Best Gluten Free Sausage Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving

How to make delicious gluten free stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas

If you need a gluten-free bread stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving, you're in the right place! 

No Thanksgiving table is complete without stuffing (or dressing) - and if you are gluten free or are having gluten free guests for dinner, you will want to be sure to have this recipe ready to go so everyone is included!

Even though this recipe uses gluten-free bread, with lots of high flavor ingredients like herbs and sausage, nobody will know this stuffing is gluten-free unless you tell them.

This means you can make a big batch for everyone and both the bread eaters and gluten free guests can share!

This stuffing is perfect for turkey stuffing or just baking on the side as-is (but way tastier than Stove Top or any other premade gluten free stuffing mixture!).

Whether you need GF stuffing for Thanksgiving, Christmas or just because this recipe will be a hit with everyone!


What is the best bread for making gluten-free stuffing?

When developing this recipe to get a gluten free version of the Thanksgiving stuffing my grandmother used to make, I tried lot and lots of different breads and stuffing mixes.

After a lot of trial and error, I discovered that Udi’s Hot Dog Buns make the best bread base for gluten free stuffing.

Can you freeze Thanksgiving bread stuffing?

Yes! This recipe freezes beautifully.

When making this recipe for Thanksgiving, I often make a double-batch so I can use half for Thanksgiving dinner and freeze half to use for making dinners later.

Prepare the entire recipe up until the point where you would put it in the oven on step 4. Instead package in your desired portion size for freezing.

When you’re ready to bake it, you can bake direct-from frozen or defrost in the fridge before baking.

The history of this Italian-style gluten-free stuffing recipe:

My Italian grandmother’s stuffing recipe that goes back at least four generations. It is unlike any stuffing I have ever had anywhere.

It isn't dry. It has a wonderful flavor. The secret ingredient is Italian sausage.

Of course, being a classic Italian recipe it's full of gluten.

In 2016 I had to stop eating gluten. Not wanting to give up the all-time very best stuffing recipe ever, I spent nearly a month cooking batch after batch of stuffing in search of the PERFECT gluten free substitutes that still captured the taste and texture of my great grandmother's original recipe.

I tried Trader Joe's gluten free stuffing mix. I tried making my own GF croutons and bread dressings with gluten free breads and the texture just wasn't right.

On the fifth batch, I found the secret to the making the best gluten free stuffing!

The secret to the perfect texture in gluten free bread stuffing is Udi's gluten free HOG DOG BUNS.

Who knew?

It's so good that nobody will even know this stuffing is gluten free if you don't tell them!

This makes it the perfect stuffing to bring to any Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering where there is a mix of gluten-free and non-gluten-free family members together.

Whenever I am invited to Thanksgiving dinner, I always volunteer to bring the stuffing because truly, once you have had this stuffing recipe, you will not want any other stuffing.

It is honestly the very best stuffing recipe ever - and the fact that I am BEGGED to bring the stuffing with me to subsequent Thanksgiving dinners is a testimony to that!

How to make the best gluten free stuffing with Italian sausage. This GF stuffing features homemade croutons made from Udi's gluten-free hotdog buns (who knew?). Start it on the stove top and then bake it as a side dish or use it for the turkey. #creativegreenliving #creativegreenkitchen #glutenfree #thanksgiving #stuffing #stuffingrecipes #glutenfreestuffingrecipes #christmas #christmasdinner

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe with Sausage
the secret to the making the very best gluten free stuffing recipe ever

I was thrilled to be on Portland's Afternoon Live in November, 2017 to demonstrate this recipe with Emmy Award winning host Tra'Renee Chambers. Watch me make the GF stuffing live with her on air here:

Gluten Free Stuffing Ingredients

  • 1 pack Udi's brand gluten free hotdog buns (14.3 oz)
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 2 tsp poultry seasoning*, divided
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage* (NOT the type in casings. NOT hot/spicy)
  • 1 cup chopped celery*
  • 1/4 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • 4 medium sized mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley*
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 3/4 cup chicken broth*
  • 1/4 cup butter*, melted
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
*Creative Green Living recommends purchasing these ingredients as organic where available to avoid GMOs, pervasive pesticides and/or questionable farming practices.

Gluten free cooking tip: As with any gluten-free recipe, your final product will only be as gluten free as your ingredients. Be sure to check that the ingredients you are purchasing are gluten free and use good kitchen sanitazation practices to keep the food from becoming cross contaminated in the kitchen.

Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipe Cooking Directions

Gluten free stuffing recipe step 1: Make the gluten-free stuffing bread base 
(This step may be done up to two days before if desired)

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Cut hot dog buns into bite-sized bread cubes. Toss bread cubes in a large bowl with EVOO and 1 tsp poultry seasoning.

Spread bread cubes out in a single layer on a large baking sheet (use two if necessary). 

Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes until light brown and very dry.

Remove croutons from oven and allow to cool. (they will cool faster if you transfer them back to the bowl you tossed them in instead of leaving them on the cookie sheet)

If you want to make these ahead of time, once they are completely cooled, you may store them in a large zip top plastic bag until you are ready to move on to step 2. 

Gluten free stuffing recipe step 2: Cook up the sausage and veggies

Brown the Italian sausage in the bottom of a large stockpot over medium heat, stirring often to break into crumbles.

I like to use a stockpot instead of a skillet because once the sausage is done, I can finish tossing the rest of the stuffing together in this pot.

Add celery and onion to the sausage in the stockpot, stirring to cook approximately four minutes or until very fragrant.

Gluten free stuffing recipe step 3: Combine all ingredients

Remove the pot from the heat and add the toasted gluten-free  bread cubes, mushrooms, parsley, Parmesan, 1 tsp poultry seasoning, chicken broth, and melted butter.

Stir well to combine. If stuffing seems too dry, add more broth, 2 Tbsp at a time (4 Tbsp max). Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Gluten free stuffing recipe step 4: Bake stuffing/dressing

Move stuffing to a baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350° F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.

Alternatively, add the stuffing loosely to the inside of your turkey. Bake until the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches 165° F


Enjoy!


How to make the best gluten free stuffing with Italian sausage. This GF stuffing features homemade croutons made from Udi's gluten-free hotdog buns (who knew?). Start it on the stove top and then bake it as a side dish or use it for the turkey. #creativegreenliving #creativegreenkitchen #glutenfree #thanksgiving #stuffing #stuffingrecipes #glutenfreestuffingrecipes #christmas #christmasdinner


How to make the best gluten free stuffing with Italian sausage. This GF stuffing features homemade croutons made from Udi's gluten-free hotdog buns (who knew?). Start it on the stove top and then bake it as a side dish or use it for the turkey. #creativegreenliving #creativegreenkitchen #glutenfree #thanksgiving #stuffing #stuffingrecipes #glutenfreestuffingrecipes #christmas #christmasdinner


Gluten Free Stuffing

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing with Sausage

Yield: 8
Author:
prep time: 24 Mcook time: 30 Mtotal time: 54 M
This gluten-free Thanksgiving stuffing with sausage tastes just like regular stuffing! Nobody will even know it is gluten-free until you tell them.

ingredients:

  • 1 pack Udi's brand gluten free hotdog buns (14.3 oz)
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 2 tsp poultry seasoning*, divided
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage* (NOT the type in casings)
  • 1 cup chopped celery*
  • 1/4 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • 4 medium sized mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley*
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 3/4 cup chicken broth*
  • 1/4 cup butter*, melted
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

instructions:

How to cook Gluten Free Thanksgiving stuffing

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Cut hot dog buns into bite-sized cubes. Toss in a large bowl with EVOO and 1 tsp poultry seasoning.
  3. Spread bread cubes out in single layer on large baking sheet (use two if necessary). Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until light brown and very dry.
  4. Remove from oven and allow to cool. 
  5. Brown sausage in bottom of large stockpot over medium heat, stirring often to break into crumbles.
  6. Add celery and onion to stockpot, stirring to cook approximately four minutes or until fragrant.
  7. Remove pot from heat and add toasted bread cubes, mushrooms, parsley, Parmesan, 1 tsp poultry seasoning, chicken broth, and melted butter.
  8. Stir well to combine. If stuffing seems too dry, add more broth, 2 Tbsp at a time (4 Tbsp max). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Move stuffing to baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm.

NOTES:

*Creative Green Living recommends purchasing these ingredients as organic where available to avoid GMOs, pervasive pesticides and/or questionable farming practices. *Alternatively, add stuffing loosely to inside of turkey. Bake until internal temperature of stuffing reaches 165.
Calories
349.37
Fat (grams)
27.70
Sat. Fat (grams)
10.66
Carbs (grams)
12.27
Fiber (grams)
1.46
Net carbs
10.81
Sugar (grams)
3.89
Protein (grams)
13.20
Sodium (milligrams)
838.85
Cholesterol (grams)
51.35
Nutrition information is approximate and may vary based on the freshness and brand of your ingredients.
gluten free stuffing, gluten free thanksgiving, gluten free christmas, healthy stuffing recipe
Side
American

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Carissa Bonham, blogger and cookbook author

About the Author:

Carissa B is a cookbook author and busy mom of two creative boys. The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she won the Craftys Award for the "Best Craft Blogger" category in 2016 and the ShiftCon award for "Best DIY Blogger" in 2018.

She is also the author of the hardcover cookbook, Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017) and Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018). Her projects and recipes have been featured in magazines like Kids Crafts 1-2-3, Capper's Farmer and Urban Farm Magazine. Follow her on PinterestInstagramTwitter or join the Creative Green Living community group.



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