Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (2024)

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Gluten-free and Paleo Thanksgiving stuffing! Sweet potatoes, ground pork, and onions with a crunchy nut topping. Make-ahead!

By

Sabrina Modelle

Sabrina Modelle

Sabrina has been a professional recipe developer for ten years and has been published in magazines and newspapers from California to Tel Aviv.

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Updated June 15, 2022

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Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (1)

Call it stuffing. Call it dressing. Either way, there is no doubt that it is one of the most iconic dishes on the holiday table.

Here is a version that's perfect for any gluten-free or Paleo guests at your table!

This stuffing is full of rich ingredients, like sweet potatoes and ground pork, and it has plenty of big holiday flavor. And yes, it's great with turkey!

Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (2)

I’ll admit, my first attempts at this Paleo stuffing came out a bit too heavy and one-note.

I found myself missing the bread, which is off limits to anyone on a gluten-free or grain-free diet, of course. I still wanted to bring in some toasty flavors and starchy goodness, and I ultimately settled on roasted sweet potatoes as the perfect stand-in.

The other thing I truly missed was that crunch you get at the edges of a traditional stuffing where the bread gets crisped and toasty. I solved this problem by adding a pecan crumble to the top! This addition adds both crunchy texture and another layer of holiday flavor.

If you are allergic to nuts, just skip the pecan topping. I'd recommending add extra garlic and herbs to the stuffing instead.

Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (3)

Finally, I wanted to really boost the richness and savory flavor of the whole dish. I did this by browning the ground pork really thoroughly, sautéing the vegetables in the rendered pork fat, and then deglazing the pan with a little port wine.

In the end, I ended up with a Paleo stuffing that I think could rival any traditional stuffing I have made. You can bet it will be on our table this holiday season.

Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing

Prep Time45 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Total Time85 mins

Servings8to 10 servings

This dish can be prepped the day or two before. Cooking time will be a bit longer if you’re cooking the unbaked stuffing from the fridge, so start checking for doneness at 40 minutes.

This recipe also makes a great filling for stuffed winter squash!

Ingredients

Stuffing ingredients:

  • 2 (8 to 10 ounces) large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, ghee, or duck fat (divided)

  • 2 pounds ground pork

  • 1 cup yellow onion, diced (from 1/2 medium onion)

  • 1 cup carrots, diced (from 1 large carrot or 2 small carrots)

  • 1 cup celery, diced (from 2 to 3 celery stalks)

  • 1/2 cup port or sweet sherry

  • 2 large pears, peeled and diced

  • 1 cup dried cranberries or cherries (optional—leave this out if you’re avoidingsugars)

  • 1 cup fresh herbs, chopped (I used 3/4 cups flat parsley and 1/4 cup mixed fresh sage, chervil, and thyme.)

  • 3 large eggs

Pecan crumble ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups unsalted pecans

  • 1/4 cup dried cranberriesor cherries

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, ghee, or duck fat (room temperature, if it was in the refrigerator)

  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

  • 1/4 cup fresh herbs (I used mostly parsley with just a couple rosemary needles and a few thyme leaves.)

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Special Equipment

  • Food processor

Method

  1. Roast the sweet potatoes:

    Preheat oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat. Toss the sweet potato cubes with 1/2 tablespoon of your cooking fat (if it is ghee or duck fat, melt it first) and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    Spread them evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, stirring the potatoes halfway through the cooking time.

    When done, they should be golden brown and easily pierced with a fork.

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (4)

  2. Brown the meat:

    While sweet potatoes are roasting, melt another tablespoon of your cooking fat in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

    Brown the ground pork in 2 to 3 batches. Break up the pork as it cooks to make small crumbles. Cook until the meat is well-browned and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes per batch. Add additional cooking fat as needed if the pan becomes dry.

    As each batch is finished, transfer it to a large bowl with a slotted spoon.

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (5)

  3. Sauté the vegetables:

    In the same skillet used for the pork, melt a small amount (1 to 2 teaspoons) of cooking fat. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery to the hot skillet.

    Season with salt and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes or until the onions begin to turn translucent. Transfer to the bowl with the pork.

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (6)

  4. Deglaze the pan:

    Place the empty pan back over high heat and add the port. Simmer the port for about a minute, scraping up any browned bits that have gotten stuck to the bottom of the pan. Pour the port over the vegetables and pork in the bowl.

  5. Heat the oven to 350F:

    Grease a 9x13-inch or other 3-quart baking dish.

  6. Combine the stuffing ingredients:

    Add the roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed veggies, pears, cranberries, and herbs to the bowl with the browned meat. Mix well. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or herbs, if needed.

    At this point, the stuffing can be covered and refrigerated for 1 to 2 days before cooking.

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (7)

    When you're ready to bake the stuffing, add the eggs and mix thoroughly to combine. Transfer the stuffing to the greased baking dish and spread into an even layer.

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (8)

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (9)

  7. Bake the stuffing for 20 minutes, uncovered

  8. Prepare the pecan crumble topping:

    While the stuffing cooks, pulse all ingredients in a food processor until the mixture is crumbly. Be careful not to over process or you’ll end up with garlicky nut butter!

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (10)

    Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (11)

  9. Top the stuffing with the crumble:

    Remove the stuffing from the oven and scatter the pecan crumble evenly over the top. Bake for 20 more minutes, uncovered. The top should be toasted and smell very fragrant. (If you're not adding the pecan crumble, just bake the stuffing for 30 minutes total.)

  10. Cool and serve:

    Let the stuffing cool briefly before serving.

Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (12)

  • Side Dishes
  • Thanksgiving Stuffings
  • Gluten-Free
  • Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
531Calories
37g Fat
22g Carbs
28g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8to 10
Amount per serving
Calories531
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g48%
Saturated Fat 9g46%
Cholesterol 141mg47%
Sodium 246mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 22g8%
Dietary Fiber 5g18%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 28g
Vitamin C 11mg53%
Calcium 76mg6%
Iron 2mg14%
Potassium 715mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Sweet Potato & Pork Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why put eggs in stuffing? ›

Broth: Chicken broth keeps the stuffing moist without making it soggy. Eggs: Two lightly beaten eggs help hold the dressing together and add moisture. Water: You can add a few tablespoons of water, if you'd like, to achieve your desired consistency.

How to make stuffing for turkey Martha Stewart? ›

Preparation. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add apples, pears, onions and celery, and sauté until translucent and softened, about 10 minutes. To a large mixing bowl, add the fruit-aromatics mixture, cubed bread, eggs and Bell's seasoning, and mix to combine.

Why is stuffing cooked separately? ›

The wet and dry ingredients for the stuffing should be prepared separately and refrigerated until ready to use. Mixing dry and wet ingredients produces an environment that bacteria may thrive in hours before cooking. Fully cook raw meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients before adding to stuffing.

Why is it called stuffing Thanksgiving? ›

The term stuffing comes from the practice of filling the cavity of a bird with a mixture of ingredients before cooking. Stuffing is "a mixture used as a filling for an ingredient," according to the Larousse Gastronomique Culinary Encyclopedia. "Stuffing may be made from bread, rice or other grains, vegetables or fruit.

What can you use as a binder instead of eggs in stuffing? ›

Some common egg substitutes include:
  1. Mashed banana. Mashed banana can act as a binding agent when baking or making pancake batter. ...
  2. Applesauce. Applesauce can also act as a binding agent. ...
  3. Fruit puree. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Gelatin. ...
  6. Xanthan gum. ...
  7. Vegetable oil and baking powder. ...
  8. Margarine.
Mar 30, 2021

How do you keep stuffing moist when cooking? ›

Typically, baking the stuffing inside the bird helps keep the mixture moist. “I prefer stuffing (in the bird) to dressing (outside of the bird) because all those delicious drippings that come off the turkey gets absorbed right into the stuffing,” Bamford says.

Is it better to make stuffing with fresh or dry bread? ›

Follow this tip: Stale, dried-out bread makes the best stuffing. Either dry out your bread starting a few days before you plan to make the stuffing by letting it sit out or, if you don't have the extra time, cut the bread into cubes, and then toast over a low heat in the oven until dry.

Why is my turkey stuffing soggy? ›

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

What's the difference between stuffing and dressing a turkey? ›

"Stuffing is cooked in the cavity of the turkey, so the juices soak into the ingredients, making it more flavorful. Dressing gets cooked on its own and needs extra liquid to make it flavorful." So stuffing is cooked inside the bird. Dressing is cooked outside the bird, usually in a casserole dish.

Can I mix up my stuffing the night before? ›

Absolutely. Most Thanksgiving stuffing recipes can be made at least partially in advance since: A) They're easily assembled a day or two ahead of Thanksgiving Day; and B) They're often baked using a two-step process (once covered with foil to cook through, then uncovered to achieve a crispy top).

Why is my stuffing gummy? ›

If the stuffing came out too wet and soggy (aka bread soup!) try not to over mix it, otherwise it'll turn into mush. Curtis Stone says to pour it on a large sheet tray and spread it out. Bake it on high heat to crisp it up, but make sure it doesn't burn.

What temperature should stuffing be cooked at? ›

How do you safely cook stuffing? The stuffed meat, poultry, or stuffing in a casserole should be placed immediately after preparation in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. A food thermometer should be used to ensure that the stuffing reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

What do southerners call stuffing? ›

But many people insist on one term or the other regardless of how it's prepared or what's in it. The term dressing is most commonly used in the South, but it's popular in pockets throughout the US. Still, not everyone in the South uses it, and usage varies from place to place, often based on family tradition.

Why not eat stuffing from turkey? ›

At temperatures below 165°F you risk exposure to salmonella or E. coli, two very scary and gross bacteria. The problem with stuffing your roast turkey is that when the turkey's meat is safely cooked, the stuffing inside still is not.

What do the French call stuffing? ›

The word “stuffing” dates back to 14th Century English, when it was used synonymously with the more uncomfortable sounding forcemeat. Soon after, Anglos borrowed the slicker French word, farce (from the Latin verb facire or “to stuff”).

What is the purpose of adding eggs? ›

What Eggs Do in Baking Recipes. Eggs play an important role in everything from cakes and cookies to meringues and pastry cream — they create structure and stability within a batter, they help thicken and emulsify sauces and custards, they add moisture to cakes and other baked goods, and can even act as glue or glaze.

Why do people put eggs in flour? ›

When combined with flour, they add to the structure and texture of cakes, cookies, and breads. Egg wash is the secret ingredient for beautifully caramelized pie crusts and challah; it can even be used as a kind of edible glue for slivered almonds or sesame seeds.

How are eggs used as a binder? ›

A whole egg coagulates at about 156°F (69°C). Eggs can act as binding agents. As their proteins set, eggs bind ingredients together giving strength and stability to meatloaves, casseroles and baked goods. Eggs are used to coat foods with crumbs, flour, etc.

Why do people put eggs in sauce? ›

They are a creamy, protein-filled addition to the meal. It adds a surprising richness.

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