Make Your Turkey Shine with These 9 Delicious Vegetarian Stuffing Recipes

For many, tucking into a juicy slice of roast turkey just isn’t complete without a scoop of savory stuffing on the side. But if you’re cooking for vegetarian guests this holiday season, traditional meat-based stuffings are off the table. Not to worry – we’ve got you covered with 9 amazing meatless stuffing recipes that will steal the show!

Why Vegetarian Stuffing is a Must

Stuffing extends and enhances the flavor profile of the turkey in so many ways. Aromatic herbs, earthy mushrooms tart fruits, crunchy nuts – it’s a whole party of textures and flavors up in there!

Even if no one at your table is a vegetarian, these recipes make fantastic accompaniments to poultry, roasted veggie sides, and beyond. When you eliminate the sausage, chicken broth, etc, the true essence of the stuffing shines through.

So let’s get stuffing! Here are 9 of my personal favorite ways to fill up that turkey cavity with vegetarian goodness:

1. Classic Bread Stuffing

This is the OG of Thanksgiving sides. Chock full of cubed bread, veggies, and herbs, it’s simple yet totally craveable. The base is crusty French or Italian bread torn into chunks and toasted to achieve that perfect crunchy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture.

• Sauté aromatics: Onion, celery, carrots, garlic, mushrooms
• Fresh herbs: Sage, thyme, parsley
• Veggie broth: For moisture instead of chicken broth
• Extras: Chopped chestnuts, pecans, or cranberries

2. Wild Rice & Pecan Stuffing

For a twist, swap out the bread for wild rice, cooked al dente. Toss with sautéed onion, celery, toasted pecans, fresh parsley, sage, and thyme. I love the texture contrast of fluffy rice, crunchy nuts, and savory fresh veggies.

3. Cornbread Stuffing

Buttery cornbread gives this stuffing incredible richness. Crumble day-old cornbread and mix with sautéed onion celery bell pepper, fresh oregano, chicken-style broth, and an egg to bind. Pack it in the bird or bake separately.

4. Apple Walnut Stuffing

Tart, crisp apples pair perfectly with earthy sage in this autumnal stuffing. Sauté onion, celery, sage, thyme, and garlic. Stir in chopped apples, walnuts, bread cubes, broth, and seasonings. For added richness, melt in a little vegan butter.

5. Mushroom & Leek Stuffing

Meaty mushrooms like portobello and cremini make this taste almost decadent. Sauté them with leeks, shallots, parsley, thyme and tarragon. Toss the herbaceous veggie mix with toasted bread and vegetable broth. Add hazelnuts or pine nuts for crunch.

6. Quinoa & Butternut Squash Stuffing

This protein-packed version uses quinoa instead of bread. Cook the quinoa along with diced butternut squash in veggie broth seasoned with paprika, cumin, thyme and sage. Fluff in sautéed leeks, parsley, cranberries and toasted pepitas.

7. Sweet Potato & Kale Stuffing

Vitamin-rich kale and sweet potatoes make this so savory and satisfying. Sauté onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, thyme and sage. Add chopped kale to wilt. Fold in mashed roasted sweet potato, bread cubes, broth and lemon zest.

8. Chard & Lentil Stuffing

Believe it or not, protein-rich lentils make a fantastic base for stuffing! Cook lentils with garlic, onion, carrots and chard. Mix with bread cubes, mushroom broth, thyme, sage, and marjoram. Pack it in the bird or bake in a dish.

9. Cauliflower “Rice” Stuffing

For a low-carb, gluten-free stuffing, use cauliflower rice in place of bread cubes. Pulse cauliflower florets into rice-sized pieces. Sauté with onion, celery, cranberries, pecans, herbs, and veggie broth. Stuff the turkey or bake as a side.

Tips for Perfect Veggie Stuffing Every Time

• Use day-old bread, cubed and toasted for the best texture.
• Sauté veggies like onion, celery, garlic as the flavor base.
• Fresh herbs are a must! Sage, thyme, rosemary and parsley are perfect.
• Use veggie broth for moisture instead of chicken broth.
• Veg-based butter or oil helps carry flavor and makes it moist.
• For a stuffed turkey, loosely pack the stuffing to allow steam to escape.
• If baking solo, cover with foil first for moisture, then uncover to brown.
• Bake at 375°F until heated through, about 30-45 minutes.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to vegetarian stuffing recipes. Be creative and come up with your own signature blend of flavors and textures to wow your holiday guests. Trust me, even the meat-eaters will be begging for seconds of these satisfying plant-based stuffing sensations!