This Low Calorie Stuffing recipe is make with whole wheat bread, aromatic herbs and a secret ingredient. This stuffing in perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner or when you're craving a comforting side dish.
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Check out my Low Calorie Mashed Cauliflower and The Best Cauliflower Stuffing for more holiday favorites.
This low calorie stuffing is a twist on a classic holiday side dish. Unlike traditional stuffing recipes that are full of butter, this version is kept light with fewer calories.
This bread stuffing is the perfect side dish to your holiday dinner.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- The whole family will love this great recipe. It's better than boxed stuffing!
- The addition of unsweetened applesauce and low-sodium vegetable broth keeps the stuffing moist and tender.
- While it's perfect for holiday meals, you can enjoy this classic stuffing flavor year-round.
- It's made with simple ingredients, and you don't need to spend hours in the kitchen. It's a great option for your Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Whole Wheat Bread Cubes: The small cubes are an essential component of stuffing.
- Celery: Diced celery adds a refreshing crunch.
- Onion: Diced onion contributes a sweet and savory taste. Yellow onion works great.
- Mushrooms: Provides an earthy and umami-rich depth to the stuffing. Portobello mushrooms work here.
- Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth: Using veggie broth keeps the stuffing moist and flavorful. You can also use chicken broth or chicken stock.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: A clever addition that adds moisture and a subtle touch of sweetness to the stuffing.
- Herbs & Spices (Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Garlic Powder): This combination of dried herbs and garlic powder infuses the stuffing with aromatic and savory flavors.
- Salt and Black Pepper: These seasonings are added to taste. You can also add a little poultry seasoning for extra flavor.
- Cooking Spray or Olive Oil: A small amount of cooking spray or olive oil is used for sautéing the vegetables.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 °F and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat a small amount of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and mushrooms. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
Step 3: Add the dried sage, thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder to the skillet. Stir well and cook for another 1-2 minutes to release the flavors.
Step 4: In a large bowl, combine the sautéed vegetables and herbs with the cubed whole wheat bread.
Step 5: Pour the broth and applesauce over the bread and vegetable mixture. Gently toss to combine.
Step 6: Season the stuffing with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7: Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
Step 8: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the top becomes slightly crispy and golden.
Step 9: Remove the stuffing from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetable broth to control the sodium content in your stuffing. You can always adjust the seasoning later if needed.
- When sautéing the celery, onions, and mushrooms, make sure to cook them until they're tender and have released their moisture.
- Adjust the quantity of herbs and spices to suit your taste. If you prefer a stronger herb flavor, you can increase the amounts slightly or try different herb combinations for variety.
- Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture and a hint of sweetness. You can adjust the amount to achieve your desired level of sweetness, but be careful not to make the stuffing overly sweet.
Variations
- Cauliflower Rice: Replace some or all of the bread cubes with cauliflower rice. Pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor until they resemble rice grains. Sauté the cauliflower rice with the vegetables and seasonings.
- Protein: Use your favorite protein sources, like pork sausage, chicken sausage, turkey sausage or Italian sausage.
- More Vegetables: Increase the vegetable content by adding diced carrots, bell peppers, or spinach. These low-calorie veggies can bulk up the stuffing.
- Fresh Herbs: Use fresh herbs like fresh sage, fresh thyme leaves, parsley, cilantro, or basil for an herb stuffing.
- Spices and Seasonings: Experiment with different spices and seasonings to add flavor without calories. Smoked paprika, cumin, or red pepper flakes can provide interesting variations.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Let the stuffing cool to room temperature, then store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: Portion the cooled stuffing into portion sized servings. Place each portion of stuffing in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze for 1-2 months.
Recipe FAQ's
This stuffing pairs well with a variety of main dishes, especially your Thanksgiving turkey.
To increase the protein content, consider adding lean protein sources like cooked ground turkey or chicken.
To make a gluten-free stuffing, use gluten-free bread. Be sure that all other ingredients, like the vegetable broth and spices, are also gluten-free.
More Holiday Side Dishes You'll Love
Low Calorie Stuffing
Special Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups whole wheat bread, cut into small cubes
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced mushrooms
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for sautéing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, heat a small amount of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and mushrooms. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the vegetables become tender.
- Add the dried sage, thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder to the skillet. Stir well and cook for another 1-2 minutes to release the flavors.
- In a large bowl, combine the sautéed vegetables and herbs with the cubed whole wheat bread.
- Pour the broth and applesauce over the bread and vegetable mixture. Gently toss to combine.
- Season the stuffing with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the stuffing mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the top becomes slightly crispy and golden.
- Remove the stuffing from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetable broth to control the sodium content in your stuffing. You can always adjust the seasoning later if needed.
- When sautéing the celery, onions, and mushrooms, make sure to cook them until they're tender and have released their moisture.
- Adjust the quantity of herbs and spices to suit your taste. If you prefer a stronger herb flavor, you can increase the amounts slightly or try different herb combinations for variety.
- Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture and a hint of sweetness. You can adjust the amount to achieve your desired level of sweetness, but be careful not to make the stuffing overly sweet.
- Storing: Let the stuffing cool to room temperature, then store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: Portion the cooled stuffing into portion sized servings. Place each portion of stuffing in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze for 1-2 months.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Andrew
This recipe is spot on! It tastes pretty much like a popular national brand but without the fat! Very impressive.