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Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving this year or just bringing some dishes to the main event, I can help you cut carbs and sugar this holiday season with these Keto Thanksgiving recipes.
This post includes everything from the Thanksgiving turkey with low-carb remakes to traditional sides like cauliflower mac and cheese, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce to keto-friendly appetizers for your guests to enjoy while the meat roasts.
And, because I hope you know I love keto desserts, there are so many options like my Keto Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars too!
No matter what your goals are this holiday season, I know that you’ll be able to use these recipes to craft the perfect Low Carb & Keto Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.
Why Share a Keto Thanksgiving Recipes Menu
In theory, holiday meals are about the people around the table. However, in reality, holidays are the worst when it comes to how we eat.
And, from personal experience, I know that one too many “cheats” can throw you off track for weeks.
So, I decided to share this post to help those who want to stick to keto and manage carbs over the holidays season.
4 Healthy Thanksgiving Tips
For me, and maybe you’re better at this, my “just one meal” on Thanksgiving used to turn into weeks of poor eating that undermined all of the progress I made. So, if you’re looking for strategies to help stay on track this holiday season, here are some tips that worked for me:
Decided which dishes I wasn’t willing to give up
My grandmother’s cornbread stuffing was one dish I need in my life “as is” (until I came up with a keto cornbread stuffing recipe). It was something that I only ate on Thanksgiving so I opted to enjoy it that time of year.
Are there things that you only eat on the holiday? If there are, then it might be something you just opt to have and forget about replacements!
Made Less Food
I am often the host of Thanksgiving dinner. This means that I control how much food is available. I cut the amount of food that I made in half and purchased takeout containers for my guests.
For me, this meant I had just enough for 1 day of leftovers after my guests took things home. This worked out because it meant that I didn’t end up eating leftovers for weeks!
Replaced some favorites with low-carb and keto versions
I cook a ton of keto-friendly foods. So, I know which things are perfect replacements for the real thing.
And, fortunately for me, many of the desserts that I make are one-to-one substitutes. Specifically, my keto cheesecakes taste exactly like my regular cheesecakes. So, I just swap some regular versions with the keto-friendly version.
Swap refined sugar where possible
There are some things like candied sweet potatoes that don’t have a low-carb or keto substitute. So, you can always opt like I do to use a sugar-replacement. That cuts down the overall carbs in the dish.
How to Use these Keto Thanksgiving Recipes to Make the Perfect Dinner Menu
As I mentioned, you can use this post to craft the perfect dinner menu. To do that, I recommend the following for mixing and matching recipes in this post:
- Choose 1-2 proteins from these Main Dishes
- Pair those with 1-2 Appetizers for your guests to enjoy while the meat roasts
- Add 1-2 Vegetable Side Sides to go with your turkey
- Choose 1-2 Rolls, Sauces or Stuffing
- Choose 1-2 Desserts
Thanksgiving Main Dishes
While turkey may be the traditional meat on your Thanksgiving table, you might want to give my Pressure Cooker Pot Roast a try. The flavor is exceptional, and it can really give your guests a break if they have more than one gathering that weekend.
Feel free to serve chicken or even a simple turkey breast if your family is smaller.
Pressure Cooker Pot Roast – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
At my house, we have a variety of proteins so a roast to go with the turkey is always a winner! More main proteins equals more leftovers.
Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
This is perfect for times when you’re having a smaller gathering and don’t feel like making an entire turkey!
Pressure Cooker Turkey Breast Recipe
Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Don’t want turkey at all? This whole chicken is another great option!
Easy Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken Recipe
Keto Crab Cakes – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
If you’re like me and have a few pescatarians (people who eat seafood and not meat) in the house, these crab cakes are a great option that don’t require space in the oven!
Keto Crab Cakes Recipe
The Best Brined Whole Turkey – Easy & Delish
I swear by a fresh brined turkey! There is nothing juicer. This recipe takes you through the process.
Best Brined and Roasted Turkey
Appetizers
I try not to go overboard on appetizers while the bird is cooking, so I don’t overeat across the entire day, but sometimes you just need something to munch on, especially if you serve your meal later in the day.
Shrimp and bacon make for hearty flavors in small packages. You could even serve just appetizers as a fun take on the main meal, maybe in between Black Friday deal shopping!
Keto Jalapeno Poppers – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
These are super easy to make and require just a handful of ingredients
Bacon-Wrapped Keto Jalapeño Poppers
Low-Carb Roasted Pumpkin Salad – Simply So Healthy
Adding a salad to the menu is always a great choice!
Low-Carb Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Savory Bacon Cranberry Cheese Tartlets – Beauty and the Foodie
I love the combo of sweet & savory!
Savory Bacon Cranberry Cheese Tartlets – Beauty and the Foodie
Easy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Appetizer – The Foodie Affair
It doesn’t get any better than two of my favorite things: shrimp and bacon!
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Appetizer or Complete Meal Over Salad
Keto Shrimp Guacamole and Bacon – Low-Carb with Jennifer
These are a quick and easy option while watching the Thanksgiving football games! Instead of making the bacon in the oven or a skillet, you can try out my air fryer bacon!
Keto Shrimp Guacamole and Bacon Appetizers • Low Carb with Jennifer
Low-Carb Mini Bacon Chive Cheeseballs – Simply So Healthy
Cheese is another one of my favorite things. These are easy to make and bite-sized!
Low-Carb Mini Bacon Chive Cheeseballs Recipe – Simply So Healthy
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus – Wholesome Yum
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe (EASY!) | Wholesome Yum
Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms – The Foodie Affair
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Without Breadcrumbs | The Foodie Affair
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe with Cream Cheese, Bacon & Green Onion – Wholesome Yum
Easy Cheese Ball Recipe with Cream Cheese, Bacon & Green Onion
Zero Carb Thanksgiving Platter – Step Away From the Carbs
Isn’t this adorable? What a cute way to be festive with just a little prep.
Zero Carb Thanksgiving Platter
Thanksgiving Side Dishes & Vegetable
Some people say the table wouldn’t be complete without green bean casserole, so I made sure to find one that was Keto-friendly.
You can also simply roast vegetables like Brussels sprouts, which would fit just about every single dietary need. Going Keto for Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be complicated.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Crispy Air Fryer Green Beans – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Crispy Air Fryer Green Beans Recipe
Creamed Spinach – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Easy Keto & Low Carb Creamed Spinach Recipe
Cauliflower Rice Pilaf – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Easy Cauliflower Rice Pilaf Recipe
Keto Mashed Cauliflower – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash Recipe
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Keto Green Bean Casserole – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Keto Green Bean Casserole
Sauteed Green Beans – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic Recipe
Pressure Cooker Cabbage – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cabbage
Air Fryer Roasted Radishes – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Air Fryer Roasted Radishes
Creamy Keto Mushroom Risotto – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Creamy Keto Cauliflower Mushroom Risotto Recipe
Rolls, Sauces, Stuffing & Gravy
How amazing do these Parmesan Bread Bites look? Your guests won’t even know they are eating Keto, and everyone will get to break bread together. Cranberry sauce is another strong tradition, and you can easily make it sugar-free to fit keto or simply to make sure you save your sugar for dessert!
Keto Cornbread – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Keto Cornbread Recipe
Keto Cranberry Sauce – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Keto Whole Cranberry Sauce
Keto Gravy – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Easy Keto Gravy Recipe
Keto Cornbread Stuffing – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Keto Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
Keto Parmesan Garlic Bread Bites – Dr. Davinah’s Eats
Easy Keto Parmesan Garlic Bread Bites
Keto Pull-Apart Clover Rolls – Beauty and the Foodie
Keto Pull Apart Clover Rolls – Beauty and the Foodie
Herb Sausage Stuffing – Keto Cooking Christian
Herb Sausage Stuffing Keto/Low Carb/Gluten Free
Keto Cheddar Garlic Biscuits – Beauty and the Foodie
Keto Cheddar Garlic Biscuits – Beauty and the Foodie
Easy Keto Thanksgiving Desserts
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin – so I’m sharing my bars. Plus, to keep the pumpkin theme, I found a mousse and a pie!
You won’t miss the extra sugar, but you’ll still get the satisfaction of a sweet bite to end the day. I won’t tell if you come back for seconds! I might even want to serve the Blueberry Cobbler as breakfast the next morning.
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