8 Healthy and Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Make at Home
By: Shannon Sweeney
Let’s face it — the real MVPs of Thanksgiving Dinner are the side dishes. I spend months dreaming of whipped mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, and fresh-baked rolls. The down side? They’re not exactly the healthiest options.
Thanksgiving dinner can be a challenge if you’re trying to be healthier or if you’re following a nutrition plan. Luckily, in addition to non-turkey main dish options, there are hundreds of recipes out there for delicious, light — and healthy — Thanksgiving side dishes.
Here are some of our favorite light side dishes that will help keep your diet on track and excite anyone at your Thanksgiving table. Trust us, they’re that good.
Easy, Vegetable Side Dish Ideas:
If you are a vegetarian, or have one coming to dinner any of these veggie-focused recipes will be a hit.
Low-carb Cauliflower Stuffing
1 large head Cauliflower, cut into small florets
1 large onion
1/4 cup celery
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp ground sage
1 tsp sea salt (or less if your poultry seasoning contains salt)
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley
1/4 cup pecans
One of my personal favorite parts of Thanksgiving is the stuffing — and this recipe is a perfect, low-carb substitute. It includes a lot of ingredients, but the prep time is only 10 minutes. It has all the same flavors of traditional stuffing, but this stuffing is just as delicious, and it’s paleo friendly. Get the full recipe Get the full recipe here.
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
1 pound green beans, cut in half
Sea salt and black pepper
2 tbsp vegan butter or olive oil
1 medium shallot
2 cloves garlic
1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (button, baby bella, or cremini)
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 cup vegetable broth (DIY or store-bought)
1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions (Check ingredients to ensure vegan friendly)
Traditional green bean casseroles are healthy because they have a vegetable, right? Wrong. Baked with a creamy sauce and topped with crispy fried onions, it’s pretty much the opposite. But that doesn’t mean you have to pass on the green beans at the table. This light, vegan green bean casserole packs just as much taste without the unnecessary calories. Get the full recipe Get the full recipe here.
Simple Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
12 ounces green beans, trimmed (dry)
2 teaspoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tbsp shredded Parmesan (optional)
If you’re looking for an even healthier green bean recipe, try a simple roasted recipe that will eliminate sodium and fat found in a lot of green bean casseroles. The recipe for this one is simple — bake green beans for 15 minutes and serve immediately with grated Parmesan. Want to ditch the cheese? Season with pepper and garlic powder only. Find the recipe here.
Crispy, Low-calorie Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts
1.5 tbsp. olive oil
2.5 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, divided
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Brussels sprouts are basically the perfect vegetable — they’re high in nutrients, low in calories, and there’s so much you can do with them. This low-carb, vegetarian side dish is bound to be a table favorite. You get the crispy, light taste of a Brussels sprout mixed with balsamic flavor. Plus, the recipe is so easy. In just half an hour, you’ll have arguably the best-tasting side dish there. Get the full recipe here.
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
2 large sweet potatoes, or 3 medium sweet potatoes
1/4 c. butter, melted
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. thyme leaves
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Small pinch nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Sweet potatoes are a healthy way to sweeten up Thanksgiving, and this recipe is a great substitute for mashed potatoes, which are often loaded with a lot of dairy. With a crispy edge and a tender center, this side dish Sub out the cheese and butter if you’re looking for a dairy-free (or vegan) option for this recipe. Get the full recipe here.
Thyme-Roasted Carrots
3 pounds medium carrots, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon salt
This vegetarian Thanksgiving side dish is super low in calories and fat, but is full of taste and flavor. To make this dish, simply mix thyme, oil, honey, and salt in a small bowl, brush over carrots, and roast for 25 minutes.
Rosemary Root Vegetables
1 small rutabaga
1 medium sweet potato
2 medium parsnips
1 medium turnip
1/4 pound fresh Brussels sprouts
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
This medley of vegetables is perfect to make if you’re cooking a dish for a lot of people, and it’s the perfect side dish to complement whatever you’re eating. Even though the ingredient list is long, it’s a simple recipe that’s low-calorie, low-fat and completely vegetarian. The addition of rosemary gives it that perfect fall taste, and trust me, you’ll want to go back for seconds.
Cranberries Anyone?
We can’t have Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce, right? Even though it’s everyone's favorite can-shaped side dish, the store-bought jellied kind can come with a lot of sugar, so here is our keto-friendly alternative!
Keto-friendly Cranberry Sauce
2 (10 oz.) bags frozen cranberries
1/4 c. Swerve (or another Keto sweetener
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
6 orange zest removed with a peeler
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
This simple low-fat cranberry sauce is a must-have side dish this year — and it’s so easy to make. In a small pot, combine cranberries, Swerve, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, orange zest, and ¼ cup water. Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil (you’ll notice the cranberries releasing their juice). Continue to boil for about 6 minutes until juices thicken and cranberries burst. Remove from heat and add vanilla, let cool, and serve. Get the full recipe here.
Thanksgiving is a celebration of family, friends, gratitude and of course, food. But it doesn’t have to be a day that derails your diet. These recipes will help you eat well, without regret. Also, speaking of gratitude, we’re super thankful for all of you, our readers. Thanks for visiting and we can’t wait to keep celebrating with you this holiday season and all year long!
