Dressed up Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing baked with celery, apple, pecans, cranberries, thyme and sage! The Thanksgiving side dish that every table needs.
The holidays snuck up on us real quick. Somehow 2020 has felt like the fastest and longest year at the same time. However, I couldn’t be more excited that the holidays are approaching. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I may have already started decorating. But, don’t worry I still didn’t forget to make some delicious Thanksgiving recipes for you!
I’ve always been a Stove Top stuffing fan. I know it’s nothing fancy. But, I just love it’s simplicity and taste. However, I really wanted to experiment and try something new this year. I’ve heard so many people rave about Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing. So, I figured I’d give it a try. I tried it first just by itself following the stove top instructions. To be honest, it wasn’t my favorite. But, the next time I changed a few things. I used chicken stock instead of water and I baked it. As well as added some celery, onion, apple, pecans, dried cranberries, thyme and sage! After all of that, I absolutely loved it.
What you will need for this recipe:
- Trader Joe’s corn bread stuffing
- Onion and celery
- Chicken stock, turkey stock or vegetable stock will also work!
- A red apple, dried cranberries (I love the unsweetened ones), and pecan halves
- Butter
- Fresh thyme and sage
This dressed up Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing is such an easy and delicious Thanksgiving side. It tastes like it was all made from scratch. But, with the store bought mix it will save you a lot of time in the kitchen! A holiday that is revolved around cooking can always use some short cuts. Just ass long as it still tastes good.
More Thanksgiving recipes:
- Fall harvest bake with maple mustard sauce
- Honey pear sage margaritas
- Thanksgiving salad
- Maple bourbon air fried brussels sprouts & squash
- Crispy Brussels sprouts with dijon aioli
- Brussels sprouts gratin
- Healthy apple crisp
- Pumpkin cheesecake bars
So I hope you enjoy this recipe with loved ones this holiday season! Stuffing is my favorite Thanksgiving side dish and this one is packed with comforting flavors.
PrintDressed Up Trader Joe’s Cornbread Stuffing
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Ingredients
1 box of Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing
½ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
3 sage leaves, chopped
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cups chicken stock
1 large red apple, cored and chopped in small pieces
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup pecan halves
salt to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a rectangle baking dish.
Add cornbread croutons to a large bowl and set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan. Then add onion, celery, thyme and sage. Season with salt and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Add seasoning pouch and mix everything together.
Add chicken stock and do a low boil for about 3 minutes.
Carefully pour mixture over croutons and gently toss.
Mix in the apple, dried cranberries and pecans.
Transfer to the casserole dish.
Cover and bake for 40-45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes if you like the top to be crispier.
Carly
This is EXACTLY what i was Looking for! I bought this stuffing, then heard it was just meh so i knew i wanted to dress it up a bit for a more homemade dish. Thanks for your take on this, can’t wait to try it!
Amanda Hickman
I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Erin
Excited to make this. If i am using 2 boXes of stuffing, should i double all the add ins? Like 6 c. Of stock instead Of 3?
Amanda Hickman
yes!
Shannon
EXCITED to try thIs Using TJs boxed mix as a base! Think any of it can be donE the day beforE?
Amanda Hickman
I would make it same day! I’m afraid it will get soggy if made prior
Eileen
Thank you for this recipe! I may have to spruce up the TJ stuffing mix too.
Susan Stal
can i use raisings instead of cranberries? Turkey broth instead of chicken broth?
Amanda Hickman
yes!
Leanne
Thanks for this great recipe Mandi! It has become part of my family’s holiday dinner line up and i look forward to making it every fall! Perfect combination of flavors!
Mike
Do you think i can add SAUSAGE to this recipe?
Amanda Hickman
yes!
R Brindle
That trader Joe’s stuffing absolutely needs dressing up! It’s horrible. No herb flavor at all. So flavoRLESS, the stale, overly chunky apples overpower it. I thought I was gonna throw the whole thing away and I found your recipe, thanks, saved me $6 bucks.