50 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That'll Make You Feel as Good as They Taste
These nutritious alternatives don't skimp on flavor.
The holiday season isn't necessarily the best time to kick off a new healthy eating routine. Thanksgiving, in particular, is a full day dedicated to food, so you're bound to indulge in all the sugary sweets, starchy sides, and seasonal cocktails that make this holiday one of a kind. Although traditional Thanksgiving dishes like buttery mashed potatoes and creamy pumpkin pie aren't known to be especially healthy, that doesn't mean you can't supplement your spread with a few nutritious options! In fact, since classic Thanksgiving foods are notoriously heavy, adding a few lighter bites is a great way to balance out your holiday menu.
Whether you're looking for gluten-free fare, vegetarian alternatives, or nutrient-dense sides that won't weigh you down, you've come to the right place! Our list of healthy Thanksgiving recipes (that definitely don't skimp on holiday flavor or comfort!) has all of these and more. Think: vegetable side dishes like mashed sweet potatoes, butternut squash casserole, and maple bacon Brussels sprouts. Plus, there are plenty of new and creative ideas like seasonal Thanksgiving salads and a protein-packed pumpkin hummus that's sure to get the festivities started. We've also included a slew of air-fryer Thanksgiving recipes, which are great for making lean turkey breast and crispy sides sans oil. As for Thanksgiving desserts? If baked apples weren't on your menu before, they will be now!
At the end of the day, though, it's all about moderation. You can focus on portion control, whether it's making bite-sized versions of your favorite holiday treats or filling up your plate with mostly veggies before adding on the other more decadent dishes. No matter what you decide, knowing you have at least a few healthier options will make you feel good as you celebrate.
Carrot Ribbon Salad
Fall is the perfect time of year to cook fresh and flavorsome carrots, and this ribbon-style iteration makes eating the in-season vegetable so much more fun! Add Ree Drummond's carrot ribbon salad, coated in a lemon-tahini dressing, to your menu, and watch mouths water!
Get Ree's Carrot Ribbon Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Cauliflower
If you're looking for a lighter appetizer to serve before your feast, ditch oily crackers and fried chips and give these air-fried cauliflower bites a try. They're smoky, spiced, and perfect for dipping into the accompanying remoulade-inspired sauce.
Get the Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe.
Mock Apple Pie
While, yes, traditional apple pie has plenty of produce, if you want something less calorically dense, swap apples for zucchini! Truly, this pared-back version tastes just like the original, thanks to the warm spices, brown sugar, and flaky crust!
Get the Mock Apple Pie recipe.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato casserole is loaded with butter and sugar, which can detract from the vitamins and minerals brimming inside this root vegetable. Grilled sweet potato rounds, on the other hand, are a healthier option that taste just as seasonal and delicious. Plus, preparing them is less involved and much quicker!
Get the Grilled Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates
Green beans are another vegetable whose casserole counterpart isn’t nearly as healthy as the real thing. This recipe from Ree breathes new life into the go-to Thanksgiving veggie by including pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and parsley—in our opinion, the perfect balance of flavors.
Get Ree's Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates recipe.
Turkey Meatballs
If you’re hoping to switch things up without entirely straying from tradition, consider whipping up turkey meatballs. They’re protein-packed and satiating, and you won’t have to carve an entire bird or wait hours for them to cook. If you do prefer a full turkey, though, you can always serve these meatballs as an appetizer!
Get Ree's Turkey Meatballs recipe.
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
This healthy Thanksgiving recipe might not be the most conventional, but it’s certainly lighter than the usual pumpkin treats! Just like pumpkin pie, these cookies are sweet and spiced, but the oats offer a bigger boost of fiber. The smaller portion sizes also minimize the amount of sugar and butter in each bite.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash
Round off your Thanksgiving spread with a nutrient-dense and holiday-approved salad! With baby kale, dried cranberries, roasted pepitas, and acorn squash, this medley calls on all the freshest (and healthiest!) flavors of the season.
Get Ree's Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash recipe.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
Hearty and healthy, this Thanksgiving side will appeal to everyone's taste buds. In Ree’s recipe, butternut squash is halved, scooped, and roasted before being stuffed with rice, mushrooms, Gruyère, and sausage. To make it more of a light side and less of a filling meal, you can always remove the sausage, though!
Get Ree's Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts, especially this yummy version, deserve a spot on every Thanksgiving dinner table. With this healthy Thanksgiving recipe, you’ll get roasted sprouts that are crisp and golden and a burst of sweet-yet-tart flavors from the balsamic glaze.
Get the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Roasted Delicata Squash
There are so many reasons to love winter squash! And delicata squash is no exception, especially because it's one of the easier veggies to roast. You don't need to peel it!
Get the Roasted Delicata Squash recipe.
Thanksgiving Salad
There's nothing boring about this colorful salad! It's packed with flavorful mix-ins, like fennel fronds, pickled apples, smoked almonds, and blue cheese.
Get the Thanksgiving Salad recipe.
Spatchcock Turkey
The protein in turkey will keep you feeling satisfied and when it's seasoned with this smoky rub, it's anything but bland. The spatchcocking method also helps to keep the whole bird nice and moist.
Get the Spatchcock Turkey recipe.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, which helps support healthy vision. Plus, they're filling and will keep everyone around the table feeling satisfied.
Get the Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Air Fryer Okra
Is it a Southern Thanksgiving without okra? Nope! Make it way healthier by skipping the oil and crisping it up in the air fryer instead. That way, you can give it an extra dip in that zesty sauce!
Get the Air Fryer Okra recipe.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Making your own cranberry sauce from scratch means that you can adjust the amount of sugar depending on your preferences. Ree's version opts for a natural sweetener like maple syrup, which is better for you, too!
Get Ree's Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe.
Stuffed Acorn Squash
The beautiful orange flesh of acorn squash is sweet and nutty, making it the perfect vessel for a fall meal. Fill it up with sausage, rice, and even more veggies to make it a hearty addition to the table.
Get the Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
If you've never tried raw Brussels sprouts before, now is your chance! The fall veggie can be shredded and added to a hearty slaw-like salad that's nice and crunchy.
Get the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Baking potatoes is a healthier alternative to mashed because you can control the amount of butter or sour cream you put on your portion. Plus, making them in the air fryer is saves time and oven space!
Get the Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe.
Slow Cooker Green Beans
Skip the heavy green bean casserole and make these tender green beans slow cooked in a brothy tomato sauce instead. We promise you won't be disappointed―they're topped with bacon!
Get the Slow Cooker Green Beans recipe.
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