How to Make Vegetarian Stuffing

Is stuffing vegetarian? Yes, I have been asked that question. I guess it's natural. It's a thought that may flash through a non-vegetarian's mind if they're not quite a do-it-yourself type and they're picking up Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner tidbits at the local Safeway. (Ah, and I also remember the Kentucky kin expressing with some surprise, "But there's no meat in it, just a little broth.") The best response to the stuffing question is generally an offer to make it.

Classic stuffing is not vegetarian, but it becomes vegetarian with a few simple tweaks. Most vegetarian stuffing recipes are actually vegan. (Exceptions are those that call for cream of mushroom soup or ask you to fry the vegetables in butter -- the latter type of recipe, though, can very easily be adjusted.)

Many vegan stuffing recipes call for vegetable broth. I make mine with Vegan Frontier "chicken" broth powder -- it's a taste that will fool your non-vegetarian friends. On this page, I'll share a recipe and a few tips for adjusting it to suit your tastes or make it even simpler. I will also link to some more vegan and vegetarian dressing recipes from around the web.

This is my twist on the old classic. It uses four veggies: onions, celery, mushrooms, and parsley. You can toss in a few fresh sage leaves for more flavor.

Serves: 10

A savory and quite chicken-less broth... This stuff will fool people. You may find Frontier chicken-less broth powder in the bin of you local food co-op or whole foods store. You can also order it online.

I noticed that all the reviewers gave it either five stars or one star! One of the two reviewers noted simply that it was very high in sodium. Yes, but it's par for the course for bullion -- and canned soup/ broth that's not made from bullion. A bowl of soup has a big chunk of one's daily sodium allotment. It's one reason that I don't eat a lot of ready made soup -- but do use a little both in recipes.

Simplifying the recipe... or changing the texture

The above recipe can easily be altered. Like to cheat just a little here and there? You can try frozen chopped onions. VIP frozen seasoning blend can, in a pinch, substitute. It adds one or two nontraditional ingredients -- and a bit of color -- but you won't stray very far from the classic version.

If you prefer a drier, crispier stuffing, you can bake it a bit longer -- 20 minutes is on the low end of the scale. Some people like open muffin tins and a more browned dressing. Conversely, you can choose not to bake, but to cook it on the stove top. (I am more of a stove top person myself).

Here is a step by step guide to making vegan stuffing. The ingredient list is similar to mine, but there a few additions, including chestnuts and vegan sausage. The video is eight minutes long and answers a few basic questions (like what consistency should the concoction be).

You can see how the vegan sausage goes from refrigerated loaf to dressing-ready.

Some of these gourmet recipes call for vegan sausage. Where to buy? Check the Field Roast link to see if there's a location near you. You might also want to see what Vegan Dad is cooking up... especially if there are no stores near you.

Image by the author

Here are a variety of vegan recipes, from traditional savory flavors to slightly sweet dishes that bring in unexpected harvest treats. Some combine unusual ingredients.

There are many variations on vegan stuffing. Here is an introduction to some of the ingredients you can choose from.