7 Healthy Stuffing Recipes for Thanksgiving

Make healthier versions of old favorites.

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For some people, nothing i s better on Thanksgiving than the stuffing or dressing depending on what part of the US you hail from. Stuffing recipes are handed down from generation to generation like precious heirlooms.

Whether you like it sweet with fruits or savory, and with or without meat, and with or without gravy, stuffing is a comfort food for many. But stuffing, especially if cooked inside the bird has never been thought of as healthy.

Now, you can put a healthy twist on your family’s Thanksgiving feast by trying one of these healthy stuffing recipes. They range from low carb to vegan and everything in-between.

Rosemary Whole-Wheat Stuffing

This healthy Mediterranean style stuffing recipe from Vegetarian Times  is full of dried figs, cranberries,  hazel nuts, and seasoned with fresh rosemary as well as cooked with olive oil. The whole grain bread makes it much healthier than using white. This stuffing will be a feast for the eyes as well as for stomachs.

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Healthy Harvest Stuffing

Martha Stewart’s harvest stuffing is full of shiitake mushrooms, walnuts, apples, cranberries, and Italian bread. It’s colorful and bursting with flavor. It’s hard to believe it is good for you. You can cook it in a casserole dish or inside the turkey.

Gluten Free Cornbread Dressing

Enjoy a Southern style Thanksgiving with this recipe from Ambitious KitchenIt’s easy to make and sure to please. Oat flour makes this stuffing gluten free and you can make it dairy and honey free for vegans. Full of walnuts, cranberries, celery, onions, sage and thyme, this recipe is much healthier than traditional cornbread stuffing.

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Herbed Quinoa and Wild Rice Stuffing

This vegan and gluten-free recipe from Kitchen Treaty is packed of protein and perfect for people who pass on turkey. Made with fresh herbs, apples, cranberries, pecans, wild rice and quinoa, no one at your table will be able to guess how good it is for you. For a more festive meal, serve the stuffing in baked acorn squash halves.

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Low-Carb Cauliflower Stuffing

Are you on the Paleo diet? No problem. This low-carb cauliflower stuffing recipe from Wholesome Yum is easy to make, super healthy and yummy. Replacing bread with cauliflower works for pizza crust so why not for Thanksgiving stuffing too. Since all the traditional stuffing herbs are in the recipe including: parsley, sage, rosemary —,as part of poultry spice –, and thyme, it will fill your home and table with all the festive scents (and songs) of the season.

Traditional Oyster Dressing

Here’s a traditional southern recipe for oyster dressing from allrecipies. All you need are oysters, bread crumbs, eggs, celery, onion, chopped fresh parsley, poultry seasoning, thyme, salt and pepper. There is an easy to follow video that will help you make this festive dish that will be the highlight of your Thanksgiving dinner.

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Healthy Vegetable Stuffing

This healthyundefined Thanksgiving recipe from A Simple Palate Is sure to be a star at your home. It’s made with brussels sprouts and button mushrooms for a twist on the traditional celery, onion and herb stuffing. Use healthy whole grain bread and top it with pomegranate seeds for a beautiful and delicious side dish.

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