18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 11/06/2023

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Looking forward to holiday cooking but dreading the heavy feeling afterwards? Enjoy these delicious healthy Thanksgiving recipes!

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (1)

Everyone saves their most special recipes (with lots of butter, sugar, cream!) to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same, it seems, without green bean casserole, the best stuffing, homemade baked mac and cheese, or those totally addicting pumpkin spice candied walnuts, or maybe your Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without a fancy sweet potato casserole or cheesy potatoes.

And then there’s dessert! We usually have to wait an hour or two after dinner before anyone is ready for dessert. Pumpkin pie always has a starring role with lots of freshly whipped cream. My grandma always makes her delicious apple crisp, too.

If you’re still looking for that perfect Thanksgiving recipe, be sure to check out my list of favorite traditional and not-so-traditional Thanksgiving recipes!

Unfortunately, while those special occasion recipes taste great, your body isn’t so happy about it later.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

I like to try to “lighten” up traditional Thanksgiving dishes with a little less butter, a little less sugar, but NOT a little less flavor. The goal is to make them a healthier but not any less tasty!I’ve also included a couple of recipes for low calorie, high protein turkey breast that are easy to make and perfect for smaller get-togethers.

Have a wonderful and healthy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy a few of these healthy Thanksgiving recipes.

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Herb roasted turkey breast is a healthy and flavorful alternative for Thanksgiving dinner. It's also great for smaller families or people who don’t like dark meat!

Check out this recipe

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Instant Pot Turkey Breast

With lots of flavorful herbs, a quick-cooking Instant Pot turkey breast is always juicy, tender, and perfectly done. And the bonus? There's no need to thaw it first!

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (3)

Apple Stuffing

Tangy, bright flavors take this apple stuffing up a notch, with sourdough bread, Granny Smith apples, and tart dried cranberries. It's wonderfully delicious homemade stuffing!

Check out this recipe

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Cranberry Sauce with Roasted Grapes, Apples, and Shallots

Add this beautiful jewel toned side to your Thanksgiving menu! Cranberry sauce with roasted grapes, apples, and shallots provides a burst of flavor, both sweet and savory, that is unforgettable.

Check out this recipe

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Easy Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce

Flavorful cinnamon apple cranberry sauce is easy to make and can be made in advance. This traditional Thanksgiving relish is packed full of healthy antioxidants and vitamin C.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (6)

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Oven roasted sweet potatoes are delicious just as they are, or they can be seasoned in a variety of ways. A healthy alternative to sweet potato casseroles loaded with sugar and butter but just as flavorful.

Check out this recipe

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Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet potato casserole copycat is gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free, and so, so delicious! It has a crunchy granola-like topping.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (8)

Vanilla Bean Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Vanilla bean mashed sweet potatoes are creamy and sweet. You can easily reduce the amount of butter and sugar in this recipe to make it even healthier.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (9)

Green Beans Almondine

A healthy substitute for green bean casserole on Thanksgiving. green beans almondine is a memorable side dish with toasted almonds, browned butter, shallots, and lemon zest.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (10)

Honey Glazed Carrots with Chili Powder

Pleasantly sweet and spicy, honey glazed carrots with chili powder are easy to make and everyone loves them. Make them your own by using a different sweetener, spice, or herbs.

Check out this recipe

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Mashed Butternut Squash (sweet or savory)

Whether you make it sweet or savory, mashed butternut squash will be a standout on your Thanksgiving table, or as a healthy side dish any day of the week!

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (12)

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Walnuts

With crisp tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, this Brussels sprouts salad is a great Thanksgiving salad, easy to make and healthy, too.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (13)

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Arugula & Sweet Potato

Bursting with flavor, roasted cauliflower salad with sweet potato, arugula, and pomegranate is a feast for the eyes and full of healthy ingredients. It fits well on the Thanksgiving table.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (14)

Kale and Pear Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Kale and pear salad combines tender kale, juicy ripe pears, briny feta cheese, and a sprinkling of savory granola, topped with a healthy yogurt dressing. This fall salad is sure to be a hit on Thanksgiving Day.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (15)

Sweet Kale Salad with Dried Cranberries and Poppy Seed Dressing

Sweet kale salad is a copycat of the popular bagged salad you find in grocery stores — but as always, homemade is way better, with a healthier poppy seed dressing made with yogurt.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (16)

Sautéed Parsnips With White Wine And Thyme

A classy, stand-out side dish, sautéed parsnips are flavored with wine, butter, and thyme. They’re a healthy addition to any meal – especially Thanksgiving!

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (17)

Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan and Herbs

Simple yet flavorful, this spaghetti squash with Parmesan and herbs is a low-carb healthy Thanksgiving side dish that can take the place of mashed potatoes or stuffing.

Check out this recipe

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Mini Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Bite-sized pumpkin pie tarts are an easy no-bake treat and a lighter addition to a Thanksgiving dessert table!

Check out this recipe

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Cranberry Clafoutis

Try a cranberry clafoutis, a classic custard-like pie that's a cinch to make and only 158 calories per serving, a healthy alternative to rich Thanksgiving pies.

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (20)

Rosé Spritzer

Arosé spritzer is a two ingredient co*cktail that’s light and refreshing. Since it’s not too sweet, it’s a popular and lower calorie choice that goes perfectly with rich Thanksgiving food. There are many ways you can customize this simple co*cktail, too!

Check out this recipe

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (21)

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  1. denise says

    those are some tasty ideas

    Reply

    • Rachel Gurk says

      Thanks Denise!

      Reply

18+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest food for Thanksgiving? ›

White turkey meat, plain vegetables, roasted sweet potatoes, defatted gravy, and pumpkin pie tend to be the best bets because they are lower in fat and calories.

What is the unhealthiest food at Thanksgiving? ›

14 Unhealthiest Thanksgiving Sides To Avoid This Year
  • Potatoes au gratin. ...
  • Macaroni and cheese. ...
  • Canned cranberry sauce. ...
  • Candied yams. sasazawa/Shutterstock. ...
  • Sausage stuffing. Alivemindphotography/Getty Images. ...
  • Turkey Gravy. Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock. ...
  • Cornbread. Bhofack2/Getty Images. ...
  • Pecan Pie. Nicolasmccomber/Getty Images.
Nov 6, 2023

What is the healthiest meat for Thanksgiving? ›

Best: Light Meat without Skin

Light meat turkey, such as the breast, is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than dark meat. A 4-ounce portion can have 140 calories. Still, there's no need to stress if you love dark meat. A more important factor is whether you eat the skin.

How to make a low calorie Thanksgiving plate? ›

Start by filling half your plate with vegetables, then pile one-quarter up with turkey breast, and leave the remaining one-quarter for starchy sides. Here, some more expert-approved guidelines for keeping portions in check this Thanksgiving Day.

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.

How to eat healthy Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Lighten Your Recipes
  1. Skip the cream. Use Greek yogurt or whole milk instead in mashed potatoes, creamy soups, and creamed onion or spinach recipes.
  2. Reduce the sugar. Cut it back by 10 to 25 percent in baking recipes. ...
  3. Add some fiber. ...
  4. Upgrade the stuffing. ...
  5. Be sodium savvy. ...
  6. Boost nutrition.
Nov 22, 2021

Why shouldn't you eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

There are many pathogens associated with turkey, including clostridium perfringens, campylobacter, and salmonella. These can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and can last a few hours or a few days. They can even cause fatalities.

What is the least liked Thanksgiving food? ›

"For the third year in a row, cranberry sauce takes first place as the most disliked traditional Thanksgiving food. Over 31% of respondents, 82 million American adults, do not want cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving dinner.

Why is Thanksgiving food so unhealthy? ›

Thanksgiving can really do a number on the digestive system (evidently mostly a number two). “The foods we eat on Thanksgiving tend to be fried, fatty or processed. Then there's the sheer amount of how much people eat. All of this can lead to bloating, constipation or diarrhea,” said Dr.

What is the healthiest turkey option? ›

You might dig into the plentiful pile of turkey breast, which is typically considered the "healthier" choice.

What is the healthiest turkey to cook? ›

Roasting. Roasting a turkey in its own juices is the healthiest method of cooking a turkey, if you don't add butter under the skin. You're even better off if you don't eat the skin because that's where the saturated fat is hidden, as mentioned before.

What is one of the most fattening items on the Thanksgiving menu? ›

Stuffing

Stuffing packs a one-two punch of refined carbs from white bread and fat from butter. Some versions also include fatty sausage or other meats.

How do you not eat a lot on Thanksgiving? ›

Focus on taking smaller portions of each item so your plate doesn't turn into Thanksgiving Mountain. And after you're done eating, give yourself 10 minutes before going back for seconds. This will allow your body to recognize what you have eaten and you can more easily decide if you are really hungry for more.

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 healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

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 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

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.

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