Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Check out our healthy versions for Thanksgiving sides, appetizers, desserts, and more. Try our healthy versions of Thanksgiving stuffing, mashed potatoes, or green bean casserole, and even our gluten-free or paleo versions all made without tons of butter or oil. We also have complete menu ideas for a vegetarian Thanksgiving feast.

Staff Picks

Carrot Puree

All it takes is a sprinkling of salt and pepper to enhance the earthy flavors of the carrots in this simple side dish.

Fennel and Orange Salad

Rating: 2.88 stars
1
The classic flavor combination of fennel and orange makes a wonderful winter salad.

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Rating: 3.57 stars
15
Instead of sugar pumpkins, you can use other winter squash in our Roasted Pumpkin Soup recipe. Kabocha, calabaza, and Hubbard are the best alternatives. Choose a squash that feels heavy for its size and is free of soft spots. The soup can be garnished with toasted pepitas or a dollop of sour cream—or both.

Green Beans with Vinaigrette

Rating: 3.22 stars
3
These fresh green beans help balance out the richness of the rest of the Thanksgiving meal.

Crisp Brussels Sprout Leaves

Rating: 3.08 stars
1
In this simple Thanksgiving side dish, roasting brussels sprouts brings out their nuttiness. Tangy Pecorino Romano cheese adds extra depth.

Spiced Nuts

Rating: 3.1 stars
18
A perfect spicy snack for the holidays.

Marinated Cauliflower Salad

Rating: 3.08 stars
2
This tasty salad can marinate for up to a day, which lets the cauliflower soak up the dressing. It's delicious chilled or at room temperature.

Glazed Pearl Onions

Rating: 3.44 stars
3
The longer those cook, the sweeter and more caramelized they will become. A little balsamic vinegar is a nice touch to add.

Roasted Mixed Cabbages

You can use any assortment of firm vegetables, such as a mix of brussels sprouts, turnips, cabbages, and shallots, for this recipe.

Roasted Carrots and Potatoes with Dill

Roast a combination of carrots and potatoes for a simple holiday side dish. The high heat concentrates the sweetness of the carrots and makes the potatoes crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside. A flourish of brightly flavored fresh dill lifts the finished dish.

Sauteed Radicchio with Honey and Balsamic Vinegar

Rating: 2.81 stars
5
Serve this simple side of sauteed radicchio with grilled steak, chicken, or Italian sausages.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes with Walnuts

The red grapes' sweetness brings out the nutty notes in the sprouts. Walnuts can be swapped for almonds or pecans.
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Inspiration and Ideas

15 Healthy (and Festive!) Recipes for the Holidays

15 Healthy (and Festive!) Recipes for the Holidays
Family gatherings often seem to be code for tossing out resolutions for healthy eating, but that needn’t be the case. Take full advantage of the spectrum of flavors and colors found in the bounty of the season for dishes that will impress, satisfy, and be celebratory.
Yellow Squash Casserole

Yellow Squash Casserole
Rating: Unrated
2
This simple cracker-crumb squash dish comes from reader Joanne Dotson of Dallas.
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa and Pistachios

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa and Pistachios
Brussels Sprout Salad with Avocado and Pumpkin Seeds

Brussels Sprout Salad with Avocado and Pumpkin Seeds
Rating: Unrated
3
Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash

Balsamic Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash
Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

Tarragon Green Beans

Rating: 3.05 stars
5

In this simple Thanksgiving side dish, green beans are sauteed with butter, shallots, and white wine. A finishing touch of aromatic fresh tarragon sets it apart.

All Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Mushrooms and Rice

Rating: 3.44 stars
9
These work as well on the Thanksgiving table as they do on a meatless Monday.

Farro Salad with Oven-Roasted Grapes and Autumn Greens

Chewy farro—an Italian whole grain—is tossed with mixed greens in this colorful salad. It's flavored by two kinds of grapes that have been baked in a low oven to concentrate their sweetness and release their juices. The Concord grapes aren't seedless, but they make a beautiful garnish.

Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Walnuts

Garlicky, buttery sauteed Brussels sprouts are brightened with fresh lemon juice and finished with toasted walnuts in this tasty Thanksgiving side dish. Serve alongside our Classic Brined and Roasted Turkey.

Creamy Farro Pilaf with Wild Mushrooms

Rating: 3.87 stars
1
Crisp roasted mushrooms add texture and an earthy depth to velvety farro cooked in wine. Parmesan brings it all together.

Roasted Cauliflower

Rating: 3.77 stars
2
Take familiar techniques, like roasting, and apply them in new ways for this delicious side.

Carrots with Ginger and Honey

Rating: 3.09 stars
2
This streamlined side dish involves only 5 ingredients, but its light flavors are sophisticated. Blanched baby carrots are heated in butter with ginger, take a turn in a few tablespoons of honey, and are sprinkled with a few shakes of salt.

Butternut Squash Mash

Rating: 3.03 stars
1
The vegetable mash is rich in vitamin A and potassium, thanks to butternut squash.

Roasted Pears and Red Onions

Rating: 3.96 stars
3
Roasted pears and red onions are a unique holiday side dish that's a bit sweet and a touch savory. A splash of sherry vinegar adds a slight tang and the rosemary lends a woodsy note.

Sweet Potato Cannelloni

Rating: 3.06 stars
4
A twist on traditional cannelloni, this vegetarian and gluten-free dish is made with blanched sweet potato slices. They're filled with a cottage cheese, sweet potato, and apple filling, then topping with shaved Parmesan and toasted walnuts. The remarkably rich taste and vibrant appearance make it a worthy and healthy addition to any dinner.

Maple-Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Rating: 3.6 stars
6
Often the most favorite holiday side dishes are the simplest. This recipe combines roasted sweet potatoes with butter and maple syrup in the food processor with very little effort.

Brussels Sprout Slaw

Rating: 2.9 stars
4
Brussels sprouts are a classic at Thanksgiving; they have great texture when used raw in a slaw.

Green Beans with Warm Raisin-Caper Dressing

This quick side is a sweet-and-sour take on warm green bean salad and highlights the bright flavor and crisp-tender texture of this popular vegetable. Serve it at the holiday table this year; it will be a refreshing contrast to mashed potatoes and roast turkey. 
By

Maple-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Rating: 3.13 stars
3
This supremely simple dish is rich with the flavor of maple. Although it requires last-minute preparation, the recipe is easy enough to tackle no matter how many items are on your holiday menu.

Broccolini with Lemon

Broccolini looks like baby broccoli, but it's actually a natural hybrid of broccoli and Chinese kale. (If you can't find it, broccoli rabe can be used in its place.) The tender stalks are blanched first and then sauteed with lemon zest for a quick vegetable dish.

Creamy White Bean and Vegetable Mash

Butter and cream usually mean mashed potatoes are off-limits for vegans, but this variation gets its silky texture from white beans instead. Adding the legumes also doubles the amount of protein compared with traditional spuds.

Hearty Garlic Greens

Rating: 3.81 stars
2
Any combination of hearty autumn greens will work well in this recipe; try Swiss chard, Tuscan kale, and mustard greens.

Herbed Roasted Turkey

Rating: 3.87 stars
6
This traditional holiday bird brings much more to the table than just great taste. Our version, which is packed with protein, is rubbed with a blend of parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic.

Cranberry-Walnut Bread

This Thanksgiving-inspired quick bread recipe comes from Jane Kraemer of Manchester, Connecticut. The mixture of tart cranberry and salty nuts will have everyone reaching for a second slice. 

Pumpkin-Chestnut Soup

Rating: 3.61 stars
1
Whole peeled chestnuts add structure to this pumpkin soup, texture that's important if the squash is too watery. 

Roasted Vegetables with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

You can either extract your own pomegranate juice with a juicer or buy pomegranate juice at your local grocery store.

Easy Mushroom Gravy

Anna Lappe, cofounder of the Small Planet Institute, developed this vegan gravy recipe to be served with her Dried Fruit and Toasted Nut Stuffing, a Thanksgiving dish from her childhood.

Beet, Fennel, and Carrot Salad

Rating: 3.69 stars
1
A vinaigrette made with citrus and fennel seeds brightens this colorful, crunchy salad made with beets and carrots.

Sauteed Broccoli With Lemon

Complement a feast of hearty dishes with a side of crisp broccoli dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.

Green Bean Salad with Almonds

Rating: 2.96 stars
1
This simple yet flavorful side is sure to be the highlight of any meal. But be warned: The tamari almonds are so delicious you may need to make extra for snacking.
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