November 17, 2018

Recipe Ideas for a Healthy Thanksgiving

As a French Canadian, I never got to celebrate Thanksgiving, so I can’t pretend to say that I know much of anything about what goes on and especially what gets eaten on that much awaited Holiday…

One thing I do know, however, is that no Thanksgiving feast would be complete without at least some form of squash, or sweet potato, on the menu! Turkey also appears to have a prime spot on the table.

And of course, food tends to be served, and eaten, in abundance!

Soooo, just in case you’re still short a recipe or two and aren’t done figuring out your entire Thanksgiving menu just yet, I thought I’d share a few ideas with you to help you keep your Thanksgiving on the healthier side!

I know I’m very last minute (tell me, just when am I not last minute?) but I hope you still find that this roundup comes in handy!

Oh, and before I go: happy cooking and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!

SOUPS & SALADS

APPLE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH WALNUTS AND MARJORAM

How’s about a bowl of soup before movin’ on to the main course? Apple, butternut squash, walnuts and ginger really sound like a winning combination to me.

Apple and Butternut Squash Soup by The Iron You – Get the recipe here

Curried Acorn Squash Cream Soup with Coconut Milk

This easy and healthy curried acorn squash cream soup is the perfect fall comfort food. Sweet and spicy, creamy and savory, this simple potage is also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, vegetarian, flourless, nut-free and sugar-free.

by One Clever Chef – Get the recipe here

Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Soup

According to its creator, this is by far the best butternut squash soup ever, with the help of those crisp bacon bits blended right into the soup!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve no trouble believing it at all…

by Damn Delicious – Get the recipe here

CREAM OF LEEK AND SWEET POTATO SOUP

This Cream of Leek and Sweet Potato Soup is so silky and creamy, it’s the perfect dish to warm your body and soul on a cold winter day. Best of all, it’s super easy, and crazy quick, to make!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, PEAR AND CHESTNUT SALAD

Made to be served cold, this butternut squash, pear and chestnut salad with pomegranate, fresh and crispy fennel, dried prunes and crunchy pistachios, definitely has a clear winning advantage: it can be made ahead of time!

Need another good reason to make it? It’s so delicious, I guarantee you it’s worthy of getting a prime spot on your Thanksgiving table, right next to your homemade smoked ham, perhaps?.

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

I’m not sure whether this should be an appetizer, a side, or something that you’d want to have immediately following the main course…

All I know is, a salad this beautiful AND delicious looking, you definitely want to have on your menu!

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad by Le Creme de la Crumb – Get the recipe here

Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Cranberry Couscous

A salad SO pretty, you may even want to use it as a centerpiece! It looks like jewels in a bowl!

Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Cranberry Couscous by Gimme Some Oven – Get the recipe here

Roasted Root Vegetables Salad

Gorgeous, colorful, filled with so many textures… if you’re planning on serving this salad on Thanksgiving, will you please invite me over?

Roasted Root Vegetables Salad by A Spicy Perspective – Get the recipe here

Caramelized Squash Salad with Pistachios and Goat Cheese

As beautiful as it is colorful, this salad is looks perfect in every possible way…

by Better Homes and Gardens – Get the recipe here

Autumn Pearl Couscous Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash

This pearl couscous salad is the epitome of Autumn! Loaded with roasted butternut squash chunks, tons of sweet cranberries, nutty pecans, all tossed with Israeli couscous, and a Dijon vinaigrette.

by Little Spice Jar – Get the recipe here

Butternut Squash and Cranberry Quinoa Salad

A healthy fall salad with delicious and clean ingredients! And so pretty, too! I say it’s totally worthy of making it to your Thanksgiving table!

by Little Broken – Get the recipe here

Butternut Squash & Spinach Salad with Pecans, Cranberries, Pomegranate

This is a perfect Autumn or Winter (or Thanksgiving!) salad, since it uses lots of seasonal ingredients that are available this time of the year. Healthy, gluten free, packed with nutrients and fiber! WIN!

by Julia’s Album – Get the recipe here

TURKEY & MAINS

3 Easy Steps to a Moist and Delicious Turkey

Let’s face it, no Thanksgiving would be complete without turkey. And if you’re going to put a moist, juicy and flavorful bird on the table this Thanksgiving, brining it is a crucial step that you won’t want to skip!

Then, of course, you have to get the roasting part right, too…

Good thing Erin is here to help!

3 Steps to a Moist and Delicious Turkey by Delightful E Made – Get the recipe here

HOW TO DRY BRINE A THANKSGIVING TURKEY

If a wet brine is too complicated for you, because you don’t have access to the required equipment, you know, then you might want to consider a dry brine instead…

I know I’m definitely doing it this Christmas!

How to Dry Brine a Thanksgiving Turkey by Wholefully – Get the recipe here

PORK ROULADE WITH CANDIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH & GINGER CHUTNEY

A tender pork loin, all rolled-up and filled with the most delicious candied ginger and butternut squash chutney.

If you’re wanting to serve something that’s a bit on the fancy side this next Thanksgiving, this is the perfect dish for you!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

APPLE & BUTTERNUT SQUASH PULLED PORK CASSEROLE

This Pulled Pork and Butternut Squash Casserole has pleasant notes of sweet apple, spicy seasonal aromas as well as rich, heavenly tones of salted butter. A dream!

A one pot-dish option that’s guaranteed to please even the pickiest of eaters!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Apple Pecan Porc-au-Coq

We have this great classic here in Quebec that we refer to as “Coq au Porc”. Traditionally it consists in pork tenderloin wrapped inside a flattened chicken breast. I decided to have a little fun and switched things around, creating what I then called “Porc au Coq.”

A delicious pork loin stuffed with a whole chicken breast, sliced apples, pecans and fresh herbs, this Apple Pecan “Porc au Coq” is sure to please!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

SLOW COOKER MAPLE AND BEER SMOKED HAM

Cooked for hours in a succulent brew of pure maple syrup and all natural pale ale, this Slow Cooker Maple and Beer Smoked Ham will, without a doubt, come to be the most tender, tastiest and juiciest ham you’ll have ever tasted!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

STUFFING

Quinoa “Stuffing” (Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Cranberries & Pistachios)

Stuffing so stunningly gorgeous and so delicious looking… I say you should definitely serve it “on the side”.

I wouldn’t want to hide that beauty inside a bird.

Quinoa Stuffing by Gimme Some Oven – Get the recipe here

Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout, and Bread Stuffing with Apples

This one’s a beautiful twist on the traditional bread stuffing. And it looks pretty yummy too!

Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprout and Bread Stuffing by Food52 – Get the recipe here

Clean Eating Mushroom Rosemary Quinoa Stuffing Recipe with Cranberries

How gorgeous does this look? Never mind the turkey, I want to have some of that NOW!

Clean Eating Mushroom Rosemary Quinoa Stuffing by ifoodreal – Get the recipe here

SIDE DISHES

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries

This one has so many Thanksgiving must-haves, all rolled into a single dish. I say this is a definite must-make!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries by Julia’s Album – Get the recipe here

Crispy Roasted Green Beans

Delicious food doesn’t have to be complicated, does it? Not even on Thanksgiving, it doesn’t. Here’s proof!

Crispy Roasted Green Beans by Primavera Kitchen – Get the recipe here

Honey Glazed Hasselback Butternut Squash

If you want to go all out and don’t mind spending a little bit more time in the kitchen, especially if you’re gonna get visually stunning results, then this one’s for you! As elegant as it is delicious, this Honey Glazed Hasselback Butternut Squash is guaranteed to be the star of your dinner table.

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes {Slow Cooker}

Oh my! Roasted Garlic + Mashed Potatoes in the slow cooker? I’m sold! Is there still room to put these on the menu? Sure there is! We’ll just have to skip dessert, that’s all.

Maybe…

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Little Spice Jar – Get the recipe here

MAPLE CINNAMON ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Does this look good or what? For a fan of butternut squash such as myself, I say this is an absolute must.

Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash by Life Made Sweeter – Get the recipe here

SCALLOPED SWEET POTATO RING

A new and improved version of my sweet potato “gratin”, this true stunner will definitely steal the show. Try not to put it too close to the turkey, though, otherwise the bird might get a bit jealous!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Oven Baked Spaghetti Squash

So very easy to make and so deliciously tasty, Oven Baked Spaghetti Squash might very well become your favorite side dish, or pasta replacement!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Candied Butternut Squash – With Pecans and Raisins

This Candied Butternut Squash is so tasty, you don’t even need to be a fan of squash to enjoy it! It goes good with practically everything, any time of day!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash

So simple yet so elegant, this rustic Oven Roasted Butternut Squash mash is a tasty and versatile side dish that goes good with just about anything, any time of day, but that would shine particularly brightly next to your Thanksgiving turkey!

Guaranteed to impress your guests, yet so easy to make, it won’t eat up much of your precious time at all. But that, nobody needs to know…

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Bacon Roasted Butternut Squash

Just three simple ingredients combine to create this fabulous side dish: bacon, butternut squash and fresh thyme.

Proving once again that good food doesn’t have to be complicated, not even on Holidays!

by Unsophisticook – Get the recipe here

Butternut Squash Mac ‘N Cheese

Mac ‘N Cheese on Thanksgiving? Why not, especially if it’s made with butternut squash, right? The kids will love it, and it will go perfectly well alongside your roasted turkey…

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

WHIPPED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH CANDIED MAPLE PECANS

I sort of get the feeling that this Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole, topped with a generous amount of crunchy and sweet Candied Maple Walnuts will end up being everyone’s big favorite of the day.

It’s seriously so dreamy, just one bite will have everybody wanting to give thanks all around!

You might want to make a double batch…

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

HASSELBACK SWEET POTATOES

Wow your guests with these stunning and elegant looking Baked Potatoes.

Learn how to easily make Hasselback Potatoes with a very simple trick, and then kick them up a notch to make them Thanksgiving worthy!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

MAPLE DATE AND WALNUT OVEN ROASTED ACORN SQUASH

Here’s a side dish that’s so easy to make and so delicious, too, you’ll want to make it time and time again!

Even on Thanksgiving. Or ESPECIALLY on Thanksgiving, rather!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornmeal Muffins

Much better than a plain slice of bread! Tasty, delicious, moist and tender, these Jalapeno Cheddar Cornmeal Muffins will be loved by all, and no one will even need to know how healthy these actually are!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

DESSERTS

PALEO PUMPKIN PIE

No Thanksgiving meal would be complete without dessert, now would it? And what better way to end this annual feast than with a slice of heavenly Paleo Pumpkin Pie?

With its devilishly sweet, spiced and super rich custard-like filling and tender-yet-crispy crust, all that topped with a crunchy, honey sweetened crumble, this unconventional Pumpkin Pie is nothing short of spectacular.

Bet it’ll have you coming back for more… year after year after year!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Paleo Pecan Pie

Or, you could go with this other great classic. Trust me when I say that the “real deal” has absolutely nothing over this Paleo version of Pecan Pie: its filling is perfectly sweet, silky smooth and crunchy at the same time, and tastes like a million bucks, too!

Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never go back!

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

PALEO PUMPKIN BREAD

This bread is so dense and moist that it barely holds its shape when you slice it up, but it tastes so good that you probably wouldn’t mind eating it with a spoon if you had to!

Perfect if you’re hoping to treat your guests to a simple, unpretentious dessert…

by Yours Truly – Get the recipe here

Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey

Looking for something a bit on the lighter side? These Baked Pears with Walnuts and Honey sound incredibly refreshing, especially after a big heavy meal like that…