100 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes - Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

100 healthy Thanksgiving recipes gives you ideas for starters, sides, breads, turkey, dessert and more to make your healthy Thanksgiving delicious!

I’m not sure there can be any holiday more amazing than Thanksgiving.

We sit around a table, stuff our faces full of delicious food and acknowledge things we’re grateful for with friends and family without any pressure of gift giving.

The holiday feels a bit odd for my family this year as we’re in this weird feeling of upheaval.

We’re literally waiting for my grandmother to pass away in her home under hospice care and the contract we had on selling our house just fell through at the 11th hour.

Two things I could go on and on about in either a very sad (the former) or a very angry/frustrated (the latter) manner, but I won’t (at least not today) because there are still plenty of things to be happy about and grateful for in life.

Like food.

100 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Healthy is relative when it comes to Thanksgiving and let’s use some leniency in the dessert category specifically when referring to the word but all in all, these are some tasty, flavorful Thanksgiving ideas that aren’t too bad for you.

Have fun choosing!

Healthy Thanksgiving Starter Recipes

Cranberry cheddar sausage bites
Rosemary pumpkin hummus
Pumpkin goat cheese dip with caramelized onions
Goat cheese and prosciutto stuffed mushrooms
Crispy carrot chips: 2 ways
Apples on a horseback with jalapeno cream cheese – Climbing Grier Mountain

Healthy Thanksgiving Soup Recipes

Cinnamon ginger kabocha squash soup
Sweet and spicy butternut squash soup
Pumpkin potato soup
Creamy potato leek soup – Tasty Yummies
Parsnip and apple soup – Healthy Green Kitchen
Golden beet soup with roasted garlic cashew cream – With Food + Love
Roasted maple butternut squash soup – Real Food Whole Health
Creamy pumpkin soup – The Comfort of Cooking

Healthy Thanksgiving Rolls, Biscuits and Bread Recipes

Sweet potato bacon biscuits
Rustic rosemary cheddar bacon biscuits
Pumpkin corn muffins with honey sage butter
Cranberry corn muffins
Whole wheat sweet potato banana muffins
Honey wheat clover rolls – Simply Scratch
Cheddar and green onion cornbread – Tasty Yummies
Sweet potato buttermilk biscuits – Love and Olive Oil
The very best buttery dinner rolls – Dine & Dish
Amish potato rolls – Baked by Rachel
Soft and fluffy dinner rolls (100% whole wheat) – Texanerin

100 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes - Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (4)

Healthy Thanksgiving Vegetable/Greens Side Recipes

Green beans with cranberries, bacon and goat cheese
Lemon roasted asparagus
Shaved Brussels sprouts fruit salad
Coconut creamed spinach – Love & Lemons
Roasted broccoli with beer cheese sauce – The Beeroness
Roasted winter squash salad with goat cheese and pine nuts – Gourmande in the Kitchen
Vegan green bean casserole – Eat the Love
Massaged kale + blood orange winter salad – With Food + Love

Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Creamy cauliflower pumpkin mash
Butternut squash and cranberry gratin
Roasted broccoli and cauliflower parmesan gratin
Roasted garlic and greek yogurt smashed potatoes
Twice baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon cashew cream
Creamy butternut squash puree
Maple and roasted garlic squash puree
Goat cheese and spinach mashed sweet potatoes
Sweet potato goat cheese puffs
Glazed sweet potatoes with whiskey pecans – Well Plated
Butternut squash crumble – Chocolate Moosey
Apple bacon stuffed sweet potatoes – How Sweet It Is
Twice baked sweet potatoes with chipotle pecan streusel – Cookin’ Canuck
Sweet potato and kale gratin – Oh My Veggies
Roast pumpkin with feta and honey – Not Quite Nigella
Farro and spiced honey salad with sweet potatoes, apples and chestnuts – A Farmgirl’s Dabbles


(photo courtesy of Texanerin)

Healthy Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce Recipes

5-Ingredient slow cooker cranberry sauce
Quick and simple apple, pear and cranberry sauce
Cranberry pomegranate compote – Healthy Green Kitchen
Honey sweetened orange cranberry sauce – Texanerin
Cranberry raspberry relish – Fork & Beans
Cranberry sauce with orange and cinnamon – Real Housemoms
Bourbon vanilla cranberry sauce – Eat Live Run


(photo courtesy of Wanna Be a Country Cleaver)

Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

Sausage cranberry apple stuffing muffins
Chestnut stuffing
Paleo cranberry flax stuffing – Healthful Pursuit
Chorizo and cornbread stuffing – Wanna Be a Country Cleaver
Gluten free cornbread stuffing with chestnuts, leeks and chanterelles – The Bojon Gourmet
Quinoa sage stuffing – Tasty Yummies
Cornbread and sausage stuffing – Baked by Rachel
Bacon leek stuffing with sage and pecans – Simply Scratch
Gluten free stuffing with kale, caramelized onions and mushrooms – Oh My Veggies


(photo courtesy ofWanna Be a Country Cleaver)

Healthy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Tart cherry cranberry glazed turkey
Tart cherry chestnut stuffed turkey roulade
Organic roast turkey with sage butter – Healthy Green Kitchen
Roasted turkey with herb butter & roasted shallots – Cookin’ Canuck
Roasted turkey breast with bacon and herbs – Jelly Toast
Roasted chicken with garlic sage butter and pomegranate glaze – Alaska from Scratch
Red wine lacquered turkey with spiced butter – Heather Christo

Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Paleo chocolate pecan tart
Paleo pumpkin pie fudge
Cranberry banana bread with orange glaze
Cinnamon apple sugar cake
Pumpkin streusel bread
No bake chocolate coco pumpkin bars
Raw walnut and pecan tartlets: 2 ways
Apple streusel bread
Apple slab pie – Baked by Rachel
Grain free apple and pear crisp– So, Let’s Hang Out
Cranberry curd tart
Apple cinnamon pull apart bread – Bakers Royale
Apple chai pie – Box of Spice
Sweet potato marshmallow cinnamon rolls – Girl Versus Dough
Apple cranberry crumb pie – Baked by Rachel
Paleo apple galette – A Girl Worth Saving
Perfect soft batch pumpkin chocolate chip cookies – Baked by Rachel

Bonus: Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipes

Don’t forget about the leftovers! This might be my favorite part about Thanksgiving. In addition to 100 healthy Thanksgiving recipes, here are some ideas to get you started on how to use up all those Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge:

Turkey avgolemono soup
Thanksgiving breakfast frittata
Turkey cranberry enchilada melt
Thanksgiving leftover waffle breakfast sandwiches

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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100 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes - Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest food for 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 to have a 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

What are important Thanksgiving ingredients? ›

Essential Thanksgiving Ingredients: The Produce Aisle
  • Onions and all other alliums. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Sweet potatoes and squashes. ...
  • Golden Delicious apples, for that Perfect Apple Pie.

What Thanksgiving food is low in calories? ›

Breast meat is generally the lowest in calories. But no matter which part of the bird you go with, consider ditching the skin. Not only is that where much of the natural fat sits, but also many people slather the outside of the bird with butter or oil before roasting.

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

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 can I eat instead of Thanksgiving food? ›

Alternatives could be:
  • Baked Stuffed Shrimp dinner or any seafood, saffron herbed rice, seasonal vegetables.
  • Beef Crown Rib Roast dinner with Potatoes Gratin Dauphinoise and asparagus.
  • Roast Leg of Lamb with wine, lemon, garlic, and rosemary, Brussel sprouts, wild rice.
Nov 5, 2023

What are the 10 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Here are our favorite traditional Thanksgiving dishes that are delicious and easy to make.
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: Up to 4 people. ...
  • Stuffing. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Sweet Potato Casserole. ...
  • Baked Corn. ...
  • Mac and cheese. ...
  • Peas & Water Chestnuts. ...
  • Fresh Rolls.
Oct 28, 2021

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 the unhealthiest Thanksgiving food? ›

Worst: Sausage Stuffing

It's often made with fatty processed meat, butter or margarine, and refined bread or rice. It's a high-calorie food that packs a load of fat, carbs, and nitrates, which are cancer-causing. If you add dried cranberries, there's a good chance they're sweetened and add sugar to your stuffing.

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.

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 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

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