Plan Your Keto Thanksgiving With These 22 Recipes

The holidays are almost here, and while you may look forward to time with your family and friends, you might also feel nervous about sticking to your diet. Are there any keto Thanksgiving recipes that taste enough like the original to please your palate and serve family and friends? 

The answer is yes. It’s a piece of cake to stick to this meal plan, which has many benefits for controlling your blood sugar. Besides the turkey, you can choose from low-carb Thanksgiving sides, dressings, and desserts. 

What should you add to your healthy Thanksgiving menu? Here are 22 keto Thanksgiving recipes to help you plan the perfect low-carb celebration.

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What to Eat for Thanksgiving When on Keto

Do the holidays cause you undue stress? They do for many dieters who have found success on their meal plans but wonder how they’ll handle this time of year. Temptation abounds, and knowing what classic favorites are keto-friendly is tough. 

Some dishes, like turkey, already qualify. It’s simple to make keto-friendly side dishes, dressings, and desserts by swapping less healthy ingredients for low-carb versions. That way, you can indulge in a few favorites. Plus, folks doing keto 2.0 have 100 grams of carbs daily to play with.¹

If you’ve done the original keto diet, you know how restrictive it can be. Originally, it was used to treat severe epilepsy in children. Because it limits carbs to 5% of your daily caloric intake, you could only consume 50 grams if on a 2,000-calorie diet.²

These recipes provide sound nutrition while avoiding ultra-processed foods that can harm your health. They’re also delicious during the holidays or anytime.

The Ultimate Keto Thanksgiving Menu

You have a few approaches to creating your healthy Thanksgiving menu:

• Research new dishes that qualify as keto Thanksgiving recipes.
• Modify your current menu items by substituting keto-friendly items.
• Take a combination approach.

Eventually, you’ll invent new favorites that fit your meal plan and delight everyone at the table. Best of all, you don’t have to save these recipes for Thanksgiving — they’re great any time of year. 

Keto and Healthy Thanksgiving Main Dishes Recipes

What’s on your main healthy Thanksgiving menu? Here are eight fabulous keto Thanksgiving recipes to headline your event. These foods will even appeal to the non-keto members of your family and friend circle.

1. Keto Thanksgiving Stuffing

• 1 pound hot or mild sausage
• 1 bag keto croutons
• ½ cup diced onions
• ½ cup diced carrots
• ½ cup diced celery
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 beaten egg
• 2-3 cups poultry seasoning 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the sausage, adding onions, carrots, and celery when almost fully cooked, and cook for another two minutes. Add the broth, seasonings, and croutons, stirring to absorb most of the liquid. Beat your egg and blend it with the rest of the mix. Bake in a prepared baking pan for 20 to 30 minutes or until the top browns.³

2. Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

• 1 large head of cauliflower
• 4 ounces softened cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chives for garnish 

Break cauliflower⁴ into florets and steam for about 10 minutes or until tender, taking care not to overcook. Drain, return the cauliflower to the pot, and blend in cream cheese and butter using a mixer, adding salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chives. 

3. Keto Gravy

• 2 cups broth 
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
• Salt and pepper to taste

<p id="keto-gravy">Add all ingredients to a small pot and whisk until xanthan gum absorbs. Place the pot on the stove and boil as you whisk for one minute. Serve hot.⁵</p>

4. Butter Turkey

• 12-14-pound turkey 
• 1 cup chicken stock 
• 1 stick softened butter
• 2 small cored, sliced apples
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 8 tablespoons herb blend (salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, sage, rosemary, red pepper flakes, paprika)

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without a turkey⁶. Soften the butter and blend in the herbs. Use your hands to coat the entire bird, including inside the cavity. Stuff with apples and lemon, and pour chicken stock into the pan to prevent sticking. Roast uncovered at 400 F for one hour. 

Flip the bird and cook for another six minutes per pound, uncovered. Test with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165 F at the thickest part of the thigh and let sit for up to an hour before serving. 

5. Keto Cranberry Sauce

• 2 cups water
• 1 ½ cups powdered monk fruit
• 1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries

Combine water and monk fruit and bring to a boil. Add cranberries, return pot to boiling, and reduce it to medium or low. Simmer for 30 minutes until most of the berries burst, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate until chilled and serve.⁷

6. Keto Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls

• 1 ½ cups almond flour or coconut flour
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• ¼ cup softened cream cheese
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Place the cheeses in a microwave-safe bowl, heating until mostly melted and whisking together until smooth. Once the cheese cools, add the almond flour, baking powder, and two eggs, mixing into a smooth dough. Break into 10 balls, place on a lined baking tray, and brush the tops with the remaining egg. Bake until golden, and enjoy this keto bread recipe.⁸

7. Keto Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts
• 2 to 3 pieces of fried bacon, including the grease
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Fry the bacon strips, preserving the grease. Wash, trim, and halve Brussels sprouts⁹, tossing them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Combine the sprouts with the bacon grease and cook on medium heat until brown. Top with crumbled bacon. 

8. Keto Low-Carb Cornbread Stuffing

• 1 pan keto cornbread
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• ½ cup chicken or turkey broth
• 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs
• ½ cup chopped onions 
• 2 chopped celery stalks
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon ground sage
• Salt and pepper to taste

Toast cornbread¹⁰ in the oven and allow it to cool. Saute onions and celery in oil until tender, then stir in broth, cream soup, and seasoning, stirring regularly. Remove from heat and stir in eggs and toasted cornbread. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 F or until brown. 

Don’t forget beverages. If you indulge, you should keep a stash of keto-friendly, low-carb wine and beer selections available for you and your guests. If you don’t drink, try some keto-friendly mocktail recipes to add elegance while staying sober. 

Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving Side Dish and Appetizer Recipes

You’re ready for the holiday with keto Thanksgiving recipes and dressings. However, you still need your vegetables. 

The following keto-friendly side dishes add the perfect touch to your holiday table. These low-carb Thanksgiving sides are great all year, so add them to your weekly meal planner. 

1. Low Carb Keto Sweet Potato Casserole

You wouldn’t think that sweet potato casserole¹¹ could be keto, but this recipe features only 6 grams of carbs per serving and can be dairy-free. The secret is monk fruit sweetener, which has zero calories and won’t affect your blood sugar. 

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C to help you stave off winter colds before they start.¹² 

2. Air Fryer Asparagus

Asparagus¹³ is an elegant dish, even without hollandaise sauce, and makes for the ultimate keto thanksgiving side dish. A little lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil are all you need to make their signature flavor pop. This veggie is rich in folate if you have any mamas-to-be on the invite list. 

3. Keto Broccoli Salad

Broccoli¹⁴ is a vegetable everyone needs more of, even the keto-friendly folks. Studies show that its sulforaphane prevents certain DNA mutations that lead to cancer¹⁵.  

This salad also contains apple cider vinegar in the dressing. The “Mother” used to make this brew is rich in probiotics to nourish your intestinal microbiome and help you digest that heavy meal. 

4. Bacon-Wrapped Carrots

Carrots¹⁶ are a Thanksgiving classic, but you can do more than throw them in the roasting pan with the turkey. Bacon is the ultimate keto treat, and it wraps the bunny food up in a meat dress that would make Lady Gaga jealous. A little maple syrup adds sweetness without much glycemic impact. 

5. Keto Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole¹⁷ has been a Thanksgiving classic since the Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup recipe hit the shelves. This keto version is a bit more labor-intensive, but you’ll be rewarded with fresh flavor. The cheddar cheese adds a rich creaminess, making this side dish a meal. 

6. Keto Mac and Cheese

You can make this keto recipe without cauliflower, although you will need to use the low-carb noodles of your choice. With only five ingredients, you can easily whip up this kid-pleaser amid your other offerings to please the under-5 set. You decide if you want to add a handful of keto-friendly chicken nuggets into the mix. ¹⁸

7. Keto Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

This creamy mashed cauliflower¹⁹ includes Irish cheddar cheese. You can even substitute a blend of dubliner and sharp cheddar to achieve your desired taste and color. A hint of garlic powder gives just the right touch of spice, so you won’t need gravy. 

Keto Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Kids and adults agree — the best part of Thanksgiving dinner is the dessert. However, you don’t have to blow your meal plan and spike your glucose with sugary treats. 

With natural sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit now available, you can enjoy keto desserts without guilt. You can also bake in advance and delight your guests with more than one of the following creations. Remember, enjoying the leftovers is half the fun.

1. Low-Carb Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert. The ginger in this recipe is fabulous for digestion, making it the ideal ending to a big meal. 

What’s better atop pumpkin pie²⁰ than a dollop of whipped cream? You can make your own at home or find healthy commercial versions.  

2. Keto Apple Pie

Apple pie²¹ might be America’s favorite dessert. It’s also perfect for fall holidays like Thanksgiving. 

This recipe calls for a blend of allulose and monk fruit. Allulose is a naturally occurring sweetener in figs and maple syrup, artificially synthesized in the lab. 

3. Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake

Is there anything the magic of monk fruit and pumpkin spice can’t do? You might have thought cheesecake²² was off the menu when you started keto — then you found this recipe. 

Although this recipe includes an almond flour crust, you can cheat. Pick up a store-bought keto-friendly crust and cut your prep time by 15 to 20 minutes. 

4. Keto Carrot Cake

Carrot cake²³ is a delicious treat, complete with cream cheese frosting. 

This recipe calls for Swerve, a sugar-free sweetener made with erythritol. However, if you want to keep things all-natural, you can substitute monk fruit or stevia to get the ideal touch of sweetness²⁴. 

5. Keto Cheesecake Bars

Cheesecake bars²⁵ are the perfect sweet Thanksgiving treat for people who want a small bite. The crust and filling each have five or fewer ingredients, making this recipe a snap. You can even use them to break your overnight fast as a breakfast substitute.  

6. Keto Pecan Pie

Here’s another recipe that calls for erythritol —but you have options. Monk fruit also has a brown sugar-style version that won’t upset delicate baking proportions. 

Pecans²⁶ are the highest in antioxidants among common tree nuts. They’re also a rich source of plant-based protein. 

7. Keto Pecan Bars

Finally, there’s a portable version of pecan²⁷ pie. These snacks are fabulous year-round for a quick dose of filling fiber and protein, so keep some in your freezer. They’ll stay safe in an airtight bag for up to six months. 

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