Our favorite wild rice stuffing is made with a wild rice blend cooked in a flavorful broth then mixed with cranberries, pecans, and sweet potatoes.

This stuffing recipe (which is a lot like a wild rice pilaf) goes great with our lemon herb butter roast chicken and some roasted brussels sprouts with bacon!

A serving bowl with wild rice stuffing.

Hello, dreamy side dish full of all things deliciously autumn!

Lots of chewy, nutty-flavored wild rice gets mixed with soft sweet potatoes, crunchy pecans, and sweet-tart dried cranberries.

It's a magical fall side dish. Serve it with our perfect baked chicken breasts on the weekend, then reheat it for lunches during the week. (It reheats beautifully!)

Or even better, make wild rice stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner. You'll make your guests very happy!

2 pictures showing the cooked wild rice and the sauteed veggies in a pan.

How to make wild rice stuffing

  1. First, we cook the rice in stock flavored with Italian seasoning so the rice is extra tasty.
  2. Then we saute some onions, garlic, celery, and sweet potatoes and stir in some pecans and dried cranberries.
  3. Finally, we mix the wild rice and the veggies together.

That's it! You've just made wild rice stuffing!

Full recipe in the recipe card below.

Use wild rice stuffing to dress a turkey

You can use this recipe to stuff a turkey! Note: NEVER stuff a turkey ahead of time. Do it right before you put the turkey into the oven to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria.

  • This recipe makes enough to stuff a 12-15 lb. bird.
  • It's best to put the stuffing into the turkey when the stuffing is warm. If you've made it ahead of time, simply reheat it first.
  • Loosely stuff your turkey to ensure that it cooks properly. (If you have extra wild rice dressing, serve it on the side or save it for later.)
Wild rice stuffing with pecans, sweet potatoes, and cranberries in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

How long does wild rice stuffing last?

This stuffing will last for 5-6 days in your fridge, making it a great meal prep option.

Can this recipe be frozen?

Yes! Make sure that the wild rice has cooled completely then transfer it to a freezer-safe bag (we love using these reusable Stasher freezer bags!) The rice stuffing will keep well for at least 3 months in your freezer.

What to serve with wild rice stuffing

This recipe walks the line between wild rice stuffing and wild rice pilaf so it's very versatile. We like to serve it as a healthy side with our juicy baked chicken thighs or our favorite baked pork tenderloin.

But it's also a must alongside turkey at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

A closeup of wild rice stuffing in a bowl.
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Wild rice stuffing with pecans, sweet potatoes, and cranberries in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries, Pecans, and Sweet Potatoes

  • Author: Kristen Stevens
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 cups 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: North American
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Description

Our favorite wild rice stuffing is made with a wild rice blend cooked in a flavorful broth then mixed with cranberries, pecans, and sweet potatoes.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 cups wild rice blend (see notes)
  • 3 ½ cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 1 small sweet potato, cubed small
  • 2 celery stalks, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • Minced parsley, to serve

Instructions

  1. Add the wild rice, chicken or vegetable stock, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a medium-sized pot. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 40 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 10 minutes then fluff with a fork. 
  2. While the rice is cooking, add the oil to a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add the sweet potato, celery, and garlic and cook until the sweet potato is soft, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat if the onions are getting too brown. 
  3. Add the cranberries and pecans to the pan and let them warm for 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
  4. Add the veggies to the fluffed rice and mix together well. Serve with a little minced parsley over top.

Wild Rice Stuffing for your Turkey

Prepare all steps of the stuffing recipe then use it to stuff your turkey before it goes into the oven. 

Notes

Some wild rice blends contain very little wild rice. In this case, we like to use half wild rice blend and half wild rice. 

Pin this wild rice dressing recipe to save it for later!

A serving bowl with wild rice stuffing with the recipe title on top of the picture.