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25+ Thanksgiving Recipes Perfect For Every Dietary Lifestyle

Thanksgiving is an amazing time of family time and always boasts of an amazing and delicious display of foods that will keep you full for days! But when you’re sticking to a particular dietary lifestyle or just looking to cut back on the sugar, it can feel difficult to participate in the holiday feasting. If you’re wanting Thanksgiving recipes that are delicious but fit into whatever dietary lifestyle you’re following, check out our Thanksgiving recipe roundup! Whether you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, or Whole30 or simply want a healthier dish, there’s something here for you!

Appetizers

Cranberry Pistachio Cheese

1. Cranberry Pistachio Cheese

This cranberry pistachio cheese is one of our favorite appetizers! Sweet and savory, it’s perfect for crostini or BurgerFit burgers. So delicious that it will probably be added to your main Thanksgiving plate and not just eaten as an appetizer!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Pumpkin Hummus

2. Pumpkin Hummus

A tasty appetizer before the turkey is done: pumpkin hummus! If you like hummus, you will love this pumpkin hummus recipe! Serve with crostini, crackers, carrots, or celery! It’s healthy, perfect for the fall season, and will keep everyone happy before the main courses are done.

This recipe is:

  • Dairy-free
  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Sweet Potato Bites

3. Sweet Potato Bites

This will quickly become everyone’s favorite way of eating sweet potatoes with this sweet potato bites recipe! Baked with a mini BurgerFit burger, cheese, and jalapenos, it has the perfect amount of flavor and heat! Top with hot sauce after they’re cooked for even more heat. A healthy and delicious appetizer sure to please everyone.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Sides

Glazed Green Beans

4. Glazed Green Beans

What Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without green beans? Whether they’re in a casserole or boiled longer than you’d care for, they are going to make their way to the Thanksgiving Day table. This green bean recipe is a healthy twist on your typical green bean dish and one that the whole family will love.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Paleo

Get the recipe here! 

Acorn Squash Mashed Potatoes

5. Acorn Squash Mashed Potatoes

Probably the second most important food item on Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without it! Cut back on the carbs with this acorn squash version of mashed potatoes that have been known to fool people for the real thing!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Glazed Butternut Squash

6. Glazed Butternut Squash

If you’ve found yourself with an excess of butternut squash this fall, put it to use in this amazing glazed butternut squash recipe! Not sure how to cut your own butternut squash? We’ll teach you how in this recipe. It’s sweet, savory, healthy, and simple!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Paleo

Get the recipe here!

Braised Collard Greens

7. Braised Collard Greens

You don’t need to cook collard greens with a ham hock! This recipe calls for collard greens on their own, and with a little curry powder and honey, you’ll hardly miss the ham! Replacing the usual sugar for honey makes for a healthier version of this Thanksgiving dish.

 This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Paleo
  • Sugar-free

Get the recipe here!

Roasted Butternut Squash with Dill & Feta

8. Roasted Butternut Squash with Dill & Feta

If you’ve never tasted the flavors of butternut squash, dill, and feta, then this is a must-make recipe for you this Thanksgiving! It’s extremely easy to make and only calls for 4 ingredients!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Glazed Brussels Sprouts

9. Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Not everyone loves brussels sprouts, but it’s probably because they’ve never tried this recipe! Savory from the bacon and balsamic vinegar with a hint of sweetness from the honey, this is the perfect combination of flavors that will soon have its annual place at the Thanksgiving Day table.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free

Get the recipe here!

Massaged Kale Salad

10. Massaged Kale Salad

If there’s one salad on your Thanksgiving Day table, let it be this one! Antioxidant and vitamin-rich kale is gently massaged so it’s less bitter and more easily digestible! Use whatever vegetables toppings you want to create this delicious massaged kale salad.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Paleo

Get the recipe here!

Three Mustard Potato Salad

11. Three Mustard Potato Salad

A mayo-free, egg-free take on potato salad, it’s so tasty that no one will realize it’s not the traditional recipe! Adapted from a German potato salad recipe, you will love this new, healthier way of making potato salad. 

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Whole30
  • Mayo-free
  • Egg-free 

Get the recipe here!

Spinach & Puffed Rice

12. Spinach & Puffed Rice

Ever tried puffed rice? This Thanksgiving is the time to try! A unique and fun dish that’s packed with fiber and protein, this will easily become one of the most requested dishes for Thanksgivings to come!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free

Get the recipe here!

Bone Broth Bread

13. Bone Broth Bread

If you eat gluten-free, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy bread with this bone broth bread recipe! Not only is it gluten-free, but as the name indicates, it’s made with bone broth meaning it’s packed with tons of gut-healing nutrients! Serve it at the dinner table in place of a roll or set it out on the appetizer table and pair it with pumpkin hummus, beet hummus, or cranberry pistachio cheese

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Whole30
  • Keto

Get the recipe here!

Main Courses

Butternut Squash BurgerFit Burger

14. Butternut Squash BurgerFit Burger

Burgers aren’t a typical Thanksgiving Day food item, but if you add roasted butternut squash and dill to the recipe, then you might as well add burgers to the menu!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Keto
  • Paleo
  • Whole30

Get the recipe here!

Roasted Pumpkin & Pecan Pasta

15. Roasted Pumpkin & Pecan Pasta

A unique pasta dish that is perfect for fall and therefore Thanksgiving! Packed full of antioxidants and vitamins from the pumpkin, you will be gobbling this down as soon as it’s ready.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free

Get the recipe here!

Mac & No Cheese

16. Mac & No Cheese

Everyone loves the mac & cheese that’s served on Thanksgiving, but if you’re dairy-free, you have to let the mac & cheese pass you by. Not this year! This recipe for Mac & No Cheese is our dairy-free approach to beloved comfort food.

This recipe is:

  • Dairy-free
  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Chili

17. Chili

A one-pan Thanksgiving Day classic that is easy to throw together so that you can get back to focusing on family time. Add a toppings bar for fun and variety that everyone will love!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free 
  • Dairy-free

Get the recipe here!

Sweet Potato & Rosemary Burger

18. Sweet Potato & Rosemary Burger

Ditch the sweet potato casserole that’s loaded with sugar and opt for this healthy, protein-packed Sweet Potato & Rosemary burger! You could easily make sweet potato & rosemary meatballs or mini burgers as an appetizer that everyone will enjoy.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Whole30
  • Paleo
  • Keto

Get the recipe here!

Un-Lasagna

19. Un-Lasagna

This guilt-free lasagna is the perfect main course dish for Thanksgiving Day! Made without traditional lasagna noodles, it’s packed with veggies that are easily disguised by the sauce, cheese, and BurgerFit burgers. A twist on a family gathering classic that you won’t regret serving for Thanksgiving this year.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free

Get the recipe here!

Beans, Greens, & Balsamic Burger

20. Beans, Greens & Balsamic Burger

A creative way to serve green beans at Thanksgiving this year, this BurgerFit burger is an easy way to get the family eating their veggies! You will never turn back on adding balsamic vinegar to your ground beef after you try this recipe. If you’re not feeling burgers at the Thanksgiving Day table, turn this ground beef mix into mini meatballs and serve with a dipping sauce!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Whole30
  • Keto
  • Paleo

Get the recipe here!

Gnocchi

21. Gnocchi

While some minor modifications are needed to get this recipe to fit in your dietary lifestyle, it’s too delicious not to include in this Thanksgiving Day recipe roundup! The flavors of fall come together to create this dish including butternut squash, zucchini, greens, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. Make an extra batch of this because it will go fast!

Make this recipe:

  • Gluten-free by using gluten-free gnocchi
  • Dairy-free by omitting the cheese

Get the recipe here!

Beef Stew

22. Beef Stew

If you’re looking for a hands-off recipe that’s flavorful and perfect for Thanksgiving Day then look no further! This simple ingredient beef stew is hearty and delicious and can easily be made the day before. We even think it tastes better the next day! Set out a toppings bar with cheese, sour cream, green onions, and bacon bits so everyone can customize their stew to their heart’s content.

This recipe is:

  • Dairy-free

Get the recipe here!

Smothered Cabbage

23. Smothered Cabbage

This smothered cabbage dish is easy to throw together and packed with flavor and nutrients! It’s perfect for any dietary lifestyle you’re following so you can feel good about indulging. This recipe is a great way to incorporate cabbage into the Thanksgiving Day meal in a way that cabbage naysayers will love!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Keto
  • Whole30
  • Paleo 

Get the recipe here!

Desserts

Pumpkin Ice Cream

24. Pumpkin Ice Cream

While you might not think of ice cream as being a go-to for Thanksgiving Day dessert, this recipe calling for pumpkin makes it perfect for fall! If you’re wanting a warm dessert to pair with your turkey and mashed potatoes, serve a scoop of this pumpkin ice cream over a bowl of our pumpkin-spiced apples!

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Paleo

Get the recipe here!

Pumpkin Cookies

25. Pumpkin Cookies

So delicious, you won’t be able to eat just one! This is a great recipe for your Thanksgiving Day spread and one that would be perfect for getting the kids in the kitchen to help make. Made with real pumpkin puree and no refined sugar, one could say that these cookies are good for you! 

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • No refined sugar

Get the recipe here!

Pumpkin Spiced Apples

26. Pumpkin Spiced Apples

For Thanksgiving dessert this year, ditch the sugar-filled recipes reach for this Pumpkin Spiced Apple recipe instead! It fits into nearly every dietary lifestyle out there and is absolutely delicious! Serve this with a scoop of Pumpkin Ice Cream and you’ll have the most heavenly and healthy dessert on Thanksgiving Day.

This recipe is:

  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • No added sugar
  • Paleo
  • Whole30
  • Keto

Get the recipe here!

Making a pumpkin recipe for Thanksgiving this year?

Save money and maximize flavor by making your own pumpkin puree! Check out our how-to guide here!

What They’re Saying

Not your typical burger with fries! I grew up just eating burgers with cheese, ketchup, and mustard alongside some fries...This burger offers more nutritional value while still being delicious to eat with the condiments that I love. A side dish of rosemary potatoes in place of fried french fries made it even better. This dish was a nice change from the average burger and had great flavor.

JoeyADAMANT EASY MEAL EATER

BurgerFit is a valuable resource to have at my office when talking about improving eating habits with my patients. It shows them that making healthier choices doesn’t mean giving up food that they know and love, and it helps them make the transition toward seeing food as a joyful part of self care, rather than something to feel guilty about.

JamieOWNER OF THRIVE WELLNESS CLINIC

Wait, these are healthy? If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten them...But they are good, so just don't tell me next time.

AlanEIGHTY-TWO YEAR OLD WHO REFUSES TO EAT ANYTHING HEALTHY

Trust me when I tell you these burgers are amazing!
I have had the wonderful opportunity to have them, and oh boy! My five-year-old even loved them. This is not your sneaky cook of the nineties, these are burgers your family will love. I cannot wait for the cookbook to come out so we can incorporate these into our weekly family meals.

JamiDIRECTOR OF HOPE CENTER: ADOPTION & FAMILY SERVICES

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Alane Boyd

Alane is the co-founder of BGBO Co, a business consulting company that helps business owners achieve their biggest goal and overcome their biggest obstacle. She is also the creator of BurgerFit and the host of Cooking with My Friends. Both were started to inspire people to eat healthier.

2 Comments

  • Elaine Ritch says:

    5 stars
    What a delicious collection of Thanksgiving recipes. I made the Butternut Squash BurgerFit Burger and the Chili and both dishes had turned out so good, I ended up sharing this website to my family.

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