Dairy Free Stuffing (Dressing)

This dairy free stuffing, or dairy free dressing if you prefer, is a delicious Thanksgiving side dish and a perfect addition to any Dairy Free Thanksgiving table!

If you’re wondering what the difference between stuffing and dressing is, there are two differences, actually.

1. Dressing is cooked outside of the bird and served on the side. Stuffing, on the other hand, is actually stuffed into the cavity, and everything is cooked together.
2. Northerners tend to favor the term stuffing, no matter how it was cooked, while Southerners prefer the term dressing.

Technically speaking, this is a dairy free dressing because it is cooked in a casserole dish, but I’m from the North and everything is stuffing to me.

However, this recipe actually works as a dairy free stuffing too, since all you have to do is put it in the dairy free turkey instead of a casserole dish and cook them together.

The choice is yours!

Stuffing fell out of vogue when the same people who tell you not to eat raw cookie dough, crossed stuffing off their Thanksgiving menu.

The concern was food safety because of potential bacteria build up.

To avoid this, the FDA recommends filling the turkey to 3/4 cup stuffing per pound of turkey.

The CDC also recommends put the stuffing in the turkey just before cooking and to make sure the stuffing’s center reaches 165°F.

Personally, I like cooking it in a casserole dish because it makes me so happy to see my Thanksgiving table full of dishes.

About Dairy Free Stuffing

Stuffing is not usually dairy free. Stuffing usually made with butter and therefore contains dairy products.

To make a dairy free stuffing, all you have to do is replace the butter with oil, vegan butter, kosher margarine, or animal fat like schmaltz.

That is unless the recipe is a little unusual and contains milk as well (which I’ve never seen before but who knows). In which case, replace the milk with stock.

Do I need to dry my own bread cubes?

You don’t need to, but it does make a better stuffing than store-bought bread cubes, and they are very easy to make.

For homemade bread cubes, cut your favorite type of bread into 1/2″ cubes and lay them out on a baking sheet or in a large bowl.

To dry them out, let them dry out on the counter for about 48 hours or toast them at a very low temperature in the oven (anywhere from 275° to 325°F) until dehydrated.

Stale bread absorbs flavors better than fresh bread, and the chicken broth will help moisten them.

What kind of bread should I use?

That is completely up to you, it’s really a matter of taste. I always use challah bread because I usually have part of a loaf left over, and it makes for great stuffing. 

Do I need to use eggs?

No, it is completely optional.

I do prefer to use egg though, because it acts as binder and adds a little body and richness, but it’s not essential by any means.

ARE EGGS DAIRY?

No, eggs are not dairy.  Dairy is milk and any food products made from milk, including cheese, cream, butter, and yogurt. 

So, while eggs are an animal product, they are not dairy. In fact, eggs fall under the protein food group.

How to tell if your eggs are still good

Fill a glass with cool water and submerge the eggs.

If the eggs sink to the bottom and lay flat on their side, they’re still fresh.

If they sink, but stand on one end at the bottom of the glass, the eggs are not as fresh but still good.

An egg that floats to the top is likely spoiled.

How to make dressing taste even more like stuffing?

If you can get your hands on it, I’d recommend dotting the top of the mixture with schmaltz before baking.

Doing this will add some of the flavor that you’d get if the fat was dripping on the stuffing while in the turkey.

To Make Ahead

Simply prepare as directed, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Then, before baking, remove from fridge and let warm at room temperature for 30 minutes. Bake as directed.

How to Freeze

Place in an air tight freezer safe container. To reheat stuffing, pop it in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes with a little broth on it to keep it from drying out.

Freeze for up to several months. After that, the quality begins to degrade but the stuffing is still safe to eat.