Healthy, Lower Sugar Thanksgiving Recipes

26 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes – A collection of lower sugar, gluten-free turkey day ideas that will please the healthy eaters!

It’s that time of year, folks!

Time for turkey and pie and ‘taters and pie and gravy and did I mention pie?!

The hubs will be ‘firemanning’ this year on Thanksgiving, so we’ll be celebrating Friday instead of Thursday. Jade also has her 12th birthday on Thanksgiving, so it will be a chaotic week!

She’s getting so big and even has a blog of her very own now!

Below, you’ll find our turkey day favorites. I hope you can find one or two you’d like to try as well!

BREADS

Buckwheat Flour Biscuits

A great option for those gluten-free-ers that may be attending your table, and they’re delicious!

Spelt Flour Pumpkin Biscuits

Biscuits are a must on this fine holiday, and these fluffy whole grain delights are a great way to use up the last of that annoying leftover can of pumpkin.

Corn-Free Cornbread

This scrumptious ‘cornbread’ is made entirely WITHOUT corn, but you’d never know it! It’s also packed full of nutrition from sweet potato and contains NO added sweeteners!

SIDES

Roasted Butternut Halves

These are an easy way to offer a simple vegetable! Roast them and slice them into thirds or fourths for a more dainty, handheld bite.

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

This is truly one of my favorite recipes on the blog! A unique onion ‘cream’ sauce is the base for this soft and luscious potato dish. You’d never know it’s cream AND butter-free!

Mashed Potatoes Without Milk

NO milk needed for these creamy mashed potatoes! They’re deliciously flavored with garlic and a combination of butter and olive oil.

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

If you’re looking for a lower carb version of mashed potatoes, this is a great one made with cauliflower! We usually make both mashed potatoes and mashed cauliflower, and the kids love both!

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

This dish also employs a variation of my onion ‘cream’ sauce (a truly versatile little ditty). The breadcrumb topping makes a delightful textural contrast to the soft and creamy sprouts!

Fast Sweet Potatoes

This no-brainer recipe shows you how to make a speedy sweet potato! Give everyone their own individual sweet potato ‘casserole’ by topping these with a few marshmallows and pecans. YUM!

Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Medley

Roasted vegetables are a great way to please veggie haters, AND they’re a good one to prep the night before!

Healthier Green Bean Casserole

Since I didn’t get around to shooting new pictures for this, you get to bask in my early day photography, which is just horrific. Recipe is good though, lol!

SALADS

Fresh Potato Salad

This would be a great make-ahead dish, as oven space and time are both precious on the actual holiday!

Kale Salad

Despite having the colors of Christmas, this salad would make a great addition to Thanksgiving! Fresh, easy, and full of nutrition to offset those pies. 🙂

No-Mayo Cole Slaw

This is another great one to make ahead, as the flavors just get better with time!

The Best Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

This truly is my FAVORITE salad dressing, and it gets a huge thumbs up from my kids as well!

The Best Healthy Ranch Dressing

If vinegar isn’t your first choice for salad, give this creamy ranch a try! Make a big batch and bring on the crudite!

DESSERTS

Tart Berry Pie

I know my most recent crop of desserts wouldn’t exactly please the average sugar lover, BUT!…this pie may just be the exception! Top it with some sugar-laden ice cream, and they’ll never know.

Cinnamon Apple Cobbler

Another low sugar recipe that you can top with ice cream – This is one of my favorites on the blog! It’s easy, delicious, and so healthy!

Lighter Blueberry Crisp

While this recipe is for a small serving, it can easily be doubled or tripled, as needed. Again with the ice cream, but if you get yourself a good brand of blueberries, you might not need it!

Lower Sugar Apple Crumble

Lol to that title, as my grandma was quite the sugar lover! This recipe is just as good and (as the name says) healthier for you!

Now, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a creamy pumpkin pie to round it out! This egg-free version is almost custard-like in texture! The arrowroot really sets it up to be a bit softer than the average pie, and it truly is irresistible! One of my finest creations.