Healthy Turkey Stuffing

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Published 2/7/2022
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Diabetic

This heart-healthy turkey stuffing recipe is the perfect healthy Thanksgiving side recipes. Fresh sage and chopped celery add a savory flavor to this classic low-calorie stuffing recipe. It’s an easy stuffing that you can quickly make at home in under an hour. Enjoy one of our best heart healthy recipes for Thanksgiving.

Total Time
45 minutes
Servings
10
Calories
143
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Why You’ll Love This Healthy Turkey Stuffing Recipe

Craving a classic Thanksgiving side dish but looking for a healthier option? This heart-healthy turkey stuffing recipe is perfect for you! It's packed with flavor and nutrients, without all the unhealthy ingredients found in traditional stuffing. It’s so delicious and packed with flavor that no one will even know it’s healthy! Even better, this turkey stuffing recipe is incredibly easy to make.

Stuffing is a beloved Thanksgiving tradition, but traditional recipes can be loaded with unhealthy ingredients you might be trying to avoid like white bread, seed oils and salt. However, this lightened up healthy turkey stuffing has fresh, wholesome ingredients without sacrificing any of the flavor in this classic holiday side dish.

  • Whole Grains: This recipe uses whole wheat bread fiber, complex carbohydrates and essential nutrients.
  • Healthy Fats: Unsalted butter provides calcium and other vitamins that are not found in vegetable oils.
  • Fresh Herbs and Spices: Incorporating fresh herbs and spices adds flavor and aroma to the recipe, which gives it the classic stuffing taste that you know and love.
  • Lower Sodium: This recipe uses low-sodium broth or unsalted butter to help you manage your sodium intake without sacrificing any flavor.

This Healthy Turkey Stuffing recipe is delicious and incredibly easy to make, but here are a few tips and tricks for making the recipe even easier to prepare.

  • Prep ahead: Many stuffing ingredients can be prepared in advance. Chop vegetables, measure out herbs and spices and cube the bread beforehand. You can even saute and refrigerate the vegetables the day before. 
  • Use a food processor: If you're really short on time, a food processor can be a great tool for chopping vegetables quickly.
  • Toast the bread: You might be tempted to skip toasting the bread and using stale bread instead. However, this can lead to mushy stuffing. Instead, be sure to toast the bread in the oven to dry it out. This will ensure your stuffing has a delicious texture.
  • Get creative with aromatics: Herbs and spices are a great way to add extra flavor without adding additional salt. Rosemary, thyme and parsley are great additions if you feel like getting creative in the kitchen.
  • Leftovers: Stuffing makes great leftovers! Reheat it in the oven or microwave for a quick and easy side dish.

No turkey stuffing recipe would be complete without the turkey. So, here are a few of our favorite healthy turkey recipes to serve with stuffing.

Ingredients

Recipe yields 10 servings

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How to Make Turkey Stuffing

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°.

  2. Step 2

    Layer bread cubes on a baking sheet and toast in oven about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

  3. Step 3

    In a large saucepan, heat butter over moderate heat until melted. Add onion, carrots and celery and sauté for 1 minute. Mix in seasonings and garlic, and cook 3 minutes, until vegetables are softened. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

  4. Step 4

    In a large bowl, toss toasted bread cubes (reserve 1/4 cup for topping later) with vegetable mixture.

  5. Step 5

    Coat a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer stuffing mixture to casserole dish and top with reserved 1/4 cup bread cubes. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until golden.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
3/4 cup

143
Calories
5
g
Fat
13
mg
Cholesterol
363
mg
Sodium
22
g
Carbs
1
g
Sat. Fat
4
g
Fiber
5
g
Protein
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