In this post: Classic, easy gluten-free stuffing that’s full of flavor and perfect for all your Holiday meals. Plus, it can be made ahead of time to simplify your day-of prep!
Do you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity? This gluten-free stuffing recipe is the perfect alternative recipe to the traditional stuffing recipe that is usually made for Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas. So all you gluten-free people, this one is for you!
One of the things I missed most when I went gluten-free a few years ago, was the stuffing on Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Easter. But now that I’ve figured out how to make delicious gluten-free stuffing from gluten-free bread, the whole family is enjoying it!
Table of Contents
How to make gluten-free stuffing
Gluten-free stuffing is easily made using gluten-free bread.
You can make this recipe from a whole loaf of gluten-free bread, or you can do what we do and save the crusts from our gluten-free bread in a Ziploc in the freezer and then use that for holiday stuffing.
You can also make gluten-free stuffing dairy-free by using vegan dairy-free bread and oil rather than butter!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of gluten-free bread (or a large Ziploc bag full of leftover crusts)
- 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (you can substitute butter or vegan butter for the oil if you’d like)
- 2-4 stalks of celery
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-2 tsp dried basil*
- 1-2 tsp dried oregano*
- 1/2-1 tsp sage*
- 1/2-1 tsp thyme*
- 1/2 tsp celery salt (optional)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups gluten-free chicken bone broth**
*You can adjust the dried herbs to taste. I’d suggest that the first time you make the stuffing that you only use 1/2 tsp of each basil, oregano, sage, and thyme. Then you can adjust the amounts up or down to the amounts you like. For example, we really like sage, so we use a lot more sage than any of the other herbs. You could also use fresh herbs as well. Just keep in mind that 1 tsp dried herbs are equaled to approximately 3 tsp fresh (depending on the herb or spice). You could also try other herbs like fresh parsley or sage.
**You can substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth for the bone broth. But I find the bone broth adds the best flavor. We only buyImagine brand Bone Brothas it has no ingredients that disagree with our family.
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and prepare one large baking sheet or two smaller baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Either cut or tear the bread into small cubes (sort of like croutons) and spread out on prepared baking sheets.
- Toast the bread cubes until they are golden brown. About 20-30 minutes, depending on the bread you use.
- Lightly grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, dump the baked bread cubes into it and set it aside.
- In a large skillet or pan on medium heat, heat olive oil or melt butter. Chop up celery and dice the onions and then add to the hot oil in the pan. Cook until they begin to soften, or about two minutes. Mince and add the garlic, as well as the spices and salt, and pepper. Stir and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about one more minute.
- Toss the cooked veggie and spice mixture with the bread cubes in the large baking dish and stir. (Alternatively, you could mix the bread cubes and seasonings in a large bowl and then pour them into the baking dish.)
- Stir in 1 cup of broth, until the bread absorbs it. Then add another cup and stir. Repeat with remaining broth, but only until the bread stops absorbing it. Some of the bread cubes may fall apart a little, that’s okay.
- Bake covered (with aluminum or tin foil) in preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake until golden brown, about another 5-10 minutes.
Tips and FAQ For Making The Best Gluten-Free Stuffing
Here are a few tips and frequently asked questions about how to make the best gluten-free stuffing.
Can I Make The Gluten-Free Stuffing Ahead Of Time?
Yes! Since this stuffing has to be baked for an hour total, it’s actually best to make it ahead of time, just for the simple sake of avoiding oven timing issues on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.
Simply prepare as directed in the recipe, let cool, and cover before placing the baking dish in the fridge. Then when it’s time to reheat it, add a little more broth if necessary and reheat on at a low temperature for about 10-15 minutes or until the stuffing is heated through.
Can I use turkey drippings instead of broth?
You can use turkey drippings instead of broth, if you’d like, yes. Just keep in mind that you may need much more liquid than the turkey drippings will provide. And if you’re making the stuffing ahead of time, as I recommend, that you won’t have turkey drippings to use. So it’s best to make sure you have some broth handy.
Can I add sausage to this gluten-free stuffing recipe?
Yes, if you’d really like to. In fact, the recipe I derived our gluten-free stuffing recipe from included sausage pieces. But I find that that added too much extra work. And given that stuffing is most often paired with Turkey (which is both a source of protein and fat), the sausages were completely unnecessary.
Is there gluten in Stove Top Stuffing?
Yes! There is most definitely gluten in store-bought Stove Top Stuffing! If you or a guest cannot tolerate gluten, Stove Top Stuffing (and most boxed stuffing mixes) are a no-go. Look for a gluten-free stuffing mix, or make your own gluten-free stuffing from scratch.
Can celiacs eat stuffing?
Most people who avoid gluten do so because it disagrees with them in some form. They get stomach aches or bloating or weight gain. That would be me.
Celiacs are people who have an especially difficult time with gluten because gluten actually damages the small intestine. Their body literally mounts an immune reaction to gluten.Because of this, they should NEVER eat gluten, not even a little bit. I have family members who have Celiac.
If you’re serving a Holiday meal with any Celiacs present, you should be very careful to avoid any gluten in your meal prep. (Beware of hidden gluten, like in prepared gravy too!)
Related: How to Make Homemade Gravy from Scratch – Any Kind + Gluten-Free
I can’t have eggs, what egg-free/vegan bread do you recommend?
There are several egg-free gluten-free breads on the market these days. Which is such a blessing!
Just look for packaging that says both gluten-free and vegan. And beware that many people who have issues with gluten also have issues with other grains like corn.
The only vegan gluten-free bread I’ve found without those additional allergens is Food For Life rice breads. We buy ours at the health food store near us in the freezer section. Sometimes the bigger grocery stores have it too.
How To Freeze Leftover Stuffing
To freeze leftover stuffing, pack cooled stuffing into a labeled Ziploc bag, squeeze all the air out, and seal it. Place in the freezer for about 6 months.
Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipe
Gluten Free Stuffing Recipe
Yield: 14 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Gluten-free stuffing is easily made using gluten-free bread. You can make this recipe from a whole loaf of gluten-free bread, or you can do what we do and save the crusts from our gluten-free bread in a Ziploc in the freezer and then use that for holiday stuffing.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of gluten-free bread (or a large Ziploc bag full of leftover crusts)
- 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (you can substitute butter for the oil if you'd like)
- 2-4 stalks of celery
- 1 large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-2 tsp dried basil*
- 1-2 tsp dried oregano*
- 1/2-1 tsp sage*
- 1/2-1 tsp thyme*
- 1/2 tsp celery salt (optional)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups gluten-free chicken bone broth**
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Either cut or tear the bread into small cubes (sort of like croutons) and spread out on prepared cookie sheets.
- Toast the bread cubes until they are golden brown. About 20-30 minutes, depending on the bread you use.
- Lightly grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish, dump the baked bread cubes into it and set it aside.
- In a large pan on medium, heat the olive oil or butter. Chop up celery and dice the onions and then add to the hot oil in the pan. Cook until they begin to soften, or about two minutes. Mince and add the garlic, as well as the spices and salt, and pepper. Stir and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about one more minute.
- Add the cooked veggies to the bread cubes in the large baking dish and stir.
- Stir in 1 cup of broth, until the bread absorbs it. Then add another cup and stir. Repeat with remaining broth, but only until the bread stops absorbing it. Some of the bread cubes may fall apart a little, that's okay.
- Bake covered (with aluminum or tin foil) in preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake until golden brown, about another 5-10 minutes.
Notes
*You can adjust the dried spices to taste. I'd suggest that the first time you make the stuffing that you only use 1/2 tsp of each basil, oregano, sage, and thyme. Then you can adjust to the amounts you like. For example, I really like sage, so we use a lot more sage than any of the other spices.
**You can substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth for the bone broth. But I find the bone broth adds the best flavor. We only buyImagine brand Bone Brothas it has no ingredients that disagree with our family
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 60Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 517mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest
Related: Prepare for Thanksgiving: A Step-By-Step Guide To Hosting Thanksgiving
Where to buy gluten-free stuffing mixes
Depending on your or your guests’ other food sensitivities or intolerances, you may be able to buy a boxed stuffing mix to use for your Holiday meals. But definitely check the label ingredients, because people who have issues with gluten often have issues with other foods like corn (a common gluten-free replacement grain for gluten-filled wheat) or dairy.
Where to look for gluten-free stuffing mixes:
- your local grocery store
- the health food store near you
- online health food shops like NaturaMarket.ca, HealthyPlanet.com, HealthyPlanetCanada.com, GoodnessMe.ca, ThriveMarket.com, etc.
- Amazon.com or Amazon.ca
Here are a few options from Amazon at the time of writing this post:
Olivia’s Gluten-Free Stuffing
Sunstart Gluten-Free Stuffing Mix
Mrs. Crimble’s Gluten Free Sage & Onion Stuffing Mix
What To Serve With Gluten-Free Stuffing For Thanksgiving and Other Holidays
Here are a few Holiday meal side dish ideas you may like:
- classic mashed potatoes
- baked squash
- steamed or boiled green beans
- green bean casserole
- sweet potato casserole
- mashed cauliflower (lower-carb and AIP-friendly)
- smashed Brussels sprouts
- cranberry sauce
- corn
- turkey (of course!)
Related: How To Cook A Turkey For Beginners (With Step By Step Instructions)
Have you ever made stuffing from scratch? What about gluten-free stuffing?
