A WFPB Twist on Thanksgiving Stuffing

Nourish Your Body While Still Celebrating Tradition

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and enjoy the warmth of family and friends. But for many of us, the holidays can be a source of stress when we are trying to eat healthier. Traditional Thanksgiving dishes are often loaded with butter, oil, and processed ingredients, so consider making a contribution to your dinner invitation with a dish to share. Bring a whole food plant-based (WFPB) option for everyone to sample that actually promotes health!

What if you could enjoy all the cozy, nostalgic flavors you love without compromising your health goals? This whole food plant-based (WFPB) Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is a game-changer. It’s packed with flavor, low-fat, oil-free, and free from added salt or sugars. Plus, it's made from simple, wholesome ingredients that are as nourishing as they are delicious.

Whether you’re new to plant-based cooking or a seasoned pro, this recipes will inspire you to enjoy the holiday season guilt-free while keeping it deliciously traditional.

To increase the health benefits of these ingredients look for the most nutrient dense versions:

• Look for sprouted bread for making into the bread cubes - Sprouting partially digests the starch in the grains, making it easier for the body to digest.

• Swap out the yellow onion for a red - their vibrant red-purple color comes from anthocyanins, an antioxidant not found in yellow onions, and helps combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

• Add all the mushrooms you want! While just two mushrooms a day, helps keep disease away, you can change it up and try adding some of the more exotic varieties - don’t be shy!

• Consider adding in a nutrient dense superfood like cooked forbidden rice (1.5 cups) for extra fiber and antioxidants, just to name a few.

• Consider adding a pinch of additional herbs like tarragon or marjoram as micro-power houses of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

The Perfect WFPB Thanksgiving Stuffing anti-inflammatory benefits: This recipe uses mushrooms rich in antioxidants, sage known for its calming properties, and whole-grain bread for fiber. It’s a heart-healthy alternative to traditional stuffing!

Thanksgiving Stuffing Variations

Don’t be afraid to change this stuffing recipe up and try a different spin with these delicious and nutritious combinations:

1. Sweet Potato & Apple Stuffing

• Ingredients: Diced sweet potatoes, cubed apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and toasted whole-grain bread cubes.

• Benefits: Sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene and fiber, while apples add natural sweetness. Perfect for a sweet-savory twist.

2. Wild Rice & Cranberry Stuffing

• Ingredients: Cooked wild rice, chopped pecans, dried cranberries, diced celery, and thyme.

• Benefits: Wild rice is a high-protein grain, and cranberries add a tart antioxidant boost. This dish is naturally gluten-free!

3. Chestnut & Leek Stuffing

• Ingredients: Roasted chestnuts, sautéed leeks, fresh rosemary, and sprouted bread cubes.

• Benefits: Chestnuts provide a sweet, nutty flavor while being low in fat, and leeks offer prebiotics for gut health.

With this versatile recipe, you can honor the flavors of tradition while embracing the health benefits of a whole food plant-based diet and find a combination everyone is sure to love.

Your Thanksgiving table will feel complete—and you’ll feel nourished and satisfied.

Don't forget to grab the 4-step guide to simplify your prep and start prepping with confidence. You can easily wow your family with a nostalgic Thanksgiving stuffing that’s healthy, delicious, and so good no one will believe it’s plant-based!

The Perfect WFPB Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

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Yield: 8-10

A savory, herb-infused stuffing made with whole-grain bread, mushrooms, and vegetables, perfectly moist with crispy edges—wholesome and holiday-ready!

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Ingredients

• 1 large red onion, finely chopped
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, chopped
• 4 cups whole-grain bread cubes (toasted)
• 1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning (salt-free)
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried sage
• ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries, optional - if you like that sweet bite

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Sauté onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and mushrooms in a splash of vegetable broth until softened (5-7 minutes).
3. In a large bowl, combine toasted bread cubes, cooked vegetables, flaxseed, herbs, and parsley. Mix well.
4. Add the vegetable broth gradually until the mixture is moist but not soggy. Stir to combine.
5. Transfer to a parchment-lined 9in. x 9in. or 9in. x 13in. baking dish and bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Let cool slightly before serving. Sprinkle the top with finely chopped fresh rosemary for that classic holiday aroma.