No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing (Kidney-Friendly)

Nothing completes a holiday meal like homemade stuffing! Or, perhaps stuffed pork chops or stuffed chicken breast are your faves!  But isn’t stuffing off-limits if you need to watch the salt intake? I am thrilled to say that with our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing recipe, this doesn’t have to be the case!

Look, I’m "all for" giving yourself permission to enjoy some yummy food at a special meal or celebration.  But if recipes like our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing enable you to enjoy low sodium or kidney-friendly festive food without sacrificing taste (& that everyone will love), that’s a win-win!

Jump to:

• Why Try our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing?
• Sodium Content of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing vs other stuffing
• Sources of sodium in usual homemade & boxed stuffing
• Ingredients in No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing
• Variations of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing
• Serving Suggestions for No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing
• Storage of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing
• Time to Make Your No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing!
• No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing (Kidney-Friendly)

Why Try our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing?

Our Easy Low Sodium Stuffing is:

• Low sodium, of course!
• Kidney-Friendly (low potassium & phosphorus, in addition to low sodium)
• Uses only a few ingredients.  This recipe calls for 5 ingredients, plus a few spices.
• Super-easy to make! 
• Absolutely delicious!  You will use a simple, yet carefully selected combination of spices & ingredients that will result in a final dish that is so flavorful, everyone will love it—even the “non- low sodium” people at the table!

Sodium Content of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing vs other stuffing

Below is a chart comparing how the sodium content of various types of stuffing stacks up to our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing.  Surprisingly, typical homemade stuffing has the highest sodium of all—even higher than the boxed variety!

In fact, this recipe contains only ~one quarter to one-third the sodium as typical homemade stuffing!  But don’t worry!  I promise your stuffing will be so full of flavor, no one will miss the salt!

Comparison of Sodium Content of Different Types of Stuffing—⅔c prepared
Homemade Stuffing	Boxed Stuffing	Lower Sodium Boxed Stuffing	No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing
600-800 mg	515 mg	290 mg	177 mg

Sources of sodium in usual homemade & boxed stuffing

Why is the typical homemade & boxed stuffing so high in sodium?  Several ingredients are to blame: 

• Broth: Most regular chicken broth contains >900 mg sodium in just one cup!  The amount of broth used in most homemade stuffing recipes contributes at least 125 mg of sodium to each serving (often closer to 200 mg!)
• Seasonings: Most homemade stuffing recipes & all boxed stuffing mixes include salt &/or seasonings containing salt.
• Salted Butter: Depending on the stuffing recipe, salted butter can add between 50-100 mg of sodium or more per serving.
• Sodium-Containing Additives: Most boxed stuffing contains sodium-containing additives & preservatives such as mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) or similar ingredients.

Ingredients in No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing

In this recipe, you will use 5 main ingredients: Bread cubes, unsalted chicken broth, onion, celery & unsalted butter.  In addition, 4 spices are used: poultry seasoning, garlic powder, dried parsley & black pepper.

Dried bread cubes/strips

We use unseasoned dried bread cubes/strips from the bakery section of the supermarket.  However, especially around the holidays, many stores carry commercially bagged bread cubes.

If going this route, be sure to choose the commercially bagged bread cubes with the lowest sodium content.  I suggest aiming for 175 mg or less per cup.

Another word of caution: some commercially bagged bread cubes contain phosphate additives.  So, if you’ve been advised by your doctor or kidney dietitian to limit phosphorus in your diet, be sure to check the ingredient list & avoid those that do (Look for any ingredient that contains “Phos” in the name).

Unsalted chicken broth

Unsalted chicken broth helps ramp up the flavor in this recipe without adding extra salt.  In fact, unsalted broth is one of my favorite hacks in low sodium cooking!  Read more about how you can use unsalted broth as well as other tips & tricks to make your low sodium food taste great in our article: 10 Tips for a Tasty 2 Gram Sodium Diet (From a Dietitian).

We recommend you use “unsalted” rather than “lower sodium” or “reduced sodium” broth, which can still contain a significant amount of sodium.  Also beware that some “lower sodium” or “reduced sodium” broths also contain potassium chloride, which could be a problem if you need to limit potassium (such as some people with kidney problems)!

Note: Nutritional needs for people with kidney problems are individualized. Please check with your doctor or kidney dietitian for the recommendations specific to your needs!

Onion, celery & unsalted butter

In this recipe, the diced onion & celery individually contribute their own flavor to the dish.  In addition, you’ll caramelize the veggies in unsalted butter before combining them with the other ingredients, which adds another layer of flavor.

Spices

You will use 4 spices in this recipe:

• Poultry Seasoning
• Garlic Powder
• Black Pepper
• Dried Parsley

While all 4 spices are important, the poultry seasoning is essential!  It’s a special blend of herbs & spices that will give your dish that savory stuffing flavor we all know & love.  Without it, it would taste like bland, browned bread cubes!  Not to mention that the heavenly aroma as the stuffing bakes!

One note, be sure to get a brand of poultry seasoning that does not contain sodium/salt.  Most do not, but a few brands do!  I used Great Value®️ brand which is the perfect mixture of thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, black pepper & nutmeg.

Variations of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing

There are so many ways you can mix up the flavor with this recipe while still allowing it to maintain its low sodium & kidney-friendly properties!  Examples include:

• Sausage Stuffing!  Make a batch of our Easy Low Sodium Sausage & brown it in crumbles instead of making patties.  Drain the browned crumbles & stir them into the stuffing mixture before adding to the baking dish. 
• Cornbread Stuffing!  Instead of bread cubes, use our Easy Low Sodium Cornbread (Kidney-Friendly).  You will likely need to use less broth in your cornbread stuffing, unless you let the cornbread dry out ahead of time.
• Stuffing Balls! Add an egg as a binding agent before baking & shape your No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing into serving-sized balls instead of spreading in a baking dish.  This recipe will make 8 stuffing balls.
• Vegan or Vegetarian Stuffing! Use unsalted vegetable broth instead of unsalted chicken broth, & you’ll have vegetarian stuffing.  Take it one step further & use avocado or olive oil to sauté the veggies instead of butter, & you’ll have vegan stuffing!
• Add extra ingredients for different flavor profiles:  Add any of the following to your stuffing for a different flavor profile:  ½ cup fresh mushrooms (add when browning the onions & celery), ½ cup cranberries or ¼ cup chopped, roasted chestnuts or pecans.

Note:  these additions will mildly increase the potassium & possibly the phosphorus content (as in the case of the nuts) of your stuffing.  However, if kept to the amounts listed above, your stuffing will still be kidney-friendly!   

Serving Suggestions for No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing

Ideas for how you may serve your No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing include:

• As a traditional side to your holiday meal or any meal. Try it alongside our recipe for Roasted Frozen Green Beans (Low Sodium) or Easy American Coleslaw Recipe (Kidney-Friendly).
• Stuffed pork chops
• Stuffed chicken broth
• As a binding agent for meatloaf (This is a great use for leftover stuffing!)
• In a casserole

Storage of No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing

You may keep your baked stuffing in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months if kept in an air-tight container.  You may also freeze it before baking as long as it is frozen immediately after the wet & dry ingredients are mixed together.  It will keep for 3 months. 

Then, when you’re ready to bake, simply remove the stuffing from the freezer & put it straight in the oven (Don’t thaw first).  Bake until it reaches at least 165 F. However, you will need to add extra baking time.

Time to Make Your No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing!

Our No-Fuss Low Sodium Stuffing is delicious, simple to make & uses only a few ingredients.  In addition, it’s low sodium, low potassium & low phosphorus. It’s perfect made exactly as the recipe instructs, but you may also make several great-tasting variations that will taste great, too!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have!  Let us know in the comments how you liked it!