With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I thought I’d put together a list of Keto Thanksgiving Recipes for those of you looking for Turkey Day keto inspiration. This roundup of Keto Thanksgiving Recipes will help you stay on track while enjoying all of your holiday favorites!
Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
This year has flown by so quickly. The fact that Thanksgiving is right around the corner baffles me. It still feels like it should be summer. It always surprises me how quickly the fall time and chillier weather comes rushing at us. Nevertheless, time neither stops or slows down for anyone. I know many people will be going off plan on Thanksgiving while others will prepare Keto Thanksgiving Recipes and stay the course. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you know my philosophy is for each person to find what works for them and go with it. Not everyone’s journey will look the same. I recently recorded a video regarding my thoughts on “cheat meals.” You might be surprised to hear my take. At the end of the day, diets are about feeling your best and taking care of your body. If that looks like a cheat meal every now and then, by all means go for it.
How can I eat low carb on Thanksgiving?
With just a few simple swaps, you can easily recreate your favorite Thanksgiving recipes while keeping it Keto. To be frank, they won’t taste the same as the classic Thanksgiving dishes we know and love. However, ingredients like sugar-free sweeteners and Keto flour substitutes save the day when needed in these recipes. As for vegetables, think low-carb veggies like cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, green beans, and spinachWhen you think about it, many beloved Thanksgiving sides are loaded with dairy and butter, which are Keto-friendly. If you are dedicated to keeping your Thanksgiving plate low carb and Keto, ensure that you or someone else is preparing a few of these recipes so that you can stay on track.
Can you eat turkey on the Keto diet?
Luckily for everyone who’s committed to Keto this Thanksgiving, you’ll be happy to know that the star of the show is totally Keto friendly. Turkey has less than 2g of net carbs per 3 ounce serving, so it’s safe to add to your Thanksgiving plate. It also remains Keto whether it is fried or roasted. Plus, you can eat the skin of the turkey on Keto. While it’s not a classic version of the dish, stay away from any breaded renditions of turkey or gravy that is prepared with traditional flour. Side dishes are where it gets tricky to keep your plate Keto, but turkey is by far one of the safest options at the table.
Can I go off of Keto for Thanksgiving?
I pass no judgment when it comes to how people do Keto. It can be a difficult diet to follow, and everyone has different needs and lives to work around. I will say that Keto works best and gives the best results when it is used long-term instead of as a temporary diet. However, many people on Keto do have cheat days. If you choose to go off of Keto for Thanksgiving, focus on spending time with family and loved ones rather than straying from the diet. You can always resume your diet the following day. As you will see in my list of Keto Thanksgiving recipes, there are plenty of ways to make classic dishes low carb and Keto friendly. At the end of the day, it is a personal choice!
Low Carb Thanksgiving Recipes
I tried to find a nice variety of both traditional and non-traditional Low Carb Thanksgiving recipes. I hope you find this list of Keto Thanksgiving recipes helpful when planning your holiday spread. These low carb dishes may even win over the non-Keto guests at the table!
Cauliflower Mac N Cheese
Baked Keto Ham with Sugar-Free Glaze
Southern Green Beans
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake
Easy Keto Creamed Spinach
Keto Stuffing
4-Ingredient Keto Cranberry Sauce(some may consider this recipe more low carb than keto)
Low Carb Green Bean Casserole
Keto Pumpkin Pie
Pull-Apart Clover Rolls
Pumpkin Crisp
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Garlic, Parmesan, & Lemon
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
Keto Turkey Gravy Recipe
Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Green Beans and Bacon
Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin
More Thanksgiving-themed Keto recipes:
These Keto recipes aren’t your standard Thanksgiving fare, but you may find them useful regardless. Whether it’s for a holiday potluck or another fall food affair, here are some more Keto Thanksgiving recipes to consider:
Blueberry Cobbler
Peanut Butter Fluff
Blonde Low Carb Brownies
Pumpkin Fluff
Pumpkin Spice Pecans
Keto Pumpkin Pie Bars
Keto Pumpkin Muffins with a Cream Cheese Swirl
German Chocolate Bars
Pumpkin Bread
Don’t Miss Any New Recipes
If you aren’t already following my Easy Keto/Low Carb Recipe Page on Facebook where I post all my new recipes, you can join hereand follow me on Pinterest here. If you are just getting started following a keto diet and would like more information, there are tons of fantastic resources. Amazon has several excellent books you may want to check out here.
Other Keto Recipes:
20 Tasty Keto Chocolate Recipes
20 Instant Pot Keto Recipes
Perfect Keto Breakfast Recipes
20 Delicious Keto Beef Recipes
Keto Shopping Guides
To make shopping easier, check out these fantastic shopping guides:
FAQs
A few general tips for making your Thanksgiving keto-friendly: Swap out mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower, nix adding any flour to thicken recipes like green bean casserole or creamed spinach, and load up on the low-carb veggies like Brussels sprouts, spaghetti squash, and mushrooms.
Can I break keto for Thanksgiving? ›
There Are Plenty of Conscious Ways to Have a Keto Cheat Day
Or, if it's Thanksgiving, don't offer to cook green beans or turkey (which are already keto-compliant). Instead, bring a low-carb pumpkin pie or make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.
How do I get back on track with keto? ›
In fact, nutritionists say these seven tips can help get you back into ketosis in no time.
- Let go of a perfectionist mind-set. ...
- Have a game plan. ...
- Set reasonable, achievable goals. ...
- Don't quit carbs 'cold turkey' ...
- Use salt during the transition. ...
- Stay hydrated. ...
- Try a more sustainable version of keto.
Here are the main foods that are high-in-fat, low-in-carbs and are great starting place for anyone wanting to dip their feet into keto diet: Meat: Steak, ham, sausage, bacon, turkey, and chicken. Cheese: Cheddar, cream cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella, or blue cheese (always unprocessed).
What happens if you quit carbs cold turkey? ›
You Might Feel Dizzy and Have Headaches
It will switch to breaking down fat into ketones, an alternative to glucose. This puts the body into ketosis, or a state with elevated ketones, which have side effects such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue and headaches.
What happens when you quit keto cold turkey? ›
Without carbohydrates to build up glycogen stores, or muscle fuel, muscles will run out of gas. And when you don't have the energy to work out, muscle loss can occur. This is especially true since carbs are necessary to renew and repair muscles.
What happens if you eat too many carbs on keto? ›
Not following accepted ketogenic diet guidelines can disrupt ketosis because carbs are the body's preferred energy source. If your carb intake is too high, carbs may be used for fuel instead of ketone bodies, which is the main source of fuel during ketosis.
How many carbs will knock you out of ketosis? ›
To stay in ketosis, a person requires up to 50 grams (g) of carbs per day. A person following a keto diet eats foods with high levels of fats and very low levels of carbohydrates. The diet excludes a wide range of foods, including some fruits and vegetables, as well as bread, beans, and legumes.
Will one day of carbs ruin ketosis? ›
While many dieters think of cheat day as a well-deserved reward, nutritionists say there are downsides to it. Some disadvantages of having a cheat day on keto include getting knocked out of ketosis and hindering further weight loss.
What happens if you eat no carbs for a week? ›
Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.
To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.
How long can you stay in ketosis safely? ›
Gulotta recommends staying on keto for six months max before reintroducing more carbs to your diet. And Scott Keatley, RDN, of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy in New York City, agrees: “The science hasn't gotten to the point where I would be comfortable recommending it as a forever diet,” he says.
Is rotisserie chicken keto friendly? ›
Yes, rotisserie chicken is keto-friendly. It's a carb-free option and a great source of protein (20-25 grams of protein per portion size). But you need to be careful about the part of the whole chicken you eat since some options have a high-fat content (mostly from saturated fats).
Can you eat peanut butter on keto? ›
Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.
Can you eat unlimited meat on keto? ›
Meat and poultry are popular with people on the keto diet because they're high in fat and very low in carbs. However, scientists have found links between eating too much meat on a regular basis and health conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and excess weight.
How do I get back into ketosis after Thanksgiving? ›
Here are a few tips to help you get back into ketosis:
- Try intermittent fasting. Combining intermittent fasting with the keto diet may help your body shift its fuel source from carbs to fat ( 9 ).
- Track your carb intake. ...
- Try a short-term fat fast. ...
- Exercise more. ...
- Try a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplement.
Even if you enjoy a bit too much turkey, stuffing, potatoes or pie, there's no reason to fret, says Jamie Kandora, clinical nutrition manager for Tidelands Health. The important thing is to not let one day of overeating deter you from your long-term health goals.
How do people survive on keto? ›
People following the keto diet should be eating foods like fatty fish, eggs, dairy, meat, butter, oils, nuts, seeds and low-carb vegetables. “Fat bombs” like unsweetened chocolate or coconut oil can help people reach their daily goals for fat intake. Keto-compliant foods like red meats and nuts can be costly.
How do I stop starvation mode on keto? ›
It sounds impossible, but it's not. Yes, you have to cut out most carbs to make this happen. But you also need to increase your nutrition. Keeping an abundance of nutrients in your diet tells your body that it's not starving.
