It’s almost that time of year again! That’s right, I’m talking about Thanksgiving. While many people may cheat their keto diet because it’s a special occasion, it’s possible to have a ketogenic Thanksgiving dinner that’s both low-carb and keto, as well as and highly delicious. If you need some ketogenic Thanksgiving recipes then look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of keto Thanksgiving recipes that you and your family are guaranteed to love. Continue reading to get some recipe ideas so you can have a traditional Thanksgiving without consuming unwanted carbs.
What Can I Eat at Thanksgiving on Keto?
If you’re new to keto then might be intimidated by trying to find keto options at the thanksgiving dinner table. There are some simple rules you can follow to ensure that you stick to the plan this year.
- Meat, including turkey and ham are perfectly fine. All meat options should be fine as long as there is no sauce added to them.
- Avoid the stuffing since it typically includes bread or another carb source.
- Avoid all of the obviously high carb sides like potatoes, bread, and other sugary options like traditional cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes.
- Avoid all desserts unless you have the rare relative that makes sugar free desserts.
- Bring something you enjoy. It’s best to bring a side dish or a dessert that is keto friendly. Perhaps something you find in this list. That will make dinner feel less restrictive since you can the main course as well as either a side dish or a dessert.
- Other options that you will sometimes find at thanksgiving that are keto friendly are salad, veggie platters, roasted vegetables and green bean casserole (without the crispy topping).
Now, onto the list of our favorite holiday recipes that you can make for the whole family to enjoy.
Low Carb Pecan Pie
What’s Thanksgiving without any dessert? With this recipe, you can get everything you love about pecan pie while staying keto-friendly. This recipe doesn’t have just one, but two different editions for low carb pecan pie. The first one uses sugar-free maple syrup for the filling in order to avoid using artificial sweeteners. The second keto-friendly pecan pie uses gelatin to bind the filling together. Although both pies avoid using sugar, there’s enough butter to make this dessert a delicious addition to your keto Thanksgiving dinner!
Sugar Free Low Carb Pumpkin Pie
Call me a traditionalist, but everyone knows you can’t have Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. It is THE dessert you think of when someone says to come over for Thanksgiving dinner. Smooth spiced pumpkin filling that just warms you from the inside out. Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger will fill your house like a natural bakeshop style candle. Make it even more festive with a sprinkling of cinnamon and a dollop of whipped cream. This easy gluten and sugar free version will have your family amazed that this recipe is even keto.
Flaky Keto Pie Crust (1g Carb Per Slice)
If you want to make your own keto pie filling and just need a low-carb, sugar-free pie crust recipe then look no further. These recipes offer a sweet and savory version of a keto-friendly pie crust. The sweet one uses cream cheese in it to give it a sweet and creamy taste. The second one uses Xantham gum to keep the crust together and has extra butter so you can be sure that all your pies on the table will be a family favorite. With these crusts, all your desserts can be low-carb, sugar-free, and delicious. Plus, they use almond flour and coconut flour to make it gluten-free for all your guests to enjoy.
Keto Dark Chocolate Tart with Pecans
This recipe for a keto Thanksgiving dark chocolate tart brings all the deliciousness you want in a tart while sticking to a keto diet. Dark chocolate is usually sugar-free for the most part so you can still get the delicious flavors of chocolate without breaking your keto diet. The filling has generous amounts of butter and cream to make a delicious keto dessert. With the quick and easy keto dark chocolate tart you can top your Thanksgiving dinner off with something the entire family will love.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
This low-carb Thanksgiving keto dessert recipe is great for maintaining your weight loss while bringing something tasty to the table. Plus, the portion sizes are perfect for your guests and have minimum carbs. By combining the best part of keto pumpkin pie with the creamy consistency of cream cheese, you can end your keto Thanksgiving meal with a menu item that doesn’t go against your diet. Pumpkin pie just got a big upgrade with this recipe. These cupcakes use simple ingredients and will have all your guests saying thanks!
Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Two Dipping Sauces
No Thanksgiving is complete without some delicious vegetables as side dishes. This keto-friendly Thanksgiving recipe for Brussels sprouts uses avocado oil (olive oil will be fine in a pinch) and spices to bring out the great taste that Brussels sprouts have to offer. Plus, it’s all vegan-friendly and completely gluten-free. Brussels sprouts need a delicious sauce to go with them and on this website, you can find two recipes to make whichever one sounds better for your meal plans. They aren’t dairy-free though, so if you are lactose intolerant you may just want to eat them plain or with a dressing that’s part oil and balsamic and maybe add a touch of garlic. Don’t be afraid to make them bacon-wrapped either to get a little extra protein and the people around your table will have an unforgettable meal.
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Cinnamon Sauce
Sweet potatoes are a wonderful addition to all the holidays and Thanksgiving is no different. This delicious keto recipe will have people giving thanks on all of Thanksgiving day. The thing about sweet potatoes is that they are naturally sweet and have a delicious taste on their own, so all you need to do is add some butter, erythritol, and some seasonings to create a tasty low-carb dish that’s perfect for the entire holiday season. This recipe is a delicious addition to any ketogenic diet. This recipe was inspired by a Marley Spoon Meal Kit. If you’re interested you can get a Marley Spoon voucher here.
Walnut Snowball Cookies
Of all the dessert recipes out there, these walnut snowball cookies are amongst the best keto recipes. Using stevia in place of sugar, and a healthy portion of butter, this recipe creates adorable coated balls of deliciousness that all people will love. Many keto recipes use regular flour in their deserts, but this one uses coconut flour as a binder and is a great way to end your Thanksgiving meal. You should be able to stick to your diet and eat everything you want this Thanksgiving, and with this low-fat, low-carb dessert recipe, you can.
Low-Carb Stuffing with Sausage and Cauliflower
This sausage and cauliflower stuffing recipe will bring the best of both worlds to your table this Thanksgiving. With a good amount of protein and fiber, this recipe is also low on carbs and keto-friendly. The fat in this recipe isn’t too high and is only in the butter and sausage. It goes well stuffed inside a roasted turkey, or it can be enjoyed on its own as a side dish. Every Thanksgiving bird needs to be stuffed with something delicious, and the garlic in this stuffing will make the whole family want to fill their plate! Plus, you can always add a little bacon to get that extra savory taste and added protein.
Healthy Cranberry Relish, Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly!
This sugar-free cranberry sauce recipe is a great side dish for all winter holidays as well as a ketogenic diet. Using only simple ingredients, this recipe also uses chia seeds to account for the additional fiber that might not be in other foods. Thanks to the inclusion of stevia, this sauce can still add some sweetness to all the food on your keto Thanksgiving side dishes.
Creamy Cauliflower Mash and Keto Gravy
Keto mashed cauliflower is an amazing substitute for mashed potatoes and with a little bit of garlic and cream, all your guests will be amazed that this is actually great for a keto diet and has a good amount of fiber. This recipe calls for parmesan cheese but cheddar cheese could work as well and add a little more fat (although the butter in this will provide some fat as well). And no meal is complete without gravy and this recipe has one of the best keto gravies that you’ll want to put on top of everything in your meal. It uses chicken stock, cream, and butter to add some fat and protein to the mix too. Bacon can also be added to this side dish to get extra protein, crunch, and flavor. You’ll find that mashed cauliflower is a tasty substitute for mashed potatoes that you should have been using all along.
Low Carb Pumpkin Crisp
Off all the keto Thanksgiving recipes for dessert, this is one that’s low-carb, high-fat, and just plain delicious. It’s all the things you love about keto pumpkin pie in a tasty crumble that goes great with some sugar-free whipped cream or ice cream. The use of pumpkin spice in this recipe provides all the warm autumn flavors that can be eaten on a diet. Not all desserts are good for weight loss, but this is one that’s low on carbs and diet-friendly. The topping is made with almond flour too, so you can enjoy the flavor of keto pumpkin pie while staying gluten-free. You can add a little extra pumpkin spice too if you want it to be extra flavor-packed.
Walnut Cookies, Buttery and Spiced!
Rest assured readers, this recipe for walnut cookies is the perfect food for those living the keto lifestyle. Using only a few ingredients, the flavor packed into these cookies will blow your mind when you find out how simple they are to make and how low in carbs they are. These cookies are also remarkably low in fat too so you can fill up on the fat you need during the meal without feeling guilty. The thing about these cookies is that they use coconut flour and vanilla extract to create an extraordinary synthesis of flavors and will quickly become one of your favorite side dishes.
Low-Carb Pumpkin Bread
If pumpkin pie wasn’t enough for you, this recipe for pumpkin keto bread will give you all the pumpkin flavor that you need on Thanksgiving. This recipe calls for cream cheese to make a creamy cheesecake layer, and almond flour and coconut flour as the binder for the bread. It doesn’t say it on the website, but you can add some chia seeds to it as well if you want a little more fiber. This keto food item will become a favorite side dish at your Thanksgiving dinner. With this bread, you may not even need pumpkin pie as you’ll be getting all the pumpkin flavor you desire.
Low-Carb Casserole, Squash, Bacon, and Pimentos!
Green bean casserole can step aside because this amazing keto recipe is low on carbs and high in taste. This post calls for yellow squash but butternut squash would be delicious as well. The addition of bacon also adds protein and savoriness that all food needs. This casserole easily tops our list as one of our favorite high-fat, low-in-carbs keto dishes.
Loaded Keto Cauliflower Casserole
This cauliflower casserole is loaded with cheese sauce, garlic, bacon, and fresh herbs to make an all-around delicious casserole that’s high in fat, fiber, and protein. If your oven is filled with turkey and side dishes, you could probably make this one in your instant pot too at an even quicker pace. It’s like macaroni and cheese but with cauliflower to make a healthy keto recipe. You could even add some green beans if you want some more veggies.
Easy Air Fryer Biscuits
Nothing goes better with turkey than biscuits, and this keto recipe uses cheddar cheese and almond flour to create a delicious biscuit. It also uses butter and sour cream to add some fat, protein, and creaminess to the biscuit. Like most baked goods, you can always add some chia seeds to get that additional bit of fiber. You don’t have to worry about carbs with these biscuits, which is an added bonus.
The Best Keto Bread
If you want some bread to go with your turkey, then this keto recipe has everything you need. This recipe is gluten-free and is high in fat and fiber and easily tops our list as one of the greatest keto-friendly baked goods out there. With this bread, you can stay on track to your diet plan without having to worry about carbs.
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, Bone-In with Gravy!
Every Thanksgiving needs some bird to go with stuffing on the menu, and this recipe will have all your guests satisfied. Using a wonderful combination of seasonings, this recipe will give you a flavorful keto turkey. Don’t forget to brine your turkey beforehand to keep it extra moist and juicy. And the keto gravy uses xantham gum as a thickener instead of flour so you won’t be getting any unnecessary carbs.
Keto Biscotti
If you need some good dessert recipes, keto biscotti may be the right choice for you. Because biscotti are twice-baked, you will need to make sure you have plenty of time beforehand to make sure they get the time they need to bake. YOu can even add dried cranberries to give it a little extra sweetness.
Low-Carb Green Bean Casserole
Green beans are a classic staple for every Thanksgiving meal, and with this recipe, your green beans can be the star of the show. With the added mushrooms, garlic, and onion, this casserole will have all your guests asking for second helpings. The recipe calls for canned green beans, but fresh ones could be even better (but remember to blanch them beforehand). This dish will go great with your turkey, and a little added bacon links the dish with a great savory taste.
Low-Carb Cornbread, Baby Corn and Cheddar!
Of all the cornbread recipes, keto cornbread from this page hits it out of the park. Many low-carb cornbread recipes are flavorless, but this one is packed with deliciousness and has nuggets of corn in it for amazing added texture. Plus, you can make extra and use it for keto stuffing.
Keto Eggnog
If you can’t wait till Christmas to break out the eggnog, then use this keto recipe to bring it to your Thanksgiving. This recipe uses heavy cream for the base and includes almond or cashew milk to give it a delightful fluffiness. Like many online recipes, this one omits any alcohol but you can feel free to add the liquor of your choice.
Or if you want to get really crazy you could try our Eggnog Pie Recipe!
Easy Low-Carb Keto Creamy Spinach
Creamy spinach has all the things you love about spinach bound with a sweet and savory cream mixture. This recipe uses cream cheese for its creamed spinach and has a delicate blend of herbs and spices. And on account of the parmesan cheese topping, you can get a cheesy finish with every bite.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
While it’s not a traditional Thanksgiving dish, jalapeno poppers are a tasty snack that almost everybody loves. Unlike other jalapeno popper recipes, this one includes salsa in the cheese mixture to give it a little extra tang. If you want them to be less spicy, make sure you scoop out the seeds and cut out the white, waxy bits on the inside of the pepper.
Low-Carb Butter Garlic Turkey
This recipe is great for making a traditional and keto-friendly whole turkey. It calls for the turkey to sit atop roasted veggies so that you can get delicious drippings to use for gravy. Plus, this recipe calls for garlic herb butter that you can use on the turkey or anything else that you might find enjoyable. Because it’s a whole turkey, you can also feel free to stuff it when the time is right.
Keto Gingerbread Cake
This gingerbread comes in cake form and is keto-friendly. Many recipes use regular flour, but this one uses almond flour along with brown butter and spices to pack a lot of taste in a little bite. Gingerbread is the perfect dessert to get you ready for the upcoming cold season and the cream cheese frosting adds a delicious bite to this recipe.
Best-Ever Keto Stuffing
Every Thanksgiving needs to have stuffing, and if you don’t want to make one that’s too out-there to fit your keto needs, this recipe is a good option for you. It follows a traditional stuffing recipe but uses keto bread chunks instead of regular bread to cut down on carbs. You can put it in your turkey or eat it on its own, either way, you will be satisfied.
Keto Gravy
If you want gravy to go with your holiday dinner (and let’s face it, who doesn’t), then this keto recipe will fill your needs. It uses pan drippings from your turkey combined with broth, Worcestershire, and seasonings to create a savory blend that will match well with most of your side dishes.
Keto Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a delicious side dish that everyone can enjoy. This recipe calls for low-carb noodles to replace the regular pasta and includes a hefty portion of cheese. With the optional pork rind topping, you can add a bit of crunch and savoriness to the dish that you wouldn’t get otherwise. Plus, you can use whatever blend of cheeses you want to get the taste profile that you want, so don’t be afraid to find a unique and tasty combination of your own!
Keto Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is an extremely healthy addition to an otherwise calorie-dense meal. This recipe has a little excitement to it though, as it uses bacon, cheese, and onion to add extra texture and taste. It’s bound with a creamy dressing that will add a little bit of zest and creaminess to the dish. This broccoli salad will even be tempting to the picky eaters at your table!
Loaded Zucchini Skins
Loaded zucchini skins aren’t a traditional holiday dish, but after you try these you will want to include them at each of your Thanksgivings from here on. These bite-sized snacks are filled with cheese, sour cream, and bacon to get a full range of different tastes. The mixture is topped onto a perfectly-cooked piece of hollowed zucchini to make it an easily-eatable finger food.
Looking for Even More Keto Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas?
- Keto Stuffed Peppers
- Keto No Bake Cheesecake
- Keto Hasselback Chicken
- Easiest Keto Pumpkin Muffins
- Keto Almond Flour Cake
- Keto Tuna Casserole
- Low Carb Keto Cornbread Recipe
- Baked Keto Chicken Tenders
- Keto Big Mac Salad
- Keto Mozzarella Sticks
- Easy Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Easy Keto Meatloaf
- Keto Shepherd’s Pie
- Keto Peppermint Bark
Written by
Matt Gaedke
Matt is a former college basketball player turned computer engineer who discovered his passion for health and nutrition after cutting sugar from his diet in 2016. That year he founded KetoConnect with Megha in order to share their ketogenic lifestyle through recipes, videos, and educational content. Matt is always seeking to grow and try new things, a passion he shares with his wife and two amazing sons.