25+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes - Sides, Salads, Mains, and Desserts (2024)

30-Minute Stovetop Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

With maple syrup, bacon, and pecans, this Brussels sprouts recipe has a little something for everyone. Start by blanching the Brussels sprouts in salted water, then finish them on the stove – this method creates tender interiors and crisp edges. The bourbon is optional, but recommended. You can substitute for apple cider vinegar if you don't cook with alcohol.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Acorn Squash with Maple Browned Butter

A sweet-and-savory combination of maple browned butter, sea salt, and fresh sage makes these roasted acorn squash slices shine. Baking acorn squash in the oven yields tender slightly caramelized flesh. The nutty edible skin cuts way down on prep time too!

Get the Recipe

Maple Roasted Root Vegetables with Pecans and Thyme

Colorful and impressive looking, this recipe for maple root vegetables couldn’t be simpler. Use any combination of root vegetables that strike your fancy, just be sure to dice the pieces into uniform sizes so they roast evenly.

Get the Recipe

Healthy Honey Cornbread

This healthy twist on a classic comfort food is a perfect, light accompaniment for heavy holiday meals. Honey and Greek yogurt give this Healthy Honey Cornbread recipe it's sweet, tart flavor, while olive oil keeps it moist but light. Bake the cornbread in a preheated cast iron skillet for the ultimate crispy crust.

Get the Recipe

Honey Roasted Carrots with Cumin and Carrot Top Pesto

It’s worth seeking out tricolor baby carrots with their greens still attached to get the most of out this easy but elegant side dish. Smaller baby carrots are a bit sweeter, with younger skin that needn’t be peeled. Reserve the freshest greens to make a vibrant pesto for dressing the honey roasted carrots.

Get the Recipe

Garlicky Green Beans with Crispy Shallots

If you love green bean casserole, but can’t be bothered with the fuss, these garlicky green beans with crispy shallots are for you! Tender sweet green beans are sautéed in garlic, seasoned with cider vinegar, then topped with smokey, crunchy, caramelized shallots.

Get the Recipe

Baked Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Fritters

Sweet potato and butternut squash go together like peas and carrots, or Saturdays and pajamas, or brothers and sisters (minus all the early childhood squabbling). When you crave this combo but can’t stand another soup or casserole, reach for these sweet potato and butternut squash pancakes. They’re airy and crispy, with the perfect al dente bite and herby edge.

Get the Recipe

Health Mashed Potatoes Recipe (Vegan)

Using olive oil in mashed potatoes is perfect for creating non dairy vegan mashed potatoes without butter, but keep the taste incredibly rich and buttery. A hit of roasted garlic keeps these Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes sweet and creamy without cream or milk. Use mellow, buttery Yukon golds to make these heart healthy mashed potatoes as flavorful as possible.

Get the Recipe

Honeynut Squash Rice Pilaf

This honeynut squash rice pilaf is the perfect balance of nutty and sweet, with a bright herby finish. It’s an easy, seasonal, and nutritious recipe that’s perfect on it’s own for lunch, or paired with your favorite protein for dinner.

Get the Recipe

Autumn Crunch Butter Lettuce Salad

Say hello to your newest crunchy companion. This autumn crunch butter lettuce salad is peppery, a little sweet, and of course packed with the most satisfying crunch.

Get the Recipe

Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Toasted Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Kale is good. Brussels sprouts are great. And when you combine them with creamy, sharp blue cheese and an irresistible toasted hazelnut vinaigrette? It's legit salad heaven. Kale and brussels sprouts salad will convert you into a green believer, no matter where you stand on the love/hate kale spectrum.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing

If you find most winter squash varietals to be difficult to work with, you will discover a hero in tender delicata squash. The skin is soft and edible, and the seeds easily scoop from the flesh, making it a superior squash for busy weeknights when you just cannot bother with tedious prep work. Roasted delicata squash is sweet, nutty, and impressively versatile. It shines in this seasonal fall salad recipe tossed with quinoa, vegetables, and pepitas, then drizzled with a sweet and creamy maple vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe

Arugula Pear Salad with Pistachios and Pomegranate Seeds

This ridiculously easy arugula pear salad with pistachios and pomegranate is full of colorful, seasonal produce with a subtle sweetness and a delightful snap n’ crunch. A healthy punch of nuts and olive oil make it rich and satisfying. It takes only minutes to throw together, and pairs perfectly with a simple soup.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Fennel Salad with Apples and Radicchio

Fennel becomes a completely different vegetable after a trip though the oven – it loses its classic licorice bite and becomes tender, nutty, and just a bit sweet. Tossed with apples and radicchio, this roasted fennel salad is a cool weather recipe you’ll turn to again and again. It’s bright and deeply flavorful, but also satisfying and nutritious.

Get the Recipe

Kale Pomegranate Salad with Apple, Fennel and Pepitas

This kale pomegranate salad is bright, colorful, hearty, and packed with vitamins and nutrients. It’s a quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for dinner or meal prep, and a total crowd pleaser for parties.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

This roasted sweet potato salad with maple vinaigrette is bursting with fall harvest flavor! Roasted sweet potatoes, crisp apples, tender swiss chard, and nutty wild rice come together for a hearty, nutritious, and flavor-packed vegetarian dinner.

Get the Recipe

Winter Chopped Salad with Endive, Pears, and Pomegranate

As it’s name might imply, this winter chopped salad is a refreshing combination of sweet and bitter lettuces tossed with winter fruits, a touch of gorgonzola, and a sweet and tart pomegranate poppy dressing. It’s beautiful salad recipe that comes together quickly, and is perfect as a side dish or served with seared steak for an easy seasonal dinner.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Carrot Apple Soup

This roasted carrot apple soup is like a big hug – warm, comforting, and nourishing for the body and soul. Be sure to roast the carrots, even though it’s tempting to skip that step. They bring a hint of smokiness and depth of flavor that really makes this soup shine. This serves four as a main course or six as an appetizer.

Get the Recipe

Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk and Pepitas

This paleo roasted pumpkin soup made with coconut milk and finished with fresh herbs and pepitias is a hearty, healthy, and simply delicious fall soup!

Get the Recipe

Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Delicate butternut squash, warming spices, and a splash of cream make for a cozy roasted butternut squash soup.Roasted the vegetables lends more flavor and naturally sweetens the squash. Puree in a blender for a velvety smooth finish.

Get the Recipe

White Bean Ragout with Butternut Squash and Mushrooms

This white bean ragout with butternut squash and mushrooms is a hearty, super nutritious winter stew. Serve it over polenta, rice, or crusty bread, or for a grain-free option, pureed or riced cauliflower.

Get the Recipe

Butternut Squash Galette with Caramelized Onions

I am an unapologetic butternut squash enthusiast, and this butternut squash galette is one of my favorite ways to use this sweet, nutritious squash. It’s sweet and delicate, and a gorgeous centerpiece for a gathering with friends.

Get the Recipe

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

This gluten free apple crisp is a lightened up and refined sugar free version of the Thanksgiving classic! It’s made start to finish in a cast iron skillet resulting in an equally tender and crisp texture. This is a healthy fall dessert recipe that will satisfy even the pickiest sweet tooth around your table.

Paleo Pumpkin Bread

This paleo pumpkin bread is nutty and sweet with a spiced swirl through the center that makes each slice (and you) grin from ear to ear. Take care to use super fine almond flour (from blanched, skinless almonds) instead of almond meal in order to nail the texture. Feel free to use pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice in lieu of the spice blend below.

Get the Recipe

Healthy Pumpkin Bars

Classic pumpkin bars get a make-over using whole wheat flour, heart healthy olive oil, and antioxidant rich maple syrup. The result is a low sugar, dairy free treat that’s decadent enough to be considered cake, and healthy enough to pass for breakfast.

Get the Recipe

Life Changing Paleo Brownies

These paleo brownies look and taste just like the real thing with crispy edges, crackly tops, and the perfect dense-but-airy texture.

Get the Recipe