Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

Featured Recipes

Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts & Sage

Chestnuts and Brussels sprouts are a classic pair—the toasty, rich nuts balance the sprouts. This dish cuts down on the holiday oven gridlock because it can be done on the stovetop.

» Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts & Sage

Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Roasting sweet potatoes is even easier than boiling and mashing them. Maple syrup glaze transforms this ultra-simple dish into something sublime.

» Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Apple-Shallot Roasted Turkey

Roasting the herb-rubbed turkey with apples and shallots is the secret to flavorful meat. Extra shallots in the roasting pan give the gravy a rich, caramelized shallot flavor.

» Apple-Shallot Roasted Turkey

While pumpkin pie deserves respect as a Thanksgiving icon, it's fun to shake up tradition. Surprise your family and friends with a frozen pie this year—it just might become one of their holiday favorites. No need to let them know how easy it is.

» Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Cranberry, Cherry & Walnut Marmalade

Fresh cranberries get crunch from walnuts and an infusion of sweetness from dried cherries in this take on a classic marmalade. Leftovers are great on a turkey sandwich.

» Cranberry, Cherry & Walnut Marmalade

Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Wild mushrooms make an amazing, rich base for a stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner. This stuffing includes diced turkey liver, which gives it an intense, deep flavor. If you’re not a liver lover or if you’re serving vegetarians, you can omit it from the recipe. (Recipe adapted from Alice Waters.)

» Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Creamed Onions

A holiday staple in many households, creamed onions are usually bathed in a rich white sauce made with heavy cream. In this version, we roast the onions for an added layer of flavor and lighten up the sauce with low-fat milk. The result is a luxuriously silky sauce with a sweet roasted onion flavor for far fewer calories and less fat. We like the smaller size of pearl onions, but boiling onions also work well.

» Creamed Onions

Use these recipes to make a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

The great American feast can include plenty of simple, delicious recipes that will leave you satisfied, not stuffed, without all the butter and cream that usually goes into the turkey-day meal. EatingWell's Thanksgiving Recipe Collection includes healthier roast turkeys and gravies, as well as less-traditional birds, like duck and pheasant, creative stuffings, and a variety of quick, healthy sides and salads. Plus our sweet treats prove that you can have a healthy dessert—and enjoy it too. Happy holidays from EatingWell!

View this collection as a slideshow.

Healthy Thanksgiving Turkey and Poultry Recipes

Apple-Shallot Roasted Turkey

Roasting the herb-rubbed turkey with apples and shallots is the secret to flavorful...

Brine-Cured Roast Turkey

A big turkey is so spectacular you hardly need to do anything to embellish it. But...

Herb-Roasted Turkey

This method produces all the good looks and moist flavor you dream of in a...

Lemon-Garlic Roast Turkey & White-Wine Gravy

The zesty lemon-garlic rub for this turkey gives it amazing flavor. Instead of using...

Roasted Pheasant with Wheat Berry Salad

Pheasant is a small bird with a delicate flavor that's richer than chicken. We...

Roast Turkey with Madeira Gravy

This gorgeous herb-rubbed turkey - complete with luscious gravy - is the...

Smoked Turkey Breast with Apricot Mustard

An easy centerpiece for a special occasion or holiday brunch.

Spiral Stuffed Turkey Breast with Cider Gravy

When a whole bird is just too much--time and effort, as well as size--there is a...

Roasted Garlic & Meyer Lemon-Rubbed Turkey

Mellow white miso paste is the secret ingredient in this amazing roast turkey rubbed...

Healthy Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Chard & White Beans

Acorn squash’s natural shape makes it just right for stuffing. This filling has...

Caramelized Onion Lasagna

This unusual lasagna with portobello mushrooms, sweet onions, spinach and Gorgonzola...

Red Wine Braised Roots

Braised root vegetables, rich with red wine, mushrooms and thyme, make a fabulous...

Roasted Fall Vegetables in Cheddar Crust

This tart starts with a Cheddar cheese crust that's filled with roasted leeks,...

Savory Carrot & Tarragon Tart

The bright orange carrots in this savory tart are a feast for the eyes and the...

Sweet Potato, Red Onion & Fontina Tart

Try this roasted-vegetable free-form tart as an appetizer or side dish for a special...

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu and Planner

Healthy Thanksgiving Stuffing and Dressing Recipes

Apple, Onion & Cranberry Stuffing

Apples and fresh cranberries add a unique twist to this variation on the classic...

Cornbread & Apple Stuffing

Redolent of sage and thyme, this cornbread stuffing has chunks of apples and raisins...

Pear, Prosciutto & Hazelnut Stuffing

Crisping the prosciutto and toasting the nuts adds a powerful punch of flavor to the...

Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Wild mushrooms make an amazing, rich base for a stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner....

Wild Rice & Bulgur Stuffing

A departure from classic bread-based stuffing, this recipe can also be served as an...

Sausage Stuffing

This classic stuffing pairs turkey sausage with the tangy sweetness of apples. By...

Healthy Thanksgiving Gravy Recipes

Cider Gravy

Make this low-fat gravy in the roasting pan while the turkey rests. Apple cider adds...

Herbed Pan Gravy

The giblets and neck from a turkey make a great flavorful stock that helps ensure a...

Citrus Gravy

Use the turkey giblets and neck to make a flavorful stock for this citrus-spiked...

Healthy Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides & Salad Recipes

Bold Winter Greens Salad

For this cousin of the Caesar salad use a combination of winter greens, such as...

Creamed Onions

A holiday staple in many households, creamed onions are usually bathed in a rich...

Endive & Watercress Salad

Sweet apple cider and peppery watercress make for an excellent salad.

Garlicky Green Beans

We cook then cool the beans in advance so they can be heated up and seasoned moments...

Green Bean Casserole

This healthy revision of green bean casserole skips the canned soup and all the fat...

Mixed Green Salad with Grapefruit & Cranberries

Grapefruit juice is the base for the tangy vinaigrette on this salad studded with...

Oven-Roasted Squash with Garlic & Parsley

Winter squash becomes tender and sweeter when roasted—a delicious side for a holiday...

Roasted Pumpkin-Apple Soup

Apples add just a hint of sweetness to this velvety pumpkin soup. Try it as a...

Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing

Pure maple syrup, as opposed to artificially flavored and colored "pancake...

Healthy Thanksgiving Sides and Dessert Recipes

Healthy Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts Recipes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? The challenge lies in making...

Brown Butter & Dill Brussels Sprouts

When you brown butter, as in this recipe, the flavor intensifies so adding just a...

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Shallots

This easy side dish combines the natural sweetness of caramelized shallots with the...

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Onions

Fresh herbs, onion and bacon pair beautifully with Brussels sprouts. This vegetable...

Thyme-Braised Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts braised in broth and thyme is a surprisingly simple preparation...

Healthy Cranberry Sauce Recipes

Chunky Apple-Rhubarb Sauce with Dried Cranberries

Sweet, savory and tart, this sauce is a natural complement to roasted pork or...

Cranberry, Cherry & Walnut Marmalade

Fresh cranberries get crunch from walnuts and an infusion of sweetness from dried...

Gingered Cranberry-Raspberry Relish

Unlike cranberry sauce, a relish involves no cooking. Here, plump raspberries add a...

Spiced Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce gets a lift with fresh lime zest, coriander and cloves.

Sweet & Sour Cranberry Sauce

A touch of vinegar adds just the right balance to cranberry sauce.

Healthy Thanksgiving Sweet Potato, Root Vegetable & Potato Recipes

Cider-Glazed Roots with Cinnamon Walnuts

Here we roast a variety of roots with a brown sugar-cider glaze. Make them instead...

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? The challenge lies in making...

Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Roasting sweet potatoes is even easier than boiling and mashing them. Maple syrup...

Root Vegetable Gratin

The rich flavor of Gruyère cheese brings out the nutty flavor of the roots in this...

Sweet Potato Casserole

This scrumptious sweet potato casserole gets fabulous flavor from honey and freshly...

Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

This lightened-up take on the classic Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole is spiked...

Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Canned evaporated milk—not to be confused with sweetened condensed milk—is a...

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

This rustic cake is a delicious alternative to pie and uses one of the tastiest...

Cranberry-Vanilla Bombe

The fun of this festive bombe is discovering the brilliant cranberry sorbet interior.

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

While pumpkin pie deserves respect as a Thanksgiving icon, it's fun to shake up...

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

A spectacular, graceful ending for a holiday feast or any elegant fall or winter...

Mom’s Apple Squares

Traditional recipes for apple squares often use plenty of trans fat-laden shortening...

Oatmeal-Nut Crunch Apple Pie

This decadent pie is loaded with juicy apples and adorned with a streusel-lover...

Pumpkin Custards with Hazelnut Caramel

Spiced creamy pumpkin custards are topped with a hazelnut caramel sauce in the...

Healthy Pie Recipes and Cooking Tips

Healthy Cake Recipes and Cooking Tips

Healthy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Bread and Cake Recipes

Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake

You don't have to have pumpkin pie to still enjoy pumpkin and spice in a...

Pumpkin & Cranberry Bread

Cornmeal gives this moist quick bread a subtle crunch. Pumpkin puree and dried...

Pumpkin Cake with Dried Cranberries

This pretty pumpkin-cranberry Bundt cake is a delicious alternative to holiday...

Pumpkin-Walnut Cake

A spice-rich autumn treat with a sweet, walnut glaze, this pumpkin cake travels well...

Pumpkin Bread

Canned pumpkin puree and whole-wheat flour come together in this healthy homemade...

More Thanksgiving Ideas

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