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 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 bread stuffing made of? ›

Bread stuffing and bread dressing are names for the same kind of dish! This highly-seasoned dish usually starts with bread cubes, but it could also be rice or wild rice. Herbs, seasonings and vegetables are added.

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 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.

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 is the best kind of bread for stuffing? ›

Sourdough, Italian, and white bread are standard choices for stuffing; however, journeying beyond your comfort zone can produce excellent results.

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).

Can you eat too much stuffing? ›

What happens when I feel full to bursting? The food can go one of two ways, further into the digestive system or back where it came from in the form of vomiting. Overeating causes indigestion, when the stomach acid churns up into the oesophagus.

Is stuffing bad for blood sugar? ›

It can be difficult for diabetics to give thanks with everyone else around the table, while battling their blood sugar levels. Traditional Thanksgiving dishes: like creamy green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole, and stuffing, are not typically diabetes friendly.

Are potatoes gluten-free? ›

The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains. Potatoes aren't grains, they're a type of starchy vegetable. That's good news for people who can't tolerate gluten because they have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Can celiacs eat stuffing? ›

People with Celiacs disease can't eat traditional stuffing, since it's made from wheat bread that contains gluten. However, gluten-free stuffing is completely safe to eat.

Does stuffing contain gluten? ›

A lot of stuffing recipes you see out there contain wheat. This means your typical stuffing is not gluten-free. But by substituting in gluten-free bread you can make your very own home-made stuffing that tastes even better than the ordinary ones.

Is baking powder gluten free? ›

Baking powder is typically a combination of an acid (like cream of tartar), baking soda, and a starch to absorb moisture. These days, the starch found in baking powder is usually either potato starch or regular cornstarch, both of which are gluten-free. This, in turn, makes most baking powder gluten-free.

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