The best 180 healthy Thanksgiving recipes! From turkey to dessert, this post has everything you need to plan a healthier Thanksgiving!
Why not make this Thanksgiving a little healthier? Then you don’t have to feel too guilty about overeating! Since I basically just post desserts and we shouldn’t only eat sweets for Thanksgiving, I’ve scoured the internet for the yummiest sounding healthy Thanksgiving recipes I could find. I’ve listed whole grain, gluten-free and grain-free options when relevant.
Turkey
Need some vegetarian main dishes? Check out these 40 Vegetarian Main Dishes for Thanksgiving from Oh My Veggies!
Savory Herb Rub Roasted Turkey from The Little Kitchen – Find out what the secret is to keeping your turkey moist!
Grilled Turkey from Eat Boutique – Free up space in your oven with this grilled turkey!
Thanksgiving Turkey Pavochon from The Noshery – How they do turkey in Puerto Rico!
Butterflied Turkey with Cranberry-Molasses Glaze from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures – Butterflying the turkey results in a super moist and tender bird!
Roasted Turkey Breast with Bacon and Herbs from Jelly Toast – Don’t need an entire turkey? Try this turkey breast recipe!
Roasted Turkey Breast from What’s Gabby Cooking – Brine makes a world of a difference in this simple recipe!
Cajun Turkey Breast from Feed Your Soul – It doesn’t get much easier than this spicy recipe!
Gravy
How to Make Turkey Gravy Recipe & Troubleshooting from Cookin’ Canuck – if you’re having problems with your gravy, this is the post for you!
Make Ahead Turkey Gravy from The Yummy Life – Reduce stress on the big day by preparing this up to two days before!
Gravy Recipe from Life’s Ambrosia – This basic technique can be used for any type of gravy!
Foolproof Herbed Turkey Gravy from Sarah’s Cucina Bella – learn what makes this recipe foolproof!
Vegetarian Wild Mushroom Gravy from Oh My Veggies – The perfect gravy for those who prefer a meat-free gravy.
Homemade Gravy Without Drippings from Chocolate Moosey – This can be made a day ahead and fried onion adds a huge boost of flavor!
Gluten-free:
Gluten-free Gravy from Saveur – This rich brown gravy is for garlic lovers only!
Paleo Chicken Gravy from Health Starts in the Kitchen – This can also be used for turkey gravy!
Gluten Free / Dairy Free / Vegan Gravy from Around My Family Table – Diet restriction super friendly yet delicious and easy.
Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Low-Fat Apple Cider Gravy from Savoring the Thyme – This gravy gets plenty of flavor from apple cider!
Gluten-free Gravy from Serious Eats – Prepare this gravy the day before Thanksgiving, and then stir in the pan drippings the day of serving!
Stuffing
Almost all of these recipes can be adapted to be whole grain by using whole wheat bread!
Sweet Bread Sausage and Medjool Date Stuffing from Farmgirl Gourmet
Pecan Cranberry Stuffing with Sausage from Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Sage Cornbread Stuffing from The Little Kitchen
Classic Homemade Bread Stuffing from Baked by Rachel
Sourdough Stuffing with Mushrooms, Apples and Sage from Two Peas and Their Pod
Grain-free:
Savory Stuffing from Wellness Mama
Paleo Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe from A Girl Worth Saving
Grain-free Thanksgiving Stuffing from Against All Grain
Thanksgiving Caramelized Onion Sausage Stuffing from PaleOMG
Grain Free Stuffing and Paleo Biscuits from Deliciously Organic
Homestyle Stuffing (GAPS, paleo, primal) from Mommypotamus
Gluten-free:
Gluten-free Cornbread and Bacon Stuffing from Recipe Girl
Quinoa Sage Stuffing from Tasty Yummies
Gluten-free Stuffing with Kale, Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms from Oh My Veggies
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe with Autumn Fruit and Nuts from The Culinary Life
Artichoke Sausage and Parmesan Stuffing from All Day I Dream About Food
Bread
Whole grain:
Honey Whole Wheat Bread from Tutti Dolci
Pumpkin Cornbread Baked in Jars from Healthy Food for Living
Light Wheat Rolls from Cookie Jar Treats
Pumpkin Drop Biscuits from The Rookie Cook
Pumpkin Corn Muffins from Running to the Kitchen
Whole Wheat Cranberry Rolls from Good Cheap Eats
Honey Wheat Rolls from Taste and Tell
Healthier Pumpkin Beer Bread with Bourbon Butter from Quarter Life Crisis
Gluten-free:
Super Moist Cornbread from Yammie’s Gluten Freedom
Gluten-free Biscuits and Gravy from Gluten-free on a Shoestring
Sweet Potato Cornbread from Gluten-free Goddess
Cheddar Sage Biscuit from Gluten-free Fix
Gluten-free High Fiber Dinner Rolls from King Arthur Flour
Gluten-free Dairy-free Soft Dinner Rolls from Simply Gluten-free
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins & Whipped Honey-Maple Cinnamon Butter from Boulder Locavore
Grain-free:
Paleo Cornbread from A Girl Worth Saving
Grain-free Buttermilk Biscuits from Health Starts in the Kitchen
Best Ever Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins from Urban Poser
Grain-free Apple Walnut Bread from Anja’s Food 4 Thought
The Perfect Paleo Biscuit from Simply Living Healthy
Cranberry Sauce
Ginger and Citrus Cranberry Sauce from Beard + Bonnet
Cranberry Raspberry Relish from Fork & Beans
Cabernet Cranberry Sauce from The Kitchen is My Playground
Apple/Apricot, Beet, Cranberry Sauce from Farm Fresh Eats
Hot Pepper Cranberry Sauce from Barefeet in the Kitchen
Spiced Cranberry Sauce from The Corner Kitchen Blog
Best Ever Slow Cooker Cranberry Chutney from Pineapple and Coconut
Chipotle Lime Cranberry Sauce from All Day I Dream About Food
Fruit
Roasted Pears from Spoonful of Flavor
Crockpot Applesauce from Neighbor Food
Sesame Roasted Pears from Nerds with Knives
Prosciutto Wrapped Pears with Goat Cheese and Honey from The Little Things
Sweet Potatoes
No marshmallow recipes to be found here! ;)
Baked Sweet Potato Fries from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Unstuffed Sweet Potatoes with Spinach from Barefeet in the Kitchen
Skinnier Sweet Potato Casserole from I Heart Eating
Roasted Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad with Maple Orange Dressing from The Roasted Root
Roasted Cinnamon Almond Sweet Potatoes from My San Francisco Kitchen
Mashed Coconut Sweet Potatoes from Oatmeal with a Fork
Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes from What’s Gaby Cooking
Roasted Sweet Potatoes from Rachel Cooks
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes from Busy in Brooklyn
Nana’s Sweet Potato Casserole – Lightened Up and Vegan from Everyday Maven
White Potatoes
Asiago Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli from The Comfort of Cooking
Make Ahead Apple and Potatoes Tip from Donuts, Dresses and Dirt
Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes from Created by Diane
The Best Mashed Potatoes from Centercut Cook
Low-Fat Parmesan Rosemary Mashed Potatoes from The Realistic Nutritionist
Healthier Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes from Chocolate & Carrots
Healthier Cheesy Potato Casserole from Persnickety Plates
Creamy Low Fat Mashed Potatoes from Cookin’ Canuck
Smoky and Cheesy Buttermilk Baked Mashed Potatoes from Picky Palate
Other Veggies
Vegan Perfect Seven Layer Salad from Namely Marly
Roasted Asparagus from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
Mashed Root Vegetables with Bacon Vinaigrette from Perry’s Plate
Mashed Turnips with Bacon and Chives from Primally Inspired
Vegan and Gluten-free Green Bean Casserole from Eat the Love
Coconut Roasted Butternut Squash from This American Bite
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes in a Lemon Cup from Climbing Mountain Grier
Brussels and Bacon from The Lemon Bowl
Butternut Squash Cranberry Sorghum Salad from Savory Simple
Butternut and Cranberry Freekeh Salad from Taste Love and Nourish
Millet Pilaf with Roasted Carrot + Fennel from An Edible Mosaic
Bacon Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese from Hidden Ponies
Mashed Cauliflower and Kohlrabi from The Lemon Bowl
Baked Butternut Squash Fries from Tales of an Overtime Cook
Rutabaga Grain from Ricki Heller
Grilled Broccoli Cauliflower Salad from Because I Like Chocolate
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon from Diethood
Braised Carrots with Leeks from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Roasted Parsnips and Carrots from Bluebonnets & Brownies
Butternut Squash Crumble from Chocolate Moosey
Fennel Pollen Scented Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate & Mint from The Hungry Goddess
Broccoli and Snow Pea Salad with Apple Butter Dressing from Dizzy Busy & Hungry
Roasted Pumpkin with Goat Cheese & Thyme from Vintage Kitchen Notes
Drinks
Some of these contain booze. So not exactly healthy. ;)
Apple Cinnamon Whiskey from So Let’s Hang Out
Apple Pie Spice Latte from Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Spiked Ginger Cider from Bran Appetit
Apple Berry Sparkler from Carla’s Confections
Mulled Apple Cider from Haute Hammer
Apple Cider Cups from A Taste of Koko
5 Delicious Thanksgiving Drinks from A Cedar Spoon
Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider from Good Life Eats
The Perfect Thanksgiving Drink from I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Desserts
Grain-free:
Skinny Pumpkin Pie Dip from Back for Seconds
Grain-free Maple Bourbon Pecan Tart from Tasty Yummies
Paleo Apple Galette from A Girl Worth Saving
Paleo Grain-free Apple and Pear Crisp from So Let’s Hang Out
Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake with Spiced Pecan Crust from All Day I Dream About Food
Salted Chocolate Tart from Tasty Yummies
Pumpkin Bread Pudding from A Girl Worth Saving
Pumpkin Coconut Mousse from My Whole Food Life
Cranberry Apple Maple Crisp from With Food + Love
Gluten-free Pumpkin Pie Tart from Family Fresh Cooking
Gluten-free:
Gluten-free Pecan Pie from The Healthy Apple
Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Gluten-free Pumpkin Muffins from Keep It Sweet Desserts
Sweet Potato Cranberry Quick Bread from Beard + Bonnet
Gluten-free and Vegan Pumpkin Tarts from 80twenty
Gluten-free Cranberry Bundt Cake from The Tomato Tart
Sweet Potato Pie with Maple Quinoa Crust from Nosh and Nourish
Mini Vegan Chocolate Chip Berry Pies from Jew Hungry
Maple Cream Pumpkin Pie with Buttery Gingersnap Crust from Spabettie
Plum Hazelnut Yogurt Cake from Vintage Kitchen Notes
Caramel Apple Crumble Torte from Ricki Heller
Gluten-free Pie Crust from King Arthur Flour
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Three Ways (classic, rustic, gluten-free) from Oh She Glows
Whole grain:
100% Whole Grain Gooey Butter Pumpkin Cake from Texanerin Baking
Honey Ginger Cranberry Apple Crisp from Food Doodles
Maple Pecan Pie with Sprouted Spelt Crust from Nourished Kitchen
Greek Yogurt Whole Wheat Maple Apple Cake from Bakeaholic Mama
100% Whole Grain Cranberry Apple Crisp from Texanerin Baking
Lightened Up Pumpkin Spice Bars from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Whole Grain Apple Raspberry Oat Crumble from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures
Unconventional Cranberry Pie from Eat Good 4 Life
Little Spiced Plum Pies from London Bakes
Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars from Specialty Cake Creations
Mini Whole Wheat Apple Pies from Pidge’s Pantry
Vegan Pumpkin Bread from Eating Made Easy
Maple Glazed Olive Oil Pumpkin Cake from Healthy Green Kitchen
Apple Cranberry Crumb Pie with Whole Wheat Crust from Recipe Girl
Spiced Pumpkin Layer Cake with Creamy Cinnamon Whipped Frosting from A Farm Girl’s Dabbles
That’s it! I hope you found something to add to your Thanksgiving menu this year. :)