Delicious Low Carb Recipes to Celebrate Thanksgiving

You may have your traditional Thanksgiving fare that you eagerly look forward to every year, but perhaps you’re looking for something to pair it with that’s delicious, nutritious, and low in carbs as well? We’ve got you covered in that department! Check out some of these scrumptious fall-themed, low-carb appetizers, side dishes and desserts that will complement any mains for your seasonal celebrations this year.

The good news is that many of your classic Thanksgiving dishes are already low in carbs, such as the turkey, ham, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and salads (see the table below for some examples). That makes it easy to prioritize your proteins and non-starchy vegetables first, then follow-up with the carbs that you want while being intentional. For example, if mashed potatoes are your absolute favorite, have a small scoop and enjoy it. If there are other dishes that are not as meaningful, perhaps you can skip it for now.

You might also decide to enjoy a higher carb Thanksgiving meal - remember that it is always an option! The important thing is to set your intention ahead of time and have a plan to get back in your routine.

Common Thanksgiving Dishes:

Here are some additional tips to think about during social gatherings:

1. Bring a low-carb dish that you love! See recipes below for some ideas.
2. Enjoy your meal slowly and mindfully, and check-in with your hunger cues. You can pause mid-meal and ask yourself,“Am I still hungry or just eating because food is here?”
3. Focus on what makes the day special to you. This might mean conversations, family, traditions, laughter, connection - those are a few “core” values of a holiday gathering.
4. Manage social pressure gracefully. This can often be a tough one to navigate but we have some one-liners for you to consider:
   1. “Thank you, I’ll finish my plate first and then decide”
   2. “I’m just starting with this - everything looksgreat!”
   3. “I’m trying to save room for dessert”
   4. “I feel better eating this way, but thank you”
5. If things don’t go according to plan, no worries. One meal is not going to undo your progress. Try not to fall into the trap of all-or-nothing thinking and spiral into guilt. Instead, let’s move forward with your usual pattern of eating at the next meal or next day.

Want some additional tips on navigating low carb lifestyles during the holiday season? Click on the link below to read more on this topic:
Navigating Holidays and Social Gatherings On a Low Carb Lifestyle | The Low Carb Jumpstart

Appetizers

Make Your Own Charcuterie Board

There’s nothing more creative and crowd pleasing during the holidays than a charcuterie board. Think of the serving board as a blank canvas to showcase your artistic style and creativity using any variety of proteins, vegetables, nuts, fruits, and dips. Check out the steps below to make your very own:

1. Find a wooden board, plate, or any platform with a flat surface to decorate your board.
2. Prepare your ingredients (pick as many as you like):
   1. Meat: cold cuts and deli meats, sliced jerkies, hoghead cheese etc.
   2. Cheese: hard and soft cheeses, sliced or whole
   3. Vegetables: sliced radishes, cucumbers, mini bell peppers, celery, baby carrots, jicama, snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower etc.
   4. Condiments: olives, gherkins, dill pickles, capers, marinated artichokes, banana peppers, spicy peppers, pickled onions etc.
   5. Nuts: roasted/salted almonds, walnuts, peanuts, mixed nuts, pecans etc.
   6. Fruits: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, sliced apples or pears
   7. Dips: Guacamole, mustards, cream cheese and chives, garlic dip, hummus etc.
3. Arrange your ingredients on your board using small bowls, plates to separate some sections and let your creativity flow!
4. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Want to learn more about building your own board? Check out this guide below by Peace Love and Low Carb:
How to Build an Epic Keto Charcuterie Board - Peace Love and Low Carb

Festive Cheese Ball with Sliced Veggie Crudites

This is a recipe you’ll come back to time and time again. You only need a few ingredients and a large bowl to make this fun appetizer. It is one of those dishes that will wow your guests and there won’t be a crumb left by the end of the night. Like the charcuterie board, a cheese ball can be flavored in so many ways to your liking but usually starts with a base of cream cheese. The recipe we share below includes goodies like sharp cheddar, blue cheese, hot sauce, and garlic powder that is mixed together and then rolled into a giant ball before coating the outside in crushed pecans.

Alternatively, you could mix in a packet of ranch seasoning powder and some shredded cheese to make a simpler yet flavorful cheese ball. It’s great coated in a layer of crunchy bacon bits too.

Place the cheese ball in the center of your plate, and decorate with a medley of sliced vegetables of all colors like radishes, cucumbers, celery, carrots, bell peppers, and jicama.

Here is a recipe with step-by-step instructions by Southern Living:
https://www.southernliving.com/party-cheese-ball-7090560

Meat, Cheese, & Veggie Roll Ups

Meat and cheese roll ups are very simple to put together, especially for last-minute gatherings during the holiday season! We recommend using thicker slices of deli meat so they can hold the fillings well without tearing when you roll them.

Check out the recipe below or simply use it as a starting point and branch out with your own favorite low carb fillings!

MCT2D Makes: Meat and Cheese Roll Ups (with video) | The Low Carb Jumpstart

Here’s a video with step-by-step instructions:
https://youtu.be/vdANk8FKUw4?si=agy2u3ipgork7AXx

Olive, Cheese, and Pickle Skewers

Another quick and easy appetizer to please your guests for any gathering. The example recipe by My Delicious Meals uses a combination of salami, cheddar, olives and pickles to make the perfect little bite.

https://mydeliciousmeals.com/recipe/olive-cheese-and-salami-skewers

Bonus tip: You could use any combination of ingredients from a charcuterie board to make your favorite skewers! Try this combo: feta cubes, cherry tomatoes, cucumber chunks and black olives for a Mediterranean flare.

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushrooms are the perfect vehicle for stuffing - you can stuff them with parmesan cheese, crushed nuts, herbs and spices to make a flavorful morsel. We share a recipe by Eating Well for Easy Stuffed Mushrooms below. You can also play around with the ingredients and substitute bread crumbs with crushed walnuts or pecans for an even lower carb dish!

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/275734/easy-stuffed-mushrooms/

Side Dishes

Fall Harvest Salad

You might see the name “Fall Harvest Salad” on the menu of restaurants around town. But did you know that you can make a similar and EVEN better version at home? Take a look at the steps below to recreate your fall harvest salad!

(Serves 8-10)

1. Use 1-2 bags of leafy spring mix, set aside for now.
2. Wash, peel and dice 1 large beet or 2 medium beets into ½ inch cubes.
3. Wash and dice 1 large sweet potato into ½ inch cubes.
4. Place the cubed beets and sweet potatoes on a lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss well to coat and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden brown and soft.
5. Meanwhile, wash and thinly slice a large apple (we like using Honey Crisp) and toss with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent them from discoloring. Set aside.
6. Next, lightly roast some pecans on a dry pan at medium heat until golden and crunchy. Let it cool a few minutes before chopping into rough pieces.
7. Optional: thinly slice half a purple onion and set aside.
8. Use a log of goat cheese or a container of pre-crumbled feta and set aside.
9. Find a large and deep serving bowl for assembling the salad:
   1. First place the leafy spring mix at the bottom of your bowl.
   2. Then arrange the roasted sweet potatoes, beets, sliced apples and onions.
   3. Finally crumble the goat cheese or feta on top.
   4. Serve with a simple tangy vinaigrette (recipe below).

Tangy vinaigrette:

1. In a jar with an air tight lid, mix ½ cup olive oil, ¼ cup lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp maple syrup or sugar substitute, 1 tsp dried oregano, salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Close the lid tightly and shake well for 15-30 seconds until it is emulsified.

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Everybody’s favorite mac & cheese with a low carb twist! This one is made with hearty chunks of cauliflower covered in a creamy, cheesy sauce and baked in the oven to perfection. Take a look at our step-by-step video on how to make it:

MCT2D Makes Cauliflower Mac & Cheese:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfrCqPietxc

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

Green beans are a staple to any Thanksgiving gathering. This is a classic side dish made super easy using a slow cooker to save you time on the big day! Check out this recipe below by Eating Well:

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/260750/slow-cooker-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-onions/

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Creamy Garlic Dip
Brussels sprouts often get a bad rep but when you learn how to unlock the magic of flavors by roasting and caramelizing them, you will never look at Brussels sprouts the same way again. We will share a method to simply roast the sprouts and serve with a creamy, garlic dip to make a fantastic side dish for your Thanksgiving spread.
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Wash, trim, and halve 1 pound of fresh Brussels sprouts. Place them on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss well to coat evenly.
3. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until browned.
4. Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce by combining in a small bowl: ½ cup sour cream, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp vinegar, 2 cloves crushed garlic, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve the sprouts on a platter with the dipping sauce on the side.
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower

This creamy mashed cauliflower is the perfect low-carb stand in for mashed potatoes. You can vary the flavors with your own Thanksgiving herbs like butter infused garlic, rosemary, chives, sage, or thyme. Check out this recipe below by Eating Well:

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/248887/creamy-mashed-cauliflower/

Parmesan and Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
This is a simple yet memorable side dish that will complement your Thanksgiving meal nicely. The combination of parmesan cheese, garlic, and butter will flavor the carrots and turn them from an ordinary vegetable into the star of the show.
4-6 servings
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Wash, peel and dice 1 pound of carrots into 1-2 inch pieces.
3. Place the carrots in a large bowl with 4 large cloves of crushed garlic (or 2 tbsp crushed garlic in a jar), and 2 tbsp melted butter.
4. Mix to coat the carrots evenly and then spread onto a lined baking sheet.
5. Roast in the oven for about 35 minutes.
6. Take them out and sprinkle over ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese, lightly toss with a spatula and place it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.
7. Serve hot!

Lower Carb Sweet Treats

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

It is often said that a Thanksgiving meal is not complete without a slice of pumpkin pie. Whether you want to have a traditional slice of pie or decide to make your own low carb version to share this year, there is always something for everyone.

Check out this crustless pumpkin pie recipe from Food.Com:
https://www.food.com/recipe/crustless-low-carb-pumpkin-pie-104352#recipe

Almond Flour Pumpkin Cookies

When you think of fall, most people may think of it as the start of pumpkin season. So of course, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without some kind of pumpkin dessert! Here is a recipe for pumpkin spiced cookies using a handful of basic low carb baking ingredients. This is a recipe by The Best Keto Recipes:

https://thebestketorecipes.com/keto-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Cinnamon, Ginger & Clove Poached Apples
Apples are another classic ingredient during the fall and winter seasons. This is a light dessert made from apples that are gently simmered in spiced poaching liquid. Read below to make this for your friends and family:
Serves 8
1. Peel and core 4 large apples (we used Honey Crisp). Slice the apples in half down the middle so that you get 8 halves.
2. In a large pot mix 5 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar or sugar alternative of choice. Stir to dissolve and then gently place the apple halves into the mixture.
3. Add in 2-3 sticks of cinnamon, 4-5 cloves, and 1 inch of fresh ginger finely sliced.
4. Bring the pot on high heat until it just starts to simmer, then turn the heat down to low and allow the apples to simmer gently in the liquid for about 10-15 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and let it cool slightly for 5 minutes.
6. To serve, use a slotted spoon to remove the apples from the poaching liquid. Top with some crushed walnuts and if you’d like and a dollop of whipped cream and dusting of cinnamon powder.
Low Carb Apple Crisp (With a Hidden Ingredient!)

You might find this surprising, but did you know that you can make apple pie with zucchinis? This recipe by Stem And Spoon uses a blend of sliced apples and zucchinis to make a lower carb version of the classic apple crisp. It is the perfect fall hug on a cold, crisp autumn day!

Here is the recipe by Stem And Spoon:
https://stemandspoon.com/keto-apple-crisp-with-zucchini-gluten-free-vegan/

Pro Tip: peel the zucchini skins and remove the seeds to make them look more like apple slices. Your guests will hardly notice the difference between them!

Pumpkin Pie Protein Balls

Do you want something sweet to round off a lovely meal, but you’re just looking for a bite or two of something? These pumpkin pie spiced protein balls may be just the thing you’re looking for. They are made with simple ingredients like almond butter, pumpkin puree and a sprinkling of spices. Check out the recipe on The Low Carb Jumpstart:

Pumpkin Pie Protein Balls | The Low Carb Jumpstart