The $4.99 Trader Joe's Find I'm Stocking Up on While It Lasts (Especially for Thanksgiving)

If I told you that the smell of roasting turkey and stuffing is an instant trip back to my family's kitchen during the holidays, it would be an understatement. My mom, a former restaurant owner, cook, and caterer, spent days preparing almost every dish from scratch, with the notable exception of the stuffing. She swore by a boxed mix, claiming it was both "better" and "easier" than making it from scratch. And while I used to be a total snob about stuffing, I now, happily, heed her advice.

Since becoming a parent myself, I've learned through some rough personal experience that some shortcuts are a necessity, not a compromise. Last year, I relied on Aldi Brioche Stuffing, but this year, Trader Joe's is calling my name. The TJ's Cornbread Stuffing Mix is making a comeback as a limited-time item, and I've heard it's lovely, so I'll be stocking up. 

Why I'm Excited To Try Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing Mix

Making bread cubes from scratch while juggling multiple other dishes isn't a recipe for a relaxed Thanksgiving. I love a good boxed stuffing because it provides the quintessential flavors of a holiday meal without all the work. This one seems particularly special because it blends both lightly toasted white bread and cornbread croutons. This dual-crouton approach gives me hope that it can achieve both a tender and crunchy final texture, which is key to a great stuffing.

The mix comes with a seasoning pouch filled with traditional herbs, including oregano, sage, and parsley, as well as dehydrated celery, onion, and mushrooms. It's got all the classic savory notes I'm looking for in a boxed mix. However, I'll probably add some of my own ingredients because the traditional, mellow base is the perfect canvas for improvisation.

I love the idea of the subtle sweetness from the cornbread mixed with the umami-rich herbs, but some extra sautéed celery and onions would give it a more homemade feel. Toasted pecans, chopped apples, or even a bit of cooked sausage would also be delicious additions.

What makes any stuffing worth talking about is the crispy, sharp edges it gets when baking. By using less water or chicken stock baking it in a shallow, buttered dish and uncovering it at the end of cooking, I'm hopeful that I'll achieve a soft interior, a golden brown crust, and the star feature, those coveted crispy edges.

My family loves these homestyle, holiday flavors, so I see myself buying a few extra to use throughout the fall—maybe as a base for stuffed acorn squash, mixed into a casserole with sautéed ground chicken and roasted veggies, or even just paired with a rotisserie chicken and some greens for an easy weeknight meal.

Since this is a limited-time, seasonal item, I've learned not to hesitate when it hits the shelves—last year taught me that Trader Joe's seasonal favorites have a way of vanishing just when I needed them most. This time, I'm getting ahead of the game and filling my pantry while I can.

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