Are you thankful that you’ve been sticking to your clean eating goals all year, but worried about blowing it on Thanksgiving? Do you have a vegetarian friend or paleo partner at your table this year, but find yourself wondering what the heck to make for them? You’re in the right place! This collection of Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes has you covered. You’ll find recipes and inspiration for Thanksgiving sides, salads, soups, and desserts for every dietary need, healthy lifestyle, or allergy accommodation!

Jump to:
There are so many ways to enjoy a satisfying and indulgent Thanksgiving dinner without completely throwing your clean eating habits out the window. Whether you’re looking for traditional recipes with a healthy twists or new classics featuring real, whole foods, you’ve found yourself among friends – and those friends love really delicious food (even if it’s “healthy”)!
“Healthy” Thanksgiving recipes don’t need to mean bland, boring, or even totally fat and calorie free (heck no!). Whether you’re on a special diet, allergy conscious, or just integrating more real food/whole food habits into every aspect of your daily life, these recipes will help you enjoy Thanksgiving to it’s fullest.
Each recipe below is labeled with dietary restrictions and accommodations. You’ll find delicious inspiration for paleo, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, plant-based and even Whole30 Thanksgiving recipes that will leave you both sated and thankful.
Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
Let’s be honest, the sides are the BEST part of Thanksgiving dinner, amirite?!? Thanksgiving sides for life. If that life includes plant based recipes or clean eating, you’ve come to the right place. I love offering a variety of side dishes both to accommodate our vegetarian friends and family, and to ensure I have every flavor profile to indulge in. Below you’ll find the full range of healthy thanksgiving side dish offerings, from vegan to Whole30 and everything in-between!
Maple Bourbon Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo
Roasted Acorn Squash with Maple Brown Butter
Gluten Free – Grain Free – Vegetarian
Maple Roasted Root Vegetables
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian
Rosemary Cornbread with Honey Butter
Refined Sugar Free – Vegetarian – Whole Wheat Friendly
Cumin Honey Roasted Carrots
Gluten Free – Grain Free – Vegetarian
Garlicky Green Beans with Crispy Shallots
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian – Whole30
Baked Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Fritters
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Whole30
Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian – Whole30
Butternut Squash Rice Pilaf
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Vegan – Vegetarian
Healthy Thanksgiving Salad Recipes
Salads. Boring? NOPE! These vibrant salads will make you a Thanksgiving hero. Packed with all the colors of the rainbow and bursting with flavor and texture, one (or more!) of these healthy Thanksgiving salad recipes is sure to complete your table and delight your guests.
Autumn Crunch Butter Lettuce Salad
Gluten Free – Grain Free – Vegetarian
Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Hazelnut Vinaigrette
Gluten Free – Grain Free – Vegetarian
Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing
Gluten Free – Vegetarian
Arugula Pear Salad with Pistachios and Pomegranate
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian – Whole30
Roasted Fennel Salad with Apple and Radicchio
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian – Whole30
Kale Pomegranate Salad with Apple, Fennel, and Pepitas
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo Friendly – Vegetarian
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
Gluten Free – Vegetarian
Bittersweet Chopped Salad with Endive, Pears, and Pomegranate
Gluten Free – Grain Free – Vegetarian
Healthy Soups for Thanksgiving Dinner
If you’re fancy enough to offer a starter for Thanksgiving dinner, soup is the way to go. It can be made completely in advance and sets the tone for an elegant affair. These healthy soup recipes feature the best produce of the fall season, and each are friendly for nearly every diet, allergy, or preference.
Roasted Carrot and Apple Soup
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian – Whole30
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Vegan – Vegetarian
Butternut Squash Soup with Pomegranate Seeds
Dairy Free Friendly – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo Friendly – Vegan Friendly – Vegetarian
Main Dish Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes
If you have a vegetarian gracing your gathering this season and want to offer a main dish beyond a collection of sides (I’m not judging, I truly enjoy the latter!), then either of these vegetarian thanksgiving entrees are sure to be a winner.
White Bean Ragout with Butternut Squash
Gluten Free – Vegan Friendly – Vegetarian
Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette
Vegetarian – Whole Wheat Friendly
Easy Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
The main event after the main event – dessert! Sweet treats can be tricky during the holiday season but these healthy recipes will have you covered and that sweet tooth sated.
Gluten Free Apple Crisp
Gluten Free – Refined Sugar Free – Vegetarian
Paleo Pumpkin Bread
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Refined Sugar Free – Vegetarian
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bars
Dairy Free – Vegetarian – Refined Sugar Free – Whole Wheat
Flourless Paleo Brownies
Dairy Free – Gluten Free – Grain Free – Paleo – Refined Sugar Free – Vegetarian
Anna
Mmm I’m drooling! Thank you for this compilation, Danielle! I’ve been racking my brains for nearly a month what to cook for Thanksgiving because now we’re on a special diet (if I can say so): we just try to avoid meat, dairy, and refined products. So, that’s why I don’t want to have a traditional dinner with turkey, apple pie, and dumplings.
I’m gonna make some salads and mashed potatoes from your list and baked chickpeas with butternut squash, which recipe I found on the Internet. Hopefully, my family will love everything. Can’t wait to surprise them!