This Gluten-Free Stuffing is easy to make with hearty gluten-free bread, fresh vegetables and savory herbs. It’s full of delicious flavor and perfect for Thanksgiving and any holiday meal! Dairy-free, vegan with grain-free, low carb, paleo and keto bread options.
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Easy Gluten Free Stuffing Recipe
It wouldn’t be a holiday feast without a big spoonful of stuffing. This Gluten Free Stuffing is made with hearty gluten-free bread cubes, sautéed veggies, fresh herbs and is a Thanksgiving staple! It’s moist, flavorful and just as delicious as the classic stuffing you grew up with without the gluten, eggs or dairy.
Not only is this vegan stuffing healthier than most dressing recipes, the best part is that it’s totally customizable and you can use any veggies, bread or herbs you like! It’s a delicious addition with a full Thanksgiving Turkey or our Air Fryer Turkey Breast if you’re having a smaller Thanksgiving dinner.
Stuffing vs Dressing
So what is the difference and what do you call it?
Technically, stuffing is typically stuffed inside the cavity of the turkey and then roasted together with the bird.
Dressing, on the other hand, is typically roasted in a separate baking dish or casserole dish.
Ingredients you need
- Hearty Gluten-Free Bread: We like to use Unbun Baguettes, California Country Gal Baguettes or you can make your own Paleo Bread or Keto Bread to keep this vegan dressing grain-free and low carb. Any gluten-free sourdough bread or Italian / French bread will work too. Be sure to use stale or toasted beforehand for best results.
- Vegan butter: We like Miyokos vegan butter but you can sub with ghee or unsalted butter if not dairy-free.
- Onions: About 3 cups of diced yellow onions.
- Celery: You’ll need 2 cups. Diced.
- Garlic: For depth of flavor.
- Salt: You can use fine grain sea salt or kosher salt.
- Black pepper: Use freshly ground for best results.
- Chopped fresh sage: About 2 1/2 Tablespoons.
- Fresh parsley: You’ll need about 2 1/2 Tablespoons.
- Rosemary: About 2 1/2 Tablespoons of fresh rosemary.
- Thyme: You’ll need about 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh thyme.
- Dried marjoram: 1 teasopoon.
- Vegetable stock: You can sub withchicken stock if not vegan.
- Flax eggs: To make the flax eggs, combine 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds with 5 ½ tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it turns to a thick gel-like consistency. Regular eggs will work as well.
- For garnish: more chopped fresh herbs plus one or two whole herbs
How to make Gluten Free Stuffing
- Toast the bread if your bread is not stale or already toasted: Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Remove the crust from the bread and cut them into 3/4 – 1-inch cubes. Spread the bread cubes out evenly in a single layer onto a large baking sheet. Bake, until the bread cubes are almost fully dried through, about 45 – 60 minutes. Allow to cool then add the bread to a very large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Cook the veggies: Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and season with salt and black pepper. Sauté for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions and celery are soft and fragrant. Stir in the herbs and cook.
- Add the stock: Pour the stock mixture over the bread cubes and toss and coat well.
- Mix the with flax egg and pour over bread: In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the remaining 1 ½ cups stock and 2 flax eggs. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes. Stir and fold the bread cubes until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer to baking dish: Coat a 9×13 baking dish with avocado oil spray. Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Cover and Bake: Tent the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is a nice golden brown. If you prefer more browning on top, you can broil for a minute or two, watching very closely that it does not burn.
- Cool and garnish: Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with more fresh herbs and serve or use the mixture to stuff in your bird.
Tips for success
- Use hearty stale bread: Stale bread works best for this vegan dressing. If you don’t have stale bread, be sure to toast it for 40 minutes beforehand so your stuffing doesn’t turn out mushy.
- Cut the bread into even sizes: Be sure to cut the bread int even sized cubes, otherwise, they won’t cook evenly.
- Use lots of fresh herbs: Use a mix of fresh herbs for lots of flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this gluten free dressing with our Instant Pot Whole Turkey and a side of Cauliflower Mash, Roasted Green Bean and Roasted Brussels Sprouts for a complete Thanksgiving meal!
How to make ahead
Stuffing is a great side dish to make ahead of time. You would prepare the keto stuffing as directed, then cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap, then store in the refrigerator overnight or up to 48 hours.
When ready to bake this healthy stuffing, remove the pan from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Tent the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through and the top is a nice golden brown, watching carefully that the top doesn’t get burned. If you prefer more browning on top, you can broil for a minute or two, watching very closely that it does not burn.
Can you freeze stuffing?
Yes, the great thing about making this paleo stuffing is that you can make it ahead of time and freeze it for meal prep or to enjoy another day with your leftover turkey.
How to freeze
Transfer to a large resealable freezer bag or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat from frozen
The great thing about this dressing recipe is that you don’t have to thaw it ahead of time before reheating. To reheat stuffing, drizzle with a little bit of broth so that it doesn’t dry out and bake it in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes or until warm.
More easy holiday side dish recipes:
This Gluten Free Stuffing is easy to make and with hearty gluten-free bread, fresh vegetables and savory herbs. It's full of delicious flavor and perfect for Thanksgiving and any holiday meal! Dairy-free, vegan and easily grain-free using your favorite paleo bread.
- 1.5 loaves of your favorite grain-free / gluten-free baguettes / hearty bread , about 12 to 14 cups - 18 to 24 ounces) - stale or toasted beforehand works best, cut into 3/4-1 inch cubes. For keto / grain-free / paleo, we like Unbun Baguettes, California Country Gal Baguettes or you can make your own Paleo Bread.
- 1 cup vegan butter , can sub with ghee or unsalted butter if not dairy-free
- 2 large yellow onions , diced (about 3 cups)
- 2 cups diced celery
- 6 garlic cloves , minced
- Fine grain sea salt or kosher salt , to taste (about 1/2 - 1 teaspoon or more)
- Fresh ground black pepper , to taste (about 1/2 - 2/3 teaspoon or more)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme
- 1 tsp dried marjoram
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
- 2 flax eggs , (make flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds with 5 ½ tablespoons of water - let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it turns to a thick gel-like consistency), or regular eggs if not vegan
- more chopped fresh herbs plus one or two whole herbs
Toast the bread if your bread is not stale or already toasted: Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Remove the crust from the bread and cut them into 3/4 - 1-inch cubes. Spread the bread cubes out evenly in a single layer onto a large (or two as needed) baking sheets. Bake in a preheated oven, tossing bread 2-3 times and rotating pans throughout baking, until bread cubes are almost fully dried through, about 45 - 60 minutes. Allow to cool then add the bread to a very large mixing bowl. Set aside.
Cook the veggies: Melt the butter in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and season with salt and black pepper. Sauté for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions and celery are soft and fragrant. Stir in the rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme and marjoram and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the stock then remove the pot from the heat.
Pour the stock mixture over the bread cubes and use a wooden spoon or spatula to toss and coat well.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the remaining 1 ½ cups stock and 2 flax eggs.
Pour the flax egg mixture over the bread cubes. Stir and fold the bread cubes until thoroughly combined.
- Coat a 9x13 baking dish with avocado oil spray, olive oil spray or melted butter / ghee. Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Tent the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through and the top is a nice golden brown, watching carefully that the top doesn’t get burned. If you prefer more browning on top, you can broil for a minute or two, watching very closely that it does not burn.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with more fresh herbs and serve or use the mixture to stuff in your bird.
To store, cover tightly and store in the fridge overnight. Remove the pan from the fridge an hour before reheating it.
How to make ahead
Prepare as directed before baking, then cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap, then store in the refrigerator overnight or up to 48 hours.
When ready to bake, remove the pan from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. Tent the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through and the top is a nice golden brown, watching carefully that the top doesn’t get burned. If you prefer more browning on top, you can broil for a minute or two, watching very closely that it does not burn.
How to freeze
Transfer to a large resealable freezer bag or airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to reheat from frozen
To reheat stuffing, drizzle with a little bit of broth so that it doesn’t dry out and bake it in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes or until warm.
gabby -
Best stuffing I’ve ever had! I made it at thanksgiving and now making it again for christmas!