Vegan Stuffing Recipe

This vegan stuffing recipe is a plant-based version of my mom’s classic stuffing recipe. Her stuffing has been my favorite part of Thanksgiving ever since I was a kid. She never makes it from a box, but uses fresh bread, lots of butter, onions, and celery instead. It’s richly flavorful, soft in the middle, and crisp on top, and it’s always the first dish I reach for at Thanksgiving dinner. You won’t miss the butter or chicken stock in this vegan version though. It’s still my favorite stuffing recipe.

How to make Vegan Stuffing

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 cup coarsely chopped cipollini onions
• 3 cups chopped & stemmed mushrooms, a mix of shiitakes & creminis
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped sage, plus 8 leaves for garnish
• 2 tablespoons minced rosemary
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 5 cups cubed crusty ciabatta + nine-grain bread*
• 3 lacinato kale leaves, coarsely chopped or torn
• 2 cups vegetable broth, plus more for reheating
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8×12 or 9×13 casserole dish.
2. In a very large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper, and let the mushrooms cook until they begin to soften, 5 to 8 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Add the garlic, celery, sage, and rosemary, and cook until everything is soft and the mushrooms are golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar, stir, and scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the bread and the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and toss to coat. Add the kale and cook until it begins to wilt about 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the broth and stir.
4. Transfer to a casserole dish and pour the remaining 1 cup broth evenly over the stuffing.
5. Sprinkle with the dried cranberries, remaining whole sage leaves and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or until ready to serve.