A delicious change up from the norm, this BBQ Bacon Stuffing brings all the flavor. With chunks of bacon, jalapeno, and bbq sauce, this is a unique and tasty stuffing recipe.

For a more traditional stuffing, try this Sausage Stuffing with Apples and Cranberries.

BBQ Bacon Stuffing with pieces of bacon, bread chunks, jalapeno, and bbq sauce.

Are you a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving? Or are you all about trying something new and different?

I think I lie somewhere in the middle. There are some things that must be at the Thanksgiving table. No ifs, ands or buts about it. My mom’s Cranberry Salad. And mashed potatoes and gravy. And we have this fruit salad that originated on my mom’s side of the family that we call the Goodman Fruit Salad. It’s a must. Let’s not forget about pumpkin pie, as well. Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie.

But there are a few things that while they are a must, I’m always open for something new. Something a little different.

I love stuffing. Like love it so much that I wish we made it more often than just on Thanksgiving. In fact, I’m pretty sure I love the stuffing more than I love the turkey.

One thing that I love about the stuffing is that you can get creative while still keeping the tradition of having stuffing.

I have offered up this twist to the traditional – BBQ Bacon Stuffing. You definitely don’t get dry with this recipe. It is definitely different, but oh, so good. I could have seriously made a meal out of this stuffing recipe. (Ok, and maybe I did!) When I came up with this recipe, I was thinking that it would be fun to have a whole “wild west” themed Thanksgiving meal. Barbecued turkey, smoked corn, and of course – this BBQ Bacon Stuffing.

This is a great way to change things up!

Scooping out a serving of BBQ Bacon Stuffing.

Ingredients

Bread: I use regular white bread. You can always sub in another bread. French bread would be a great one to use.
Bacon: I just used a regular cut bacon, but a thick cut bacon would work really well, too!
Onion & Celery: These are both for flavor.
Jalapeño: I liked the idea of adding a bit of heat to go along with the bbq. If you don’t want a lot of heat, only add 1/2 of the jalapeño.
Chicken Stock: Stock will give you more flavor, but broth will work, too.
BBQ Sauce: Make sure you are using a bbq sauce that you know you love. The flavor will really come through.
Egg: This acts as a binder to keep it all together.

How to Make BBQ Bacon Stuffing

Toast the bread cubes. This just gives your stuffing some extra structure. If you like a softer stuffing, you can skip this step.

Dice the bacon and cook it in a large skillet. Remove it to a paper towel lined plate, but keep the bacon grease in the pan.

Add the onion, celery, and jalapeño to the skillet. Cook them together until they are soft.

Mix together the chicken stock, bbq sauce, and egg in a large bowl. Stir in the bread cubes, bacon, and cooked vegetables.

Transfer this all to a baking dish, and bake until cooked through.

More Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Scalloped Corn and Broccoli
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Thanksgiving Salad

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