Best 6 Healthy Harvest Stuffing Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

When it comes to creating a flavorful and nutritious holiday meal, healthy harvest stuffing is an essential dish. With its blend of wholesome ingredients, such as fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and hearty grains, this stuffing provides a delicious and satisfying accompaniment to your main course. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice cook, discovering the perfect recipe for healthy harvest stuffing can elevate your holiday feast to new heights.

Let's cook with our recipes!

COUNTRY HARVEST STUFFING



Country Harvest Stuffing image

Provided by Sheila Lukins

Categories     Side     Thanksgiving     Dinner     Dried Fruit     Sausage     Pecan     Potluck     Parade     Peanut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 cups each 1-inch cubed French bread and prepared cornbread
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 pound well-spiced turkey or sweet Italian pork sausage, bulk or links (casings removed), broken into clumps
1 cup chopped red onions
1 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried sage leaves, crumbled
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup pitted prunes, quartered
1 cup defatted chicken broth

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Spread the bread cubes on two baking sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly toasted, shaking pans occasionally. Return to the bowl.
  • 2. Brown the sausage in a heavy pan over medium heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage to the bowl, discarding any fat. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pan and sauté the onions, celery, garlic, and sage over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until wilted, stirring often. Combine with the bread cubes, cranberries, pecans, and prunes.
  • 3. Drizzle the broth over the mixture to moisten as desired, then toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Bake, covered with aluminum foil, in an oven-to-table dish at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes. Serve from the dish.

HARVEST STUFFING



Harvest Stuffing image

Chock-full of veggies and studded with colorful dried fruits, this unique stuffing boasts the very best of autumn's harvest, says Ruth Hastings in Louisville, Illinois. It's also delicious served with pork.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1-1/2 cups water, divided
1 cup each chopped carrots, celery and onion
10 dried plums, halved
10 dried apricots, halved
1 teaspoon salt-free herb seasoning blend
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 slices cinnamon-raisin bread, cubed
1/4 cup unsweetened apple juice

Steps:

  • In a large saucepan, combine 1 cup water, carrots, celery, onion, plums, apricots, seasoning blend and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until fruit and vegetables are tender., Meanwhile, place bread cubes in a single layer on baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer vegetable mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the bread cubes, apple juice and remaining water; toss gently to combine. , Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover;bake 10-15 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts :

HEALTHY HARVEST STUFFING



Healthy Harvest Stuffing image

Earthy shiitakes, fresh herbs, crunchy walnuts, and chewy dried cranberries all sing together in perfect harmony to bring together this lighter answer to everyone's favorite holiday side.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes     Dinner Side Dishes

Time 1h5m

Yield Makes about 8 cups

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound whole-wheat Italian bread, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 medium celery stalk with leaves, chopped fine (about 1/2 cup)
8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed, and caps chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced
1/3 cup fresh parsley leaves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (you may not need to use it all)
Olive-oil spray (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees with oven rack in middle position. Place bread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, tossing occasionally, until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl along with walnuts and dried cranberries; set aside.
  • In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion, celery, and shiitakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Add apple and continue to cook until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add parsley, sage, and thyme and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat; season with salt and pepper.
  • Add onion mixture to bowl with bread mixture; stir to combine. Add enough of the broth to thoroughly moisten the bread mixture without soaking it (there shouldn't be any excess broth in the bottom of the bowl). Spoon stuffing into a 2-quart casserole dish, cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Uncover, mist the top of the stuffing with olive-oil spray, if desired, and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes more
  • To cook in turkey: Moisten the bread mixture with only 1 1/2 cups of the chicken broth and spoon half of the mixture into the turkey; cook turkey as preferred. For the rest of the bread mixture, add more of the broth to moisten, being careful not to soak (see above). Transfer the remaining stuffing to a 1-quart baking dish or 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Cover with foil and proceed as above.

HOLIDAY HARVEST STUFFING



Holiday Harvest Stuffing image

I love this recipe because of its variety of healthy and delicious ingredients. I adapted it from a recipe I found in a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and like to make it for Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners.

Provided by tkitt72

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 1h

Yield 11 cups, 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped sweet onions or 1 medium sweet onion
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 (6 ounce) boxes seasoned stuffing mix (used StoveTop Cranberry or Savory Herbs)
3 cups chopped apples (used Red Delicious)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup honey crunch wheat germ
14 ounces chicken broth

Steps:

  • In a large skillet cook carrots, celery, and onion in hot butter or margarine until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg.
  • In a very large bowl combine Stovetop Stuffing mix, apples, walnuts, and wheat germ; add carrot mixture. Drizzle with enough broth to moisten, tossing lightly to combine.
  • Place stuffing in an 11 x 9 pan. Bake, covered, in a 325 F oven 40-45 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 250.1, Fat 12.2, SaturatedFat 2.2, Cholesterol 0.3, Sodium 611.6, Carbohydrate 30.4, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 7.5, Protein 5.7

HARVEST STUFFING



Harvest Stuffing image

Categories     Garlic     Onion     turkey     Side     Bake     Sauté     Thanksgiving     Apple     Apricot     Poultry Sausage     Celery     Parade     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield makes 12 cups of stuffing, enough for 18 pound turkey

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 pounds well-spiced bulk turkey sausage
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups each chopped red onions and celery
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried sage leaves, crumbled
12 cups cubed (1-inch) bread, toasted
2 Granny Smith apples, diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup each dried apricots and pitted prunes, quartered
2 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Brown the sausage in a pan, breaking up clumps; remove to a large bowl. Add the oil to the pan; stir in the onions, celery, garlic, thyme, and sage and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Add to the sausage along with the bread, apples and dried fruits. Toss well. Drizzle the broth over the mixture to moisten as desired and season with salt and pepper. Cool before stuffing the turkey.

AUTUMN HARVEST STUFFING (AKA THROW AWAY THE BOX OF STOVE TOP!)



Autumn Harvest Stuffing (Aka Throw Away the Box of Stove Top!) image

Two different breads, apricots, apples, herbs, white wine, and savory ingredients make this recipe a better-than-you-could-ever-get-in-a-box stuffing. The flavors and colors of this homemade stuffing are fabulous, and will make you feel warm and cozy like a good autumnal meal should. Recipe created by me personally, inspired by my favorite season of the year! Add the pecans if you want it a bit richer.

Provided by Dans La Lune

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 40m

Yield 4 cups approximately, 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

3 slices white bread, good quality
2 slices whole wheat sandwich bread, good quality
1/3 cup celery, diced
1/3 cup onion, diced
1/2 small red apple, left unpeeled and diced small
5 dried apricots, finely chopped
6 fresh thyme sprigs
3 tablespoons white wine
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (the finely chopped one)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
3/4 teaspoon ground sage
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Steps:

  • Toast bread slices lightly. Tear by hand into small pieces and place in a medium sized bowl.
  • Remove leaves from thyme sprigs and add to bread. Set aside.
  • In a large pan, add 2 tbsp butter and celery and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Saute over low to medium heat until vegetables are softened.
  • Add dried bread cubes, apple, apricot, and butter. Stir well.
  • When butter has absorbed into bread, add white wine. Stir until absorbed.
  • Add onion powder, rosemary, paprika, parsley, sage, and turmeric. Add 1/2 cup of chicken stock and simmer until liquid is absorbed. Season again with salt and pepper.
  • Stir in apple cider vinegar and transfer stuffing to a medium pot with a lid.
  • Add remaining 1 cup chicken stock and cover. Allow to simmer covered over low heat for 20 minutes.
  • Season again with salt and pepper. Add pecans if using.
  • *** If making for turkey dinner, add 1/3 cup of turkey drippings to stuffing when adding chicken broth for a deeper flavor.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 264.8, Fat 13.8, SaturatedFat 7.8, Cholesterol 33.2, Sodium 432.8, Carbohydrate 28.8, Fiber 2.2, Sugar 9.8, Protein 5.4

Tips:

  • Use a variety of breads: This will give your stuffing a more complex flavor and texture. Some good options include white bread, whole wheat bread, cornbread, and sourdough bread.
  • Toast the bread before using it: This will help to dry it out and prevent it from becoming soggy.
  • Sauté the vegetables before adding them to the stuffing: This will help to bring out their flavor and make them more tender.
  • Use a flavorful broth or stock: This will help to add moisture and flavor to the stuffing.
  • Season the stuffing generously: This will help to ensure that it is flavorful throughout.
  • Don't overstuff the turkey: This will prevent the stuffing from cooking evenly.
  • Bake the stuffing at a high temperature: This will help to create a crispy crust.

Conclusion:

Harvest stuffing is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover bread and vegetables, and it is also a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. With so many different variations to choose from, there is sure to be a harvest stuffing recipe that everyone will love. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make side dish, give harvest stuffing a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics