Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (2024)

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (1)

Between the pies, casseroles, and pumpkin beer, Thanksgiving pretty much equals an automatic food coma. Unless, of course, you've filled your festive table with the following better-for-you dishes.

From autumn-inspired salads to cleaned-up desserts, these 26 recipes will completely transform your Thanksgiving—and keep you from feeling like a sloth all day on Black Friday.

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1

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Apple Vinaigrette

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (2)

This shredded fall salad is savory and a bit sweet, making it the perfect side salad to go with Thanksgiving meat and potatoes.

Ditch the bacon and it's vegetarian-friendly, too.

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Per serving: 292 calories, 24 g fat (4 g sat), 16 g carbs, 9 g sugar, 148 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein

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2

Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (3)

These creamy crab-stuffed mushrooms are the ideal Thanksgiving finger food, providing fats and protein that'll keep you satisfied until dinner.

Plus, they’re super low-carb!

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Per serving: 196 calories, 14 g fat (4 g sat), 4 g carbs, 1 g sugar, 415 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 14 g protein

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3

Low-Carb Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (4)

Brussels sprouts are a super-easy side to pair with turkey, chicken, or ham— and these crispy sprouts pack loads of crunchy goodness.

Add whatever spices you like for extra kick!

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Per serving: 155 calories, 10.6 g fat (1.5 g sat), 13.6 g carbs, 328 mg sodium, 3.3 g sugar, 5.8 g fiber, 5.1 g protein

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4

Three-Ingredient Biscuits

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (5)

Skip the long list of ingredients in many store-bought mixes and make these easy biscuits instead. Made with just three ingredients, they still pack loads of buttery flavor.

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Per serving: 185 calories, 9 g fat (5.4 g sat fat), 22.1 g carbs, 364.6 mg sodium, 1.6 g sugar, 0.8 g fiber, 3.8 g protein

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5

Curry Roasted Cauliflower Sweet Potato Salad

Complete with a creamy curry sauce, this veggie-loaded side dish is packed with fiber and antioxidants.

What’s more, it’s Whole30-approved and vegan.

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Per serving: 213 calories, 10.2 g fat (1.4 g sat), 26.4 g carbs, 10.4 g sugar, 6.3 g fiber, 5.9 g protein

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6

Low-Carb Pumpkin Soup with Bacon

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (7)

This lower-carb, dairy-free soup satisfies your hunger 'til the main courses come out without bogging you down too much.

Top it with your favorite herbs for extra oomph.

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Per serving: 95 calories, 4 g fat (1 g sat), 7 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 282 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 5 g protein

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7

Classic Ham Steak with Red-Eye Gravy

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (8)

Sick of turkey? This ham steak with coffee-infused gravy is a unique crowd-pleaser.

The best part: It's done in 15 minutes.

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Per serving: 417 calories, 32 g fat, 0.3 g carbs, 0.2 g sugar, 1730 mg sodium, 31 g protein

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8

Paleo Delicata Squash Bake

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (9)

Squash, cranberries, pecans—this colorful side dish screams holiday season! It's packed with antioxidants, fiber, and protein that fill you up (and really pops on the table).

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Per serving: 239 calories, 13 g fat (8 g sat), 28 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 100 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 7 g protein

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9

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (10)

These vegan pumpkin pie cheesecake bars taste just like the real deal. Made with pumpkin, cashews, pecans, cinnamon, and coconut, they pack healthy fats you'll feel good about enjoying.

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Per serving: 435 calories, 34.2 g fat (17.1 g sat), 28.2 g carbs, 13 g sugar, 12 mg sodium, 4.9 g fiber, 7.3 g protein

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10

Cinnamon Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet and nutty casserole uses coconut oil and coconut sugar to create a still-sweet but lower-sugar version of the classic Thanksgiving side.

Oh yeah, it also comes together in just 30 minutes.

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Per serving: 282 calories, 8.4 g fat (5.5 g sat), 49.4 g carbs, 12.8 g sugar, 49 mg sodium, 5.8 g fiber, 3.1 g protein

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11

Butternut Squash and Beet Harvest Salad

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (12)

This tasty, vegetarian-friendly fall salad gets lots of color and nutrition from beets, squash, seeds, and cheese. It's a great way to sneak some greens into your feast.

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Per serving: 223 calories, 13.9 g fat (9.1 g sat), 20.7 g carbs, 7.3 g sugar, 312 mg sodium, 4.3 g fiber, 7.1 g protein

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12

Low-Carb Loaded 'Potato' Casserole

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (13)

Made with cauliflower instead of potatoes, this casserole delivers on flavor while keeping carbs low. Plus, it's topped with bacon, so enough said.

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Per serving: 334 calories, 28 g fat (14.6 g sat), 11.3 g carbs, 597 mg sodium, 5.3 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 11.5 g protein

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13

Roasted Pumpkin and Halloumi Salad

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (14)

Salty Halloumi cheese pairs beautifully with fall flavors like pumpkin and almonds in this meatless salad. Chock-full of color and nutrition, it's another feel-good side dish.

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Per serving: 537.6 calories, 43.9 g fat, 17.8 g carbs, 6.7 g fiber, 19.4 g protein

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14

Mashed Potato Cones

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (15)

Honestly, these mashed potato cones are just plain fun. They're also a great way to enjoy biscuits and mashed potatoes without going totally overboard on portions.

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Per serving: 399 calories, 23.1 g fat (7.5 g sat fat), 42.3 g carbs, 386.5 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 3.5 g fiber, 5.9 g protein

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15

Mushroom and Sage Rolled Turkey Breasts

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (16)

Feeling fancy? Make this stuffed turkey for Thanksgiving this year. That mushroom and sage filling is absolutely to-die-for.

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Per serving: 311 calories, 11.39 g fat (5.66 g sat fat), 1.9 g carbs, 1130 mg sodium, 0 g sugar, 0.7 g fiber, 45.3 g protein

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16

Crispy Oven-Fried Green Beans

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (17)

Introducing green beans your Thanksgiving guests will actually want to eat. These 'fried' beans offer a satisfying crunchy, crispy texture without tons of breading or frying oils.

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Per serving: 145 calories, 11.6 g fat (7 g sat), 7.6 g carbs, 465 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 5.2 g protein

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17

Paleo Stuffing

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (18)

Because a Thanksgiving without stuffing just ain't right...swap that usual box recipe with this paleo stuffing. It provides a balance of fat, carbs, and protein, so you feel satisfied but not, well, stuffed.

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Per serving: 269 calories, 19 g fat (3 g sat), 18 g carbs, 8 g sugar, 19 3mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 9 g protein

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18

Paleo Vegan Pumpkin Pie Bars

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (19)

Made with maple syrup, these paleo and vegan-friendly pumpkin pie bars feature an ooey-gooey caramel topping and sweet, crunchy pecans.

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Per serving: 328 calories, 15 g fat, 45 g carbs, 28 g sugar, 191 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 2 g protein

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19

Paleo and Vegan Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (20)

Ice cream is officially a Thanksgiving staple with this paleo and vegan pumpkin pie blend. It's great atop a slice of pie, or you know, just in a bowl.

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Per serving: 150 calories, 13 g fat (7 g sat), 7 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 6 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein

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20

Healthy Maple-Glazed Pumpkin Bread

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (21)

With a sweet maple glaze and soft center, this clean pumpkin bread is plenty flavorful, complete with spices like ginger and nutmeg, and a little vanilla.

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Per serving: 202 calories, 7.2 g fat (4 g sat), 31.7 g carbs, 16.4 g sugar, 3.4 g fiber, 3.1 g protein

Healthier Thanksgiving Recipes for a Guilt-Free Feast (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest food to eat on Thanksgiving? ›

Go for small amounts of cooked squash, sweet potato, white potato, beans and carrots. Try to use whole-grain breads and cereals whenever possible; they are rich in fiber and the B vitamins that are not so abundant in simple carbohydrates (white and refined grains, cereals, flours and starches).

How can I make Thanksgiving more healthy? ›

Boiled shrimp with lemon or co*cktail sauce is a healthier pick than fried hors d'oeuvres. Try having a pot of a roasted vegetable soup, such as carrot or butternut squash, on offer for guests to enjoy. Other healthful starters include stuffed mushrooms, raw veggies with hummus, and seasonal fruit.

What is the healthy meat for Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey breast and chicken breast both have about 26 g of protein in each 3 oz serving, according to USDA data, making them an excellent source of protein. Chicken breast has only slightly more fat, with 3 g to turkey's 2 g per serving. To keep saturated fat down, avoid eating the skin of any of these poultry choices.

How to make a healthy Thanksgiving plate? ›

How to Build a Balanced Thanksgiving Plate:
  1. Downsize your dinner plate. ...
  2. Fill half of your plate with greens and veggies. ...
  3. Load a quarter of your plate with turkey. ...
  4. Top off the last quarter of your plate with your favorite starches, like roasted yams, mashed potatoes or that too-good-to-resist stuffing.
Nov 14, 2022

What is the unhealthiest food on Thanksgiving? ›

14 Unhealthiest Thanksgiving Sides To Avoid This Year
  • Sweet potato casserole. Foodio/Shutterstock. ...
  • Green bean casserole. from my point of view/Shutterstock. ...
  • Ambrosia salad. Alleko/Getty Images. ...
  • Jell-O salad. Islandleigh/Getty Images. ...
  • Dinner rolls. Say-cheese/Getty Images. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Potatoes au gratin. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese.
Nov 6, 2023

What is the healthiest way to cook a Thanksgiving turkey? ›

Rustveld suggests air frying your turkey as a healthier alternative to deep frying. It takes less time at 400 degrees, and the end product contains less fat since you do not need to add oil. “Deep frying is not as healthy as air frying, roasting or grilling,” he said.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What is better to eat than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

So go ahead and shake things up this Thanksgiving with one of these flavorful alternatives to cooking up a whole bird this year, like mushroom, Gruyère, & spinach-stuffed pork tenderloin, vegan mushroom pot pie, or a juicy prime rib. We're not sure how it happened, but Team Delish is all about a Thanksgiving lasagna.

How healthy is Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The traditional turkey-day feast, replete with fatty, high-cholesterol foods like drumsticks, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing, is generally anything but heart-healthy. Try a healthy roasted turkey and gravy recipe for your Thanksgiving meal.

What is the healthiest turkey option? ›

Deli-sliced meat will be the healthiest option because of the low ingredient list – take this Boar's Head Premium Lower Sodium turkey, for example, which contains only “Turkey breast, water, less than 1.5% of salt, sugar, sodium phosphate.”

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving foods? ›

Your Ranking
  1. Turkey.
  2. Gravy.
  3. Sweet potatoes.
  4. Bread or rolls.
  5. Stuffing or dressing.
  6. Mac and cheese.
  7. Ham.
  8. Green beans.
Nov 17, 2023

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

My brother's birthday is November 26, so we usually celebrate it while the family is together for Thanksgiving. Traditional Thanksgiving foods include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. These dishes often vary by region and family traditions.

What does a healthy Thanksgiving plate look like? ›

Half of your plate should be covered in vegetables (carrots, green beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, salad), a quarter of it should be carbohydrates and starches (potatoes, stuffing and a bread roll), and a quarter should be protein (turkey).

What is a healthy menu plate? ›

My Healthy Plate For The Day
Food groupsFoods to be consumed / day (weight of raw foods in grams)Total protein / day (grams) from each food group
Cereals (incl. Nutricereals)27020
Pulses*9021
Milk/ Curd30010
Vegetables+ And green leafy vegetable (GLV)3004
3 more rows
Mar 12, 2020

What is healthy platter? ›

Choose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. Eat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice). Limit refined grains (like white rice and white bread).

What should I eat on Thanksgiving to not gain weight? ›

Try these healthy options for Thanksgiving dinner:
  • Beets. These sweet and savory vegetables are an excellent source of essential nutrients, including iron and magnesium.
  • Brussel sprouts. ...
  • Butternut squash soup. ...
  • Roasted Sweet Potatoes. ...
  • White Turkey Meat.

What should you eat instead of turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

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