8 of the best vegetarian stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving

In my humble opinion, the best parts of the Thanksgiving meal are the sides. I’m talking mashed potatoes, corn bread, cranberry sauce, green beans and, of course, stuffing. Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, the dish is an integral part of Thanksgiving dinner. Technically, stuffing is cooked inside the bird, while dressing is cooked separately. However, regardless of how it’s cooked, it will always be considered “stuffing” to me.

As a mostly plant-based eater, it’s important to me that my family includes meat-free sides for the holiday. So, I’ve gathered 8 highly-rated vegetarian stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving dinner. One of these is sure to please the non-meat eaters at your holiday gathering.

Make one of these vegetarian stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving!

1. Best Stuffing from Love & Lemons (click here for recipe)
   This stuffing recipe from Love & Lemons is a vegetarian version of a traditional stuffing. It’s made with bread, celery, leeks and fresh herbs for an elevated classic.
2. Crockpot Vegetarian Stuffing from Show Me the Yummy (click here for recipe)
   We all know that oven and stove top space is at a premium on Thanksgiving. This vegetarian stuffing recipe is made in a crockpot! It has an impressive 4.88 out of 5 star rating from 41 reviews. And it is made with dried herbs, celery, apples and mushrooms.
3. Veggie Stuffing from Jamie Oliver (click here for recipe)
   English chef Jamie Oliver knows his way around a kitchen. With multiple cooking shows and cookbooks under his belt, I trust that he can make a decent stuffing. Oliver rates this recipe difficulty level as “not too tricky,” so take that as you will. This stuffing is more on the sweet side, with butternut squash, cinnamon and cranberries. Plus, the addition of pistachios gives the dish an unexpected twist.
4. Vegan Sausage Stuffing Casserole from Vegan in the Freezer (click here for recipe)
   Some people love a good sausage stuffing and I wanted to include one in this roundup. This stuffing recipe uses plant-based sausage and also happens to be vegan. It uses a cornbread base, which gives the stuffing a slight sweetness.
5. Apple-Sauerkraut Stuffing from Eating Well (click here for recipe)
   Nothing about this stuffing recipe is traditional. First, the stuffing base is made from seeded rye bread. Then onion, apples, Gruyère cheese and sauerkraut are added. This is the most intriguing and unusual flavor combo of a stuffing recipe that I’ve seen! Unfortunately, as of the writing of this post, there are no ratings or reviews of this recipe. I think I still have to try it though!
6. Gluten-free Vegetarian Rice Stuffing from the Spruce Eats (click here for the recipe)
   Most stuffing recipes are bread based, which makes it difficult for those with gluten allergies to enjoy. This stuffing recipe uses rice as the base instead of bread. However, it has traditional stuffing ingredients and flavors like celery, onions and herbs (poultry seasoning). Plus, it has the addition of mushrooms and almonds for some umami and crunch.
7. Pineapple Stuffing from allrecipes (click here for recipe)
   As an avid home cook, allrecipes is one of my go-to recipe sites. I enjoy the user-submitted recipes as well as the ratings and reviews. This recipe, for example, has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating with over 300 reviews. This is a sweet stuffing and has been noted that it pairs really well with ham. I know most of us serve turkey on Thanksgiving, but I thought it was a unique option. You may want to bookmark this recipe for Easter or opt for trying a sweeter stuffing this Thanksgiving.
8. Instant Pot Stuffing from Peas and Crayons (click here for recipe)
   If you got in on the Instant Pot craze (really, how many of us didn’t?!) this is another stuffing recipe that will help clear up oven and stove top space. Including both prep and cook time, you can have this stuffing on the table in less than an hour. This is a vegetarian stuffing with classic ingredients and flavors. If you don’t own an Instant Pot, the recipe also includes slow cooker directions.

Which of these vegetarian stuffing recipes will you be making?