Thanksgiving is a special time of year though it can also be stressful, especially when it comes to what to serve. This is a complete guide to managing the culinary chaos. You’ll find appetizers, soups, salads, sides, options for the main meal, and course, dessert, for a delectable Thanksgiving feast.

Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Dinner
Herb Roasted Chicken
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Onions and Bacon
Easy Green Bean Casserole
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
Easy Everyday Fall Salad
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collage of recipes for Thanksgiving.

Table of Contents

If you haven’t quite yet figured out what to prepare this holiday season, bookmark this page and use it as your guide to easy, stress-free meal planning.

Whether you’re looking for traditional Thanksgiving options or open to trying something new, these recipes are all easy to follow without any difficult to find ingredients.

Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Appetizers

Thanksgiving appetizers are a great way to kick off the festive event and set the tone for a delicious meal. The key to serving appetizers is to ensure there is a variety that can cater to different tastes and dietary needs.

Every Thanksgiving celebration needs some fun finger food appetizers. These are ideal for guests to munch on while mingling and chatting. You want your guests to be able to eat, walk around, talk, and of course, enjoy themselves before the main meal is served. This list of finger foods offers a good choice of hot and cold appetizers so feel free to offer a variety of both options.

salmon stuffed mushrooms
5 from 1 vote

Salmon Stuffed Mushrooms

Salmon Stuffed Mushrooms are overflowing with buttery salmon, cauliflower rice, and bell peppers. This super simple and healthy appetizer fits in at any party or family dinner! The best part? They’re naturally gluten free and keto-friendly.
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Pressure Cooker Sriracha Mayo Deviled Eggs

Pressure Cooker Sriracha Mayo Deviled Eggs

Simply Amazing Pressure Cooker Sriracha Mayo Deviled Eggs with jalapeño juice and paprika. These spicy deviled eggs are so delicious and addicting, the perfect snack to please a crowd!
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Spicy Pita Chips Party Appetizer | Garden in the Kitchen

Spicy Pita Chips Party Appetizer

These crunchy and flavorful pita chips are delicious served alongside a tasty bowl of creamy hummus. Top with feta cheese and pomegranate for an easy and festive party appetizer!
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More Appetizer Recipes: 

These Salted Caramel Pumpkin Seeds, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, and Salted Caramel Pecan Popcorn are just a few other options you can prepare for your guests. The best part about these appetizers is that can they easily be prepared in advance. If you are expecting a big crowd and have a long to-do list, make-ahead options are ideal. And these appetizers cook up in less than 30 minutes so you can quickly cross appetizers off your list and tackle your next task.

Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Sides

Choosing the right sides can sometimes be tough, especially if you are managing multiple food restrictions. However, you’ll find this list has options for everyone; vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo.

The best side dishes are those that complement the flavors and textures of your main meal. Look for crunchy, sweet, zesty, or creamy sides to go with your Thanksgiving turkey or roast. You also want to incorporate a variety of colors so you have a visually appealing table.

These sides have all the flavor and color combinations you need to make a delicious, enticing and healthy Thanksgiving meal.

Roasted brussels sprouts with crispy onions and bacon.

This Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Onions and Bacon is the perfect side dish this holiday season. The combination of the caramelized onions and savory bacon tossed together with the Brussels sprouts makes it irresistibly good. You’ll find yourself craving it throughout the year.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Indulge in the comforting goodness of maple syrup infused sweet potatoes layered with a pecan cinnamon crumble in this Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping. It’s bound to become your new favorite holiday casserole.

More Thanksgiving sides to choose from

More Thanksgiving Side Recipes: 

Quinoa Spinach Stuffed Delicata Squash, Roasted Squash, Honey Roasted Carrots and Fall Harvest Pasta Salad are just a few more options to round out the list. Loaded with flavor, texture and fall veggies you really can’t go wrong adding any of them to your holiday table. Feel free to double the recipes so you have leftovers to enjoy over the weekend.

Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Soups

There’s no better way to bring your family and friends together than over a bowl of steaming hot soup. Soul-nourishing, comforting, and flavorful soup is ideal to kick off your sit-down meal. It’s the perfect way to get everyone to slow down, engage with each other, and share in the enjoyment of the holiday meal.

Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Salads

Thanksgiving salads are a refreshing way to bring balance, color, and texture to the Thanksgiving meal. Loaded with fresh flavors and a variety of nutrient-dense foods, salads are a great way to offset the heartier dishes that are traditionally served at Thanksgiving.

You really can’t go wrong with any of these options that are loaded with leafy greens, seasonal fall vegetables, and lots of crunchy toppings. Feel free to modify or adjust based on the dietary requirements of your guests. All these nourishing salads offer flexibility in their ingredients.

kale and quinoa salad with squash

Quinoa Kale Butternut Squash Salad

Every bite of this healthy and hearty Quinoa Kale Butternut Squash Salad is loaded with roasted squash, quinoa, kale, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. Toss with green goddess dressing and enjoy! Naturally vegan, gluten free, and dairy free.
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Healthy and Wholesome Thanksgiving Main Options

What to choose for your Thanksgiving main should be based on your guests’ dietary preferences, how many people you’re having, and, of course, personal favorites . Here you have three great-tasting options; turkey, chicken, or roast. All of these recipes are easy to prepare and create a wholesome meal bound to be enjoyed by all. Choose one, two or even all three for lots of variety.

oven roasted turkey breast

This Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is juicy, herbaceous, and the best alternative to a whole turkey for smaller holiday celebrations. Cooked low and slow, the turkey always turns out tender and moist!

her roasted whole chicken

This Herb Roasted Chicken is coated in butter and fresh herbs before being baked to succulent, golden brown perfection. It’s a simple dinner with mouthwatering results every time!

classic prime rib roast

Impressive, succulent, and downright mouthwatering, this Classic Prime Rib Roast recipe is a show-stopping meal fit for the holidays! It’s dressed in herb garlic butter to take the flavors over the top before it’s roasted to a perfect medium.

Healthy(ish) and Wholesome Thanksgiving Desserts

No holiday meal is complete without dessert. It is the best way to wind down the meal by encouraging everyone to linger at the table a little longer. Dessert is the perfect time to savor all the sweetness the season has to offer. It is the ultimate way to embrace the wrap-up of festivities of the Thanksgiving holiday.

homemade pumpkin donuts
5 from 4 votes

Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts

Velvety pumpkin puree and a blend of warming spices come together for these Easy Baked Pumpkin Donuts. Loaded with all your favorite fall flavors, this seasonal treat can be savored in under 30 minutes.
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baked cinnamon apples

Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples

Make these Healthy Baked Cinnamon Apples when you need an easy fall dessert. Apple slices are tossed in a cinnamon and coconut sugar coating, then baked until sweet and tender. It’s a one-dish dessert to enjoy throughout the holidays!
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Gluten-Free Apple Cider donuts

Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts

Make the holidays extra jolly with these no-bake Chocolate Peppermint Cups. Layers of melted milk and white chocolate are topped with crushed candy canes before being chilled and enjoyed. Give them away as edible Christmas gifts or serve as an after-dinner treat!
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More Dessert Recipes here:

Chocolate Espresso Hazelnut Cake, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies, Cranberry Orange Cake and Chocolate and Caramel Cheesecake are just a few other options to finish off your holiday celebration.

Choose a variety of these treats to make the ultimate dessert table, any combination of these treats would go well together.

These desserts offer the added convenience of being suitable to prepare in advance, allowing you to store them until everyone’s ready to indulge.

Thanksgiving Drinks

What would the holiday table be without a variety of festive drinks? No one will be able to resist this Apple Cider Punch and this Cranberry Wine Spritzer. They both taste great, have a burst of color, and add a more celebratory feel to the meal. You can easily add a splash of rum to the cider so you have an alcoholic drink for the adults and you can use grape juice instead of wine in the spritzer if you want to serve some to the kids.

apple cider punch

Apple Cider Punch

This Apple Cider Punch combines the delicious flavor of apple cider, orange juice and caramel, along with cinnamon and woody thyme. This fall inspired drink can be served as is for a kid friendly version or add rum for a fun spin!
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spritzer recipe

Cranberry Wine Spritzer

This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is a fun and refreshing beverage, perfect for all your holiday gatherings. The bright tangy flavor from the cranberries are perfectly balanced with the sweetness of moscato
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Thanksgiving Bread Basket

Last but not least is the Thanksgiving bread basket. What else are you going to use to soak up all those juicy flavors of your turkey or roast? Though not essential to the celebratory meal they are definitely a welcome addition.

Both the Pull Apart Dinner Rolls and the Garlic Parmesan Wreath require some proofing time so it may be best to make these in advance so you can focus on preparing the rest of the meal. If quick and easy is what you are looking this year, the Brazilian Bread may be a better option.

Thanksgiving Leftovers?

There’s nothing worse than leftovers sitting in the fridge uneaten for days. Here are a few simple and wholesome options to repurpose them.

5 from 1 vote

Turkey White Bean Kale Soup

Indulge in the robust flavors of this thick, hearty, and filled with veggie goodness Turkey White Bean, and Kale Soup. Perfect for when you are craving a warm and comforting bowl.
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If you are looking for another option for your cooked turkey this Ground Turkey Shepherd’s Pie is another hearty and nourishing meal. You can easily swap the ground turkey for cooked shredded turkey. Or swap the chicken for turkey in this Keto Chicken Cobb Salad for lunch or a light dinner.

Hi! I’m Silvia.

My goal is to make cooking simple and enjoyable.

Garden in the Kitchen is full of easy and balanced recipes for busy families. Classics get a healthier twist with additions of veggies or alternative ingredients.

I hope my recipes will inspire you to cook more home meals and above all have fun in the kitchen!

Learn more about me

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2 Comments

  1. Love this Thanksgiving information. My question is that there is a picture of a brussel sprouts dish above the information for the green bean casserole. I would love to know what the recipe is for this brussel sprout picture! I could not find it anywhere on this page.
    Thanks!

    Reply