Easy Classic Vegan Stuffing Recipe

5 from 4 votes

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This healthy vegan stuffing recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients and perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner and other holiday meals.

You will love the rich, savoury flavour of this classic side dish. This stuffing uses ingredients like onion, garlic, carrot and herbs and is easy to make in under an hour with just a few simple steps.

Plant-based stuffing made with cubed bread and vegetables on a small plate.

Introduction

This delicious vegan stuffing makes a great choice if you’re serving those with dietary restrictions. It does animal products and can be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free bread.

Enjoy this stuffing with other side dishes like vegan mashed potato, vegan mushroom gravy and easy homemade cranberry sauce and with mains like chickpea meatloaf or stuffed butternut squash. It’s perfect a holiday table or anytime you’re craving comforting holiday flavours.

Highlights

  • Vegetarian and vegan (dairy-free, no egg).
  • Can be made gluten-free.
  • Quick and easy to make!
  • Basic ingredients.
  • Can be made ahead of time.
  • Oil-free, no butter.

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients for vegan stuffing: celery, carrots, bread, herbs, broth, garlic and onion, sitting on a white surface.
  • Bread: You can use any bread but I like sourdough bread or any hearty multi-grain best. A good quality white bread like French bread or Italian bread is just lovely too! You can use gluten-free bread if needed.
  • Cooking Liquid: You can use butter for a more classic flavour or any cooking oil, for oil-free stuffing, you can use broth to saute.
  • Onion: White or yellow onion works.
  • Garlic: Use raw garlic, minced or grated.
  • Carrot: You’ll need about 2 medium carrots or 2 cups diced. The amount doesn’t have to exact.
  • Celery: Use roughly 2 cups diced. Again, the amount doesn’t have to be exact.
  • Herbs: You can use dried or fresh herbs. The recipe calls for sage, thyme and rosemary.
  • Broth: Use any vegetable stock or broth you enjoy, homemade or store-bought.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

Flavour Variations

I like simple stuffing made with the basics but there are lots of other ingredients you can add to make this stuffing your own. Here are a few ideas:

  • Mix in 1/2 cup dried cranberries when you add the cubed bread.
  • Mix in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans when you add the cubed bread.
  • Add 1 diced apple when you saute the veggies.
  • If you’d like to add mushroom, use 1-2 cups and cook it first in a little oil or butter, before adding the other veggies. Cook for 8-9 minutes until browned and the liquid has released and evaporated. Remove them from the pan and proceed with the recipe, mixing them back in when you add the bread.
  • Try this Butternut Squash Stuffing.

Step-by-Step with Photos

Step 1: Dry the Bread

Cubed bread on a baking tray, drying out to make stuffing.

There are two options for preparing the bread for stuffing:

  1. Cube the bread and let it sit out overnight in a bowl (or use any stale bread).
  2. Toast it in the oven on a baking sheet.

I’ve made it both ways and think toasting it in the oven is the way to go. You want it to be a bit crispy and slightly browned. It shouldn’t be rock hard like a crouton but it should be a little firm with some crispiness to it.

Step 2: Sauté the Veggies

Diced carrot, onion, celery and garlic in a skillet.

While the bread is toasting, heat 2 tbsp of plant-based butter in a skillet over medium heat then add the carrots, onion, garlic and celery along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.

If you’re not using butter or oil, heat the pan then add the veggies along with 2 tbsp broth.

You can see from the photo above you want to take the time to dice the veggies rather than roughly chop them. I think this lends to a better stuffing consistency once it’s done.

Sautéing Options: To keep the recipe oil-free, you can sauté the veggies in a few tablespoons of vegetable broth but for a more traditional stuffing flavour, you can use 1-2 tbsp of vegan butter. I’d suggest butter if you don’t mind using it!

Step 3: Add the Herbs

Sautéed garlic, onion, celery and carrot in a skillet.

After 7-8 minutes, add the he fresh or dried herbs to the vegetable mixture and cook for 4-5 more minutes, adding a little stock as needed if the pan is drying out or the mixture is starts to burn.

Be sure to scrape any browned bits off the bottom pan when you add more stock – they’re full of flavour!

Start preheating the oven now as well.

Step 4: Mix the Veggies, Bread and Broth

Mixed vegan stuffing in a big blue glass bowl.

Add the cubed bread to a large mixing bowl, then add the sautéed veggies. Start by adding 1 cup of vegetable broth, mixing, and then slowly adding more broth as needed.

How much broth should I add?

It depends on how you like your stuffing, the type of bread you use and how dried or toasted that bread is.

You want the bread to be moist but not completely soaked. Start with 1 cup and then slowly add more, a little bit a time, until all the bread is moistened. I use 1.5 cups broth to make my stuffing.

Step 5: Bake the Stuffing

A large casserole dish of vegan stuffing with vegetables.

Cover the stuffing with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown on top.

Serve your stuffing right away or if you’re making it in advance, let it cool then cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to reheat it.

FAQs

Do I have to toast the bread for stuffing?

No. This still is optional but it does help prevent soggy stuffing so I’d recommend it.

Alternatively, you can cube the bread and leave it out in a bowl on the counter overnight or use a 1-2 day old fresh whole loaf that’s gone a bit hard.

Can I make this on the stovetop?

Yes. Make sure you use a large saucepan that will fit the bread. After sauteing the veggies and herbs, add the bread. Slowly add the broth and cook over low heat until you reach your desired consistency.

Stovetop stuffing will be softer with a mushy consistency. The baked version will be soft on the inside with a crispy layer on top. Both are good!

A wooden spoon scooping bread and vegetable stuffing out of a glass casserole dish.

Storing & Making Ahead

  • Make it in advance. Save time on Thanksgiving day and make this ahead of time. The longer it sits, the more time the flavours have to shine! Bake it a day ahead then add a little extra stock over top and bake at 350 F until it’s heated through and crisp on top.
  • Leftover stuffing can be covered in the dish or transferred to an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat in the microwave, in a pot on the stovetop or in the oven. If it’s dried out, mix in a little broth to add moisture back in.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plant-based stuffing made with cubed bread and vegetables on a small plate.
5 from 4 votes

Simple Vegan Stuffing

By: Deryn Macey
This easy vegan stuffing recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holiday meals. Serve this delicious stuffing alongside favourites like mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce for a complete holiday feast.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

  • 10 cups cubed whole-grain bread, or white or sourdough bread
  • 2 tbsp vegan butter or olive oil, or water or broth for oil-free stuffing
  • 1 white or yellow onion, diced, approx. 2 cups
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced, approx. 1.5 cups
  • 4 ribs celery, chopped, approx. 2 cups
  • salt and black pepper
  • 2 tsp dried sage or 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chopped sage
  • 1 tsp ground thyme or 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary or 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1-2 cups vegetable stock

Instructions 

  • Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Toast Bread: Place the bread cubes on 1 or 2 baking trays and toast in the oven for 10-15 minutes until lightly crispy and browned. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they don’t burn.
  • Saute Vegetables: Heat the butter or oil, if using, in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery, onion, garlic and carrot and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. If you didn’t use butter, add the water or broth for cooking. Saute the vegetables for 7-8 minutes until softened and fragrant. 
  • Add Herbs: Stir in the dried or fresh herbs and cook for a few more minutes. Add more vegetable broth if the pan starts to dry out, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of pan as you do.
  • Mix Stuffing: Add the cubed toasted bread and sautéed veggies to a large mixing bowl and add 1 cup of vegetable broth. 
  • Adjust Liquid & Seasoning: Mix well then slowly start adding more broth until all the bread is moist but not soaked. I use about 1.5 cups broth. You may need a little more or less depending on the bread you use. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
  • Transfer to Baking Dish: Transfer the mixture to a large casserole dish. I used a shallow 12 x 9 inch glass dish. It can be a little smaller and deeper, that’s totally fine.
  • Bake Stuffing: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until golden brown on top.
  • Serve: Serve right away or cool and store in the fridge until ready to reheat.

Notes

Instead of toasting the bread, you can use day-old bread, cubed and left out on the counter overnight.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 213kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Sodium: 407mg, Potassium: 405mg, Fiber: 7g, Vitamin A: 348IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 106mg, Iron: 2mg
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11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This recipe is AWESOME! So easy to make and incredibly flavourful. A staple at every one of our familyโ€™s Thanksgiving and Christmas meals.

  2. 5 stars
    Iโ€™ve made quite a few vegan stuffing recipes and this one by far is the best. The herb mix is very flavorful ย and the texture was perfect. Thanks for a great recipe.ย 

  3. Havenโ€™t made it yet, but wondering if it can be frozen and if so if you have any suggestions. ย I do use a food saver sharing machine for freezing my food

  4. 5 stars
    Made this stuffing for Thanksgiving. It was so good and the spices were right on. ย Thanks for all your recipes Deryn.ย 

    1. It really depends on the bread but about 3/4 of a standard-sized loaf of bread. Just keep cubing them until you have roughly 10 cups.

  5. I haven’t tried this recipe to a T yet. But I’ve looked over the ingredients. One thing I have to say, and Please, no offense to anyone at all. But a lot of vegan recipes I have tried have been so bland. This one looks like it may turn out ok. And frankly, I know that I will try to follow it, only to start adding some more to enhance it. Right off the bat, I can say that I would for sure add some mushroom and garlic as I saute the onion (oops, going over the instructions, I see Garlic, tho not added in the list of ingredients). I’d also probably add some parsley. And truthfully, I’d probably almost double the amount of herbs.
    Other than that…this is a Great recipe for Ground Work on an awesome vegan stuffing. Maybe I’m just a flavor junkie and still need intensity and still transitioning into real food? Albeit, doing this for many years already. At any rate, take this for what you may!! Kudo’s to you Deryn for making the time to help educate people on eating REAL FOOD!!