This delicious Keto Stuffing is going to be the star of your Thanksgiving table! Made with low carb skillet bread and plenty of sausage, it has all the traditional holiday flavor you crave. With only 2.8g net carbs!
It’s about time I finally gave this popular keto stuffing an update! I didn’t actually change anything, as it has always been one of my most popular holiday recipes. You just don’t mess with a recipe when readers all over the world love it! So I simply made it again, shot a video, and took some pretty new pictures.
This is my family’s favorite Keto Thanksgiving Recipe. Even my picky teens request it year after year. And I’ve had many happy guests enjoy it too.
I would even go so far as to say that this may just be the best keto stuffing recipe out there. Paired with some roast turkey, some sugar-free cranberry sauce, and a little keto gravy, and you’re in healthy holiday heaven!
Why you must try this recipe
When you ask someone what Thanksgiving dish they miss most on their low carb diet, the overwhelming majority say stuffing. And can you blame them? That delectably moist, savory bread pudding that soaks up the turkey juices and gravy so well.
I developed this keto stuffing recipe way back in 2013, because I really missed it too. And it became an instant hit with my family and my readers. You need to use keto bread, but the process is very much the same as traditional stuffing.
The end result is virtually indistinguishable from the high carb stuff. The bread is soft and soaks up all the other flavors, but the top has crispy bits from baking in the oven.
And this stuffing recipe is gluten-free, grain-free, and has only 2.8g net carbs per serving. Happy holidays to you!
Reader Reviews
“Stuffing is one of my Thanksgiving “must-haves.” I made this recipe and was so pleased with it! In fact, if someone else had served it to me, I don’t think it would have crossed my mind that it wasn’t really bread stuffing. Great flavor and texture!” — Becky
“I have made this for Thanksgiving for the last 3 years and get rave reviews each time. I love stuffing, but not all the carbohydrates from the traditional recipe using white bread or cornbread. This is the only keto stuffing I have made, and I honestly don’t know why I would ever want to look for another recipe. This stuffing is simply the best and it’s one of the recipes that I have handed out repeatedly to my keto and gluten-free friends & family.” — Nancy
“I was looking for a stuffing recipe. I didn’t want use my Keto hot dog buns but it was my plan until I saw the cheesy bread recipe for stuffing. I decided to give it a try. I didn’t have flax seeds so I went ahead without it. OMG It is great. I will make this again many times. I am ordering flax seed right now. Love your recipes!” — Dinah
Ingredients you need
- Keto bread: Start with some really good keto bread. The I usually make this with my keto cheese bread, but you can use other recipes. You can also use store-bought bread, if you choose. Use my coconut flour bread if you need to be nut-free.
- Italian sausage: Use bulk sausage and try to find one that doesn’t have too many additives. Be sure to check if it has added sugar! We love this keto stuffing with hot Italians sausage, but mild or breakfast sausage works well too.
- Celery: This is a must for stuffing for classic flavor and crunch.
- Onion: A little onion helps give it great flavor as well.
- Garlic: I recommend fresh garlic where possible. You can replace it with a half teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Heavy cream: This adds moisture to the stuffing. You can keep it dairy free and use more broth instead.
- Pantry staples: Fresh herbs, eggs, chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
Step-by-step directions
1. Prep the bread: A day or two in advance, make the skillet bread and cube into ½ inch pieces. Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Spread the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and bake 2 to 3 hours, until well dried and crisp. Let sit out overnight to continue to dry.
2. Cook the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the sausage; sauté until just cooked through, about 6 minutes, breaking up large chunks with a wooden spoon.
3. Sauté the veggies: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a large bowl. Add the celery, onion, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper to the skillet and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add to the bowl.
4. Toss together: Add the cubed bread to the sausage mixture. Toss to combine well.
5. Add the liquids: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, and broth. Pour over the mixture in the bowl and mix well. Spread in a buttered 9×13 inch glass or ceramic baking dish.
6. Bake: Bake at 350ºF for 35 minutes, uncovered, until top is crusty and browned.
Expert tips
Let the bread dry out properly, so it can absorb the eggs, cream, and broth a little better. It will hold together better as well.
Bake uncovered so that the top gets a bit crispy while the middle stays soft and tender. Like any good Thanksgiving stuffing.
Looking to get a jump on your holiday cooking? You can make this keto stuffing days or even weeks in advance. Simply prep and bake the stuffing in whatever dish you plan to serve it in. Then let it cool and wrap it up tightly with foil or plastic wrap. Thaw completely on Thanksgiving Day and bake in the oven for 20 minutes to warm up.
You can also save precious space in your oven and use your slow cooker. One of my readers tested this out. She cooked it on high for about 30 minutes, then let it sit on warm for several hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re on a keto diet, you should avoid eating classic bread stuffing. It can have 20 grams of carbs per serving. But this keto stuffing recipe uses low carb bread, so you can make it part of your holiday traditions.
This stuffing is good in the freezer for several weeks. Wrap it tightly with foil or plastic wrap to avoid freezer burn. Then thaw it at room temperature and then place it in a low temp oven until warmed through.
This sausage keto stuffing recipe has 6g of carbs and 3.2g of fiber per serving. That comes to 2.8g net carbs per half cup serving.
More bread options for keto stuffing
Keto Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Cheesy Skillet Bread
- 12 ounces (340.2 g) spicy Italian sausage
- 1 cup (101 g) diced celery
- 1/2 cup (80 g) diced onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup (118.29 ml) low sodium chicken broth
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (59.15 ml) heavy cream
Instructions
- A day or two in advance, make the skillet bread and cube into ½ inch pieces. Preheat the oven to 200ºF. Spread the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and bake 2 to 3 hours, until well dried and crisp. Let sit out overnight to continue to dry.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and butter a 9×13 glass or ceramic baking dish.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the sausage; sauté until just cooked through, about 6 minutes, breaking up large chunks with a wooden spoon.
- Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a large bowl. Add the celery, onion, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper to the skillet and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add to the bowl. Add the cubed bread to the sausage mixture. Toss to combine well.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, and broth. Pour over the mixture in the bowl and mix well. Spread in the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 35 minutes, uncovered, until the top is crusty and browned
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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You do all of the ‘trial-and-error’ so we don’t have to. I have loved every recipe I have tried of yours. Thank you
Big hit among many who don’t eat keto
Can you not place in turkey?
Savory and delicious! This will make my Thanksgiving table two years running, as well as for many more years to come. Thanks for this tasty dish, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Delicious!
Hi Carolyn, I am in the midst of making this recipe for the first time. IThe recipe calles for dried sage. I have powdered sage. I am wondering if I should only put in a half tsp vs a whole tsp?
Powdered is fine. It’s the same thing so same amount.
#1 where you belong!
I’ve been making this one for YEARS!
Just don’t forget to make the cheesy bread in advance 🙂
The taste
Best Keto Stuffing recipe I’ve tried to date! Don’t plan on trying any others! This is now a staple for holiday cooking!
Delicious! Tastes like traditional stuffing and will definitely be my holiday go-to! I ended up using Swaggerty sage sausage and didn’t add any additional sage. Super flavorful and a crowd pleaser! I made it with the recommended skillet bread recipe and used milled flax seed from Aldi and it worked very well. I would make the bread alone again too!