Golden, savory, and full of melt in your mouth richness, this vegan stuffing is a side dish hero. The combination of toasted gluten free bread, fragrant herbs, sautéed vegetables, and a silky sauce made with the Darë Smoked Cheddar Wedge creates a dish that feels familiar but tastes even better. 

Vegan stuffing is basically bread chopped into cubes or crumbs, combined with slow fried onions and herbs, then covered in rich vegetable stock and baked until golden and crispy. Traditionally stuffing isn't vegan because it uses dairy butter and sometimes even eggs, but we've figured out how to get rid of all that stuff and keep the deliciousness. 

A Savory Base That Starts With Texture

The secret to a great stuffing is giving the bread its moment. Toasting the gluten free cubes until crisp ensures they hold their shape and absorb flavor instead of collapsing. Every piece becomes a tiny sponge ready to soak up broth, herbs, and that super special, smoky cheese sauce.

Toasted bread means the final bake gives you both tenderness and crunch, keeping each bite satisfying from edge to center.

Veggie 101

This stuffing is built on classic aromatics that always show up and always deliver. Onion, celery, mushrooms, sage, thyme, and rosemary create the heart of the dish, adding sweetness, earthiness, and depth as they soften together in the pan.

Mushrooms bring a natural savoriness that anchors the whole recipe. When they release their liquid, you know the flavors are melding into something good.

Something Special

Here is where this stuffing becomes unforgettable. Warm vegetable broth and our Smoked Cheddar Wedge melt together into a velvety sauce that coats the bread and veggies in smooth, smoky richness. It does everything dairy cheddar would do but better.

The sauce binds the whole dish, turning simple ingredients into something you want to scoop straight out of the pan.

The Best Vegan Stuffing

Covered baking creates that soft, custardy center. Uncovered baking gives you crisp, golden edges. This contrast is what stuffing dreams are made of. A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end brightens every bite and makes the whole pan look as good as it tastes.

Why You Will Love This Stuffing

• Savory and smoky flavor without any dairy
• Crisp edges and a tender center in every serving
• Packed with herbs, aromatics, and umami rich mushrooms
• Gluten free friendly and perfect for mixed dietary tables
• Simple to make but feels like a chef crafted side
• Pairs with any main and steals the spotlight every time

RECIPE

• Serves: 6-8 servings
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

Bread Base

• 1 loaf gluten-free bread (about 10–12 cups cubed)
• 2 TBSP avocado oil

Veggies + Herbs

• 1 TBSP avocado oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3–4 celery stalks, chopped
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• 8-oz. chopped mushrooms
• 1 TBSP chopped fresh sage (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 TBSP chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley, for serving

“Cheese” Sauce

• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• Darë Smoked Cheddar Wedge
  

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cubed gluten-free bread on the baking sheet.

Drizzle the bread lightly with avocado oil and toast for 20–25 minutes, tossing halfway, until golden and crisp. Set aside to cool.

In a large skillet, heat the avocado oil over medium heat.

Add the onion, celery, along with a pinch of salt, and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.

Add in garlic powder, mushrooms, and herbs and stir well to combine.

Cook the skillet for another 5 minutes until fragrant and the mushrooms release liquid.

Add the vegetable broth and Darë Smoked Cheddar Wedge to a medium pot over medium heat.

Heat until the cheese is totally melted and you have a thick sauce.

In a large bowl, add the toasted bread cubes and the sautéed veggie mixture. Pour the warm “cheese” sauce over the stuffing mix and toss gently until evenly moistened.

Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15–20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crisp.

Serve warm and enjoy some before everyone else eats it!