67 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Are Actually Delicious

Looking for healthy Thanksgiving recipes? (Or healthier ones, at least?) Here, you'll find our very best recipes that are big on flavor and nutrition, including appetizers, salads, soups, desserts, and, of course, the turkey, too.
Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell1/67Creamy Cauliflower Dip
Earthy and rich without being heavy or filling, this creamy vegetable dip is just the thing to whet the appetite without ruining it before a big holiday meal.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/67Warmed Spiced Olives
A warm, richly spiced oil turns a bowl of mixed olives into elegant party fare. This recipe is easy to make, but fancy-feeling enough to feel like the right start to a party.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez3/67Vegan "Tofurkey" With Mushroom Stuffing and Gravy
Set aside store-bought faux turkey roasts and place this stunner on your holiday table instead. The vegan loaf is packed with tons of flavor, thanks to miso-infused tofu, a pecan-mushroom stuffing, and a soy-maple glaze.
Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell4/67Green Bean Salad With Fennel and Toasted Pecan Dukkah
Dukkah (a flavorful nut and spice blend) is easy to make and lends a zesty kick to this gorgeous, crisp green bean salad that's right at home next to a roast turkey.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton5/67Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Butternut squash is a sweet foil to the bitter kale and tart pomegranate in this refreshing salad. Worth mentioning: Both the salad and the dressing can be made ahead, saving you time on Thanksgiving day.
Photo by Peden & Munk6/67Caramelized Shallot Yogurt
This flavorful Greek yogurt-based dip (filled with shallots, salt, chives, and more) just might make you pause before making a sour cream–based onion dip ever again.
Katie Stoop7/67Ember-Roasted Squash Hummus
Kick up the flavor and nutrients of traditional hummus by stirring in hearty roasted squash. Any type of thick-skinned autumn squash will do, including kabocha, butternut, Hubbard, and regular old pumpkin. Serve it with baguette slices, toasted pita bread triangles, or carrot and celery sticks.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers8/67Extra-Green Green Goddess Dip
This colorful dip is ready in under 15 minutes. It's the watercress that makes this new riff on a classic greener—and a bit zestier, too.
Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott9/67Rye, Kale, Mushroom, and Pumpkin Seed Stuffing
This Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is loaded with vegetables. We love its mix of greens and mushrooms, and the extra flavor you get from using rye bread.
Photo by Linda Xiao10/67Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts Slaw
This is one of our go-to healthy vegetable sides for Thanksgiving. Crunchy raw broccoli and Brussels sprouts meet their match in a punchy triumvirate of olives, anchovies, and lemon juice.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton11/67Endive, Apple, and Celery Salad With Smoked Almonds and Cheddar
A mix of sweet, smoky, and pleasingly bitter notes gives this crisp, bright salad a modern flair that will really liven up your Thanksgiving menu.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton12/67Kale Salad With Persimmons, Feta, and Crisp Prosciutto
Kale salad gets a holiday update with sweet persimmons, salty prosciutto, and just a hint of richness from the feta. Top it all off with pecans and mint.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton13/67Shaved Carrot and Radish Salad With Herbs and Pumpkin Seeds
This gorgeous tumble of carrot ribbons and mixed herbs—including parsley, dill, cilantro, mint, tarragon, and basil—provides a crunchy, fresh counterpoint to a rich Thanksgiving turkey and other hearty sides.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton14/67Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad
Fragrant basil leaves and tender pears are a winning combo of fresh and sweet. This bright, crisp salad is a lovely break from the heavier dishes on the Thanksgiving table.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks15/67Butternut Squash Vegducken With Mushroom-Cranberry Stuffing
Just in time for Thanksgiving, we’ve given the stunningly delicious Vegducken an autumnal makeover. This year’s entirely meatless take on turducken focuses on autumnal flavors with butternut squash, sweet potato, and parsnip filling in for the traditional meats. The mushroom-cranberry stuffing makes use of leftover vegetable scraps for less waste.
Photo by Christopher Testani16/67Pork Walnut Stuffing With Squash and Sage
This grain-free stuffing is made with butternut squash instead of bread cubes, and tons of savory herbs, including rosemary, oregano, and sage.
Elinor Carucci17/67Wild Rice and Mushroom Stuffing
Wild rice takes the place of bread in this stuffing. It's mixed with earthy oyster and shiitake mushrooms for added texture, and an ancho chile for a bit of punchy heat.
Jennifer May18/67Chestnut, Wild Rice, and Pistachio Dressing
Between the rich chestnuts and the buttery rice, this hearty Thanksgiving side dish has the chops to be a main. This recipe is filled with flavor, making good use of celery, onion, garlic, thyme, parsley, pistachios, and more.
Photo by Kamil Bialous19/67Wild Rice with Watercress and Hazelnuts
This light salad makes the most of seasonal ingredients. Look for sturdy cress: The sturdier it is to start with, the longer this salad will hold up at room temperature.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton20/673-Ingredient Thanksgiving Turkey with Orange and Sage
We promise, you can make a delicious turkey with only three ingredients. Spatchcocking the turkey before roasting ensures that all parts of the bird will cook evenly—and in just 1 1/2 hours.
Photo by Alex Lau21/67Easy Roast Turkey With No-Roux Gravy
It’s important to follow the measurements for the salt and to use a low-sodium stock (or, better yet, a homemade one) for this recipe—otherwise, the gravy could wind up being too salty.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott22/67Roasted Butternut Squash With Herb Oil and Goat Cheese
This roasted butternut squash recipe is perfect for a dinner party—serving on a large platter encourages second helpings and all the half portions, tastes, and just-one-more bites that follow.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson23/67Braised Turkey Legs
These braised turkey legs offer an easy way to cook a smaller portion of meat. Instead of roasting in butter, the recipe simply uses oil and a splash of white wine.
Christina Holmes24/67Swiss Chard and Mushroom Galette
Looking for a meatless option for your Thanksgiving menu? Consider this tasty vegetarian free-form pie, filled with ricotta, earthy maitake mushrooms, and tender Swiss chard.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi25/67Falafel Mushroom Loaf
This hearty meatless loaf combines earthy wild mushrooms with classic falafel spices. A lemony tahini sauce takes the place of gravy and bright pomegranate seeds lend flair.
Photo by Christopher Testani26/67Winter Squash Agrodolce
A glaze made of red wine vinegar and Fresno chile adds heat to sweet squash, spicing up the traditional Thanksgiving flavor profile in this healthy recipe.
Photo by Tara Donne, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell27/67Spiced Sweet Potato and Parsnip Tian
With apple cider, Aleppo pepper, and thyme, this pretty dish offers a lighter take on your usual Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole. You can slice sweet potatoes and parsnips by hand, but having a mandoline will make quick work of the prep for this recipe.
Photo by Bobbi Lin28/67Hasselback Butternut Squash With Bay Leaves
For this holiday-worthy recipe, roasting the butternut with several bay leaves slipped between the slices results in a subtle aromatic backdrop for the chile glaze.
Photo by Lara Ferroni29/67Mashed Potato and Cauliflower Gratin
Adding cauliflower into mashed potatoes makes them even more delicious and flavorful. A little Fontina and parmesan add a nutty note to the puree, without overpowering it with richness.
Photo by Bobbi Lin30/67Citrus-Pomegranate Relish
If you see other types of citrus besides oranges or tangelos at the market, feel free to combine them in this fresh and simple five-ingredient relish recipe.
Hirscheimer & Hamilton31/67Citrus-Cranberry Compote
Want to skip the too-sweet canned stuff? This citrusy cranberry compote adds a bright note to your turkey. (Though it's also great with dessert.)
Photo by Shutterstock32/67Ginger-Pumpkin Soufflé
Watch out, pumpkin pie! This seasonal dessert is delicious even without a caloric crust. It's a light and flavorful soufflé consisting mostly of egg whites, flavored with pumpkin and fresh ginger.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski33/67Chocolate-Avocado Pudding
Serve this decadent chocolate mousse in pretty little bowls and we promise that no one will even guess it's a low-sugar, vegan-friendly dessert made from avocados.
Photo by Peden + Munk34/67Baked Apples with Prunes, Almonds, and Amaretto
For an easy make-ahead dessert recipe that’s also a showstopper, look no further. Plus, pouring the cream over at the table adds a dramatic touch.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova35/67Big-Batch Roasted Kale
There's no reason kale should be boring. On Thanksgiving, try roasting it on a sheet pan to really maximize the crispy browned edges. You might find yourself nabbing some right off the pan.
36/67Cauliflower Rice
Don't overcrowd the food processor with florets or you might end up with cauliflower "rice" that's a mix of too-big pieces and mush. Work in batches and keep the pulses short.
David Loftus37/67Carrot, Avocado, and Orange Salad
It's a far cry from what you usually see on the Thanksgiving table, but if anybody protests, tell 'em to calm down: this is actually a very seasonal plate.
Photo by Alex Lau38/67Citrus and Avocado Salad with Orange Water
Salting the citrus in this fresh and flavorful salad draws out some of the juice, which then becomes part of the vinaigrette. Garnish with pistachios and tarragon.
Photo by Christopher Testani39/67Beets With Dill, Lime, and Yogurt
For a stunning presentation, use a variety of colorful beets. Red and candy cane beets are sweeter than yellow beets, but all work wonderfully here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog40/67Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
A bright alternative to heavy sides, this salad features Tuscan kale and Brussels sprouts, drizzled all over with lemony olive oil and topped with Pecorino cheese and toasted almonds.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton41/67Kale Salad With Brussels Sprouts, Apples, and Hazelnuts
Brussels sprouts, apples, Gouda, radishes, and hazelnuts turn this kale salad into something special enough to serve guests for one of the biggest holiday meals of the year.
Photo by Kate Schwager42/67Miso-Harissa Delicata Squash and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Toss roasted squash and chopped Brussels sprouts with a perfectly salty and spicy white miso and harissa dressing for a refreshing change of pace this Thanksgiving.
Photo by Alex Lau43/67Seedy Oat Crackers
This recipe for crackers features a variety of seeds, and the combination of colors and textures is impressive, but you can use fewer types—just make sure total volume stays the same.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski44/67Aromatic Wilted Greens With Coconut Milk
These greens are flavored with garlic, shallots, chile, ginger, and scallions. After cooking and tossing, adding a dash of coconut milk helps the dish retain a sweet flavor.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson45/67Beet and Carrot Salad With Curry Dressing and Pistachios
This festive dish is as flavorful as it is colorful. Smaller beets are ideal for this recipe since the rounds will fit neatly on the end of a fork.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini46/67Smashed Green Bean Salad With Crispy Shallots
Don’t cook your green beans this Thanksgiving: smash them with a rolling pin and keep them raw instead. This process softens the beans and breaks them open to fully absorb a tangy citrus dressing. A topping of store-bought crispy fried shallots nods to classic green bean casserole but skips the heavy creaminess.
Photo by Nicole Franzen47/67Cauliflower With Pumpkin Seeds, Brown Butter, and Lime
Roasted cauliflower is even better when tossed with crunchy pumpkin seeds and drizzled with nutty brown butter. Top it all off with a little fresh green in the form of cilantro leaves.
Photo by Dan Monick48/67Farro With Pistachios, Mixed Herbs, and Golden Raisins
A host of fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, and parsley) plus ginger and lemon zest add refreshing zip to this grain salad that even includes raisins.
Photo by Peden & Munk49/67Roasted Veg With Nutritional Yeast
You're going to be thankful for the umami punch of nutritional yeast in this scrumptious vegetable dish that can be made with broccoli or acorn squash.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi50/67Italian Kale Caesar Salad
You'll make more dressing than you need for one batch of salad with this recipe, but that's a good thing—you'll want to keep using it on all your post-Thanksgiving salads.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi51/67Watercress Salad With Warm Mustard Dressing
Here the peppery greens in this light watercress salad are offset by a creamy, warm, slightly-sweet dressing. The result? A healthy Thanksgiving recipe sure to please a crowd.
Photo by Christopher Testani52/67Baked Minty Rice with Feta and Pomegranate Relish
If you've given up on stovetop rice methods, you'll love the hands-off oven technique in this flavor-packed, colorful side dish from Yotam Ottolenghi. A little browned feta on top makes it even better.
Photo by Alex Lau53/67Celery Root and Carrot Soup
This classic, creamy soup is brightened with fresh ginger, making for a delicious and colorful addition to your Thanksgiving menu. Don't forget to top with celery leaves and chopped apple.
Photo by Danny Kim.54/67Hasselback Carrots
Talk about a gorgeous presentation. We've never seen a carrot look so good. These thinly sliced, steamed-then-blackened carrots are fanned out and drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano55/67Broccoli Slaw With Miso-Ginger Dressing
Broccoli slaw doesn't have to be the dried-out stuff you find pre-sliced at the grocery store. Instead, we've grated the stems and chopped the florets for a nice combo of textures. The dressing is flavored with miso and toasted sesame oil, plus a handful of fresh mint, cilantro, and Thai basil.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton56/67Frisée and Carrot Ribbon Salad With Za'atar-Lemon Vinaigrette
Za'atar lends its herbaceous flavor to this colorful salad featuring frisée, long carrot ribbons, lemon juice and zest, parsley, crunchy pistachios, and sweet quartered green seedless grapes.
57/67Carrot Soup with Ginger and Lemon
This beautiful and delicious soup is served at The Kinloch Lodge Hotel. It's a great Thanksgiving starter that takes full advantage of ingredients like onion, ginger, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, lemon zest, and more.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog58/67Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil takes the place of cream and butter in these decadent, golden mashed potatoes that taste just as good as a traditional version.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks59/673-Ingredient Roasted Carrots With Pistachio Pesto
Don't toss your carrot tops! Here, they shine in a nutty pesto drizzled over sweet roasted carrots. The three main ingredients you'll need: young carrots, salted pistachios, and loosely packed basil leaves.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton60/67Curried Pumpkin Soup
The flavor combinations in this creamy yet light soup are complex, but making it is very easy. Like the best appetizers, the soup wakes up the palate and is not too filling.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz61/67Slow-Cooked Green Beans With Harissa and Cumin
Toss green beans with tons of olive oil and aromatics, and leave them in the oven for an hour or two until they become luscious and caramelized.
Sang An62/67Grilled Baby Bok Choy with Miso Butter
Grilled bok choy halves slathered with miso butter are wonderfully savory, and don't require any space on your stovetop on a crowded Thanksgiving day. Be sure to keep the heat at medium so the paste can caramelize without burning.
Photo by Peden + Munk63/67Honeynut Squash With Radicchio and Miso
What’s a honeynut squash, you ask? It looks like a miniature butternut squash and has sweet, firm flesh that stands up to any cooking method.
64/67Cauliflower Purée
This alternative to mashed potatoes is still silky smooth and flavorful as can be. Plus, it's simple to make. Get a steamer insert and boil them in a steamer pot. Flavor with salt, butter, and pepper, and you've got yourself a seriously delicious (and healthier) Thanksgiving side.
Photo by Maura McEvoy65/67Cauliflower With Quinoa, Prunes, and Peanuts
Treat cauliflower steaks like regular steaks by quickly pan-searing and then finishing them in a hot oven. Quinoa pilaf adds sweetness and crunch to this healthy Thanksgiving recipe.
Photo by Charles Masters, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer66/67Crudités Vegetables with Remoulade Sauce
A platter of raw vegetables to share is the perfect way to warm up to the Thanksgiving meal. They're impossible to fill up on, and a great way to show off seasonal produce. Just pick the vegetables that look fresh and enticing, and you'll create a guest-worthy platter.
67/67Rosemary Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables drizzled in oil and flavored with rosemary, salt, black pepper, and garlic? Yes, please. This healthy recipe brings together parsnip, carrots, turnips, sweet potatoes, and shallots—and we can't get enough.
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The Editors of Epicurious

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