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Nov 18, 2016 By Stacie Hassing

Sweet Potato Unstuffing

Dairy-Free
Egg-Free
Gluten-free
Grain-Free
Paleo
Whole30
Jump to Recipe

For the love of stuffing! Your Thanksgiving table is about to get even more delicious with this gluten-free, paleo & vegan-friendly Sweet Potato Unstuffing.

Overhead view of Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Unstuffing in a white dish

A tried and true recipe.

Sweet Potato Unstuffing has been on my Thanksgiving dinner menu for the past several years. The recipe evolved when I set out on a mission to make a breadless stuffing for a Holiday paleo cooking class I was teaching. And also for my own selfish reasoning because I’m not a fan of traditional stuffing…the soggy bread like texture just isn’t my thing. Anywho, I was determined to make a healthier stuffing option made with only wholesome ingredients….because that’s how us, The Real Food Dietitians, role. I’d say I crushed that mission because this recipe is one of my favorites. I can’t believe I have waited this long to share it! But lucky you, because today is the day!

Overhead view of Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Unstuffing in a white dish

Wondering which apples to use? Check out this list of the 12 best apples for baking and cooking

Sweet Potato Unstuffing has the flavor of stuffing but without the bread. A stuffing that won’t leave you stuffed (hence the name..’unstuffing’)!

It’s loaded with a variety of veggies and studded with the perfect amount of tart dried cherries, sweet apples, crunchy pecans, and fresh herbs all tossed in delicious avocado oil and roasted to perfection. The ingredients come together to create quite a delicious and healthy stuffing side-dish. It makes for a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side-dish or it’s easy enough to make for a tasty addition to your weeknight menu. I certainly enjoy this recipe all winter long.

Holiday prep-ahead tips.

This recipe does require a little prep and chopping. I recommend chopping all of the ingredients the day before it’s on the menu. Toss the chopped apple in a little lemon juice to keep from browning. You may also bake this dish up ahead of time (the day you plan to serve it) and then keep it warm in a slow cooker set on low (or the warm setting). That way you can keep your oven open for all of the other delicious foods you may be cooking for your Holiday meal.

Overhead view of Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Unstuffing in a white dish

Sweet Potato Unstuffing is made with a variety of textures, colorful ingredients, and flavors.

One of my most favorite features of this delicious healthy stuffing is how the ingredients come together to create a variety of textures and flavors. It’s also quite beautiful looking with all of the different colors and perfectly roasted veggies.

Every bite is a different experience! Every bite is a mouthful of deliciousness.

Close view of Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Unstuffing in a white dish

Now that’s a perfect spoonful! A little bit of everything.

Try for yourself! Add the ingredients to your grocery list and make this Sweet Potato Unstuffing part of your Holiday menu!

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Let's Get Cookin'

Sweet Potato Unstuffing

Sweet Potato Unstuffing makes for a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side-dish or a tasty addition to your weeknight menu. It has the flavors of stuffing but without the bread. It’s loaded with a variety of veggies with the addition of dried cherries, apples, pecans, and fresh herbs. The ingredients come together to create quite a delicious and healthy stuffing side-dish.

  • Author: The Real Food Dietitians
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 60 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Cuisine: Whole30, Paleo, Grain-Free, Egg-Free
Print Recipe
★★★★ 4 from 4 reviews

Ingredients

  • 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed (1 ½–2 cups, ¼–½ inch cubes)
  • 1 1/2 cups halved or quartered Brussels sprouts
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped (3/4–1 cup)
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped (3/4–1 cup)
  • 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium apple, cored and diced
  • 2 tsp. fresh thyme (1 tsp. dried)
  • 2 tsp. fresh rosemary or sage (1 tsp. dried)
  • 1/2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • 3 Tbsp. avocado oil or oil of choice
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries, unsweetened if possible
  • 1/3 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine all of the ingredients (except for dried cherries and pecans) in a large bowl. Toss with oil
  3. Transfer to a baking dish and cover with foil.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, add the dried cherries and pecans, toss and then bake for an additional 10-20 minutes longer or until sweet potatoes are cooked through.
  5. Remove from oven and serve.

Notes

Prep Ahead Tip: Chop all of the ingredients the day before serving. You may also bake this dish ahead of time (before it’s ready to be served) and keep warm in a slow cooker set on low.

All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/8th of recipe
  • Calories: 144
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Sodium: 260 mg
  • Fat: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 3 g

Comment below and let us know if you give this recipe a try!

Pin now to make later!

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This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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About Stacie Hassing

Stacie is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian from rural southern Minnesota where she, her husband and daughter reside with their two pups. She’s a co-founder of The Real Food RDs and content creator of simple and wholesome recipes. She loves all kinds of fitness and has a passion to inspire as many as she can live a healthier and happier life both in and out of the kitchen - the driving force behind the co-development of the The Real Food RDs brand.

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Analysa says

    November 21, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    This looks great! Is there a preferred specific type of apple?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 21, 2016 at 8:31 pm

      Hi Analysa! Any kind will work in this recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Jen says

    November 22, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Due to nut allergies, I can’t add the pecans. I imagine the crunch adds to the appeal of the dish and am curious if you think there might be a good alternative. Would sunflower or pumpkin seeds be a good alternative?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 22, 2016 at 10:29 am

      Hi Jen! Yes, you certainly can sub the pecans for sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Enjoy!

      Reply
  3. Melanie says

    January 13, 2017 at 4:08 am

    I made this last night and found myself smiling during dinner. This recipe is absolutely fabulous! Thank you.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      January 13, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      Awesome! It is such a delicious dish. I make it all year round. In fact, I had some last night too and leftovers today!

      Reply
  4. Holly says

    October 23, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    I’m about to make swordfish for a dinner party of ten, do you think this would be s nice side for fish?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      October 23, 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Hi Holly! Yes. This recipe could be served with really any meal. Not just Thanksgiving dinner 🙂 It’s so good!

      Reply
  5. Kaila says

    November 5, 2017 at 9:27 am

    Have you tried this using butternut squash or regular potatoes instead? I’m making candied yams along with this and didn’t want to over-do the sweet potatoes/yams. Now that I’m thinking maybe even rutabaga would work too. I’m drooling thinking about it.

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 10, 2017 at 5:47 am

      Yes, those substitution would definitely work! Rutabaga…yummmmm!

      Reply
  6. Virginia jones says

    November 8, 2017 at 5:49 am

    I love this recipe. Tastes great – is filling – healthy and even freezes ok.
    However, it’s never this pretty. It all because a dull color.
    Is there a way to keep the carrots and sweet potatoes orange? I am thinking of raising them separately and adding just before serving.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 10, 2017 at 6:04 am

      You could definitely try roasting them separately and add them in before serving.

      Reply
  7. Debbie says

    November 9, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Would this work well to double the recipe? I need to serve more than 8 people.

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 10, 2017 at 5:43 am

      Absolutely! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Claire says

    November 18, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    thanks so much … this recipe looks amazing … do you think a good quality olive oil would work instead of avocado oil? thoughts are appreciated!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 21, 2017 at 7:45 am

      Hi Claire,

      Yes, olive oil will work in this recipe though it may have a more pronounced flavor.

      Reply
  9. Emily says

    November 21, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    This recipe looks great! Can it be made the day before?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 21, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      Hi Emily,

      It can be made the day before and reheated but the colors may not be quite as vibrant the next day. I’d suggest baking it for slightly less time than the recipe calls for so that when you do reheat it you’re not overcooking the vegetables. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  10. Chris says

    November 21, 2017 at 5:28 pm

    Can you make in the crockpot instead?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 21, 2017 at 7:57 pm

      Hi Chris,

      We haven’t tested the recipe in the slow cooker so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out. The only issue I can foresee is that the vegetables wouldn’t get as caramelized as they would if you made the dish in the oven. If you try it in the slow cooker we’d love to hear how it turns out for you!

      Reply
  11. Jessica Teague says

    November 5, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    This was phenomenal! I added Parsnips because I love them!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 9, 2018 at 8:50 am

      Thanks, Jessica! Great idea to add parsnips – they add so much flavor.

      Reply
  12. Autumn says

    November 16, 2018 at 6:59 am

    Looking forward to making this for Thanksgiving! I am just concerned about it getting too soft in the slow cooker, but I will have to keep it warm this way. I am taking it to dinner, so will have to make it ahead of time. Tips?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 17, 2018 at 7:19 am

      Hi Autumn….you can keep the slow cooker setting on warm and you should be good. That’s how I serve it when I bring it to Thanksgiving. If it gets too warm even on the that setting, you can turn the slow cooker off for a bit. Enjoy!

      Reply
  13. Rese says

    November 17, 2018 at 1:27 pm

    I am traveling to celebrate with family 2 hours away. Can I make this the morning of and carry? What a good way to reheat once at our destination? Can mushrooms be opted out?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 17, 2018 at 2:42 pm

      Hi Rese….Yes, I make this in the morning before my thanksgiving gathering and transport it in a slow cooker. I turn the slow cooker on warm or low as soon as I get to my destination. You could omit the mushrooms and maybe add zucchini instead or another veggie of your choosing. Enjoy!

      Reply
  14. Candice says

    November 18, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Can I substitute another oil for avacado? I am allergic. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 18, 2018 at 11:09 am

      Absolutely, sub whatever oil you would like or have on hand.

      Reply
  15. Karen says

    November 18, 2018 at 8:11 pm

    Is there a good substitute for Brussel sprouts? My husband can’t have them

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      November 18, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      Hi Karen. You could certainly omit the Brussels Sprouts and just add a little extra of all of the other veggies. Or parsnips would be good, too!

      Reply
  16. Cindy says

    November 29, 2019 at 10:07 am

    This was a lot of prep time & not that tasty. I added more seasonings but still not great. Not one of my guests even said that they like it. I won’t make it again.

    ★★

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      November 29, 2019 at 11:03 am

      I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this recipe.

      Reply
  17. Robbi says

    November 25, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Delicious and so easy to make. I received many compliments on this dish

    Reply

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The Real Food Dietitians is the passion-driven product of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Stacie Hassing and Jessica Beacom. They’ve combined their love of nutrition, health and real food with the concepts of ease and convenience to bring you recipes that are big on flavor but short on ingredients.

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