Homemade Vegan Stuffing
Homemade Vegan Stuffing
Elevate your holiday table with this Homemade Vegan Stuffing recipe--A delightful alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving classic, without sacrificing any of the flavor. This recipe boasts a medley of rustic cubed bread, sautéed onions, fragrant garlic, crisp celery, sweet cranberries, hearty kale, and a harmonious blend of seasonings and herbs. It's a stuffing that not only caters to vegans but is an absolute crowd-pleaser for all. Plus, it's incredibly easy to whip up in your kitchen. Make ahead + Gluten-free options.
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Why This Homemade Vegan Stuffing Just Works
Homemade Vegan Stuffing----FINALLY here! I know. If you've seen the recipes from previous Thanksgivings, then you know that I made this amazing Vegan Wild Rice Stuffing and Southern-Style Cornbread Stuffing which are great options however, I know that many of you have been wanting a traditional-style stuffing, so HERE IT IS.
Now, as someone who's dedicated more than their fair share of time crafting 'veganized' dishes like Ultimate Vegan Mac + Cheese, Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Sticky Buns, and yes even Vegan Southern Peach Cobbler and Vegan BBQ Beef Wellington I've got a singular rule for my vegan recipes (aside from the whole plant-based thing, of course): They've got to be so darn delicious that even a die-hard meat enthusiast would happily savor every bite!
And let me tell you, this homemade vegan stuffing recipe? It's a breeze to whip up, bursting with wonderfully bold flavors, and it all comes together in perfect harmony in the oven. When this crowd-pleaser graces your table, get ready for a chorus of "mmm"s and "yum"s. It's a surefire hit for everyone at the table!
Jump to:
- Why This Homemade Vegan Stuffing Just Works
- How To Make Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- Ingredients for this Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- What To Expect With This Homemade Vegan Stuffing?
- Why You Will LOVE This Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- Tips For The BEST Vegan Stuffing
- Topping Ideas For Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- What to Serve with Vegan Stuffing?
- Thanksgiving Tips + Tricks
- Homemade Vegan Stuffing Q + A's
- Other Holiday Dishes You'll Love
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Homemade Vegan Stuffing
How To Make Homemade Vegan Stuffing
The key to the best Vegan Stuffing is to use the right bread like sourdough, brioche or challah, and bonus points if it's a day old and a bit stale. It soaks up the liquid mixture even better this way.
During Thanksgiving, the best recipes can be made ahead of time to avoid a completely chaotic day-of cooking session and this Vegan Stuffing fits the bill. This stuffing is no different. Here's what you'll need:
Ingredients for this Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- Bread. You can use vegan sourdough, challah, or brioche. I recommend using day-old bread so it can better soak up all that liquid mixture deliciousness.
- Herbs. I always love adding an earthy feel to my savory dishes. You'll need salt, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, parsley, and sage.
- Vegetable Broth. Helps to add extra flavor and creaminess. I like the organic Wholefoods vegetable broth
- Celery. A great addition to this stuffing. Very traditional.
- Onion. Adds such great flavor. Red, white, or yellow onions can be used.
- Cranberries. The perfect bit of tartness needed for this dish.
- Garlic. I prefer fresh, but you could substitute with ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch.
- Kale. Use fresh for best results, but frozen also works! Ensure that it’s chopped.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS STUFFING!
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Homemade Vegan Stuffing. Everything from my fave baking sheet, skillet, mixing bowls, high-powered blender, cooking utensils, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
What To Expect With This Homemade Vegan Stuffing?
- A nice thickness.
- Crunchy outside soft + tender inside.
- Can be upgraded with the use of apple cider.
- Amazing flavors married together in one dish.
- Warm + filling.
- And just absolutely wholesome and perfect for the Fall weather and Thanksgiving menu.
The best thing about this stuffing is that it's soft and tender, but has a bit of crunch to it from the rustic bread. Actually, I'm in love with the crispy rustic pieces of bread in this dish.
Besides the texture, the taste of this stuffing is dynamite. I literally wanted to embody that warm, Fall feeling that comfort foods often bring around this time, therefore, using cranberries and herbs + spices together definitely achieved this. Of course, there are so many other ingredient options that can really take this vegan stuffing to the next level! See more of my suggestions further in this post.
Why You Will LOVE This Homemade Vegan Stuffing
- It’s absolutely delicious—crunchy + soft!
- Super easy to make + quick
- No crazy clean-up! Can we say–everything in one baking dish?
- Loaded with savory holiday flavors!
- Comes entirely dairy-free + vegan.
- PERFECT for Thanksgiving OR any time of the year!
Tips For The BEST Vegan Stuffing
When it comes to making the perfect vegan stuffing, here are a few easy steps to achieve this beautiful dish:
Use your favorite bread
Again, I'm all about using your favorite vegan bread for the main base of this dish. Personally, I love sourdough, ciabatta, or brioche, however, you can use any rustic bread. As mentioned before, it's always best to use day-old bread or bake your cubed bread for a few minutes prior to assembling this recipe.
Add the stock in increments.
It's always best to add the stock in increments which is why I save ½ cup for later. Of course, during the baking, you can add an additional ¼ cup if you feel like it's drying out too quickly as the tops brown.
Switch things up with the ingredients.
As I've mentioned, you can definitely add additional ingredients or switch a few ingredients for other ones to create a tasty experience! In addition, you can make vegan cornbread as the base instead of bread as well. This adds a really nice twist. Just treat the cornbread as you would the bread in terms of pre-baking the cubes for a crispier base.
Topping Ideas For Homemade Vegan Stuffing
Vegan Stuffing in general is often served with more traditional ingredients. However, with this recipe, I chose to add a bit of extra flavor and "color" with chopped kale and dried cranberries. Rest assured, for additional pizazz, you can add any of the following to your vegan stuffing as well:
- Mushrooms
- Herb roasted tomatoes
- Sliced apples
- Crispy Onions
- Homemade cranberry sauce drizzled on top!
- Apple cider
- Balsamic vinegar
- Vegan bacon bits or candied bacon for my non-vegans
- Pecans or other toasted nuts
What to Serve with Vegan Stuffing?
This dish is a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving table or any meal, really. It's a versatile side that pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes, like...
- Cornbread: Classic cornbread or my Brown Butter Pumpkin Cornbread complements the greens beautifully or for a vegan option Vegan Sweet Potato Maple Herb Cornbread is amazing!
- Mac and Cheese: Creamy mac and cheese adds comfort and richness try this Baked Vegan Buffalo Mac + Cheese recipe!
- Chicken: A Southern favorite that's a perfect match, this Jerk Whole Roast Chicken ot this Cranberry Maple Roast Chicken is truly amazing alongside it!
- Roasted veggies. I absolutely love these Maple Herb Glazed Carrots and Maple Herb Roasted Butternut Squash
- Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes offer a hearty side or these Crispy Garlic Herb Smashed Potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser!
- Biscuits: Fluffy biscuits complete the Southern meal. Honey Butter Cornbread Drop Biscuits or Garlic Herb Biscuits are a dream alongside this dish.
Thanksgiving Tips + Tricks
If you're gearing up to host a Thanksgiving feast that caters to all diets, whether it's a traditional family gathering or a Friendsgiving celebration, I've got you covered! Check out these articles I've penned for some handy tips, tricks, and a deep dive into plant-based options to make your Thanksgiving day a breeze.
- How to Host the Perfect Vegan Friendsgiving
- 30 Ultimate Plant-Based Thanksgiving Recipes
- Thanksgiving Menu + Guide for ALL Eaters
Homemade Vegan Stuffing Q + A's
Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply add servings to the oven until warmed through.
Absolutely! To make this vegan stuffing gluten-free, simply substitute the bread with a gluten-friendly version.
Of course! If you're thinking about making this vegan stuffing ahead of time, that's absolutely fine. Simply prep all chopped ingredients and add it all to a large airtight container (keeping the bread separate) and refrigerate until ready to begin cooking---up to 2 days. On the day of making, let everything sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before continuing the recipe.
Other Holiday Dishes You'll Love
If you are in love with this Homemade Vegan Stuffing as much as I am, then check these recipes out next!
- Flaky Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole
- Flaky Honey Buttermilk Biscuits
- Easy Vegan Roasted Potato Salad
- Gluten-Free Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Perfect Apple Cranberry Sauce
- Maple Herb Glazed Carrots
Homemade Vegan Stuffing.
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you make this Homemade Vegan Stuffing or any other recipe from us, be sure to tag us on Instagram at #Orchidsandsweettea so that we can share the love, rate, comment below, + share!
Homemade Vegan Stuffing
Ingredients
STUFFING:
- 1 loaf vegan sourdough bread, challah, or brioche, cubed (Preferably a day old; See Notes for Vegan version)
- 4 Tbsps vegan butter (See Notes!)
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 stalks celery, chopped into 1-inch chunks
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 2 cups organic vegetable stock + ½ cup
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup organic kale, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a standard 9x13 baking dish.
SAUTE THE VEGGIES + MAKE THE MIXTURE:
- In a large (12-inch) skillet, add the butter and once melted, add the minced garlic and onions, sautéing until translucent + fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the celery followed by salt, black pepper, garlic powder, thyme, parsley, and sage, stirring everything together until combined.
- Add in the 2 cups of veggie stock and chopped kale and stir to combine. Bring everything to a boil for 2-3 minutes before removing from heat. NOTE: The kale should be wilted at this point.
ASSEBMLY:
- Add half of the cubed bread to the prepared bakings dish and carefully pour half of the mixture atop the bread. Sprinkle a bit of cranberries and add the remaining cubed bread. Pour the remaining mixture atop the bread followed by the ½ cup of veggie stock.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the middle is "barely jiggly".
- Remove the stuffing from the oven and let cool slightly, about 10-15 minutes before slicing or scooping it out to serve.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply add servings to the oven until warmed through.
- BREAD: For this stuffing you can use any type of vegan rustic bread: regular white bread, sourdough bread, rye, multi-grain, or even brioche bread for a nice twist. It's best to use day old bread or for newly fresh bread, bake cubed bread for 10 minutes or so in the oven atop a baking sheet until a bit crunchy and dried out.
- VEGAN BRIOCHE: To make your own vegan brioche bread, see my latest recipe.
- APPLE CIDER: You can choose to add ½ cup of store-bought or homemade apple cider as a substitute for the veggie stock for added flavor. Here's an easy homemade recipe here.
- OIL: You can feel free to use Extra Virgin Olive oil, Grapeseed oil, or coconut oil instead of vegan butter, if preferred.
- MAKE AHEAD: If you're thinking about making this vegan stuffing ahead of time, that's absolutely fine. Simply prep all chopped ingredients and add it all to a large airtight container (keeping the bread separate) and refrigerate until ready to begin cooking---up to 2 days. On the day of making, let everything sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before continuing recipe.
Nutrition
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LET US KNOW!
Not only is this stuffing absolutely delicious, but it's gorgeous too!
I'm with you and can do without the soggy stuffing! I'm so excited about this flavorful, easy, soggy-free stuffing! Thank you!
We’re having a Friendsgiving with some friends who are vegans, so I can’t wait to make this stuffing for them!
It's time for a Vegan thanksgiving and your Homemade Vegan Stuffing is gonna kick it off! Thanks for sharing!
Love this vegan version of stuffing. Pinned to try this for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing