Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe with Bacon (2024)

4.34 from 3 votes

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December 8, 2018

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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! 🙂

4.34 from 3 votes

Wild Rice Stuffing with Bacon

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

servings 8 servings

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 box Uncle Ben’s Long Grain and Wild Rice you must get this brand and flavor!
  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 10 slices smoked bacon
  • 3 tablespoons reserved bacon grease
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 stalks celery diced
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 dash ground sage optional
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries optional
  • 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook two kinds of rice together, according to package directions. Once cooked, scoop into alarge bowl. In alarge skillet, cook bacon to be slightly crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.

  • Pour off bacon grease, leaving 3 tablespoons in the pan. Sautee onions and celery in the grease until tender, 5 minutes.

  • Stir cooked vegetables, bacon, salt, pepper, cream, sage and cranberries into the rice. At this point, you could stuff your turkey with this stuffing or pour into a baking dish, cover with foil and warm in a 300-degree oven until ready to serve.

  • Right before serving, top with toasted slivered almonds.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 349mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: rice stuffing, wild rice stuffing, wild rice stuffing recipe

Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe with Bacon (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture.

Should I soak wild rice before cooking? ›

You do not have to soak wild rice before cooking it! We wanted there to be as few steps to cooking wild rice as possible. That being said, people soak their wild rice to reduce the cooking time, so if you have the time feel free to soak the wild rice. The finished texture will remain the same.

How much dry wild rice for 1 cup cooked? ›

1 cup uncooked wild rice = 3–4 cups cooked wild rice… that's 6-8 servings from just one cup uncooked wild rice!

What is the ratio of water to wild rice? ›

1 Cup Wild Rice. 1-2 cups water (texture will be par-cooked with 1 cup of water, very soft with 2 cups- I prefer 1 ½ cups of water for slightly chewy 'al dente' rice) ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

Eggs add richness to the stuffing, and makes it cohere better. I'd use two eggs per pound of bread.

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

What happens if you don't rinse wild rice? ›

Step 1: Rinse the Rice

Pour a cup of wild rice into a mesh sieve and give it a good rinse. This will rid the rice of any starch that's lingering on the outside of the grain. This extra starch can make your rice—be it wild or any other kind—gummy once it cooks.

Why is wild rice so hard to cook? ›

Similar to cooking brown rice, it takes longer to simmer on the stovetop because it's a whole grain. You need to simmer until the hull splits and gets tender, which usually takes about an hour. My Mom cooks wild rice in the oven for holidays, when stovetop space is at a premium, and that works well too.

Can you overcook wild rice? ›

Wild Rice should be cooked until it puffs and the inside, lighter portion of the grain can be seen. Overcooking may cause mushiness. To keep the grains of rice from sticking together for use in cold salads, toss four cups of cooked wild rice with one tablespoon of cooking oil.

Why is wild rice so expensive? ›

Because of its unique harvesting needs (learn more about it here), wild rice is significantly more expensive than brown rice. In fact, it's one of the most expensive grains. In Washington State, as of January 2023, wild rice costs $5.16 per pound and brown rice costs 80 cents a pound.

How long does wild rice last in the refrigerator? ›

Uncooked wild rice's shelf life is forever when kept free of dust and any other contaminants. It can be stored in your pantry, fridge, or freezer. Cooked wild rice, on the other hand, should be refrigerated and consumed within 4-6 days.

Is wild rice the healthiest rice? ›

Wild rice is a type of wheatgrass. Wild rice is healthier than brown or white rice because it has more dietary fiber and protein. When thinking of wild rice, what do you imagine?

How to tell if wild rice is done? ›

Place wild rice, water (or stock), and salt in a saucepan with a lid over medium-high heat. Put the lid on and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and let is simmer for 40-45 minutes. You will know that it is cooked when some of the kernels are burst open.

Does wild rice raise blood sugar? ›

No, wild rice does not spike insulin. Wild rice is a complex carbohydrate that has a low glycemic index, meaning it is digested and absorbed slowly by the body, resulting in a gradual release of glucose into the bloodstream. This slow release helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent insulin spikes.

Why is my wild rice mushy? ›

If your rice has absorbed too much liquid, the grains may have split and the starches may have given the rice a soft, gluey consistency. One way to fix that? Add even more liquid. Pour in some milk, a dash of vanilla, and spoonful of sugar, and suddenly your mushy rice is a rich rice pudding.

What does adding an egg to a recipe do? ›

Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

What can I use instead of egg to bind stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

What does adding egg to bread do? ›

Eggs help the dough rise and create a large crumb that's great for soaking up liquids, like a bowl of chocolat chaud (hot chocolate). The egg yolks give the bread a golden interior, and butter adds an extra boost of moisture. The result is a rich, buttery flavor, and deep golden-brown crust.

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