Vegan Stuffing Recipe + Video (2024)

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This delicious vegan stuffing recipe brimming with the most wonderful holiday flavors from vegetables, sage and rosemary is the only recipe you need. It’s eggless, no butter needed, easy to make and best served alongside this vegan roast, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach.

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Vegan Stuffing

Made with tons of flavorful leeks, hearty crusty bread, Italian Beyond sausage, cranberries, rosemary and sage, you really shouldn’t wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas to make this divine bread casserole.

Classic, savory, hearty, perfectly crispy on the outside but moist and fluffy on the inside, this is pure comfort food on every level. A family favorite served alongside ourbest mac and cheese, vegan turkey orvegan chicken.

Ingredient Notes

  • The Bread – a crusty whole grain bread is ideal, just make sure to cut it into cubes and dry it out well. You can leave it to air dry at room temperature overnight or pop it in the oven for 12 to 15 @375″F.
  • Beyond sausage – I love these plant based spicy Italian sausages, they are perfect in this vegetarian stuffing recipe but feel free to use your favorite brand here if desired.
  • Leeks – I prefer making my stuffing without onion but using tons of leeks instead. The flavor is absolutely incredible. Remember to slice and rinse them well in a couple of changes of cold water to remove all the sand and grit that likes to hide in between the leaves.
  • Veggie broth – Don’t add it all at once, it’s best to incorporate it a little bit at a time to make sure the stuffing is moist but not wet. If your bread cubes are properly dried they will require all the broth the recipe calls for, otherwise you might need to use a little less.
  • Aromatics – Sage, Rosemary + Celery are the holy trinity of holiday aromas, go wild here and add as much as your heart desires.

Recipe Tips + FAQ

  • What can I substitute for eggs in stuffing?Although it is absolutely not necessary in this recipe, you could use store bought plant based eggs like “Just Egg or Follow Your Heart” or make your own flax egg: 1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water.
  • What is the best bread to use? Any crusty loaf like sourdough, spent grain, a hearty whole grain loaf, homemade vegan bread or even gluten free bread will work well in this recipe.
  • Make ahead – you can certainly prepare this the night before, refrigerate covered and bring to room temperature before baking on Thanksgiving day.
  • Cover – make sure to cover the casserole with aluminum foil for the first 30 minutes of baking then bake uncovered for another 20 to 25 minutes. This will ensure the bread cubes stay fluffy and moist on the inside but with perfect crispy edges.

how to make the vegan stuffing recipe

Vegan Stuffing Recipe + Video (7)

5 from 6 votes

Vegan Stuffing

This delicious vegan stuffing recipe brimming with the most wonderful holiday flavors from vegetables, sage and rosemary is the only stuffing recipe you need. It's eggless, no butter needed, easy to make and best served alongside this vegan roast, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:30 minutes mins

Cook Time:45 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf crusty bread aproximately 16 cups
  • 4 links Italian sausage Beyond Meat, thawed out
  • 1 leek (sliced and rinsed well)
  • 3 celery stalks chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1-2 sprigs rosemary chopped
  • 2 sprigs sage chopped
  • 3 cups veggie broth
  • 1/2 bunch Italian parsley chopped
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries optional
  • S & P to taste
  • olive oil as needed

Instructions

Prep the Bread

  • Slice the bread loaf into 3/4 inch slices then cut or tear them into 3/4 inch cubes. Spread out on a large baking sheet and allow to air dry overnight. Alternatively toast in a 375”F oven for 15 minutes or so until the bread starts to show a little color around the edges.

    1 loaf crusty bread

Cook the veggies

  • Preheat a large heavy bottom skillet over medium flame with a lug of olive oil. Add the cleaned leeks with a good pinch of salt and saute until they begin to get some color and caramelize. Add in the celery and a little splash of veggie stock if needed and give everything a good stir. Cook until the celery begins to soften.

    1 leek, 3 celery stalks

  • Push the leeks to the side to make a little space in the center. Drizzle a little olive oil and add the garlic, sage and rosemary. Cook until fragrant, stir to combine and remove from heat. (This step can be done the night before and refrigerated)

    6 cloves garlic, 1-2 sprigs rosemary, 2 sprigs sage

Prepare the Sausage

  • Preheat large cast iron pan over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil. Cut the Beyond Italian sausage into 1 inch pieces and add them to the hot pan. Use a flat end wooden spoon to break it up into chunks as it browns.

    4 links Italian sausage

  • Sprinkle with a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat + add the fennel seeds. Toss everything to toast well in all the sausage dripping. Use a slotted spoon and transfer everything to a bowl.

    2 tsp fennel seeds

  • Add the vegetable broth to the pan with the sausage dipping and deglaze all the brown bits from the bottom. Use a silicone spatula to scrape everything from the bottom.

    3 cups veggie broth

Mix & Bake

  • In your largest mixing bowl add the dried or toasted bread cubes, cooked leeks and celery mixture, the browned Italian sausage, chopped parsley and cranberries. Give everything a good toss.

    1 loaf crusty bread, 4 links Italian sausage, 1 leek, 3 celery stalks, 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 bunch Italian parsley

  • Pour 1/3 of the veggie broth over the bread mixture and toss again. Add another 1/3 of the broth and combine well before adding the rest of the broth and mixing again.

    3 cups veggie broth

  • Oil a 9x13 inch roasting dish making sure to get the sides as well.

    olive oil as needed

  • Transfer the stuffing mixture to the pan and finish with a good drizzle of olive oil.

  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated 375”F oven for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake another 25 minutes or so until the top is nicely golden.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 704mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas, Thanksgiving, vegan stuffing

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 391kcal

Author: Florentina

Thanksgiving recipes…

Vegan Stuffing Recipe + Video (2024)

FAQs

What does adding egg to stuffing do? ›

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

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

16 egg substitutes
  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. Fruit puree will help bind a recipe in a similar way to applesauce. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

What can I substitute for eggs in stuffing? ›

Best Egg Substitutes
  • Flaxseed Meal. Flaxseeds have an earthy, nutty flavor and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Chia Seeds. ...
  • Mashed Banana. ...
  • Applesauce. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Aquafaba. ...
  • Starches. ...
  • Vinegar + Baking Powder.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Any attempts to make stuffing with soft, fresh baked bread will result in a bread soup with a soggy texture. Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing.

Is it OK to make stuffing a day ahead of time? ›

No matter where you fall, getting a head start on what can be prepared before the big day is essential. One question that always crops up: Can you make stuffing ahead of time? The short answer to whether you can making stuffing ahead of time is yes.

Should you let bread dry out for stuffing? ›

Why Do You Need to Dry Out Bread for Stuffing? Slightly stale bread absorbs meat juices and other ingredients better than moist, fresh bread.

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.

Is stuffing better with or without eggs? ›

It's a matter of preference, but adding a beaten egg to your stuffing mixture acts as a binder and keeps the bread moist.

What do Southerners call stuffing? ›

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 vegan stuffing made of? ›

In this vegan stuffing recipe, I keep the celery, onions, and crusty bread, but I use a generous amount of olive oil instead of butter, which adds robust flavor. Then, I increase the veggies. Along with the onion and celery, I add a hefty amount of shiitake mushrooms, kale, and tons of fresh herbs.

Is Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing mix vegan? ›

Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing contains no animal products, but be careful because a lot of their other flavors do contain chicken and/or chicken broth. And the Cornbread Stuffing Mix at Trader Joe's is also vegan.

What is vegetarian stuffing made of? ›

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.

Why use an egg as a thickener? ›

Creamy desserts such as crème brûlée also benefit from eggs' ability to emulsify and produce smooth, satiny, hom*ogeneous mixtures. Their ability to hold up to four times their weight in moisture makes eggs a good thickener for sauces, custards and curds. The proteins in eggs coagulate or set at different temperatures.

Why do we need to apply egg yolk in some dressing? ›

You can use boiled egg yolks in scratch-made dressings or whisk them into store-bought dressings for the ultimate creamy upgrade. Boiled egg yolks can thicken a dressing without breaking or clumping while creating a silky consistency that thoroughly coats your salad ingredients.

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.

Why do people add eggs to everything? ›

Not only do eggs add an element of creamy indulgence, there's even some science behind their joy. “Eggs are a perfect emulsifier and binder so work really well to make many dishes cohesive,” she continues.

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