This easy vegan stuffing recipe is simple to make and totally mouthwatering. Perfect for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner. Easily gluten free too.
It's Holiday season! And what better way to celebrate than a big Holiday meal with all the trimmings? Stuffing being chief among them.
Stuffing was always one of my favourite parts of roast dinner as a child, and as an adult my passion for it hasn't waned. There's just something about those savory flavors and that oniony, sagey crispiness!
This recipe is based on classic British stuffing, but unusually it's vegan and can easily be gluten free.
Made with simple ingredients such as bread, fresh sage, celery and onion, this stuffing is savoury, crunchy and utterly delicious.
Enjoy it with vegan gravy and a few side dishes, or go the whole way and make an English-style Sunday roast dinner with a nut roast, roast potatoes, maple glazed carrots and steamed veg. Once you try it, you'll be hooked!
Why you'll love this
It's a delicious side dish - This delicious vegan stuffing soaks up gravy and makes a delicious crunchy compliment to all those vegetable side dishes!
Savoury, herby and satisfying - Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a herby flavor profile. Perfect!
Can be completely gluten free - just use good gluten-free bread if needed.
Egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free! - Great for anyone with an allergy. (It surprises me that the classic stuffing recipe typically uses egg and butter, when it's really not necessary.)
Main ingredients
Onion & celery - For a flavour base. Regular white onion works great. You don't need anything fancy here.
Chunky breadcrumbs - Make your own (tiny store-bought crumbs will be no good here) by throwing a few slices of day-old bread into a food processor or even blender for a couple of seconds. Or roughly chop into small bread cubes with your hands. I love using crusty sourdough bread or good quality gluten free bread. Always use a yeasted one.
Sage - You can't make stuffing without sage! Fresh herbs are best in my view, although you can use dried sage in a pinch (if so, only use about 2 tbsp).
Vegetable stock/broth - I find the easiest, cheapest things to use are vegetable stock cubes dissolved in water, rather than buying actual broth. You don't need much liquid - it's really just to bind the stuffing mixture together.
Step by step
1. Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
2. Add chopped celery and onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add sage and sauté for one minute more. Remove from heat.
3. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix onion/celery/sage mixture, bread pieces, broth, salt and pepper.
4. Pour unbaked stuffing into deep sided baking dish or casserole dish in an even layer, cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.
(Alternatively, you can make into stuffing balls. Once shaped, place balls on parchment-lined baking sheet, cover in foil and continue as per instructions.)
5. Remove tin foil and bake another 10 minutes, until top of the stuffing is golden brown and nicely crispy.
Serve immediately as a side dish, perhaps with gravy.
See how to make this vegan stuffing recipe step by step.
Tips
Use yeasted bread - If you take one tip from this post, let it be this. Some vegan gluten free breads don't contain yeast, and while it isn't essential for the stuffing's texture, yeast adds a wonderful savoury flavour to stuffing that really can't be beaten.
Check the taste! - I highly recommend tasting your stuffing before it goes in the oven, to make sure it's seasoned enough. It's always worth checking flavourings to see if any more salt or pepper is needed before it's too late.
What to eat with stuffing
Smother it in gravy, and enjoy with your favourite side dishes or any of the following:
Storage
Store any leftover stuffing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, add stuffing to an ovenproof dish and cover in foil (to stop it drying out). Reheat in oven at 400°F/205°C for 10-15 minutes until hot all the way through.
FAQs
Traditional stuffing usually isn't vegan because it often uses butter, eggs and/or sometimes even meat products! You don't need to worry about that with this vegan option. It's completely animal, egg and dairy free.
More vegan Thanksgiving recipes
Best Classic Vegan Stuffing (Gluten-Free Too!)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or vegan butter
- 1 medium onion, diced finely
- 1 stick celery, diced finely
- ½ cup fresh sage leaves, diced
- 5 cups chunky breadcrumbs, from gluten-free or regular bread (see note for how to make)
- ½ cup vegetable broth or stock
- ½ teaspoon salt (more if needed)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
- Add onion and celery and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add sage and sauté for one minute more. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, thoroughly mix onion/celery/sage mixture, breadcrumbs, broth, salt and pepper.
- Pour into deep-sided ovenproof dish or baking sheet, cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, until top is golden brown.
- Serve immediately as a side dish, optionally with gravy.
Notes
Nutritional information per serving
If you’ve tried this best vegan stuffing recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!
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Katie
What an absolute treat this will be for my veggie family at Christmas, they usually just have to make do with a boxed mix. Pinned this for my festive baking!
Katie xoxo
Elizabeth
Thanks Katie, so happy to be able to help! Hope they love it. 🙂
Deb
I've been looking for an easy vegan stuffing to make for Thanksgiving and came across this. I made it to try it out first and yes, I will be making it again on No Turkey Day.
Elizabeth
So happy you love it Deb! Happy Thanksgiving. 🙂
Nicole
I am so glad to have stumbled upon a gluten free and vegan stuffing recipe. A great allergy friendly take on a classic dish!-
Elizabeth
Yay! Enjoy Nicole 🙂
Lisa
Going on my Thanksgiving menu...great looking on recipe!
Elizabeth
Thank you! Hope you love it.
Tisha
Great vegan option for the Holidays. Full of flavor and easy recipe to follow!
Elizabeth
Thanks so much Tisha!
Cristy
I am looking forward to trying this! I need vegan and GF for allergy reasons, but I can eat meats (just no eggs/milk). Have you heard any word back on anyone adding sausage (or a meat substitute) to this recipe? I like to add sausage and I wondered if you have any tips! 🙂
Elizabeth
Hi there! I haven't heard of anyone trying this yet, but I'd imagine you can add it just as you would with any other stuffing recipe. Sorry, I know that's not super helpful, just not my area of expertise! 🙂