51 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes: Stuffing, Sides & Desserts

Whether you’re on a special diet or just looking for a lighter option, we’ve found the best healthy Thanksgiving recipes you and your family will love!

We love getting together with family and enjoying a meal together. With that said, we like to put the focus on feeling good with our family versus being stuffed and miserable!

Enter these healthy Thanksgiving recipes!

We chose to organize these healthy Thanksgiving recipes by the type of dish they are; however, we’ve included paleo, gluten-free and vegan Thanksgiving recipes in each section.

We love following a healthy balanced diet, too. (Grab our Healthy Eating Holiday Series here!)

So you’ll see some recipes that are just a tad lighter in sugar, fat, and calories without meeting a specific diet.

This post is apart of our Healthy Holiday Series!

Also, please know we are all about the balance. We plan on eating a little of everything, and if you saw us Thanksgiving – I think we’d impress you with our appetites.

The idea of lightening things up just gives you and us a little wiggle room.

These healthy Thanksgiving recipes don’t look or taste like a compromise.

Don’t believe me? I dare you to try one of these recipes.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Appetizers

• Above: Cranberry Meatballs
• Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Vegan Gluten-Free Apple Pie Bars

Thanksgiving Turkey

• Above: Spicy Honey Glazed Turkey
• Another Great Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing & Gravy 

• Above: Paleo Sausage, Apple, and Chestnut Stuffing 
• Gluten-Free and Paleo Stuffing
• Low Carb Cauliflower Stuffing

• Above: Mushroom Sausage Stuffing
• Fall Harvest Salad & Pumpkin Goddess Dressing
• Vegan Stuffing

• Above: Vegan Gravy
• Another Vegan Gravy

Healthy Thanksgiving Casseroles

• Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole
• Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole 
• Vegan Green Bean Casserole

• Vegan Holiday Pie
• Broccoli Casserole
• Harvest Squash Casserole

Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

• Above: Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe 
• Paleo Sweet Potato Apple Hash Browns

• Above: Maple Holiday Slaw
• Glazed Baby Carrots with Honey and Ginger 
• Vegan Mac & Cheese

• Above: Cranberry Pecan Brussel Sprout Salad

• Above: Blistered Green Beans 
• Bacon and Brussel Sprouts

This healthy take on Mashed Sweet Potatoes contains  less sugar and is lighter than the traditional casserole with marshmallows!

• Above: Microwave Spaghetti Squash with Sage-Browned Butter and Toasted Walnuts 
• Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake

• Above: Whole 30 Mashed Potatoes 
• Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes

• Above: Stuffed Butternut Squash with Quinoa 
• Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash
• Garlic Parmesan Roasted Zucchini 

• Above: Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate 
• Roasted Carrot Salad
• Almond Cranberry Slaw

• Above: Roasted Pear Walnut and Kale Salad
• Collard Greens
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic

Grab Our 7 Delicious and Healthy Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

Healthy Thanksgiving Bread, Rolls & Gravy

• Gluten-Free Biscuits by Recreating Happiness (holy moly – these look amazing!)
• Easy Keto Cornbread 
• Gluten-Free Cornbread

• Grain-free Sweet Potato Biscuits

Check out our tips for avoiding weight gain during the holidays!

Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts

• Low Carb Pumpkin Pie Bars (Seen above)
• Vegan Apple Crisp
• Keto Apple Pie Crumble

• Above: Keto Pumpkin Pie
• Vegan Pumpkin Pie

• Above: Keto Peanut Butter Pie
• Gluten-Free Pecan Pie

• Above: Paleo Apple Pie
• Paleo Sweet Potato Pie
• No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie

• Above: Vegan & Gluten-Free Carrot Cake (Seen above)
• Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

Another FUN (but non-keto) Thanksgiving Dessert is our fun take on Rachel’s English Trifle from Friends!

Plus if you’re like us, you probably munch on leftovers on that Friday and Saturday.

So while we can indulge one day, we don’t want to overdo it just because the leftovers are convenient over the next few days.

You can grab our printable Thanksgiving Potluck sign up sheet for just $1! We love this printable because it simplifies the meal planning around the holidays!

More Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

I also have a few friends who put together similar guides for healthy holiday recipes.

If you’re still looking for that perfect dish, check out their posts as well.

• Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
• 18 Holiday Comfort Foods Gone Healthy
• 21 Day Fix Approved Thanksgiving Recipes
• 60 Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
• Best Sugar Free Desserts

Check out our 5 Secrets to Happy & Healthy Holiday Eating!

Paleo, Gluten-free and Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Please keep in mind just because something is vegan, paleo, or gluten-free doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy.

Each recipe is designed for Thanksgiving – a chance to enjoy those rich Fall flavors.

So while we were mindful of food allergies and sensitivities, it’s best to always practice portion control.

Do you have leftovers?

I mentioned above that we tend to munch on those leftovers forever.

My friend Chrissy at Snacking in Sneakers put together a list of 8 Amazing Leftover Turkey Recipes!

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• Healthy Holidays Series: Simple Ways to Eat Healthy and Stay Active

You may also enjoy our Healthy Holiday Series! Sign up for it below this post!

Our holiday series focuses on helping you have a healthy, happy and stress-free (or less stressful) holiday season.

We share our favorite recipes like this post, tips to feel your best, healthy gift guides and other fun family ideas.

Do you use healthy Thanksgiving recipes? Do you prefer Paleo, Vegan, or Gluten-Free recipes?