Colette's Blog

Low Carb, Keto-Friendly Substitutes for Thanksgiving Dinner

November 5, 2019
Thanksgiving Table

I love Thanksgiving. It’s a wonderful excuse to spend time with family and friends, while enjoying a delicious meal, minus the stress of holiday shopping. I’ve been living a low carb lifestyle for more than 25 years, and thanks to the low carb tips I’ve learned along the way, I am able to celebrate Thanksgiving to its fullest. In the spirit of the season—and so you can enjoy a holiday meal without sacrificing your goals—we’ve put together a few fan-favorite recipes to help you compile your perfect low carb and keto Thanksgiving menu:

Turkey and Gravy

Thanksgiving Turkey with Gravy

Fortunately, turkey— the star of the meal—is naturally low in carbs. This recipe is a classic take on a Thanksgiving turkey, roasted with savory spices. Complete your traditional keto Thanksgiving main course with flavorful gravy, made low carb by using a naturally-derived thickener instead of flour.

Citrus Brined Thanksgiving Turkey

If you’re looking to mix it up this year, try this low carb Thanksgiving recipe. The sugar free citrus brine adds moisture and acidity to your turkey, bringing brightness to an otherwise heavy meal.

Mashed Potatoes

Cauliflower Cheddar Mash

This cheesy mash uses cauliflower as a low carb substitute that is just as creamy and decadent as mashed potatoes, making it a perfect side for a keto Thanksgiving dinner. We’d be surprised if your guests can tell the difference!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Candied Ginger Sweet Potatoes

Marshmallow topping or not, sweet potato casserole cooked the traditional way is an absolute bevy of carbs. We put a keto-friendly Thanksgiving twist on the original with this dish full of warming ginger—and, yes, a little sweetness too!

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole Topped with Crispy Onions

Instead of canned cream of mushroom soup, which can be loaded with sodium, we swapped in Crimini mushrooms, heavy cream, and other ingredients for a low carb Thanksgiving side with more flavor and more fiber.

Stuffing

Sausage Sage Stuffing

Sometimes, creating an accompaniment to your keto Thanksgiving meal can be as simple as swapping out a high carb ingredient for a low carb alternative. This recipe has all the flavors and ingredients of traditional sage stuffing, but uses a homemade Atkins bread recipe. (Low on time? Use your favorite premade low carb bread!)

Wild Mushroom Stuffing

Just like our sausage sage stuffing recipe, this recipe uses homemade Atkins bread to cut back on carbs but preserve the flavor—and gravy-soaking ability—of the original. Vegetarians and carnivores alike will love the hearty, savory texture and flavor wild mushrooms bring to your keto Thanksgiving menu.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry, Orange and Walnut Relish

Forget the jiggle of sugary, processed, canned cranberry jelly. Our bright, crunchy, citrusy relish adds brightness and texture to your keto Thanksgiving meal to help complement and contrast other dishes on the menu.

Cornbread and Biscuits

Maple Chive Corn Mini Muffins

These sweet and savory mini muffins are a perfect addition to any low carb Thanksgiving table. Don’t skip out on the stone-ground cornmeal! It adds a delightful crunchy texture that sets them apart.

Atkins Biscuits

You can use Atkins flour mix in your favorite recipes year-round, but our favorite use has to be for keto friendly Thanksgiving biscuits, perfect for soaking up gravy—or making leftover sandwiches.

Saved room for dessert? Try a few of these keto Thanksgiving ideas for pumpkin pie and more! And don’t forget to check out my 5 low carb Thanksgiving tips for even more ways to get the most out of your holiday and still have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

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