15 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Won’t Induce a Food Coma

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Between the rich sides and decadent desserts, Turkey Day can be a recipe for disaster if you’re trying to watch what you eat.

This year, skip the Thanksgiving food coma and enjoy a healthier holiday feast. Choosing to forgo typical choices doesn’t mean skimping on the comfort or indulgence of a Thanksgiving feast. Instead, you might find that these new takes on holiday favorites are even better than the classics.

You’ll be thankful for these guilt-free Thanksgiving recipes:

Dry-Brined Lemon Rosemary Roasted Turkey

It’s easy to over-indulge in heavily salted and buttered turkey on Thanksgiving. Lighten your meal this year by opting for a turkey dry-brined with fresh herbs and lemon.

This recipe for roasted turkey has minimal sodium and fat, allowing the meat’s natural flavor to shine through. Dry-brining also helps keep the turkey moist while giving the skin a slight crispiness.

Dry-Brined Lemon Rosemary Roasted Turkey Recipe

Roasted Carrot Soup

A rich, roasted carrot soup is the perfect side dish to accompany your Turkey Day feast. While it tastes 5-star restaurant-quality, it’s deceptively easy to make. Coconut milk is the secret ingredient, achieving a thick and silky consistency without the guilt of heavy cream.

Roasted Carrot Soup Recipe

Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail

Serve up a seasonal, guilt-free mocktail this Thanksgiving. This non-alcoholic Thanksgiving punch stars spiced cider, apples, orange juice, and cranberries. Maple syrup is the only added sweetener, enhancing the fruit flavors for an irresistibly sippable beverage that guests of all ages can enjoy.

Festive Thanksgiving Punch Mocktail Recipe

Healthy Stuffed Mushrooms

Impress all your party guests with these handheld stuffed mushrooms. Each mushroom has a delicious filling of spinach, garlic, and feta. The vegetable-based stuffing gives the mushrooms a mouthwatering savory flavor while keeping each bite low on calories and fat.

Healthy Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

This shaved Brussels sprout salad proves vegetables don’t have to be boring. The salad base is shaved Brussels sprouts tossed in a light, tangy vinaigrette.

Add dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and grated cheddar cheese for a hint of salty, sweet nuttiness. This Brussels sprout salad not only tastes divine but will also look beautiful on your Thanksgiving table.

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe

Paleo Stuffing

Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing is usually full of fat and carbs. Opt for a gluten-free paleo version this year to offer a healthier but equally tasty alternative. It incorporates fresh vegetables, fruit, and familiar spices to satisfy your stuffing craving without making you feel heavy and bloated.

Best Paleo Stuffing Recipe

Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce

You might imagine a sickeningly sweet, jellied concoction when you think of cranberry sauce. Skip the canned condiment and make a batch of naturally sweetened cranberry sauce from scratch this Turkey Day. It’s surprisingly easy to make, requiring only four ingredients, one pot, and about 10 minutes of your time.

Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Old-fashioned sweet potato casserole tends to be incredibly sugary between the potato’s natural sweetness and the marshmallow topping. Instead of overpowering the sweet potatoes with added sugar, let them take center stage with a healthier take on the classic Thanksgiving side dish. This sweet potato casserole is comforting and cozy, with minimal sweetener and pecans for an added crunch.

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed cauliflower tastes so similar to potato that you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. It’s much lower in carbs, letting you savor the traditional Turkey Day flavors without going overboard. The best part is you only need a handful of ingredients to whip up this delectable Thanksgiving staple.

Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

Sausage-Stuffed Butternut Squash

Sausage-stuffed butternut squash lets you enjoy the season’s flavors without weighing you down. Every bite of this paleo-appropriate recipe tastes like Thanksgiving, thanks to ingredients like pecans, cranberries, and fresh herbs. It perfectly combines savory, slightly spicy sausage with earthy kale and subtle hints of sweet apples and squash into one divine meal.

Sausage-Stuffed Butternut Squash Recipe

Green Bean Casserole

Forget bland green bean casserole that uses canned beans and cream of mushroom soup. Switch things up this year with a healthy version featuring fresh vegetables, homemade crispy onions, and a creamy garlic parmesan gravy. It knocks old-school green bean casseroles out of the park—after one bite, you’ll never want to use another recipe.

The Best Homemade Healthy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Wild Rice Dressing

Ditch traditional dressing in favor of a gluten-free alternative using wild rice. The hearty dish boasts a nutritious blend of toasted pecans and wild rice drizzled in a red wine vinegar-based sauce. Sauteed leeks and mushrooms also add an indescribably delicious depth of flavor and texture to this satisfying turkey accompaniment.

Wild Rice Dressing Recipe

Healthy Mac and Cheese with Veggies

Considering how delicious and indulgent this mac and cheese tastes, it’s hard to believe it contains vegetables. Even the pickiest eaters won’t be able to taste the hidden cauliflower and zucchini. Everyone at your Thanksgiving celebration will want a second serving of this creamy, cheesy pasta dish.

Healthy Mac and Cheese with Veggies Recipe

Healthy Pumpkin Pie

Every holiday party needs at least one pie on the dessert table. Pumpkin pie is a classic choice but is usually high in fat and sugar.

This healthy recipe uses minimal ingredients for a dessert that’s just as tasty but much lower in guilt. It’s the perfect end to your Thanksgiving meal that won’t leave you uncomfortably stuffed.

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Slow Cooker Baked Apples

While these baked apples taste incredibly decadent, they’re a surprisingly healthy option. This warm, spiced treat couldn’t be easier as it uses a slow cooker to soften the apples over several hours.

The raisins and orange juice add a sweetness that balances the naturally tart apples. When you dig into this Thanksgiving-inspired dessert, you won’t even remember it’s entirely fruit.

Slow Cooker Baked Apples Recipe

Skip the pie this Turkey Day

Are you tired of serving the same old pies on Thanksgiving? This year, shake things up with these delicious non-pie desserts.

15 Divine Thanksgiving Desserts for Pie Haters

Enjoy all the fall flavors without the extra guilt

It’s easy to overdo it on the decadent seasonal foods during autumn. Lighten up your fall recipe rotation with these healthy meal ideas.

15 Healthy Fall Recipes for Cozy, Guilt-Free Satisfaction