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    Home

    Favorite Oyster Dressing/Stuffing

    Last Updated: Feb 28, 2023 by Suzy Sakamoto · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    Thanksgiving isn't the same without our family's favorite oyster dressing! Living on the coast, we are experienced seafood fanatics, and adding smoked oysters to our go-to croissant stuffing is the best way to get a rich and buttery combination that everyone around the table will love!

    oyster dressing with croissants in scalloped white baking dish

    This oyster stuffing is an elevated classic southern oyster dressing that's packed with great flavor from high-quality smoked oysters, fresh herbs, and super moist from the cream, butter, and the extra flaky, buttery croissants.

    It's pure comfort on a dish!

    Living on the coast, we love our seafood, and this recipe is the perfect combination of our love for seafood with one of my favorite pastries - croissants. We get a perfect match for a seafood stuffing recipe to pass on to our guests, that they'll always remember.

    a scoop of oyster dressing

    Croissants are quite nostalgic for me growing up with a French influence, and upgrading this thanksgiving side dish is the perfect place for these buttery, flaky pastries!

    For more delicious canned seafood recipes, try making this beautiful seacuterie board, a seafood appetizer that's perfect for the holidays! For quick and simple meals I love this tuna fried rice, and this simple tuna pesto pasta.

    Table of Contents

    • WHERE DID OYSTER DRESSING ORIGINATE FROM?
    • WHAT TYPE OF OYSTERS TO USE
    • WHY IT WILL BECOME YOUR FAVORITE STUFFING
    • HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OYSTER DRESSING
    • INGREDIENTS NOTES
    • STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
    • EXPERT TIPS
    • HOW TO PREP AHEAD
    • STORAGE & REHEATING
    • FAQ
    • WHAT TO SERVE WITH SEAFOOD STUFFING
    • RELATED RECIPES
    • Favorite Oyster Dressing/Stuffing

    WHERE DID OYSTER DRESSING ORIGINATE FROM?

    There's a lot of history with oysters on Thanksgiving. Giving thanks to a successful year of harvest and celebrating over oyster stuffing has long been a tradition in some families.

    WHAT TYPE OF OYSTERS TO USE

    I'm using high-quality canned smoked oysters for this recipe. You can easily substitute for fresh, raw oysters if you'd like. I prefer to use smoked to bring more flavor to the dish and make it stand out for the holidays. Trust me, it will easily become your favorite canned oysters recipe!

    smoked oyster stuffing in scalloped baking dish

    WHY IT WILL BECOME YOUR FAVORITE STUFFING

    Super Easy!

    Making this beloved Thanksgiving side dish with canned oysters makes it so much easier than a typical oyster stuffing, and the smokey flavor that's added is absolutely divine and works so well with extra butter, fresh herbs and of course a dash or two of cream to keep the dish nice and moist!

    The Ultimate Comfort Dish with Croissants

    Taking a classical approach with traditional flavors, but upgrading the bread to Croissants is an absolute GAME CHANGER. The stuffing comes out perfectly flaky and moist!

    The Secret Ingredient - Canned Oysters

    By adding in Smoked Oysters to this decadent dish it sure took it to a whole new level of deliciousness. I mean, we all show up for the stuffing, really, so why not make it next-level this Thanksgiving by making the best canned oysters recipe out there.

    Lusciously Buttery

    The first time I made this recipe, I opted out of using cream, and although it was good, it was missing something. So, I increased the amount of butter typically needed by a smidge and added cream. Afterall, this is a seafood Thanksgiving dish, so I was after a cozy, flavorful, and rich recipe. And, boy, oh boy, did this turn out exactly that!

    HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OYSTER DRESSING

    INGREDIENTS NOTES

    • CROISSANTS: These buttery, flakey, heavenly things should be in every recipe possible, am I wrong? They are the best switch you can make to immediately create a more decadent flavor that everyone devours.


      Any croissants will do, but preferably the freshly baked ones in plastic containers, right in the bakery section of the store. And, if you shop at Costco, they have good ones! You can get them in advance and store them in the freezer until you're ready to make this recipe. I like to dry them out overnight, or use day-old croissants.

    • CANNED SMOKED OYSTERS: Ever tried oyster stuffing and thought something was missing? Well, I'm here to tell you that smoked oysters are the solution. They create a rich, smokey element that makes this dish the absolute best smoked oysters recipe out there!

    This seafood stuffing recipe is truly easy for anyone to pickup the ingredients at their local market. But, if you're looking for quality tins, I love using Ekone by Taylor Shellfish.

    • VEGGIES: Adding the traditional aromatic veggies helps keep this dish grounded to it's roots. A little bit of celery, and a little bit of onion add that much needed flavor!

    • WHITE WINE. Any white wine will do. I made it with Chardonnay the first time and the flavor was great! If you have Dry White Vermouth local, then use that instead. I suggest using ½ the amount of wine required, and substitute the other half for more chicken broth. Dry white vermouth has an abundance of complex flavors that work amazingly well with this decadent dish.

    • CREAM: Ok, here me out. I tried this recipe without cream the first time, and mainly because I didn't think anyone put cream in this dish. And, after the first sample bite I took, I immediately said to myself "I have to remake this with a little bit of cream". I'm so glad I did, it's now perfect! And, the cream compliments the smoked oysters soooooo well!

    • BUTTER: A little bit of butter, and a tiny bit more will do (haha). It's the holidays after all, so who's counting?

    • EGGS: To get this wonderful dish to stick together, eggs are needed!

    • CHICKEN BROTH: Adding just enough broth to this dish helps it become moist, but not soggy. Not to mention adding a good amount of flavor that gives this nostalgic dish it's flavor.

    • FRESH HERBS: Ever made a dish that needed a boost of flavor? Well, fresh herbs are sometimes the answer, and that's especially true in this recipe. I'm thankful that summer extended a little more than it should have into October, because by the time I made this dish (a couple times, actually) I was still able to run outside to my little herb garden and gather everything I needed.

    STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

    This recipe makes about 8 servings, or 1 large casserole dish.

    Step 1: Prepare the veggies and gather all your ingredients. Then, on medium heat melt butter and saute the onion and celery. Pour in the wine, and add the garlic at the end.

    Step 2: Whisk all the wet ingredients along with the herbs, spices and salt. Mix in smoked oysters and the veggie mixture.

    Step 3: Gently fold in the croissant pieces to the wet mixture and spread on a baking dish.

    Step 4: Bake on 350F until golden and crispy!

    oyster dressing with croissants in scalloped white baking dish

    EXPERT TIPS

    1. Do NOT mix the ingredients and store for prolonged period of time before cooking. Keep the wet ingredients and the bread separately until just before cooking. This is my TOP tip to not getting a soggy dish.
    2. Crisp the croissants in the oven or leave out on the counter overnight to become stale.
    3. Use a quality Smoked Oyster Tin. I used EKONE Smoked Oysters. They're farm raised in Washington state and have the best ingredients in all their tins. Thankfully, they ship nationwide!
    4. Make sure your Poultry spice hasn't expired. Using older spices provides less flavor. Being that this meal is a little extra, I wanted to send out a friendly reminder to check the date prior to adding your spice. We all forget!

    HOW TO PREP AHEAD

    The most important tip to remember when prepping in advance is to not mix the wet ingredients with the croissant until just before baking. The Croissants needs to stay flaky, and too much moisture for a long period of time will take that away.

    • Mix all your wet ingredients with fresh herbs and store in a Tupperware.
    • Prep the croissant and store in an air tight bag or Tupperware.
    • Dice the veggies and place in a Tupperware

    STORAGE & REHEATING

    I'm assuming there won't be leftovers, but if you get by making a little more than you need, then store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

    You can easily microwave to reheat and enjoy again!

    FAQ

    Why do you put eggs in bread stuffing?

    To get this wonderful thanksgiving dish to stick together, eggs are needed! Eggs act as a binding agent to hold the entire dish together. Without it, the dish would fall apart more easily and wouldn't be as presentable. So stick to using eggs for binding your this staple dish.

    What's the best bread for stuffing?

    The best bread to use by far is croissants. By ditching tasteless white bread and upgrading to a flakey, buttery, decadent croissant, you will be sure to love this dish SO much more than ever before. It's the perfect switch to an elevated memorable thanksgiving seafood stuffing. By either cutting the croissant into cubes or tearing it, and crisping in the oven prior to mixing it with the rest of the ingredients, you will be sure to taste the flakey layers in every bite!

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH SEAFOOD STUFFING

    Side Dish: Try it with Rosemary Parmesan Bread, or Butternut Squash Fries, and of course, this Mediterranean Beet Salad for a fresh nutritious and hardy salad.

    Dessert: Pumpkin Bread with Cardamom Sugar is a great light dessert option alongside this oyster dressing recipe

    Drink: Pair this recipe with this Creamy Espresso Martini! If you're looking for a lighter drink, try Spicy Mango Margarita!

    For wine options try a dry white wine, like a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, or Viognier. Cheers!

    RELATED RECIPES

    Because we're a seafood blog, there's tons of seafood recipes to choose from. Here are a few:

    • Air fryer oysters. This is the easiest way to shuck oysters, so you can get to enjoying your appetizer!
    • Oyster vinaigrette. Service oysters with this unique Mediterranean inspired mignonette.
    • Bacon Boursin Fish an easy 3 ingredient surf n turf recipe that's phenomenal!
    • Rosemary Parmesan Crusted Fish
    • Stout Steamed Mussels with Mushrooms
    • Crab Rangoon
    • Mussel Soup
    • Check out this Huckleberry Margarita recipe to go alongside!
    • seacuterie board with tinned fish shrimp smoked salmon and clam dip with veggies and crackers
      Seacuterie (Seafood Charcuterie Board)
    • tuna pesto pasta on white plate with fork next to green and pink napkins
      Tuna Pesto Pasta (5 ingredient!)
    • tuna fried rice in a japanese chopstick bowl
      Tuna Fried Rice
    • oysters cooked in air fryer with vinaigrette topping and garnished with parsley
      Air Fryer Oysters (Opening Oysters The Easiest Way)

    I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! When you make this dish, please RATE using the stars in the recipe card, and COMMENT at the end of the page how you enjoyed this dish.

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    oyster dressing with croissants in scalloped white baking dish

    Favorite Oyster Dressing/Stuffing

    Elevating a Southern classic oyster dressing recipe into a decadent holiday feast, by adding smoked oysters, aromatic herbs, and rich and flaky croissants to add extra comfort to this delicious Thanksgiving side dish!
    5 from 5 votes
    Cuisine: American, Thanksgiving
    Course: Side Dish
    Prep: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook: 35 minutes minutes
    Total: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 8 servings
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    Equipment

    • 9x12 inch Baking Dish

    Ingredients

    • 2 3 oz. Cans of Smoked Oysters
    • 12 cups Croissant chopped or torn, about 24 oz.
    • 1 stick Salted Butter
    • 2 ribs Celery chopped
    • 1 Yellow Onion diced
    • 5 cloves Garlic minced
    • ½ cup Heavy Cream
    • 2 Eggs Beaten
    • 1 cup White Wine Chardonnay or another dry wine
    • 1 cup Chicken Broth or Vegetable Stock
    • 2 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Parsley
    • 2 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Sage
    • 1 tablespoon Poultry Seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Rosemary
    • ½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
    • Fresh Shaved Manchego to serve

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 250°F and bake the croissant pieces on a baking sheet until crispy, about 20 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan, and add in the onion and celery. Cook until softened while stirring, roughly 6-7 minutes. Stir in the wine and the garlic, then set aside.
    • Once the croissant pieces are crispy, increase the oven temp to 350°F. Then, in a large mixing bowl, mix together the heavy cream, eggs, broth, poultry seasoning, salt, and all the fresh herbs. Into that mixture, mix in the veggie mixture, along with the smoked oysters.
    • Drop in the croissant cubes and gently fold the mixture together. Transfer the stuffing mixture to a buttered casserole dish and bake until golden and crisp, about 35 minutes.

    Notes

    • To Prepare Ahead of Time: Prepare and follow all the steps up until mixing in the croissant pieces. Store the wet mixture in an airtight container, and the croissant pieces in a storage bag. When you're ready to bake, gently combine in a large mixing bowl and bake. 
    • To Make This Even Faster: Leave croissant pieces out overnight, to stale naturally instead of baking.
    • Tip with Canned Smoked Oysters: The brand I used doesn't have excess oil, but if yours does, you can discard the extra oil.
     
    Nutritional info is an estimate.
     
    Made this dish? Share it and tag us on social! @ThePerfectTide
     
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keywords: canned oysters, croissant stuffing, easy thanksgiving side dish, how to make oyster stuffing, seafood stuffing, seafood thanksgiving, smoked oyster stuffing, stuffing with smoked oysters
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      5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    1. Shelly Johnson

      November 12, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      Fantastic! Perfect texture and so flavorful! I used fresh oysters instead of smoked and it was gobbled right up!

      Reply
      • THE PERFECT TIDE

        November 12, 2022 at 8:40 pm

        Yay! Glad to hear it!

        Reply
    2. Gina

      November 26, 2022 at 7:27 pm

      I can't wait to try this¦ yum!!!!!

      Reply
      • Suzy Sakamoto

        November 30, 2022 at 9:32 pm

        You really should!

        Reply

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

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    seafood blogger in the pacific northwest

    Hi, I'm Suzy! Welcome to my Pacific Coast kitchen!

    Here you will find authentic Mediterranean recipes and a variety of fresh seafood recipes that are easy to achieve, feature fresh ingredients, and are packed with flavor! Growing up on the Mediterranean I cherish our current catch-and-cook lifestyle, and my seafood recipes are tested, perfected, and easy to re-create! Subscribe to get them via email, and in the meantime you can Shop My Kitchen!

    More About Me

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