Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes, Menus and Cooking Tips

Featured Recipes

Pear, Prosciutto & Hazelnut Stuffing

Crisping the prosciutto and toasting the nuts adds a powerful punch of flavor to the stuffing without going overboard on fat. Diamond Brand now makes packaged chopped hazelnuts, available in most major supermarkets.

» Pear, Prosciutto & Hazelnut Stuffing

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

Lemon-Garlic Roast Turkey & White-Wine Gravy

The zesty lemon-garlic rub for this turkey gives it amazing flavor. Instead of using a conventional supermarket turkey that's been “enhanced” with added sodium solution, here we brine a natural or organic turkey to keep the meat extra juicy without a lot of extra sodium.

» Lemon-Garlic Roast Turkey & White-Wine Gravy

Cider-Glazed Roots with Cinnamon Walnuts

Here we roast a variety of roots with a brown sugar-cider glaze. Make them instead of candied sweet potatoes at your Thanksgiving celebration. If you include red beets, the whole dish will take on a gorgeous ruby hue.

» Cider-Glazed Roots with Cinnamon Walnuts

Green Bean Casserole

This healthy revision of green bean casserole skips the canned soup and all the fat and sodium that come with it. Our white sauce with sliced fresh mushrooms, sweet onions and low-fat milk makes a creamy, rich casserole.

» Green Bean Casserole

Root Vegetable Gratin

The rich flavor of Gruyère cheese brings out the nutty flavor of the roots in this creamy gratin. Any combination of roots works in this recipe, but if you use red beets, they will streak the gratin with bright color. A delightful side dish for any roasted meat.

» Root Vegetable Gratin

Pumpkin Coconut Tart

Dark rum, coconut milk, cinnamon, ginger and cloves give this pumpkin tart a complex flavor that matches perfectly with a cup of chai laced with milk.

» Pumpkin Coconut Tart

Thanksgiving is all about abundance or, often, overabundance. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With healthy updates to classic dishes, the recipes showcased here use high-impact flavors like fresh herbs, spices and seasonal fruits and vegetables to minimize the need for gobs of butter, cream and salt. Some dishes are healthy updates on classic dishes, while others are twists on traditional fare.

For the host, we’ve got menus and planners and budget-friendly wines, as well as new ways to use up all those turkey leftovers. If you’ve always felt daunted by the turkey carving process, our step-by-step photos illustrate simple instructions for success, plus other tips for a terrific stress-free holiday. If you’re not hosting this year, choose from our selection of healthy sides and scrumptious desserts. You’ll find nearly everything here to enjoy a delicious, healthy Thanksgiving.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

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.

Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

The great American feast can include plenty of simple, delicious recipes that will...

Healthy Thanksgiving Sides and Dessert Recipes

Wow everyone at Thanksgiving dinner by bringing a healthy, flavorful side dish or...

EatingWell's Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Find the perfect turkey recipe for your Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Meal Makeover

Save 851 calories with our Thanksgiving makeover. With a few simple substitutions,...

Thanksgiving Recipes from Chef Alice Waters

Alice Waters, a pioneer of the local food revolution and founder of one of the...

Holiday Side Dishes Recipe Slideshow

Special side dishes can really make a meal. Fill your table with these popular...

Holiday Desserts Recipe Slideshow

Delight your guests with these decadent holiday desserts made healthier - a sweet...

Easy Entertaining: 15 Minute Appetizers and Drinks

Take the stress out of entertaining with this selection of tasty, healthy appetizer...

New Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

With all the effort that goes into holiday cooking, make sure you have enough for...

Thanksgiving Menus and Make-Ahead Planners

For the host, we’ve got menus and planners for a terrific stress-free holiday. A large part of these dinners can be made ahead so that the holiday is spent with your family and friends, not bent over a stove.

Easy, Healthy Thanksgiving Menu and Planner

Use this planner for our Easy Thanksgiving Menu to help you get most of the work...

Perfect Thanksgiving Menu and Planner

The challenges of preparing Thanksgiving dinner are, always, time and oven space....

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu and Planner

The best part of this Thanksgiving menu is that you can do much of the preparation...

Southwest Style Thanksgiving Menu and Planner

A large part of this dinner can be made ahead so that the holiday is spent with your...

An Intimate Thanksgiving Menu

Celebrate and enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal with close family and friends.

Healthy Thanksgiving Makeover

Try our tricks and techniques for making six classic Thanksgiving recipes lighter, yet still delicious. We've included nutritional comparisons of EatingWell’s Thanksgiving recipes versus more traditional versions of the same foods.