food
By Lindsay Champion
•
Published Sep 17, 2020
Additional reporting by
Taryn Pire
Sticking to your meal plan on Thanksgiving? Props to you. Luckily, sticking to keto doesn’t have to feel like a downer come Turkey Day. From cauliflower au gratin (sorry, potatoes) and bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts to sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie (yup, both low-carb), these dishes make it totally possible to stick to your routine and enjoy the feast. Presenting 35 decidedly un-diety keto Thanksgiving recipes to try this holiday, from apps to classic sides to desserts.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Pumpkin Soup In Mini Pumpkin Bowls
Meet the cutest appetizer you (and your guests) have ever laid eyes on. The roasted pumpkin seeds make a great seasonal finishing touch.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Prosciutto And Fig Salad Board
Have you ever seen a more gorgeous salad? This beauty doubles as a centerpiece, so you can relocate the Thanksgiving decor and fake gourds to the living room.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Brussels Sprout Sliders
Brussels sprouts are pretty much a Thanksgiving must. While everyone's waiting for the big feast, casually bring these guys out. (And you might want to make a double batch. Don't say we didn't warn you.)
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4. Whipped Ricotta With Roasted Pumpkin
It doesn't take much to pull off this elegant appetizer. The fluffy, nutty kabocha squash does most of the leg work.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
5. Baked Brie With Figs, Pistachios And Orange
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Baked brie season. Pile a wheel high with figs, pistachios, orange zest and honey and thank us later.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. Baked Cauliflower With Pomegranate And Thyme
Grain-free stuffing? Sign us up. Pomegranate seeds add a satisfying crunch, and the fragrant combo of rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley take it over the top.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Gluten-free Cheese ‘breadsticks'
The problem: Bread is amazing, but it isn't keto. The solution: These totally ketogenic cheesy cauliflower breadsticks, with only 9g of carbs per serving.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
8. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Whip a little avocado into your yolks for a new twist on a classic appetizer. Your Aunt Belinda will be begging for the recipe.
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9. Buffalo Pecan Pimiento Cheese
OK, this is probably a new addition to your holiday feast, but it's about to become a family tradition. We like to add a few extra shakes of hot sauce.
10. Baked Pumpkins With Spinach, Mushrooms, And Cheese
Pro tip: Basically *anything* served in a fall gourd instantly becomes Instaworthy. Just ditch the cubed baguette to keep it keto.
11. Vegan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Tell Grandma to leave her casserole at home this year. Dried cranberries add natural sweetness, so she’ll never even miss the marshmallows. (And don’t worry, there’s still a drizzle of maple syrup.)
12. Low-carb Butternut Squash Soup
This soup has it all. It's keto, Paleo and Whole-30 friendly, plus it's dairy-free. (For bonus points, serve it inside a hollowed-out butternut squash.)
13. Roasted Pumpkin Hummus
Don't look now, but your aunt's famous pigs in a blanket are about to be dethroned for good at this year's co*cktail hour.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
14. Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts
Your favorite pasta dish might not be keto. But this veggie-fied take covered in Parmesan and black pepper will definitely satisfy your craving in the meantime.
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15. Collard Greens
Trust us, no one's passing on a Southern classic with this much bacon. Even your veggie-hating kids.
16. Paleo Almond Flour Biscuits
For scooping up all those leftover bits of gravy and cranberry sauce on your plate. You're welcome.
17. Baked Cauliflower Au Gratin
We love you, traditional au gratin, but trust us: You’re gonna wanna bookmark this one for future Thanksgivings. (And maybe, like, every day of the year.)
18. Easy Green Beans With Browned Butter Almondine
We love this genius swap for the old-school casserole. Heidi Larsen's new spin cooks in just one skillet, and includes a squeeze of lemon juice for extra zip.
19. Cauliflower Mash With Sour Cream
All the classic ingredients—minus the carby potatoes. Sorry, spuds.
20. Sugar-free Cranberry Sauce
Wait. Are you still serving canned cranberry sauce? This homemade version is sugar-free, low-carb, has only four ingredients and tastes way better.
21. Herb Butter Rotisserie Turkey
Cook this baby on the grill and save all that oven space for dessert (but more about that later). Your guests will be so impressed. Thanks for the tip, Heidi Larsen.
22. Cauliflower Rice And Sausage Stuffing
Ground sausage and sage give this lightened-up version traditional flavor and an earthy, seasonal touch.
23. Cauliflower Mac And Cheese With Sausage
Cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Muenster cheese in one glorious side dish? It’s a Thanksgiving miracle.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
24. Crispy Bacon-wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Sick of waiting what feels like years for your sprouts to turn crispy in the pan? Fatty bacon and a roast in the oven can fix that.
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25. Low-carb Sweet Potato Casserole
OK, brace yourself. The only way to make a low-carb sweet potato casserole is...with no sweet potatoes at all. Mashed pumpkin, riced cauliflower and monk fruit sweetener come together to make an uncanny keto substitute.
26. Keto Cauliflower Mac And Cheese
If Brussels sprouts aren't your style, this gooey side uses cauliflower florets instead. Did we mention it only takes five ingredients and five minutes to whip up?
27. Low-carb Cornbread
Wanna know a secret? All its corn flavor comes from sweet corn extract instead of carb-rich corn. Almond flour and monk fruit allulose make it possible.
28. Sauteed Green Beans And Mushrooms
Made with coconut aminos, aka a savory sauce made from the fermented sap of coconut palm. Think of it as a lower-sodium soy sauce alternative.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
29. Creamed Brussels Sprouts With Caramelized Onions
Well, whattya know? Comfort food is keto-friendly after all. And these crispy beauties in Gruyère sauce are basically the veggie equivalent of macaroni and cheese.
Get the recipe
30. Keto Stuffing
We know what you're thinking: Stuffing is made of bread, so how the heck do you cut the carbs? Two words: Keto. Croutons.
31. Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
The side dish only calls for five basic ingredients, but bouillon powder gives the veggies a ton of savory, salty flavor.
32. Keto Green Bean Casserole
A lot can happen in 15 minutes when you're using an Instant Pot. Take this creamy, garlicky gem complete with sliced almonds and fried onions, for example.
33. Keto Pecan Pie Cheesecake
Oh, don't you worry. We’d never forget dessert. The crust, which is made with pecans instead of flour, keeps things deliciously low-carb.
34. Low-carb, Sugar-free Pumpkin Pie
The secret to this incredibly decadent dessert? Monk fruit. It’s the healthy sugar alternative you need in your life, pronto.
35. Keto Pecan Pie
We know, it sounds impossible. But you'd be surprised how much you can create with almond butter, coconut milk and monk fruit in your pantry. Don't forget the fresh whipped cream.
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Lindsay Champion
Freelance Editor
From 2015-2020 Lindsay Champion held the role of Food and Wellness Director. She continues to write for PureWow as a Freelance Editor.
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Taryn Pire
Food Editor
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...
read full bio
