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.
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 TONS and 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.
It all starts with your favorite boxed stuffing. I used a savory herb variety this time. Cook stuffing according to directions on the package, simple eh? Fluff with fork and gently fold in the oysters, ham and pecans. I even found ham that was already chopped, I KNOW, I know, YES!!
That’s IT:)
This dish is so amazing, I can’t keep my hands out of it, even way before dinner is ready. It’s sad. Usually I arrive at the dinner table already half full. Does this happen to you?
This cheater recipe is courtesy of my husband who picked this up along the way during his bachelor days. I’m OK with this and I think you will be too.
Now go enjoy those family and friends that are waiting for you to come out of the kitchen.
Bon Appetit!

A simple, traditional cheater stuffing recipe with smoked oysters, ham & pecans
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 5
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 sides
Category: Sides
Method: Simmer
Cuisine: Thanksgiving
Description
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
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 227
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
That stuffing sounds amazing – I would never have thought to use smoked oysters in it but I bet it makes it very tasty and super unique!
★★★★★
I was skeptical the first time my husband told me about it but it’s amazing! It can be a meal in itself;)
This is totally my favourite type of the dish… quick and easy yet delicious (looking at the ingredients combination)
Wow, what a unique stuffing recipe. My husband loves stuffing, so I am sure he would love this too.
Can you believe it is already time to start preparing for holiday meals!?! The year has gone by so fast! I have had stuffing with smoked oysters before and loved it, it is such a great change from traditional stuffing.
★★★★★
i love your tips for an easier Thanksgiving! In our house, it’s usually the women who do all the cooking — just cause we’re better cooks and the boys get cleanup duty. Seems equitable. They also have to keep our wine glasses filled while we’re in the kitchen! Love oyster stuffing, btw – my grandmother used to make it every Thanksgiving.
I have never used oysters in stuffing and I am intrigued!
I love cheater recipes…this will definitely help me save some time!
★★★★★
Have fun with this one Sandi:)
Really unique twist on cornbread stuffing! Also, it’s nice to see not everyone thinks you have to make everything from scratch on a big holiday like that. Looks really good.
★★★
Yes! I think we all fall into that trap. Some of us learn and move on;)
Wow! I love this take on stuffing. Thanks for sharing!
Ok, I really need to make this stuffing recipe this Thanksgiving! I keep hearing about how delicious smoked oysters are, and this recipe seems perfect for trying them!
It’s amazing how a simple trick can transform something that is already good:)
This sounds fabulous- the husband loves stuffing, and I love smoked oysters! YUMMMM
I think I would skip the turkey all together and just have your stuffing! I am pinning this for later! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
I love a good cheater recipe! This stuffing looks absolutely fabulous! I never get to make stuffing on Thanksgiving, so I won’t wait, I’ll make it before the holiday!!
★★★★★
I like easy cheater recipes, too – and always invite guests to bring dishes. We usually end up with more than we will ever eat because some of them bring a couple of dishes. I usually have to ask them not to bring desserts – because otherwise, we end up with 20 and no meals! LOL
It never really occurred to me to turn my stuffing into its own meal – this looks delicious!
I so agree with you – it’s too easy to want to do EVERYTHING yourself and completely from scratch, but it usually just leads to stress! I am really trying to get better about choosing a couple of dishes to focus on when entertaining, and either let others bring the rest or just embrace simplicity. This dish looks a terrific way to do that on Thanksgiving – what a great flavor combo!
★★★★★
My aunt used to make this when I was little. Well without ham. She was a vegetarian. I think I would like this version better.
Sounds simply delicious!
I love the addition of the ham and smoked oysters! I used to terribly stressed making holiday dinners! Not anymore. Like you I take shortcuts and I also plan a menu where I can do at least some of the dishes days or even weeks ahead. Then I just freeze and thaw and stick them in the oven!
★★★★★
Hey what a great idea Beth! I didn’t even think about cooking and freezing ahead of time. Thanks for the tip!
What a great stuffing recipe. And I love the tips to reduce cooking stress!
Happy Holidays Kate!
I am a sucker for all kinds of stuffing, and this looks delicious! Will be saving for later!
I love all your tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving! This looks like a super tasty stuffing recipe. I bet those smoked oysters are perfect in there!
Great way to make stuffing quick and easy! Love the tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving too!
What great tips! I love the idea of putting smoked oysters in the dressing! I am just like you, by the time Dinner is ready I am already full! I mean, we gotta taste test right??? I mean it could be poisoned…..I just save their lives, right? LOL!
My family is more of a boxed-shortcut type of stuffing family, so I know they’d freak — in the best way — for this mouthwatering recipe!
My favorite part of the food for Thanksgiving is the stuffing.. Love this one, smoked oysters are the best
★★★★★
Oysters! They’ve always been a favorite part of our Thanksgiving. I’ve never had them in stuffing though. Looks good!