Turkey dinner. While the bird takes center stage, for some of us it’s all about the stuffing or dressing. But the traditional bread-laden dressing is a recipe for gaining unwanted holiday pounds. Here are four healthier low-carb stuffing variations.
Whether you are low-carb, paleo, gluten-free, or vegan, you’ll find something to celebrate with these low-carb turkey dressing recipes!
The recipes below were written to be baked in the oven as dressing. Follow the instructions given on the package of your holiday bird to use any of these as a stuffing.
Herbed Cauliflower Mushroom Stuffing
Based on riced cauliflower, this stuffing can wear many labels: vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, and low-carb! Use a bag or two of riced cauliflower from the grocery store if you want to save yourself some chopping time.
Ingredients
2 – 4 T butter or oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 C sliced white mushrooms
1 large head cauliflower, chopped very finely, or riced in a food processor
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 T fresh parsley leaves, chopped
2 T fresh rosemary, chopped
1 T fresh sage, chopped
1 C chicken or vegetable broth
Instructions:
- Heat butter or oil in a large fry pan over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes until onion and celery become translucent.
- Add the cauliflower, and cook until it becomes tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add parsley, rosemary, sage, and broth and mix everything evenly together and heated through.
- Cover with a lid, remove from heat and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes for liquid to absorb. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Savory Sage and Pork Low-Carb Stuffing
This is the lowest carb stuffing– but it’s still delicious!
Ingredients:
2 pounds pork sausage, or sweet Italian sausage
2 – 4 T butter or oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup almond flour
4 T fresh parsley leaves, chopped
2 T fresh rosemary, chopped
1 T fresh sage, chopped
1 T fresh thyme, chopped
OR instead of fresh spices use 1 T poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- If needed, remove sausage from casings by cutting sausages in half and scraping meat away from casings. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned through. Pour sausage into a large bowl.
- Return the fry pan to the stove and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring until the onion is translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the sausage. Add the almond flour and herbs or poultry seasoning. Mix everything together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing into a greased casserole dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for the last 5 minutes.
Apple Walnut Stuffing
All these ingredients fall within Personal Trainer Food weight loss guidelines so your waistline will love this recipe!
Ingredients:
2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
1/2 stick butter
1 large onion, diced
1 bunch of celery, diced
1 large apple, cored and diced
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1-1/2 cups almond flour
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- If needed, remove sausage from casings by cutting sausages in half and scraping meat away from casings. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned through. Pour sausage into a large bowl.
- Return the fry pan to the stove and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion, celery, and apple. Cook, stirring until the onion and celery are translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the bowl with the sausage. Add the walnuts, almond flour, lemon juice, poultry seasoning and mix everything together. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing into a greased casserole dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for the last 5 minutes.
Sweet Potato Stuffing
This recipe uses sweet potatoes or yams, baked in the oven instead. While this is not strictly a low-carb recipe, it’s still gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and much healthier for all. Use this recipe if you are at or near your goal weight and have some room for a few extra carbs in your meal.
Ingredients:
6 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, diced 1/2″ cubes
Salt and pepper
2 sticks of butter
2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
1 pound hot Italian sausage
4-6 cloves fresh garlic
1 large granny smith apple, cored and diced
1 large onion, diced
1 bunch of celery, diced
1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
2/3 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Sage or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside. As oven is heating, melt 1-stick of butter in a large frying pan. Add diced sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. Fry the potatoes until they are heated through. Pour onto foil-lined baking sheet and place in oven. Bake 20-30 minutes until potatoes brown slightly.
- As potatoes are baking, prepare the sausages. If needed, remove sausage from casings by cutting sausages in half and scraping meat away from casings. Return the large frying pan to the stove set at medium-high heat, add sausage and cook until browned through. Pour sausage into a large bowl.
- Return fry pan to stove and melt the second stick of butter over medium-high heat. Crush the garlic cloves with the side of a knife, slip cloves from peel and add to melted butter. Fry cloves 3-5 minutes until they start to brown. Remove garlic cloves and stir in apple, onion, and celery. Stir mixture until onions and celery turn translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Pour onions and celery in the bowl with sausage.
- Once potatoes are done, pour into the bowl along with apple, celery, onion, and sausage. Add the cranberries and walnuts and mix everything together evenly. Pour dressing into a greased casserole dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for the last 5 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley or sage if desired and serve.
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More Popular Low-Carb Holiday Recipes for You!
Instead of Fattening Pies Try: Guilt-Free Apple Pie Filling
Instead of High Carb Appetizers Try: Mini Quiche Egg Muffins
Instead of Mashed Potatoes, Try: Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
Instead of Heavy Casseroles Try: Indulging in These Brussels Sprouts
Instead of Alcohol Try: Festive Sugar-Free Mocktails
If You ARE Having a Drink: Try These Low-Carb Alcohol Options Instead
About the Writer: 100 pounds ago, Jan knew what it is like to be obese, unhappy, and stuck. She has spent the last 17 years as a fitness writer, trainer, yoga teacher, and Weight Loss Coach. Today, she’s proud to be a part of the Personal Trainer Food team so she can continue her goal to help others live their fullest lives possible. Email [email protected] if you have any questions!
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