Keto Stuffing (Pork Sage Sausage)

mockup of a download button for a free low-carb meal plan

The easiest keto stuffing recipe you’ll ever make! Perfect for your keto Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

Can be served as keto stuffing meatballs or use the ground pork mixture to stuff a turkey to guarantee the meat is juicy, flavorsome, and tender.

collage of keto stuffing made with sage sausage
Keto stuffing recipe (pork sausage stuffing)

When it comes to winter holiday celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’ll want healthy recipes that are quick and easy. You also want recipes the whole family will love.

Jump to:

Pork stuffing is perfect to be stuffed into the roast turkey cavity or you can serve as a side dish as stuffing meatballs.

If you prefer a bread stuffing recipe you can make my low carb cornbread stuffing. It is made with keto bread (keto cornbread) and can be made ahead of time so you can offer guests various stuffing options.

Ingredients

This is the easiest keto stuffing (or dressing) you’ll ever find. It only requires 4 simple ingredients and can be made in 5 minutes.

It is a traditional stuffing recipe, except for it’s made out of high-protien pork rather than soggy bits of carby bread. Plus, it has all the traditional flavors you would expect at your thanksgiving dinner.

pork stuffing ingredients in a white mixing bowl
4 simple ingredients

See the recipe card below for quantities.

  • egg – medium
  • onion – finely chopped
  • chopped fresh sage – or dried ground sage
  • ground pork or pork sausage meat (check label to ensure there are no added flours or starch)
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

First, place all the ingredients and fresh herbs (or ground sage) together in a large mixing bowl. Then use a large spatula, wooden spoon, or clean hands, to mix the low-carb stuffing ingredients together until totally combined.

TOP TIP: Some people like to wet their hands first, or cover them with olive oil to prevent the ground pork stuffing from sticking to their hands.

pork stuffing mixture in a white bowl
Mix and divide the pork stuffing

Next, roll half of the mixture into stuffing balls. Store these covered, or in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to cook them or stuff your turkey. It makes them more solid and easy to handle without falling out of shape.

pork stuffing mixture in a white bowl
Roll the keto stuffing into small pork balls

If you want to bake the pork sausage balls as a side dish, you can place them onto a prepared baking tray (or baking dish) that has been lined with baking parchment paper. You can also use a nonstick baking tray, or an oiled sheet pan. Keep covered in the fridge until ready to cook.

pork stuffing meatballs on a baking tray
Place the keto stuffing pork balls onto a baking tray

Now you can begin to prepare the turkey by stuffing the cavity and the skin.

Hint: Before you begin, use clean hands to separate the turkey skin from the turkey breast. This creates a wonderful cavity ready to receive the keto stuffing mixture.

Press the pork stuffing firmly into the cavity then massage to create an even layer of stuffing across the turkey.

a turkey being filled with pork keto stuffing
Place keto stuffing in the turkey between the breast and the skin

Now place the firm cooled sage sausage stuffing balls into the cavity. Tie the legs together to hold the stuffing in place.

a turkey being filled with pork keto stuffing
Place pork sausage balls into the turkey cavity

Cover the turkey with butter and bacon (or poultry seasoning) and wrap in aluminum foil to ensure your turkey is cooked and remains moist and tender inside.

Make sure to follow all the instructions on how to cook a turkey. It even has a full cooking schedule for you to use so it’s perfect for beginners.

Variations

If you don’t want to use ground pork, you can also use ground turkey for a mild stuffing recipe. You can also add a variety of herbs and seasoning such as:

  • Fresh rosemary or dried rosemary
  • Thyme, fresh or dried
  • Poultry seasoning (chicken salt)
  • Onion flakes instead of diced onion
  • Nuts such as pecans, walnuts or macadamias

And remember, if you want a keto stuffing recipe made with keto bread cubes, try my cornbread low carb stuffing recipe. It is a lighter option for those who don’t want a lot of meat at their meal and is a good vegetarian stuffing recipe when made apart from the turkey.

You can make the cornbread stuffing bread cubes ahead of time. The recipe can even be used with pre made keto bread.

Storage

If you make the keto stuffing recipe ahead of time, always store covered, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If you want to store them in the freezer, roll the pork stuffing into meatballs, place them on a lined sheet pan and freeze for 2 hours. Remove each individual meatball and place in a ziplock bag or airtight container then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw then cook immediately.

Recipe FAQs

Can you eat stuffing on a keto diet

If you love meaty stuffing, then the pork and sage stuffing recipe below is perfect. Especially if you follow the keto carnivore diet. The pork and sage stuffing adds even more moisture, fat, and flavor. If you prefer the traditional bread stuffing, but you want to stay low-carb or keto, then I suggest the low-carb and keto stuffing recipe might be more to your taste

What can I substitute for sage in stuffing?

You can use any traditional sausage stuffing herb such as rosemary, onion flakes, garlic powder, or poultry seasoning.

Is this a keto dressing recipe?

The biggest difference between dressing and stuffing is that a dressing recipe is not used to stuff a turkey, it is served as a side dish by itself. Often a dressing is made with bread cubes and herbs and baked in a casserole dish. You can make my cornbread stuffing recipe for a true dressing.

sliced cooked stuffed turkey
Pork sausage-stuffed turkey

Festive recipes

It can be tough to stay on track with your ketogenic diet over the festive season. Here are some more keto Thanksgiving recipes the whole family will love.

Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes

The most popular side dishes are:

This article was originally published by ditchthecarbs.com. Read the original article here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *