Thanksgiving Dinner

Of all the holidays where food is at the center, Thanksgiving is the easiest holiday meal to make healthy.

While most people will just throw in the towel and eat a bunch of junky traditional foods and then feel terrible after dinner, you don’t have to end up feeling like you swallowed a 2-ton truck.

A healthy Thanksgiving table is easy to plan and easy to make, and your guests won’t know the difference. Except maybe when their tummy doesn’t hurt so bad when the meal is done.

What You’ll Find Here

I’ve gotcha covered here with all my Thanksgiving favorites, made from scratch and made from healthy, whole-food ingredients like whole grains, fresh vegetables, and lean protein. These recipes have great flavor and savoriness, and I’ve even got breakfast covered for you! I’ve covered most of the classics here, and some of these are even gluten-free.

• Thanksgiving drinks
• Thanksgiving dinner ideas
• Healthy Thanksgiving desserts
• Healthy Thanksgiving side dishes

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

You’ll find a whole column of healthy side dishes below. Make some while the turkey roasts! Even the best roast turkey breast or leg feels a little lonely without a good side dish, and the downloads below will help you plan your entire dinner.

Less Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes

We all have our favorites, and some of them just aren’t considered traditional. But that’s okay! Here are a few dishes you may want to add to round out your holiday table.

• Butternut Squash Soup
• Roasted Acorn Squash
• Butternut Pecan Quinoa Salad
• Wild Rice Soup
• Brussels Sprout Salad

Thanksgiving Ingredients To Have On Hand

While this list isn’t specific to the recipes below, it’s a good, overall list to check off for not just a Thanksgiving meal, but also the holiday season as a whole. Here’s what you might want to keep on hand this year:

• Cream
• Butter
• Lemon – juice and zest
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Stuffing ingredients
• Parmesan cheese
• Fresh herbs – Such as parsley
• Carrots
• Celery
• Orange – juice and zest
• Fennel
• Spices – such as garlic, black pepper, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and more.
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans – Gotta have the green bean casserole!
• Cranberries – There’s nothing like homemade cranberry sauce!
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Pomegranate seeds
• Sweet potatoes
• Russet potatoes
• Broth – chicken broth, beef broth, and even turkey broth if you prefer that.

And don’t forget, your slow cooker is a fabulous friend when it comes to prepping a big meal! Have both a small one and a large one on hand. The small one can handle the cranberry sauce, and the bigger one can help cook all sorts of side dishes.

And if you happen to have an air fryer, you can even make a Thanksgiving dessert and some healthy Thanksgiving appetizers to boot!

How To Use Up Leftovers

Here are my recipes for using up everything from leftover turkey to leftover cranberry sauce.

Main Thanksgiving Dishes

These delicious Thanksgiving recipes are everything you’ll need to make a complete Thanksgiving meal the whole family will rave over.

Thanksgiving Desserts

Dessert is expected on Turkey Day, so don’t disappoint! These delicious Thanksgiving desserts are the perfect ending to your day of giving thanks.

Holiday Drinks

Comforting drinks are always welcome on Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas to warm both your belly and your spirit.

Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas

Start Thanksgiving morning off right with a delicious breakfast that won’t take hours to make. In fact, many of these can be prepped ahead of time so all you have to do is cook them in the morning.