The holidays are magical for many reasons, and enjoying delicious food around the table with friends and family is one of them. When it comes to Thanksgiving, there’s nothing better than piling your plate high with turkey and shoveling fluffy mashed potatoes drowned in gravy into your pie-hole. Unless, of course, you’re livin’ the veg life. That can pose an issue, but one that can be easily solved. Though the turkey will remain a turkey, there are countless ways to rework traditional recipes so that everyone can enjoy them. One of those ways is by reinventing side dishes, and we’ve got 12 vegetarian stuffing recipes that don’t need to go anywhere near that bird.
1. Gluten-Free Stuffing Salad With Warm Sweet Onion Dressing: Not all GF stuffing recipes kick bread to the curb, and you’ll easily get hooked on this light and tasty variation. It’s a simple side that intertwines the flavors of traditional stuffing with the healthy elements of a hearty winter salad. (via Cotter Crunch)
2. Herbed Wild Rice and Quinoa Stuffing: This mouth-watering stuffing holds a little secret — it’s vegetarian, vegan *and* GF. It’s so flavor-packed, even the meat-eaters around the table will be going in for seconds. (via Kitchen Treaty)
3. Walnut and Kale Quinoa Stuffing: This GF stuffing offers a healthy twist on a classic without losing any flavor. The inclusion of crunchy walnuts, dried cranberries and earthy sage promises the same ol’ traditional taste we know and love. (via Healthy Seasonal Recipes)
4. Gluten-Free Herb Stuffing With Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries: Charm the pants off your family with this swoon-worthy vegetarian stuffing over the holidays. Big hunks of GF whole grain bread are tossed with Brussels sprouts and mushrooms, giving this savory masterpiece a thumbs up from the entire table. (via Heartbeet Kitchen)
5. Cauliflower Rice Stuffing: Cauliflower rice has become all the rage for folks trying to cut down on carbs. The fact that it makes an appearance in this healthy and quick Thanksgiving side gives us every reason to be excited. Your guests will be mowing down veggies, and they won’t even know it. (via The Healthy Maven)
6. Crockpot Vegetarian Stuffing: With the pressure that comes with cooking the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, being able to “set it and forget it” is a godsend. That’s why you need this hearty vegetarian crockpot stuffing on your menu — it will make your day SO much easier. (via Show Me the Yummy)
7. Mushroom and Chestnut Vegetarian Stuffing: Despite what some may say, stuffing doesn’t have to be stuffed into a bird for it to be good. With meaty mushrooms and earthy chestnuts, this dish gives you all of the flavors and textures you long for in its traditional counterpart. (via Amuse Your Bouche)
8. Grain-Free Sage and Pecan Stuffing: Dietary restrictions and food sensitivities can be a total bummer, especially around the holidays. Watching delicious food you can’t eat be passed around the table isn’t easy. This holiday season can be different, and this grain-free stuffing is a great place to start. (via In Sonnet’s Kitchen)
9. Cranberry Apple Freekeh Stuffing: This stunner of a stuffing is packed with protein, fiber and minerals, thanks to the addition of freekeh — supergrain extraordinaire. Granny Smith apples bring a level of sweetness and tartness to this dish and, to be frank, you shouldn’t expect leftovers. (via The Mediterranean Dish)
10. Wild Mushroom and Brioche Stuffing: This flavor-packed stuffing is a total dream for mushroom lovers. Every bite offers umami flavors in addition to a nice chunk of buttery brioche bread. This stuffing will easily become a favorite in your household — and you don’t have to be a vegetarian to love it. (via Foolproof Living)
11. Sourdough Stuffing With Artichokes and Sundried Tomatoes: Bright Californian flavors are incorporated into this classic to create an innovative spin you won’t want to miss. Toasted sourdough, tangy sun-dried tomatoes and tender artichoke hearts might end up making an appearance at Thanksgiving every year. (via Fake Food Free)
12. Lentil and Mushroom Stuffing: When it comes to Thanksgiving faves, stuffing is high on the list, and we truly believe that *no one* should miss out. That’s why this recipe is a total winner — pretty much anyone can enjoy it. It’s GF, vegetarian and could be made vegan with some simple tweaking. (via Foxes Love Lemons)
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Dana Sandonato
Born in Canada and now living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, Dana is a coffee-reliant food writer with a healthy appetite, a taste for culinary adventure, a thirst for good beers, and an endless hunger for food photography. When not writing for Brit + Co, she can be found pouring herself into her blog-turned-webzine, Killing Thyme, or taste-testing at local breweries with her husband. Dana's ideal down time includes pizza, marathoning on Netflix, or watching her fave flicks from the 80s and 90s - no matter how great or awful they are!
FAQs
Heat a frying pan until medium hot, add the butter, onions and sage and fry gently for five minutes until softened. Place the breadcrumbs in a bowl with the softened onions and mix to combine. Add the egg and season with salt and black pepper. Mix well then form into golf-ball sized balls and place on a roasting tray.
What is a good substitute for stuffing? ›
6 Healthy Alternatives for Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing
- Wild rice stuffing. Though rice is often eaten as an entrée, it makes for a delicious stuffing. ...
- Cauliflower stuffing. ...
- Quinoa stuffing. ...
- Farro stuffing. ...
- Rye bread stuffing. ...
- Chickpea stuffing.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chestnuts, onion, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook until onions are tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium baking dish and mix with cubed bread. Beat together eggs and milk in a small bowl.
What is pork stuffing made of? ›
Ingredients
| 900g | good-quality pork sausagemeat or finely minced pure pork |
|---|
| 25g | sage, chopped |
| 75g | stale white bread, crusts removed |
| 1 | large onion, cut into chunks |
| 2 tablespoons | water |
1 more rowStuffing is not strictly a healthy food, because it is typically high in calories, fat, sodium, and refined carbohydrates. 1 But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, All foods can fit into a healthy diet in moderation.
Is there a vegetarian stuffing mix? ›
Made from specially baked stuffing bread, and then dusted with just the right touch of herbs and spices. It is the ideal complement to your entrées.
What can I add to stuffing for more flavor? ›
Fruit, especially dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, figs and apricots can seriously improve a dreary box of stuffing. That bit of sweetness plays beautifully with other flavors on the table. I've found that fresh fruits like apples and pears are stellar as well.
What can I stuff my turkey with other than stuffing? ›
Besides stuffing, you can put aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic, herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, or sage), citrus slices (lemon or orange), and vegetables (carrots, celery) inside your turkey to add flavor during roasting. Remember to remove these ingredients before serving.
What can I replace celery with in stuffing? ›
Leeks. When cooked, celery and leeks share a similar fibrous and slightly soft texture. Leeks impart a light onion flavor that celery doesn't have and tend to be a bit stringy. This swap works best in soups or recipes like stuffing, where you would typically find an oniony flavor along with the celery.
What is British stuffing made of? ›
Stuffing consists of a mixture of savoury ingredients such as breadcrumbs, herbs, fruit, nuts, sausagemeat and onion which are bound together with egg or liquid to form a semi-solid mixture. It is usually cooked with roast meat such as chicken, pork or lamb and is served as an accompaniment to the sliced, cooked meat.
But usually it's made with the rich drippings from the roasted turkey, which means it's off limits for vegetarians. But worry not! We've crafted a Vegetarian Stuffing recipe that is every bit as flavorful with its toasty cubes of bread, colorful vegetables, an aromatic blend of herbs, and a rich vegetable broth.
What is Pepperidge Farm stuffing made of? ›
MADE FROM: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, SALT, SUGAR, YEAST, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: VEGETABLE OILS (CANOLA AND/OR SUNFLOWER AND/OR PALM), MOLASSES, SPICES, CELERY, ONION POWDER, CALCIUM PROPIONATE TO EXTEND FRESHNESS, MALTED BARLEY ...
What is turkey stuffing made of? ›
Stuffing most often uses dried bread, herbs, and vegetables that are reconstituted with liquid, stuffed into the turkey cavity, and baked until it is firm and finished cooking. In addition, stuffing can also be cooked separately in a casserole dish in the oven, which would then be considered dressing.
What is seafood stuffing made of? ›
A versatile stuffing mix made with toasted bread, sauteed onion and sweet bell pepper, tossed with crab and shrimp, and versatile enough for use in many different recipes.
Why put eggs in stuffing? ›
Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.
What is stuffing mostly made of? ›
Stuffing is a mix of edible ingredients such as herbs, bread and a binder such as egg, traditionally stuffed into a meat cavity before it is cooked. Other ingredients in stuffing might be meat, nuts, butter, chopped vegetables and even fruit or oysters.
Is stove top herb stuffing vegetarian? ›
This product contains 2 ingredients that are not vegetarian and 3 ingredients that may not be vegetarian.
Is stovetop cornbread stuffing vegetarian? ›
This product contains 2 ingredients that are not vegetarian and 2 ingredients that may not be vegetarian.
What is traditional stuffing made of? ›
Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!
