Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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Have you noticed my no-bread theme? Whether it’s no-bread sandwiches or no-bread pizza crusts, I’m determined to find simple and tasty ways to renovate old favorites with a grain-free twist.

I desperately wanted a stuffing recipe I could prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, so I went to the drawing board to come up with a solution for bread-free stuffing. I settled on a few special ingredients to provide a dense, satisfying texture with a deeply savory flavor.

I’ve been working on this recipe since last year, which meant I’ve been eating this stuffing since September for recipe testing. And I certainly don’t plan on relegatingthis dish to the holidays in the future… it is one of my favorite vegetable recipes ever.

I used chanterelle mushrooms in the recipe pictures here, but feel free to substitute your favorite mushrooms.

This recipe is inspired by Mickey’s recipe for an autoimmune-paleo-friendly cranberry stuffing (I adore Mickey’, her site, and her book, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook. I did a book review here). She uses chopped mushroom, riced cauliflower, some chopped sweet potato and some chopped apple. I’ve tweaked this version to be lower carb, using squash instead of the sweet potato and upping the veggies.

A couple of years ago I share my Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Menu, and I will be inspired by that same menu this year – with the addition of this stuffing, of course.


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Bread-Free Holiday Stuffing

Serves:About 6 cups, for 6 hearty servings

Want to enjoy the savory flavor of holiday stuffing, but without the bread?Roasted cauliflowerflorets, along with sautéd mushrooms, apples, and butternut squash providelayers ofumamiand a hearty base.

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbs. ghee, bacon grease, coconut oil, or olive oil
  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 2 - 3 cups diced butternut squash
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 8 oz chopped mushrooms of choice (I've used chanterelles, baby bellas, or sh*takes)
  • 1 granny smith apple, diced
  • ½ tsp. chopped fresh thyme
  • ½ tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
  • Sea salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 and line two baking sheets/glass baking dishes with unbleached parchment paper. Put the cauliflower on one sheet, and the squash on the other. Toss the cauliflower and squash each with 1 Tbs. of melted cooking fat.
  2. Roast until the cauliflower is tender and has golden brown edges, about 30 minutes. Stir halfway through. Roast the squash until golden and tender, stirring halfway through, about 40 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, melt the last 2 Tbs. cooking fat in a heavy skillet. Add the onion and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, over medium head until soft and almost caramelized.
  4. Add the garlic, cook for a minute. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Finally, add the diced apple and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened but still firm. If necessary, add another tablespoon of fat.
  5. Finely chop the herbs. In a large serving dish, toss together all the components: the squash, cauliflower, and mushrooms. Season with the herbs, salt and pepper.

Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (5)

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Reader Interactions

26 Comments

  1. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (10)Beetleinthekitchen

    We had this for dinner tonight after many nights of Thanksgiving and its leftovers. It was wonderful. Thank you so much.

    reply to this comment

  2. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (11)Linda C

    Had this for Thanksgiving dinner today and it was soooo delicious. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, Lauren. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends.

    reply to this comment

  3. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (13)Hara

    I made this for Thanksgiving and stuffed the turkey with it. My friend is a professional chef & brought a traditional bread stuffing. Guess which one got absolutely rave reviews? Yep, I was thrilled and it tasted even better the next day. I used organic mushroom broth to moisten it and it was soooo good. Thank you Lauren.

    reply to this comment

  4. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (14)Michelle Lalonde

    Do you stuff the turkey with this mixture, then cook the turkey as usual??

    reply to this comment

  5. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (15)Elena Ara

    Can this be made one day before?

    reply to this comment

  6. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (16)mom2one

    How crucial are the mushrooms in this recipe? I have picky eaters who do not like them.

    reply to this comment

  7. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (17)John

    Made this with our Thanksgiving dinner, and it was amazing!

    reply to this comment

  8. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (18)Nora

    My friend is a professional chef & brought a traditional bread stuffing. Had this for Thanksgiving dinner today and it was so delicious. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, Lauren. I was thrilled and it tasted even better the next day. I used the organic mushroom broth to moisten it and it was so good.

    reply to this comment

    • Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (19)Lauren Geertsen

      That’s awesome to hear, so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      reply to this comment

  9. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (20)Jayme Silvestri

    I tried this last night after finding it on Pinterest and we loved it! It’s definitely on my list to make again!

    reply to this comment

  10. Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (21)Cindy T

    How do you reheat it?

    reply to this comment

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Bread-Free Paleo Holiday Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I serve instead of 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.
Nov 6, 2020

What is bread stuffing made of? ›

Bread Stuffing Ingredients

Vegetables: You'll need chopped celery with leaves and a chopped onion. Bread: Nine cups of chopped bread cubes should make about 16 servings. Seasonings: Season the bread stuffing with salt, dried sage, dried thyme, poultry seasoning, and black pepper.

Is stuffing high in carbs? ›

Typically high in fat, carbs and salt, stuffing can be made fresh or purchased chilled, frozen or dehydrated. Traditionally, a stuffing would use the giblets of the bird with the addition of sausage meat, a source of starch, such as bread, with some aromatics such as onion, herbs and spices.

What can I use instead of stuffing for turkey? ›

Here are a few ideas:
  1. Citrus fruits: Stuffing a turkey with citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, or limes can add flavor and moisture to the meat.
  2. Herbs and spices: You can stuff a turkey with herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic to infuse the meat with flavor.
Aug 27, 2022

What is stuffing called in the South? ›

But for the Thanksgiving side dish in the South, the term dressing was adopted in place of stuffing, which was viewed as a crude term, during the Victorian era. Although dressing and stuffing are interchangeable terms, the signature ingredient of this Thanksgiving side dish in the South is cornbread.

What is gluten free stuffing made of? ›

Toasted gluten free bread cubes are tossed with sizzling Italian sausage, savory Parmesan cheese, buttery vegetables, and fresh herbs and garlic, then drizzled with just enough broth to create a stuffing that's creamy in the center and crispy on top after baking.

What is traditional stuffing made of? ›

Classic stuffing made with bread cubes, seasonings, and held together with chicken stock and eggs. A holiday staple!

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 makes stuffing unhealthy? ›

Stuffing 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.

Does stuffing spike blood sugar? ›

For people with diabetes, Thanksgiving can be as scary as Halloween, but with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and stuffing providing the frights instead of ghosts and goblins. These types of foods are carbohydrates and convert to glucose in our bodies, raising our blood sugar (blood glucose).

Is stuffing good for you to Lose Weight? ›

You may not be shocked to hear that sausage stuffing isn't the best choice. It's often made with fatty processed meat, butter or margarine, and refined bread or rice. It's a high-calorie food that packs a load of fat, carbs, and nitrates, which are cancer-causing.

What are the three most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving? ›

Three of the New York Times cooking section's most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes. As with potatoes, there's a Thanksgiving-preferred way for green beans to be consumed: the casserole, of course.

What is the most common side dish at Thanksgiving? ›

Mashed potatoes are a staple among traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, and this version is so delicious we could eat enough to make it the main course! Not only is it creamy and full of robust garlic, but our secret ingredient (chicken broth) adds a whole extra level of flavor.

What is the least favorite side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

According to the poll by Tastes Better from Scratch, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole were the least-liked Thanksgiving side dishes.

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes? ›

Top 10 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  1. Holiday Stuffing. This easy recipe for Holiday Stuffing is our number one must-have Thanksgiving side dish!
  2. Best Mashed Potatoes Ever. ...
  3. New Green Bean Casserole. ...
  4. Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  5. Baked Cranberry Sauce. ...
  6. Cauliflower Blossom. ...
  7. Butternut Squash Mash. ...
  8. Creamy Corn for a Crowd. ...

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