25 Healthy Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner

Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner – When we say “healthy” around here, we mean it. Every single recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner below aligns with our 21 Day Anti-inflammatory Plan. Throughout this 21 Day Plan, we teach you how to remove the most common inflammatory foods, the science for the removal, delicious ingredient swaps and plenty of recipes.

Here are 25 healthy recipes to help prepare your Thanksgiving Dinner using an anti-inflammatory approach. Because honestly, who wants to feel bloated, uncomfortable and achy after eating a delicious family meal?

Make or Take Healthy Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner You Can Enjoy

If you’re not staying home this year for Thanksgiving dinner, it can be a tough one when you’re not sure what your host will be making. Regardless, I am giving you full permission — take your own food for Thanksgiving Dinner. I did this for years before my parents have now chosen to eat as healthy as we do. Knowing I could eat the main course and a few side dishes with ease, I always made a plan ahead of time. After talking to my mom, I would volunteer to make and take a delicious appetizer, charcuterie board and always, always 2+ desserts. All without gluten, dairy or refined sugar. Making it so much easier to enjoy the holiday with my family.

No, I did not advertise how healthy my recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner were to my family. No need to scare them off from the “healthy dishes”! 😆 But, they enjoyed everything I took because I used high quality ingredients that were super delicious. Use a handful of these recipes below to take to your next Thanksgiving dinner and surprise everyone with delicious tasting anti-inflammatory healthy recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner. I guarantee that some of these will be new family traditions that they’ll want you to bring year after year.

Making Your Own Thanksgiving Dinner This Year?

If you’re the host of Thanksgiving Dinner, we have provided a plethora of delicious recipes to choose from. Here’s how we set up our Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

• Appetizers: Select 2 healthy appetizer for Thanksgiving and pair with a tray of pickles (no sugar added) and olives.
• Main Dish: Choose your favorite main dish such as a roasted chicken or our “brown sugar” glazed ham using coconut sugar.
• Healthy Sides: Then, select 3-4 side dish healthy sides for Thanksgiving from the big list below. I always aim for 1-2 roasted, 1 pan skillet and a delicious grain free biscuit.
• Dessert: YUM! One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving and I definitely indulge a bit. While some of them may not be considered “traditional”, they are delicious and a perfect day to make a few desserts to share.
• Cocktails: We love a delicious cocktail for Thanksgiving, but to keep this anti-inflammatory they are definitely mocktails that taste delicious without the inflammation.

20+ Recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner — Oh, and Super Healthy Too!

However, healthy recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner can be a little challenging, so we’ve put together this entire post dedicated to you! Whether you’ve taken the 21 Day Anti-inflammatory Plan or not, this list of healthy recipes are gluten free, dairy free and naturally sweetened.

• RECIPES WITH AN ASTERISK* – These recipes for Thanksgiving Dinner are not only anti-inflammatory for our 21 Day Plan, but are also AIP friendly

Healthy Appetizer for Thanksgiving

• Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board (as shown above)- One of my favorite ways to make a simple appetizer is with this Thanksgiving Charcuterie board (print off the recipe card below). I pair seasonal berries with Simple Mills grain free crackers, high quality nut-based cheeses. Plenty of options to make it a fun and delicious appetizer.

• Recipe for Homemade Fudge – Yes, fudge can be a healthy appetizer for Thanksgiving because it’s loaded with delicious cacao powder, dates and cashew butter. Make a batch and set it out just before guests arrive.

• Paleo Buffalo Chicken Dip – Not only can this recipe be made in less than 5 minutes, but it’s also delicious and it will fool even the most avid dairy lover in your life.

Main Dish for Thanksgiving Dinner

Choose a Healthy Turkey: Ever wonder if a free turkey tastes better? Find out this holiday with a free, all-natural, zero antibiotic turkey with your first order from ButcherBox. We just got a large free turkey in our box and wow, I am impressed!

• *Roasted Chicken – This Roasted Chicken Recipe made with lemon and herbs is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next holiday meal! Full of fresh flavors, and juicy all the way through, this Roasted Chicken is surprisingly easy to make!

• *Brown Sugar Ham Glaze – For just a few favorite holidays throughout the year, we make this brown sugar ham glaze. Of course, we choose the healthiest ham: pastured spiral ham. For the “brown sugar” part of our glaze – we use a delicious combination of coconut sugar and molasses. The depth of the the flavor is unbelievable delicious.

• *Turkey Recipe for Oven: If you’re looking for a tender and juicy turkey that you can enjoy while sticking to a clean eating diet, this article is a must read! 

• Easy Gravy Recipe – This healthy and easy gravy is a very important element of any Thanksgiving dinner. So making sure you pour a delicious and healthy one should be a top priority. Our gravy recipe is not only easy to make, it has the most unusual combination of silkiness, richness, savoriness and…healthfulness.

Healthy Sides for Thanksgiving

• *Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice – Tangy, sweet and bursting with antioxidants, this Cranberry Sauce with Orange Juice is not only a festive holiday condiment, it’s also incredibly healthy!

• Pear and Apple Cranberry Sauce – Not a fan of the tangy and sweet Cranberry Sauce above? Try this one out featuring a delicate blend of pears, apples and cranberries. Plus, naturally sweetened.

3 Tasty Potato Recipes

• *Sweet Mashed Potatoes – Almost exactly like white mashed potatoes upon first glance, these creamy Sweet Mashes Potatoes are the perfect healthy side for Thanksgiving. Made with Japanese sweet potatoes; a variation of sweet potatoes that are easy to digest!

• Parsnip Mashed Potatoes – A delicious mixture of parsnips and potatoes in a simple to make homemade mashed potatoes recipe.

• *Sweet Potato Casserole (omit pecans for AIP) – This Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe is not only sweet and tasty, but it is also nutrient-dense, and healthy! What more could you ask for?

Savory Vegetable Side Dishes!

• *Garlicky Green Bean Recipe – Add a little savory to your Thanksgiving Dinner and make these nutrient-dense Garlicky Green Beans Recipe. In under 20 minutes, these beans are ready for dinner. Full of umami-flavor from the coconut aminos, rich in garlic and a dash of sea salt.

• *Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (as shown above) – If you’re looking for a savory, crispy and delicious side dish, then this roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon is perfect. Plus, if you’re trying to convinced your loved ones just how delicious Brussels sprouts are, then this recipe will work.

• *Honey Roasted Carrots – This is a super easy recipe for Honey Roasted Carrots. Made in little parchment envelopes, it’s a quick recipe to put together and roast while making another side dish or dessert.

• *Green Peas with Garlic and Rosemary – This recipe for Green Peas may just be the perfect recipe for you if you love garlic and rosemary as much as we do.

Choose Between Biscuits and Stuffing:

• Grain-Free Biscuit Recipe – All you need to make this grain-free biscuit recipe is 5 ingredients, a single bowl, and 25 minutes! They’re paleo, SCD, and vegan, and are delicious both savory, and sweet!

• Turkey Sausage Stuffing – Made with a loaf of gluten free bread, this hearty and savory turkey sausage stuffing is the perfect way to bring dinner together.

Healthy Desserts for Thanksgiving

• *Pumpkin Pie Bars (as shown above) – These paleo and AIP pumpkin pie bars are the perfect Thanksgiving dessert! Serve them topped with coconut cream, and you’ve got the real deal. These bars are grain free, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and refined sugar-free.

• Magic Cookie Bars – Too good to pass up, I created a Recipe for Magic Cookie Bars that’s totally gluten, dairy, and refined-sugar free! All of the flavor, without the inflammatory ingredients.

• White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies – These cookies are free of grains, gluten, dairy, and eggs, and totally pass the credentials to be considered both SCD and paleo!

• *Gingerbread Cookies Recipe – Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies are a must-bake every holiday season. They’re basically the epitome of the winter season and a delicious addition to your dessert offerings. This recipe ensures that everybody can enjoy one, regardless of intolerances, special diets, or allergies!

Healthy Cocktails for Thanksgiving

The best way to make healthy cocktails for Thanksgiving is to skip the alcohol. Sorry! Make these recipes below that are bursting with flavor, but don’t add the liquor to the blender when making. Trust me, they still taste delicious and are very satisfying.

• Brandy Lemon Drop – This apricot-based Lemon Drop has a robust flavor and is super delicious and healthy! Naturally sweetened, this cocktail is easy to make and fun to share.

• Pumpkin Margarita Recipe – This Pumpkin Margarita is not just any margarita recipe…because this one has PUMPKIN. Plus, it has zero gluten, dairy, or added sugars.

• Cranberry and Pomegranate Red Punch – Loaded with antioxidants and flavor give this drink a try. With cranberries, peaches, ginger — you will not want to skip this one!