Your WFPB Thanksgiving Stuffing Made Simple: Prep Ahead, Save Time, and Enjoy Leftovers

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Thanksgiving is a time for gathering, gratitude, and great food—but let’s face it, the holiday prep can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never made any of those beloved holiday dishes before AND are on a plant-based diet now! Between planning dishes, grocery shopping, and figuring out how to handle the inevitable leftovers, and navigating awkward family conversations about how you eat, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy this season is meant to bring. But what if one simple dish could take some of the stress off your plate (literally)?

This post is here to help you master the art of Thanksgiving plant-based stuffing — with tips for prepping ahead, shopping smarter, and repurposing leftovers into delicious meals that keep the celebration going. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or new to the kitchen, these ideas will make stuffing one of the easiest parts of your holiday get-together, it may even win over your Uncle Hank!

Get ready to simplify your time in the kitchen so you can show up to your family gathering with confidence, joy, and a dish everyone will love. And if you are lucky enough to have leftovers, there is ideas for remaking those into delicious bites that will keep on giving. Let’s make this Thanksgiving a little less hectic and a lot more delicious!

1. Get Your Groceries Early So There’s No Last Minute Panic

Getting ahead of the holiday store rush is always a good idea. You can skip the chaos and save your sanity - shopping for your Thanksgiving groceries ahead of time means no long lines and no last-minute ingredient panic. Here’s a grocery list for making the perfect whole food plant-based Thanksgiving stuffing, that won’t have you running all over town for some crazy ingredients. This list ensures you have all the traditional components needed for a flavorful, oil-free, and nutrient-packed dish!

• 1 large yellow onion

• 3 stalks celery

• 2 medium carrots

• 8 oz cremini or button mushrooms

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 bunch of fresh parsley (plus extra for garnish)

• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary, optional for garnish

• 11 slices of whole-grain bread or 4 cups of toasted bread cubes

• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, homemade or store-bought

• Ground flaxseed

• Poultry seasoning (salt-free)

• Dried thyme

• Dried sage

• ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries, optional

• ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional for crunch

2. Make Thanksgiving Stuffing Less Intimidating By Preparing It Ahead

Stuffing can be a time-consuming dish, but much of the work can be done ahead of time. Follow these simple steps to get your stuffing ready before the big day:

• Pre-Toast Your Bread | Whole-grain bread cubes are the backbone of a great stuffing. Toast them 2-3 days in advance and store in an airtight container at room temperature. This step saves time and ensures the bread holds up well to the vegetable broth.

• Sauté the Vegetables Ahead of Time | Chop and cook your stuffing vegetables (like onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and garlic) up to two days before Thanksgiving. Store the cooked mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This way, your veggies are ready to mix into the bread cubes on the day of assembly.

• Assemble and Chill | You can fully assemble your stuffing (minus the broth) the night before. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Add vegetable broth just before baking to keep the texture perfect—moist but not soggy.

• Freeze for a Later Feast | If you want to prepare your stuffing even further in advance, assemble it completely (including the broth) and store it in the casserole dish. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months - talk about prepping ahead! For a fuss-free dish on the big day:

  • Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake covered at 350°F (about an hour) then uncovered, until top is browned and crisp (about 10 minutes).

3. Storing Leftover Stuffing

Stuffing is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day. Here’s how to store your leftovers to keep them fresh and ready to enjoy:

• Refrigerate Leftovers | Transfer leftover stuffing to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave when ready to serve.

• Freeze for Longer Storage | If you don’t plan to eat your stuffing within a few days, freezing is an excellent option. Divide it into individual portions and store in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 2-3 months max for the best taste and texture. Label with the date so you don’t lose track! To reheat, bake in the oven directly from frozen or thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

• Share the Love | While I know, after hosting Thanksgiving for the better part of 24 years now, the best part of the feast is that we get all the leftovers. But even with freezing and remaking them into other dishes can be a good way to use them all up, it is a good gesture to share them with everyone that put so much work into their dishes as well.

  • In the past we have just washed the baking dish/plate/tray they brought and put what items they wanted on that and wrapped it up good.

  • Another option is to provide ‘take-away’ containers for them. Over the years I have grabbed some paper ones at a cooking supply store, bought a new set of my favorite glass containers when on sale or even bought the inexpensive aluminum cake and bread loaf pans and lined them with parchment paper.

  • This year I am asking them to bring a container for leftovers. I’m sure a few of my more humorous friends and family will be coming with the largest ones they can find.

Whatever route you choose to go, I’m sure your guests will thank you when they get to dig into the Thanksgiving feast all over again.

4. Creative Ways to Use Leftover Stuffing

Leftovers don’t have to feel repetitive! With a little creativity, stuffing can transform into entirely new dishes that keep the Thanksgiving flavors alive. Here are four fun and easy ideas:

• Stuffing-Stuffed Vegetables | Hollow out bell peppers, zucchinis, large mushrooms or squash and fill them with your leftover stuffing. Bake until the veggies are tender and the stuffing is golden and heated through. Sprinkle with green onions or dried cranberries on top and this makes for a delicious remake of a favorite holiday dish.

• Thanksgiving Wraps | Spread a whole-grain tortilla with mashed sweet potato or hummus, add a layer of stuffing, some fresh greens, and a sprinkle of cranberries. Roll it up for a quick and hearty wrap perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

• Crispy Stuffing Patties | Shape your stuffing into patties and air fry or pan-sear them (oil-free) until crispy on the outside. These patties make excellent sides or even a plant-based burger option!

• Soup Toppers | Turn your stuffing into crispy croutons by baking it on a baking sheet or in the air fryer and crumble it over a bowl of soup for added texture and flavor. It pairs beautifully with hearty fall soups like butternut squash or lentil soup.

Thanksgiving stuffing doesn’t have to be a source of stress—it can be a dish you look forward to prepping, serving, and reinventing. By planning ahead and getting creative with leftovers, you’ll enjoy all the cozy, nostalgic flavors of the holiday without any waste or worry.

Download the guide here and begin preparing!