30 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Don't Taste Like Cardboard — We Promise (2024)

30 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Don't Taste Like Cardboard —We Promise (1)

A perfectly balanced

Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without some mashed potatoes, rolls, and an assortment of desserts. Knowing exactly how to combine the most flavorful dishes and leave room for healthy dinner recipes, too, can be a little harder, though. Although, of course, the rich and indulgent dishes are some of the best parts of Thanksgiving, it's always good to add a little balance to the menu. So, this year, why not avoid the food coma by swapping out your favorite Thanksgiving classics with some healthy Thanksgiving recipes? You have to make sure you have enough energy to shop those Black Friday deals, after all.

These healthy Thanksgiving recipes are just as delicious as the Thanksgiving classics you know and love — just a little lighter. Whether you’re trying to keep your cholesterol in check or just trying to add some veggie side dishes into the mix, you can rest assured that these recipes for roasted sweet potatoes and cranberry-grape sauce will satisfy everyone at the table. But remember, you shouldn't feel bad for eating whatever you want during the holidays. Enjoying every aspect of the special occasion — including the food — is what it's all about.

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1

Green Beans with Orange and Thyme

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Adding a little orange zest to your green beans will ensure everyone will want some.

Get the Green Beans with Orange and Thyme recipe.

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2

Lemon-Maple Roasted Carrots

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When in doubt, throw some maple syrup on your favorite fall vegetable to make them sweet and flavorful.

Get the Lemon-Maple Roasted Carrots recipe.

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3

Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Fennel

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This recipe is full of substitutions you can make to your liking to make it healthier all around.

Get the Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Fennel recipe.

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4

Basic Herb Stuffing

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Stuffing can be less than healthy, but if you make it from scratch you can keep an eye on what ingredients you're using and how you're cooking it.

Get the Basic Herb Stuffing recipe.

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5

Coriander Roasted Sweet Potatoes

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Thanksgiving isn't complete without some sweet potatoes. All it takes is some coriander, cinnamon, yogurt, lemon juice, and chile to make this recipe.

Get the Coriander Roasted Sweet Potatoes recipe.

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6

Green Beans with Chorizo and Almond Crumbs

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You can prepare this side dish up to two days before your Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the Green Beans with Chorizo and Almond Crumbs recipe.

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7

Wild Rice and Cherry Pilaf

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You'll love this recipe so much that you'll want to eat it all week long!

Get the Wild Rice and Cherry Pilaf recipe.

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8

Pecan Pie Glazed Carrots

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Even though these carrots are glazed with maple syrup and brown sugar, this side dish is still very healthy.

Get the Pecan Pie Glazed Carrots recipe.

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9

Ginger-Turmeric Cherry Tea

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Stay warm this Thanksgiving with this delicious ginger-turmeric cherry tea. It can be brewed in just five minutes.

Get the Ginger-Turmeric Cherry Tea recipe.

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10

Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts

You can refrigerate these pan-roasted Brussels sprouts up to a day before your dinner. Just don't forget to defrost and sauté them with seasoning before serving.

Get the Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts recipe.

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11

Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad

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Topped with a lemon vinaigrette dressing, this shredded Brussels sprout salad is the perfect pre-entree dish.

Get the Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.

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12

Creamy Garlic and Herb Spinach

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Upgrade your classic spinach with a little garlic and herb cheese for a dish you can't resist.

Get the Creamy Garlic and Herb Spinach recipe.

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13

Roasted Cauliflower Salad

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Roasted almonds and cranberries are what make this cauliflower salad over the top delicious.

Get the Roasted Cauliflower Salad recipe.

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14

Hasselback Butternut Squash with Browned Butter

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If you're looking for a sweet potato alternative this holiday season, try this butternut squash lathered in browned butter.

Get the Hasselback Butternut Squash with Browned Butter recipe.

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15

Squash Toasts

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These squash toast take Thanksgiving appetizers to the next level.

Get the Squash Toasts recipe.

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16

Green Beans with Toasted Garlic and Almonds

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Add some toasted garlic and almonds to your green beans for extra flavor and texture.

Get the Green Beans with Toasted Garlic and Almonds recipe.

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17

Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Chive Butter

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Instead of serving mashed potatoes with all the heavy fixings, serve these mini potatoes that are roasted to golden perfection.

Get the Mini Hasselback Potatoes with Chive Butter recipe.

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18

"Kaleard" Greens

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Enjoy the taste of collard greens without all the added calories in this stewed "kaleard" greens recipe.

Get the "Kaleard" Greens recipe.

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19

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

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We don't know what's better — the baked sweet potatoes or the light meringue topping.

Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.

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20

Cider-Glazed Brussels Sprouts

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Spruce up your Brussels sprouts with a light, easy-to-make cider glaze.

Get the Cider-Glazed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

30  Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Don't Taste Like Cardboard — We Promise (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest food to eat on Thanksgiving? ›

Eat white turkey meat rather than the dark stuff, which contains twice as much fat. If you're preparing the meal, cut back on salt and butter in the side dishes. Go for small amounts of cooked squash, sweet potato, white potato, beans and carrots.

What is the most popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors.

What to cook for Thanksgiving if you don't like turkey? ›

Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
  • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
  • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
  • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
  • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
  • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
  • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
  • Lasagna. Image. ...
  • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
Nov 10, 2022

What is the unhealthiest food for Thanksgiving? ›

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 the number 1 Thanksgiving side dish? ›

Mashed potatoes are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish for a reason, and we definitely look forward to serving up this delicious dish every November.

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 did the Pilgrims eat instead of turkey? ›

Although turkeys were indigenous, there's no record of a big, roasted bird at the feast. The Wampanoag brought deer and there would have been lots of local seafood (mussels, lobster, bass) plus the fruits of the first pilgrim harvest, including pumpkin.

What is a healthier alternative to turkey? ›

While people may joke about Tofurky, many vegans and vegetarians vouch for it. “Tofurky is a soy-based turkey substitute that can be a healthy alternative on your holiday table,” says Palumbo. Some say it has a mouthfeel similar to meat, and the tofu it is made of packs a protein punch almost as big as turkey's.

What is the least favorite dish for Thanksgiving? ›

The Most Interesting Discoveries:

Most people over 60 chose Green Bean Casserole as their most hated side dish. Those under 40 also disliked Green Bean Casserole, but they had equal distaste for Sweet Potato Casserole. These two “retro” or “vintage” recipes were the most disliked on the list.

How can I enjoy Thanksgiving without gaining weight? ›

Enjoy the holiday feast without the guilt – or the weight gain.
  1. Workout when you can. ...
  2. Eat breakfast. ...
  3. Bring a healthy dish to pass (and eat). ...
  4. Pick and choose your indulgences. ...
  5. Slow it down. ...
  6. Go easy on the adult beverages. ...
  7. Get active. ...
  8. Shift your focus.
Oct 29, 2018

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 most eaten meat on Thanksgiving? ›

The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States is Thanksgiving dinner (informally called turkey dinner), a large meal generally centered on a large roasted turkey.

What are the 3 traditional foods Americans eat during Thanksgiving? ›

Along with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry the "traditional" table now included white bread, apple pie, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and various fruit pies.

What Thanksgiving food is low in calories? ›

Foods like white turkey meat, roasted veggies, salad, sweet potato casseroles, thin gravy, and pumpkin pie are usually the healthiest options on the table, however, eating anything in moderation is always the healthiest thing you can do.

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