25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (2024)

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (1)

Are you ready for the big day yet?

While in my part of the world, most of us have already started planning for Christmas, I know that a great bunch of you, my friends from across the border, currently have your hands fulltrying to get everything done in timefor Thanksgiving.

Well, that time might be getting short, but despair not: thereare still a few days left to get things all tied up and finalized.

And just in case youaren’t done figuring out your entire Thanksgiving menu just yet, I figured I’d search the web and gather a few more healthy Thanksgiving recipeideas for you…

Hopethis one comes in handy!

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (2)

Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Tray

I can’t remember ever going to a party where veggies and dip didn’t getserved. They sure are a great way to keep your guests busy, happy and satisfied while they are waiting for the main courseto arrive.

Can you think of a cuter way of delivering said veggies and dip on Thanksgiving? I most certainly can’t — this is simply brilliant!

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  • Thanksgiving Veggie Trayby Eating Richly– Get the recipe here

Figs with Walnuts and Gorgonzola

This simple appetizer looks so fresh and tasty! It certainly is a nice change from the classic Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates.

I’m thinking of adding this one to my personal menu this year… if I can get my hands on the fresh figs, that is!

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  • Figs with Walnuts and Gorgonzolaon Woman’s Day – Get the recipe here

Green Olive, Walnut and Pomegranate Dip

Apparently, this chunky dip is a specialty in the Gilan province of Northern Iran. I personally have never tried it, but I get the feeling that that’s about to change…

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  • Green Olive, Walnut and Pomegranate Dip on Woman’s Day – Get the recipe here

ROSEMARY INFUSED WILD RICE STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Stuffed mushrooms, in my opinion, are simply the best appetizer, no matter what you stuff them with. Rosemary infused wild rice? Now that sounds like a winner to me!

Please send that platter my way…

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  • Rosemary Infused Wild Rice Stuffed Mushrooms by The Plant Philosophy– Get the recipe here

APPLE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH WALNUTS AND MARJORAM

How’s about a bowl of soupbefore movin’on to the main course? Apple, butternut squash, walnuts and ginger really sound like a winning combination to me.

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  • Apple and Butternut Squash Soupby The Iron You – Get the recipe here

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (8)

3 Easy Steps to a Moist and Delicious Turkey

Let’s face it, no Thanksgiving would be complete without turkey. And if you’re going to put a moist, juicy and flavorful bird on the table this Thanksgiving, brining it is a crucial step that you won’t want to skip!

Then, of course, you have to get the roasting part right, too…

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  • 3 Steps to a Moist and DeliciousTurkey by Delightful E Made– Get the recipe here

HOW TO DRY BRINE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY

If a wet brine is too complicated for you, because you don’t have access to the required equipment you know, then you might want to consider a dry brine instead…

I know I’m definitely trying it this Christmas!

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  • How to Dry Bribe a Thanksgiving Turkey by Wholefully– Get the recipe here

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (11)

Quinoa “Stuffing” (Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Cranberries & Pistachios)

Stuffing so stunningly gorgeous and so delicious looking… I say you should definitely serve it “on the side”.

I wouldn’t want to hide that beauty inside a bird.

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (12)

  • Quinoa Stuffing by Gimme Some Oven– Get the recipe here

Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout, and Bread Stuffing with Apples

This one’s a beautiful twist on the traditional bread stuffing.

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  • Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout and Bread Stuffing by Food52– Get the recipe here

BROWN AND WILD RICE TURKEY STUFFING WITH CHESTNUTS AND DRIED FRUITS

Here’sthe stuffing that was on my personalmenu a couple of years back…If you’re a fan of chestnuts and dried fruits, you’ll be all over that one!

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  • by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Clean Eating Mushroom Rosemary Quinoa Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries

How gorgeous does this look? Never mind the turkey, I want to have some of that NOW!

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  • Clean Eating Mushroom Rosemary Quinoa Stuffing by ifoodreal– Get the recipe here

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries

So manyThanksgiving must-haves, all rolled into a single dish. I say this is a definite must-make!

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  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries by Julia’s Album– Get the recipe here

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

I’m not sure whetherthis should be an appetizer, a side, or something that you’d want to have immediately following the main course…

All I know is, a salad this beautiful AND delicious looking, you definitely want to have on your menu!

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  • Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad by Le Creme de la Crumb– Get the recipe here

Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Cranberry Couscous

A saladSO pretty, you may even want to use it as a centerpiece!It looks like jewels in a bowl!

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  • Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Cranberry Couscous by Gimme Some Oven– Get the recipe here

Roasted Root Vegetables Salad

Gorgeous, colorful, filled with so many textures… if you’re planning on serving this salad on Thanksgiving, will you please invite meover?

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  • Roasted Root Vegetables Salad by A Spicy Perspective – Get the recipe here

Crispy Roasted Green Beans

Delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated, does it? Not even on Thanksgiving, it doesn’t.

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  • Crispy Roasted Green Beansby Primavera Kitchen– Get the recipe here

Honey Glazed Hasselback Butternut Squash

Or, sometimes, it can be a tad complicated… but so incredibly worth the hassle! As elegant as it is delicious, this Honey Glazed Hasselback Butternut Squash is guaranteed to be the star of any dinner table.

  • by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes {Slow Cooker}

Oh my! Roasted Garlic + Mashed Potatoes in the slow cooker? I’m sold! Is there stillroomto put these on the menu? Sure there is! We’ll just have to skip dessert, that’s all.

Maybe…

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  • Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Little Spice Jar– Get the recipe here

Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Mash

If you don’t do white potatoes, here’s an amazing alternative! And how colorful, too!

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  • Sweet Potatoes & Cauliflower Mashby The Fit Fork– Get the recipe here

MAPLE CINNAMON ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

For a fan of butternut squash such as myself, this is an absolute must.

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  • Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squashby Life Made Sweeter– Get the recipe here

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE, GRATIN STYLE

Ha! I love it when I browse the Net for recipes and stumble on some of my own.Here’s another one of my creations from a few years back. It’s still just as delicious today, though, I’m sure of it!

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You can find this recipe and many more on allfreecasserolerecipes.com — if you’re looking for a casserole recipe, they’re definitely the place to go!

SCALLOPED SWEET POTATO RING

A new and improved version of the above sweet potato “gratin”, thistrue stunner will definitely steal the show. Try not to putit too close to the turkey, though, otherwise the bird might get a bit jealous!

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  • by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

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PALEO PUMPKIN PIE

No Thanksgiving meal would be complete without dessert, now would it? And what better way to end this annual feast than with a slice of heavenly Paleo Pumpkin Pie?

With its devilishlysweet, spiced and super richcustard-like fillingandtender-yet-crispycrust, all that topped with a crunchy, honey sweetened crumble, this unconventional Pumpkin Pie is nothing short of spectacular.

Bet it’ll have youcoming back for more… year after year after year!

  • by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Paleo Pecan Pie

Or, you could go with this other great classic. Trust me when I say that the “real deal” has absolutely nothing over this Paleo version of Pecan Pie: its filling is perfectlysweet, silky smooth and crunchy at the same time, and tastes like a million bucks, too!

Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never go back!

25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (30)

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey

Looking for something a bit on the lighter side? These Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey sound incredibly refreshing, especially after a big heavy meal like that…

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  • Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honeyby Skinny Taste– Get the recipe here

Pumpkin-Pear Crisps

In case you couldn’t decide between pumpkin and pear. These Pumpkin Pear Crisps sound like a great compromise!

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  • Pumpkin Pear Crispson Bon Appetit – Get the recipe here
25 Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest food for Thanksgiving? ›

Healthy: Roasted Vegetables

Licensed medical acupuncturist and nutritional consultant Jamie Bacharach of Acupuncture Jerusalem said that roasted potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, and asparagus all make great, healthy Thanksgiving sides.

How to have a healthy Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Mix in a few healthy alternatives in your holiday recipes
  1. Use avocado instead of butter in cookie recipes.
  2. Use fat-free yogurt instead of sour cream or mayo in dips.
  3. Top casseroles with roasted almonds instead of deep-fried onions.
  4. Use whole wheat bread or wild rice in stuffing to increase the fiber content.
Nov 18, 2022

What is the unhealthiest Thanksgiving food? ›

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 are 5 traditional Thanksgiving foods? ›

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer. The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie.

What is the most eaten meat on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

What is the most important meal on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. A turkey is the center of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, 88 percent of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, with 46 million Turkeys eaten on the holiday.

What is the most popular side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

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 the healthiest food to eat on Thanksgiving? ›

Go for small amounts of cooked squash, sweet potato, white potato, beans and carrots. Try to use whole-grain breads and cereals whenever possible; they are rich in fiber and the B vitamins that are not so abundant in simple carbohydrates (white and refined grains, cereals, flours and starches).

How to make a healthy Thanksgiving plate? ›

Start by filling half your plate with vegetables, then pile one-quarter up with turkey breast, and leave the remaining one-quarter for starchy sides. Here, some more expert-approved guidelines for keeping portions in check this Thanksgiving Day.

What is the most important food on a Thanksgiving table? ›

When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, and this one will absolutely make your holiday meal all the better. Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.

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.

How healthy is Thanksgiving dinner? ›

The traditional turkey-day feast, replete with fatty, high-cholesterol foods like drumsticks, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing, is generally anything but heart-healthy. Try a healthy roasted turkey and gravy recipe for your Thanksgiving meal.

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

How do you make a healthy Thanksgiving plate? ›

How to Build a Balanced Thanksgiving Plate:
  1. Downsize your dinner plate. ...
  2. Fill half of your plate with greens and veggies. ...
  3. Load a quarter of your plate with turkey. ...
  4. Top off the last quarter of your plate with your favorite starches, like roasted yams, mashed potatoes or that too-good-to-resist stuffing.
Nov 14, 2022

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