Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe with Bacon (2024)

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Wild Rice Stuffing is the perfect substitute for traditional stuffing and is made with bacon! Make this super tasty side next Thanksgiving!

Wild Rice Stuffing

My Mom found this Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe in an old old copy of The Joy of Cooking and after the years, adapted it for our family. Well, when I got to college and didn’t have any copy of the recipe, I made it until it tasted right and adapted it a little more. So, technically this is an adaption from an adaption but it all goes back to those geniuses at the Joy of Cooking. Those smartypants’!

Main Ingredients Needed

Well, folks, it’s that time again, Wild Rice Stuffing time! Since I am Canadian and live in the states, it’s only fitting that I celebrate both Canadian and American Thanksgiving and stuff my face twice! Now, the usual American Thanksgiving feast is different than my family’s Canadian celebration and this stuffing has a little something to do with it. Growing up, I never really knew such a thing as bread stuffing really existed. At some point, I found out, but I never really saw it being made and we never really ate it because this Wild Rice Stuffing is so much tastier than the bread kind…and I think my Mom didn’t like it and found a better recipe that involved bacon. YUM.

So here’s everything you’ll need to make this delicious Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe:

• Uncle Bens Long Grain and Wild Rice –you’ve got to get this brand and flavor for this recipe to work! Look high and low at your grocery store.
• Long Grain White Rice –plainly flavored white rice to balance all the flavor going on!
• Smoked Bacon –the smoked bacon really makes this recipe tasty. Smokey saltiness…
• Reserved Bacon Grease –don’t worry you don’t have to go out and buy this, it’s provided when you cook the bacon.
• Onion and Celery –sauteed in the bacon grease. Slightly crunchy slightly soft.
• Salt and Pepper –season to taste.
• Heavy Cream –adds some creaminess to the stuffing.
• Dried Ground Sage –for its earthly flavor.
• Dried Cranberries –brings its bittersweet flavor with a chewy texture.
• Slivered Almonds –a crunchy addition to top it all off.

How to Make Wild Rice Stuffing

1. Cook two kinds of rice together, according to package directions. Once cooked, scoop into a large bowl. In a large skillet, cook bacon to be slightly crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.
2. Pour off bacon grease, leaving 3 tablespoons in the pan. Sautee onions and celery in the grease until tender, 5 minutes.
3. Stir cooked vegetables, bacon, salt, pepper, cream, sage and cranberries into the rice. At this point, you could stuff your turkey or pour into a baking dish, cover with foil and warm in a 300-degree oven until ready to serve.
4. Right before serving, top with toasted slivered almonds.

Leftovers

Usually, we have leftovers of everything else but this Wild Rice Stuffing and my Grandma’s cauliflower–which we will discuss at a later date. But IF you do happen to gave leftovers, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days! Then when ready to eat, reheat in the microwave until heated through and enjoy with the rest of your Thanksgiving leftovers.

More Stuffing Recipes to Try!

• Amazing Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (easy!)
• Cornbread Sausage Stuffing

If you are celebrating either Thanksgivings, I would highly recommend this recipe! We’ve been eating this one for years for a reason! It’s just so darn good.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends back home in Ottawa and everywhere else! Printable recipe card is below. Happy Eating! 🙂