soup and boxed stuffing so we can whip one up for a weeknight dinner. It's the perfect home for roast turkey or chicken leftovers, with canned or frozen veggies tossed in for a vitamin boost. Alternatively, bacon or sausage paired with stovetop stuffing casserole is a marriage made in foodie heaven.