Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes isn’t the oxymoron you’re thinking it is. I’m here to share some of my tastiest Thanksgiving Recipes, that happen to also be made with wholesome, simple ingredients. Yes, that’s right…I’ve taken many of the Classic Thanksgiving Recipes and turned them into modern, healthier versions that still taste incredible….take a peek, I’m sure you’ll find a few Thanksgiving Menu Ideas to add to your table this year.
This post has been edited from the original post published on November 20, 2017.
Jump to:
- Healthy Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Vegan Main Dishes for Thanksgiving
- Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Healthy Squash Recipes
- Thanksgiving Must Haves
- Healthy Salads for Thanksgiving
- Pumpkin Desserts for Thanksgiving
- Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
- Healthy Chocolate Desserts for Thanksgiving
- Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
Celebrate Thanksgiving in style with these delicious recipes. Get inspired to make some family favorites with a new twist this year.
Healthy Thanksgiving Appetizers
Vegan Main Dishes for Thanksgiving
Not everyone likes turkey for Thanksgiving, and that’s OK. Wow your gusts with a show stopping Vegan Dinner for Thanksgiving…or bring along one of these tasty dishes for the pot-luck you’re going to.
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Oh, I’m all about the healthy side dishes and Thanksgiving sides are some of the best of the best!
Healthy Squash Recipes
Winter squash recipes are just what’s needed on your Thanksgiving table. In addition to these, a stuffed acorn squash or quinoa stuffed butternut squash are divine options.
Thanksgiving Must Haves
Make extra gravy…trust me, all the leftovers need gravy! This vegan gravy is super tasty, easy to make….AND…you can make it in advance…none of this last minute, wait for the turkey to get out of the oven craziness. Same with the veggie broth…it’s a MUST for all the great recipes and perfect to make ahead.
Healthy Salads for Thanksgiving
Don’t skip the salad. Your gut will thank you for including some greens in the Thanksgiving Menu. Here are some seriously delicious salads.
Pumpkin Desserts for Thanksgiving
Donuts, cakes and pies….oh my! You’ll want to make yourself a batch of this homemade substitute for pumpkin pie spice to use in your favaor
Vegan Thanksgiving Desserts
No refined sugar was used in the making of these desserts…just pure, wholesome, yumminess. Life is too short to skip dessert. Enjoy these healthier thanksgiving treats.
Healthy Chocolate Desserts for Thanksgiving
Oh yeah….nothing beats chocolate after a big meal. Our tradition is to go for a walk and then come back to indulge. How about you?
As a child, I always loved Thanksgiving. We went to my Aunts house where there were loads of cousins to play with and my Grandmother always did the bulk of the cooking. I remember it fondly as a day that wasn’t rushed. Grandma made chopped liver (it was the “real deal” but I now make this vegetarian mock liver and it is super tasty), and the adults sat around in the living room telling stories and laughing away the afternoon while we ran around having a great time, stopping in to steal a nosh and hear some of the grown-up talk from time to time.
It’s been many years since I have been able to spend a Thanksgiving at Aunt Helen’s but I try to create the same chilled vibe that was always present at her house. The key is to plan your menu, get organized, create a timeline, delegate (yes, ask family and friends for help), and be prepared for your guests to show up hungry. Many people try to “save up” for the big meal, and in doing so, arrive HANGRY. Don’t get flustered. Have some amazing vegan appetizers (oh, hello vegan sweet and sour meatballs or gluten-free stuffed mushrooms)available to snack on….so your guests can spend some quality time together relaxing. There is no rush.
As a health coach I see what a mine field Thanksgiving can be for some to negotiate. Emotional triggers with family drama can lead to over indulging and then negative self talk and a vicious cycle that begins anew. Here is something I wrote about avoiding holiday fatigue, and another about creating Healthy Habits for the Holiday season to create less stress and make room for more joy. They have helped many, and I hope it will help you too!
I always make a pot of Vegan Butternut Squash Soup for Thanksgiving. It’s warm and comforting. The perfect snack for after the football game to tide everyone over until meal time.
Whatever you decide to make, just know that it’s going to be great. Make a reasonable plan and stick to it. Have confidence that it is ENOUGH, that YOU ARE ENOUGH……you don’t need to make more and more and more….until you are too overwhelmed and exhausted to enjoy being with family and friends.
As an adult I still love everything about Thanksgiving (including the cooking) but I am careful remain true to my goal of creating a relaxed environment where I am able to be present to all of the blessings around me….including the gift of time with my loved ones. Wishing you a holiday filled with love and light, good food, and plenty of time to soak it all in.
Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
Aditi
Great roundup of delicious healthy alternates for Thanksgiving!
Debra Klein
Thank you. Have a healthy holiday!
Helen Walder Rogaway
Hi Debbie,
What a treat your blog is. Phillip is driving up to Portland for the holiday and he is planning to cook the
Vegan dishes. I am sure he will be trying some of your recipes. They look soooo good! Yes, I remember the
holidays too. We were always a big, happy crowd – glad to be in America and to celebrate together. Most of
all, you kids had a lot of fun together. Miss you. Happy Thanksgiving. Love, Aunt Helen
Debra Klein
Miss you too…..your house and your kids and YOU were such a big part of my childhood….all happy memories. Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving to all of you. XoXo
Jessica Formicola
So many great Thanksgiving recipes! I can’t wait to try them!
Debra Klein
Thank you! Wishing you a healthy and happy holiday.
Caroline
So many ideas, lie the look of some of the salads.
Debra Klein
Right? Your guests can’t get their greens in, if you don’t offer some!
Courtney
Loving all these healthy sides! Great round up!
Debra Klein
Thanks Courtney. Enjoy the holiday!
Tayler Ross
This is such a great collection of Thanksgiving recipes! Happy holidays!
Debra Klein
You too Tayler! A happy and a healthy one.
Ginny
Love this roundup and that you made it into a healthy one for Thanksgiving. I’m going to start at the top and work my way down.
Debra Klein
Healthy doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions….in fact, healthy is perfect for special occasions because nutritious and delicious aren’t mutually exclusive!!
Dannii
There is such a great selection here. We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in the U.K., but I still want to try all of these.
Debra Klein
No time like the present! These recipes are equally good for lunch or dinner any day!
Gloria
There is something in this collection for everyone. Great for feeding the hungry guests. Looks like you have things covered here from appetizers to dessert.
Debra Klein
Thank you! That was the goal.
Lisa
I think it’s always our childhood memories of the Holidays that stick with us — when we become adults and are actually in charge of “making it happen” it becomes more about logistics, planning, delegating — as you said. I wish we could go back to those easy childhood days. With all of the rich foods that will be on the table, I agree that we need to have some healthy options, so we don’t go into a complete food coma. My favorites here are the roasted carrots, brussels sprouts and tabbouleh — I think I’d love the tabbouleh the day after Thanksgiving with a slice of turkey… Have a great holiday.
Debra Klein
Hope you were able to relax on Friday with a nice plate of tabbouleh and a slice of turkey!
Dana
Oh man. Holiday fatigue, drama, and family tension is REAL. Haha. And it definitely leads to over-indulging. Especially where wine is concerned. Not a very healthy habit, but in the moment, seemingly necessary. This is such a great roundup of healthier choices. It can be so tough when you’re surrounded by heavy carbs and sweets. But if these options are made available, I’d be all over them! I especially love the idea of smashed root veggies. You still get the essence of mashed potatoes, but with way more nutrients 🙂
Debra Klein
Recognizing your triggers and having a plan to stick to your goals is an amazing step towards altering your reality. YAY for you!!
Tracy
Awww great tips, THANK YOU. Feeling like you’re not doing enough is definitely the hardest part for me at the holidays. I have this intense fear that there wont be enough food when we ALWAYS have an insane amount of leftovers. Deep breaths and a plan, that’ll be my mantra this year!
Debra Klein
The struggle is real to feel “good enough” in any category!!! This holiday is no exception. Hope it was a peaceful holiday and you were proud of what you accomplished.
Cathy
Hope yours was lovely! Love the family photo! Is that you on his lap!😉. Thank you! Very grateful to have been a part of your journey this year!!!
Debra Klein
Thanks so much! We had such a lovely holiday….and cooking in the new kitchen made things so easy and relaxing. So much room for everyone (I actually got everyone in the kitchen helping this year) and everything. A JOY to cook in this kitchen.
Carmy
So many ideas! I totally feel you, every Thanksgiving, I feel like I have to add this or that but this year all I wanted was a turkey and mashed potatoes. Easy peasy! It can be such a stressful time and you’re correct, we gotta make a plan and stick to it.
Debra Klein
Right? Nobody ever misses those extra dishes….but we are often much better off to just not do it.
Tina
I am loving all these healthy options, and I love the point you make about feeding your guests as soon as they arrive with some healthy appetizers to prevent grumpiness due to hunger. I really want to try out your thumbprint cookies as they are my favorite, and a great holiday cookie.
Debra Klein
Those thumbprint cookies are so delicious. We eat them year round. So perfect with a cup of tea.
Tina
I view the holidays as a personal obligation to create lovely memories for the children. I remember the hustle and bustle in the kitchen as my parents were buzzing around trying to make everything perfect. The kids job was to stay out of the way and keep ourselves entertained. Your post reminds me of those childhood times. Thanks for this collection of TG recipes, saving this for future reference. Happy Holidays!
Debra Klein
So interesting to hear how others grew up and what they try to create because of that…..I wish I had spent more time cooking with my grandmother, but I wouldn’t trade those times spent with my cousins for anything.
Mackenzie
All of the chaos of the Thanksgiving both gives me energy and drains me at the same time. I get so excited about all the fun cooking, that I often forget to prioritize the time with my friends and family. At the end of the day, I always enjoy the food, but I usually find myself wishing that I had spent more time letting my kids help, or getting to know my friends better. With each year, I work more and more on trying to pick recipes that can be prepared ahead so I have more opportunity to focus on the things I am most thankful for – the people in my life.
Debra Klein
I hear ya….that’s always my goal as well.
Traci
Would you believe I usually wait until Thanksgiving Day to finalize my menu? I do it because there are so many choices and I can’t seem to settle on them until I’m completely under pressure LOL. Well, this roundup is sweet and wish I had seen it in time for Thanksgiving last week! Pretty sure I’d have knocked out those roasted carrots and that apple galette. Bookmarking for future…thanks for sharing!
Debra Klein
You are not alone in waiting until you have no choice!! Ah….those recipes are definitely favorites and they are good any day of any week….and with the holiday season just beginning, you just may have a chance to make those carrots or the galette!
Marisa Franca
Oh, My!! Such great sounding recipes and I do think that just because it’s a holiday you don’t have to have high calorie food to celebrate. Your collection of recipes sounds delicious! I think a lot of times people overeat because of stress. If you can make some of these recipes ahead of time — you’ll have delicious recipes and no last minute panic.
Debra Klein
Well said. Exactly how I think!
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic
Making a plan and delegating to friends and family is a great way to reduce the stress of hosting a holiday meal. You are so right in that by creating a chill vibe, everyone is able to relax and enjoy themselves. The food round up is gorgeous. Your hummus looks so delicious!
Debra Klein
Right? So many people get hung up thinking they have to do it all themselves! Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness at all….more like strength and confidence. Happy Holiday Season.
Amanda
What great ideas for healthier dishes for Thanksgiving! These would be perfect throughout the holiday season, really. I absolutely love the sound of the broccoli salad with miso dressing. It looks like a great dish to have for lunch, too, during this busy and typically indulgent time of year. Those thumbprint cookies would be ideal for a cookie swap as well!
Debra Klein
Thank you. Both are recipe winners all year round!
Donna
I love that you advocate for sticking to the timeline. So many times people have shown up hungry and I have felt compelled to rush and get things on the table…in turn, ruining whatever it is I am cooking and also getting myself all stressed. I am totally whipping up a batch of that amazing artichoke dip for the next big feast to cater for the hangry ones!
Debra Klein
Taking a minute to prepare a healthy appetizer will definitely save your sanity….and your menu!
Christina Shoemaker
So many yummy ideas!! That miso dressing looks especially tasty! And I love how you’ve organized it all to make it easy for overwhelmed meal planners like me!
Debra Klein
Thank you. That miso dressing is delish! Hope you were able to get some ideas and feel less overwhelm.
Amy Dogadko
These recipes look perfect. Can’t wait to try some of them! Your family photo was such a treat, as it looks so much like mine from back in the 70’s. Thank you for the bountiful recipes and hope this is peaceful and Happy Thanksgiving for all 🙂
Debra Klein
Oh…thank you so much! Wishing you a meaningful and peaceful holiday too.