Fall gluten-free paleo sides vegan

Cauliflower Stuffing [Made with Cauliflower Rice!]

November 7, 2019

This healthy, low-carb cauliflower stuffing will convince your Thanksgiving guests to jump on board the cauliflower rice train, while secretly getting them to eat more veggies! Plus it’s ready in under 20 minutes and can be prepared in advance.

Cauliflower Stuffing for a healthy thanksgiving
Cauliflower Rice Stuffing Recipe

cauliflower stuffing in a bowl made with cauliflower rice

Confession: I’m definitely not low-carb…but I think you knew that already. When people ask me my favorite food I’m always quick to answer “BREAD”. But seriously, bread is a food group in my life. But I also recognize that not everyone eats the same way I do (which is cool – you do you!) though I remain a fan of sneaking veggies into just about everything I cook.

These days, diets have basically become a religion and sometimes it scares me how divided we’ve become on the topic of food. I have my way of eating but I also acknowledge and respect that your way may look different. I think that’s a big part of having a healthy relationship with food – not feeling the need to push your way of eating on anyone else. Plus – your way of eating may change and no one deserves to be scrutinized because they’ve changed. In fact, it’s the most human thing about us.

Sitting here on a casual Tuesday eating my cauliflower stuffing feels kind of liberating. We all save stuffing for once (maybe twice) a year, since it’s basically the opposite of nutritious. But hot damn is it delicious. It also feels good knowing that people who make a different choice than I do when it comes to their food decisions can also enjoy this cauliflower stuffing. And this is coming from a bread lover – so you know this stuffing is good!

cauliflower rice in a food processor

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

Have you guys ever tried cauliflower rice? It’s gained a lot of popularity in the past few years and for good reason – it’s delicious! Cauliflower rice is essentially as it sounds, “rice” made from cauliflower. Basically, cauliflower is cut into florets and places in a food processor to be processed into a grain-like consistency. It surprisingly has a pretty rice-like shape and is a great substitute for rice, grains or even bread like in this cauliflower stuffing. The process of making it is simple. All you need is:

  • A food processor (a blender can be used though I recommend blending it in smaller portions at a time or it will take a long time!)
  • A head of cauliflower

Cut the cauliflower into florets and place them in your food processor. Process until it has all broken down into a rice consistency. You may need to open up your food processor and mix things around to make sure you get an even mix. Just don’t oven process or you’ll end up with mashed cauliflower instead of riced cauliflower!

Note: many grocery stores actually sell pre-riced cauliflower so if you don’t have a food processor this will be your best option.

making cauliflower rice stuffing

Cauliflower Stuffing | How-To

This cauliflower stuffing is jam-packed with veggies! Similar to traditional stuffing I’ve included the classics like cauliflower, onion, mushrooms and of course, sage. But making this recipe is actually easier than most stuffing and doesn’t require any oven space! Here’s how to make it:

STEP 1: Rice your cauliflower as shown above.

STEP 2: Cook your onions, celery and garlic in your pan. I prefer using cast-iron.

STEP 3: Add your mushrooms and cook for 5 more mins to allow them to “sweat” their moisture

STEP 4: Add the riced cauliflower for another 5 mins or until fully cooked.

STEP 5: Top with pecans, spices and red wine vinegar and cook for 1 more minute.

Can this cauliflower rice be made in advance?

Absolutely! Just be sure to heat it up on the stove top before serving.

*For full instructions scroll down to the recipe. Feel free to hit the “print” button so you can be extra prepared on Thanksgiving.

cauliflower stuffing made with cauliflower rice

More Healthy Thanksgiving Swaps

Let’s build out your Thanksgiving meal with some of these healthy Thanksgiving swaps:

Print

Cauliflower Stuffing

  • Author: Davida Lederle
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium heads of cauliflower (roughly the 6 cups chopped)*
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 3 stalks of celery, sliced thinly
  • 3 cups of mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
  • 2 1/2 tsp dried sage
  • 1 tbsp poultry seasoning
  • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pulse cauliflower in a food processor until “rice” consistency is reached.
  2. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add onions, garlic and celery and sauté for 5 mins
  4. Add mushrooms and continue cooking until they’ve begun to sweat (about another 5 mins)
  5. Add in cauliflower and cook for about 5 minutes, or until fully cooked.
  6. Top with pecans, spices and vinegar and cook for 1 min.
  7. Serve warm or store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

*if purchasing pre-“riced” cauliflower it comes out to roughly 4 cups

NOTE: This is not to be stuffed inside a turkey. Cook only on the stove top and serve alongside turkey.

Like this post? Here are a few other side dishes you might enjoy:

Pumpkin Cornbread Stuffing
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Acorn Squash Soup

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  • Reply
    Hillary
    November 18, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    Hi! How many people does this dish serve?? Trying to see if I need to double it

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      November 18, 2017 at 5:32 pm

      serves 8! Sorry about that. When we redid the site some of the serving sizes didn’t convert over. It’s updated now. Enjoy!

  • Reply
    Kathleen Thompson
    September 30, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    I am going to make this recipe for my CANADIAN Thanksgiving, that is kind of lame and we never know what day it is on, but what the heck.
    It looks like a great Gluten Free alternative to a traditional bread stuffing,

  • Reply
    Susan D
    December 8, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    I finally got the chance to make this last night and it was amazing! I could literally eat stuffing with every meal I love it so much… to be honest I didn’t expect to like it because I’m so used to the recipe handed down through my family. SO happy I gave it a chance… now I can eat stuffing more often!

  • Reply
    Kristi
    November 24, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I made this for my sisters today ( they’re on a paleo diet for health reasons) and they went NUTS!!! They had a rather lousy thanksgiving dinner last year and were thrilled not to have to go through that again. I tweaked the seasonings a bit so that it would taste like a traditional stuffing and it was perfect. Thanks so much for all you do!

  • Reply
    Nikki
    November 23, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    This turned out amazing! Do you have nutritional information?

  • Reply
    Andrea
    November 22, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    This recipe looks to be a lifesaver for our Thanksgiving meal. Could a person make this a day in advance then warm up in the oven before dinner is served? Do you think it would make the cauliflower rice to mushy?

  • Reply
    Michaela
    November 21, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    I really want to view these recipes but can’t figure out the links. They keep sending me in circles. Can’t find the recipes!! 🙁

  • Reply
    haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine
    November 17, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    UM WOW. This sounds INCREDIBLE. Who would’ve thunk Cauliflower rice stuffing?! YUM! Can’t wait to make this!

  • Reply
    Kathleen
    November 16, 2016 at 7:56 am

    Wondering if I can make this using the crockpot? Could I cook it up ahead of time, and then put it into the crockpot to essentially keep it warm and continue to cook a bit for a few hours prior to meal time? Would it become too mushy if it’s in the crockpot too long? Thanks for any help and suggestions you may have 🙂

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      November 16, 2016 at 11:15 am

      I wouldn’t recommend making it in the crockpot as if will definitely get mushy. It doesn’t require too much cooking time and can certainly be whipped up ahead of time.

  • Reply
    Mallory
    November 15, 2016 at 11:18 am

    I would totally think it’s OK, but can I use frozen cauliflower rice in place of fresh? Thank you!

  • Reply
    Theresa@aloveafare
    October 9, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    Can I say brilliant? I used to eat stuffing but stopped because yes it’s too filling. I’d like to say it’s not only moms who dig cauliflower rice but one of my many titles is Mom. Guilty! I can’t wait to try this. Your photos are great and I’m putting it on my list of must try recipes today! Thanks for the inspiration.

    • Reply
      Davida @ The Healthy Maven
      October 10, 2016 at 11:51 am

      Awesome! Hope you enjoy!

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