If traditional stuffing is one of the side dishes you look forward to during the holiday season, these keto and low carb stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving have all the familiar flavors of the classic dish, without all the carbs, grains and gluten.
Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing is bread-heavy, so the idea of making delicious stuffing without it might sound next to impossible. But you'd be surprised how far we've come in catering to a low carb diet!
From cauliflower rice to almond flour bread, these recipes use clever substitutions that will make you forget you ever needed bread in the first place.
These keto recipes may be a lower carb option, but they're something that the whole family can get behind — regardless of whether or not they're watching their carb intake. So get out that casserole dish and let's get stuffing!
the secret to the best keto stuffing recipe
The secret to a delicious keto stuffing recipe is finding creative ways to replace the bread.
Everything else is fair game! You can keep most of the classic stuffing ingredients you'd find in regular stuffing, like butter, turkey or chicken stock, onions and celery, spices and herbs, etc., but the bread is where all the carbs are hiding.
I like to keep things simple and use store-bought keto bread in my stuffing. Almost every grocery store has at least one option for low carb bread these days.
Keep in mind, if you need a keto bread to also be gluten free, you'll have to be particular about which brands you go with since many keto breads also contain wheat gluten.
However, you can still make a good stuffing without bread. I've seen recipes using cauliflower, mushrooms, and even sausage as the base for keto stuffing.
My advice? Try our a few of different recipes before Thanksgiving rolls around and see which one you like the most for your holiday meal.
The recipes I provided below are a great place to start. And who knows, maybe they'll taste so close to the real thing that you'll never want to go back to traditional stuffing again.
8 delicious keto and low carb stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving
I've shared my own low-carb stuffing recipe, but I also wanted to add a few other options to your list if you're looking for a keto Thanksgiving stuffing. From cornbread versions to shortcuts made with store-bought, low-carb bread, this list is proof that your Thanksgiving meal can, in fact, be keto-diet-friendly.
Easy Keto Stuffing Recipe
Stuffed to the brim with delicious flavor, my keto stuffing is made with simple ingredients like store-bought keto bread (or my homemade almond meal bread if you're feeling extra ambitious), ground pork sausage, mushrooms, fresh herbs, chicken broth, and other classics, then cooked until a beautiful golden brown.
This is a great recipe if you want to go more of a traditional stuffing route and don't necessarily mind leaning on a pre-made keto bread as a shortcut.
Keto Cornbread Dressing (Gluten-Free)
And if you like a cornbread stuffing, try out this yummy keto cornbread dressing for a truly unbeatable holiday side dish!
It calls for homemade low carb cornbread, which bakes in a large skillet. You can easily prep 1-2 days in advance. This recipe is great because everything is from-scratch, and yet there's still lots of room to riff.
Savory Paleo Stuffing with keto and low carb options
This savory paleo stuffing recipe offers a flavorful twist to the traditional bread-based stuffing. With options for low-carb and keto-friendly alternatives, such as using cubed sweet potatoes instead of bread, this dish is perfect for those following special diets.
But no matter which option you choose, it will still be packed with those beloved savory flavors!
Cauliflower, Sausage And Apple Stuffing (Paleo)
Swap the breadcrumbs for cauliflower in this tasty cauliflower, sausage, and apple stuffing recipe.
With added ingredients like sausage, onion, cranberries, and water chestnuts, this is a filling and flavorful low-carb option that makes a great addition to the Thanksgiving table. It's also suitable for those following paleo or keto diets!
Perfect Keto Stuffing with Sausage & Mushrooms
This keto sausage stuffing recipe is made with store-bought keto bread, sausage, mushrooms, celery, sage, thyme, and plenty of butter. It's a quick and an easy dish to whip up in just 30 minutes using only one pan.
Keto Cornbread Stuffing
Who says you have to use traditional bread for your Thanksgiving stuffing? This keto cornbread stuffing recipe is made with low-carb, homemade cornbread. With added ingredients like sausage, onion, and celery, this dish is sure to be a hit with your dinner guests.
Easy Keto Thanksgiving Stuffing with Sausage & Bacon
Italian sausage and cauliflower rice come together in this keto sausage & cauliflower rice thanksgiving stuffing. Enhanced with crispy bacon and fresh herbs, this dish is full of delicious textures and flavors. It also packs a protein punch with eggs and chicken broth, making it a filling side dish for your holiday feast.
Low Carb Cauliflower Stuffing Recipe
Made all in one skillet, this low carb cauliflower stuffing recipe is perfect for those following a gluten-free or low-carb diet.
With its unique blend of cauliflower, herbs, and seasonings, it provides a tasty alternative to traditional bread-based stuffing. And cleaning up afterward is a breeze!
go full keto with these Thanksgiving recipes
Make an entire Thanksgiving dinner that is 100% keto-friendly with these keto Thanksgiving recipes:
- Keto green bean casserole: No canned soup needed! Instead, we make a homemade mushroom and onion-infused cream sauce and bake it with a delicious crunchy topping to create a keto-friendly version of this classic Thanksgiving dish.
- Gluten-free sweet potato casserole: Baked sweet potatoes are whipped with monk fruit sweetener, spices, and creamy coconut milk, then topped with an easy, gluten-free crumble. Yum!
- Brussels sprouts slaw with roasted butternut squash: Featuring a light mustard-y vinaigrette, fresh arugula, roasted butternut squash, crisp apple slices, and toasted, spiced papitas, this slaw will be the star of the table.
- Fall kale salad with pumpkin maple vinaigrette: Equal parts savory and sweet with spiced, roasted vegetables and a light pumpkin vinaigrette that is out of this world!
- Roasted mashed cauliflower with garlic: Creamy, fluffy, and rich... without the potatoes! This classic Thanksgiving side will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Sugar-free pumpkin pie: Everything you love about pumpkin pie, but minus the refined sugar and carbs! This simple recipe is a must-make for me every year.
three Thanksgiving menus
If you're looking for extra help for the Thanksgiving holiday, I've put together three possible Thanksgiving menus (one traditional, two non-traditional) for my paid newsletter subscribers!
From bonus holiday menus to meal plans and a weekly 30-minute, low-carb dinner recipe delivered to your inbox every Thursday, there is so much extra content you might be missing out on over on Substack.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!