Low Carb Paleo Cauliflower Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving

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y I may have gotten ahead of myself earlier this week. How did I post a leftover turkey recipe before I even shared my favorite Thanksgiving recipe for the year? Time to fix that. And, I see no better way to do it than with some amazing, low carb, paleo cauliflower stuffing.

What Cauliflower Stuffing Is Like

This cauliflower stuffing is probably my favorite healthy makeover when it comes to low carb Thanksgiving side dishes. That’s saying a lot!

Of course, you’ll still want to make the other classics. Those would be cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, (low carb) sweet potato casserole, sugar-free candied pecans, and keto pecan pie – obviously. Low carb stuffing was the logical choice for the next one to recreate.

Stuffing has never been my absolute favorite holiday dish, though. I was surprised to find that the cauliflower stuffing turned out to rival the others as the best! That, right there, is a reason to try it.

At this point, you’re probably wondering about the taste. (And can we really call it stuffing if it’s made with cauliflower?)

Well, cauliflower has stood in for carbs plenty of other times, so why not with paleo stuffing? Of course you need to like roasted cauliflower to enjoy it, but it still has all the things you want in great stuffing.

If you really think about it, the main aspect that makes the best stuffing – low carb or not – is the spices. Thyme, sage, parsley, and poultry seasoning are most common. I used them all! Feel free to customize them if there are others you like.

Other than that, for the best low carb stuffing, you just need something to soak up the flavor. And of course, it has to feel like comfort food. A cauliflower stuffing fits well in both departments!

Is it the same as stuffing made with bread? No, of course not. If that’s what you’re going for, try easy gluten-free stuffing instead. Or make Southern cornbread dressing and make a low carb cornbread for it.

But, cauliflower stuffing has the same spices and delicious add-ins that you’d expect, it’s nice and soft, and it totally has that comfort factor.

The Best Way to Make Low Carb Paleo Stuffing

How do you make the best low carb paleo stuffing – especially if you’re super busy like I am? Do it in the oven! And, do it at high temperature to make it quick.

If you’re like me, you’re probably making multiple things for the holidays. The last thing I want is to spend a ton of time on any one dish. Making keto stuffing on the stove would require constant supervision.

For less work and maximum time savings, the oven is the way to go. This high-temp oven method is the fastest and still allows you to make something else in parallel. The total prep time takes only ten minutes! Otherwise, it’s completely hands off.

I never thought this simple twist on roasted veggies would make an amazing paleo stuffing, but it does! It’s actually so easy that I might make it more often, even outside of the holiday season. Believe it or not, it’s simple enough even for a busy weeknight.

To make the cauliflower stuffing, just combine the veggies with olive oil (or any fat, like butter) and spices, then roast in the oven at high heat. This makes the cauliflower more flavorful, and the onions will actually caramelize. (Who knew they’ll do that in the oven? They will, as long as they are spread out enough for adequate breathing room.)

Adding the parsley and pecans toward the end only takes a minute. That way, they won’t burn.

The final result is a super soft, low carb stuffing, with loads of flavor from the caramelized onions and toasted pecans for crunch. I think I’d actually rather have this than a bread version.

More Options for Keto Stuffing with Cauliflower

If you like your cauliflower more crisp, simply use larger florets. Another option is to pre-saute the onions and then reduce the total oven time. That’s more work, so I prefer the oven only. And, I think the soft cauliflower texture is more reminiscent of traditional stuffing, anyway.

Some people may argue that this should be called low carb dressing, because it’s cooked separately. To me that sounds a little strange, because I’ve always associated the word dressing with salad dressing, not Thanksgiving sides.

I still maintain that it’s keto stuffing. But hey, call it whatever you’d like!

By the way, don’t feel like you have to limit this dish to just Thanksgiving. It makes a delicious side at any time of year. It’s also delicious for other get-togethers with another comforting main dish, like keto pot roast.

For Thanksgiving, you can stuff this into a turkey if you want to. You’ll need to cook it first using the same instructions below, then stuff the bird with it. It will become very soft as it cooks more inside the turkey, so make sure that’s your thing before attempting. For a faster option, you can make spatchcock turkey and serve stuffing alongside it.

The original version is intended to be served alongside the turkey, instead of inside it. That’s less effort than stuffing a turkey, fewer steps, and still so flavorful!

4.93 from 28 votes

Low Carb Paleo Cauliflower Stuffing Recipe for Thanksgiving

Need an easy low carb paleo stuffing for Thanksgiving? Try this cauliflower stuffing recipe! It has all the same flavors, plus it's healthy & delicious.

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 10 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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• 1 large head Cauliflower (cut into small florets) ▢
• 1 large Onion (sliced) ▢
• 1/4 cup Celery (chopped thinly) ▢
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced) ▢
• 1/4 cup Olive oil (can also use butter or ghee) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Poultry seasoning ▢
• 1/2 tsp Dried thyme ▢
• 1/2 tsp Ground sage ▢
• 1 tsp Sea salt (or less if your poultry seasoning contains salt) ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped) ▢
• 1/4 cup Pecans (chopped) ▢

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Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or line with foil and grease well.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the chopped cauliflower, onions, celery, and garlic. Toss with olive oil, poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, sea salt, and black pepper.

3. Spread the mixture in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. (You may need two sheets depending on the size. You want as many of the cauliflower florets and onions in contact with the pan as possible.) Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the onions are soft and cauliflower is starting to brown a little.

4. Add the fresh parsley and pecans to the pan, and stir everything together. Roast for 10-15 more minutes, until the pecans are lightly toasted, cauliflower is well browned, and onions are starting to caramelize.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/2 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 95

Fat 7g

Protein 2g

Total Carbs 7g

Net Carbs 4g

Fiber 3g

Sugar 3g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keywords: cauliflower, dairy-free, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, stuffing, sugar-free, thanksgiving, vegetarian, whole30

Calories: 95 kcal

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