A simple, traditional cheater stuffing recipe with smoked oysters, ham & pecans (2024)

Jump to Recipe

A simple, traditional, cheater stuffing recipe that happens to be easy and super quick! A great solution for Thanksgiving or Christmas, our family’s all-time favorite. Embrace the easy button on this hectic day. This boxed stuffing is elevated to the next level with the addition of smoked oysters, chopped ham and pecans.

A simple, traditional cheater stuffing recipe with smoked oysters, ham & pecans (1)

I’m going to be brutally honest.

I take a lot of short-cuts for Thanksgiving dinner.

The first Thanksgiving I hosted, I wanted EVERYTHING to be made from SCRATCH. I know, I know. You too? I didn’t even want any help, because you know, I was young and brilliant back then. I spent all day in the kitchen, missed out on all the socializing and felt anxious over every dish. I don’t think I enjoyed that day at all. Very sad, don’t let this happen to you.

Since that crazy, hectic day, I have learned TONSand I would love to share my pearls of wisdom with you. Do you have any more tips for us that you would like to share? Sharing is caring:)

10 Tips for a less hectic Thanksgiving Dinner

Choose 2-4 dishes to make yourself and let the guests bring the rest! Easy, right? This strategy lets the guests feel like they are contributing to this massive feast and allows you to spend more time with them. A super win-win IMO.
Use cheater recipes if they are good. Don’t settle for mediocre. Remember, you still want to make a good impression and wow your guests with your culinary skills, you just don’t want to slave all day in the kitchen and not spend time with the people who matter to you most.
Delegate a dishwasher. Great role for any non-cooks out there. They can contribute too!
Set the table before the guests come. This saves time and also ups the wow factor when the guests start arriving.
Make the desserts the day before. They usually keep very well. Try my amazing cheater dessert recipe called Kringle:) or Swedish Dark Cake,which is a quick, ‘mix and pour’ sponge cake that is dusted with powdered sugar. I LOVE this with after dinner coffee or tea.
Start the party with an empty dishwasher, that way clean-up will be quick.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the BBQ. Grilled vegetables are a great side, especially corn. This can be delegated to one of the guys and you can leave the clean-up for later. This also allows for less people in the kitchen and a secondary socializing place, think male bonding time;)
Place drinks in a cooler with ice, away from the kitchen so guests can help themselves. Outside is a great place if weather permits.
Plan for leftovers. Disposable or re-usable food containers are handy here. If there’s a ton of food left, you can send some home with the guests.
Keep the kiddos occupied by setting up a game or craft area or a comfy place to watch a holiday movie.

I hope the tips and warnings about my first Thanksgiving Dinner as a hostess is helpful to you. Do you have any funny stories about the first Thanksgiving Dinner you hosted? Is this the first TG dinner that you are hosting? Let us know by leaving a comment, I wanna hear!

Cheater Stuffing Recipe with Smoked Oysters, Ham & Pecans

Now onto my all-time, family favorite recipe for Thanksgiving Stuffing!

I feel like I had to give you the background to justify this ridiculously easy, cheater stuffing recipe. I think this may become your favorite stuffing recipe too.

A simple, traditional cheater stuffing recipe with smoked oysters, ham & pecans

Yield: 8 sides

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

A simple, traditional stuffing recipe that happens to be easy and super quick! A great solution for Thanksgiving or Christmas, our family's all-time favorite. Embrace the easy button on this hectic day.

Ingredients

1 box of your favorite stuffing
4 oz can of smoked oysters
1 cup of diced ham of your choice
1/2 cup of pecan halves
fresh herbs to garnish, I used flat leaf parsley

Instructions

Cook stuffing according to package directions.
Gently fold in the next 3 ingredients.
Garnish with fresh herbs.

Notes

This recipe is scalable. You can double or half this recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 100Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 211mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

A simple, traditional cheater stuffing recipe with smoked oysters, ham & pecans (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat canned smoked oysters? ›

Great on a cracker with hot sauce, smoked oysters' rich, distinctive flavor also adds a punch to dips and sauces. You probably associate them with appetizers and snacks, but smoked oysters make a delicious addition to salads, pasta, dressing, vegetable dishes, and more.

See Details ›

What is the history of oyster stuffing? ›

The history of Oyster Dressing dates back over 300 years ago. This savory side dish was brought to America by the British colonists. At the time, oysters were quite plentiful and could be easily gathered along the shoreline. This Thanksgiving side is still quite popular.

Is it safe to eat canned smoked oysters everyday? ›

Oysters aren't only for fine dining or eating raw. Smoked and canned oysters make a great (occasional) afternoon snack, once every week or two. While oysters are extremely nutritious, eating a can every day would likely be too much of a good thing.

Discover More ›

Are canned smoked oysters OK to eat? ›

Totally. Canned oysters are fine for stuffing or seafood stews or brading and deep frying. But you wouldn't want to slurp them down raw, like fresh oysters. Fresh oysters have a nice briny flavor.

Learn More Now ›

Why put oysters in stuffing? ›

Why It Works. Oysters add a savory, briny flavor to the stuffing without making it overly seafood-y. Drying the bread allows it to absorb more flavorful moisture, like chicken stock and oyster liquor. Fennel and tarragon blend beautifully with the oysters.

Show Me More ›

In what did recipes did people originally use stuffing? ›

So how far back can we find stuffing used in cooking? Some time between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD, a chef by the name of Apicius created a cookbook entitled, “Apicius de re Coquinaria.” In its pages are recipes for stuffed chicken, rabbit, pig, and even dormouse.

Show Me More ›

What was stuffing originally made of? ›

The earliest documentary evidence is the Roman cookbook, Apicius De Re Coquinaria, which contains recipes for stuffed chicken, dormouse, hare, and pig. Most of the stuffings described consist of vegetables, herbs and spices, nuts, and spelt (a cereal), and frequently contain chopped liver, brains, and other organ meat.

How should I eat canned oysters? ›

You can eat them as is, perhaps with a little remoulade sauce or tartar sauce. Another choice is to assemble the fried oysters on a roll for an oyster po'boy sandwich. Outside those realms, the fried oysters can serve as a garnish for a salad.

Learn More Now ›

Do I need to cook canned smoked oysters? ›

Yes, canned oysters are fully cooked during the canning process, so you can consume them directly from the can if you prefer. However, they are often more enjoyable when used in cooked dishes.

View Details ›

How do you eat canned oysters? ›

Try them in your seafood stew or soup the next time you make it. Replace your crab or tuna dip with a smoked oyster dip. Try them on a crostini or as a replacement for any basic oyster recipe. Or maybe do your next Oysters Rockefeller or Oysters Bienville dish using them!

Discover More Details ›

How do people eat smoked oysters? ›

Tinned smoked oysters can be enjoyed in various ways, such as adding them to pasta dishes, incorporating them into dips or spreads, or simply enjoying them on crackers or toast. They can also be used as a topping for salads or pizzas.

Explore More ›