25 Easy Keto Thanksgiving Ideas (Including Stuffing & Dessert!)

Turkey is keto-friendly, but are you wondering how to find other keto Thanksgiving ideas? There are plenty of delicious low carb dishes perfect for your holiday table with these low carb Thanksgiving recipes for family favorites from stuffing to dessert.

So many holiday memories are built around food, from the turkey to all the yummy sides (and of course dessert). If you’re looking for keto Thanksgiving ideas as you navigate your holiday table, there are plenty of delicious low carb dishes to enjoy.

When we think of keto Thanksgiving recipes, the turkey comes to mind, of course, but there are many savory sides as well. For the main course, why limit yourself to turkey? Roasted chicken is another meat that everyone will enjoy. The most important part is to keep the meal festive and special, no matter what you choose to serve.

So, if you’re ready to create a feast everyone will remember for years to come, here are some great ideas to add to your recipe list. Try these keto and paleo-friendly dishes for your next holiday dinner. There’s a little something for every guest to love!

Keto Thanksgiving Ideas

Here are all the keto recipe ideas you’ll need for your Thanksgiving table—from appetizers to soups, main dishes, side dishes, and of course, easy Thanksgiving desserts. Happy holidays to you and your family!

Appetizers

Whenever I host guests for a dinner or holiday meal, I like to put out an assortment of keto-friendly appetizers and dips. I find this is especially helpful when there are a few items left to take care of in the kitchen. My guests can nosh on some tasty low carb snacks while they visit and relax before the big meal.

Snack Mix

For many families, Thanksgiving also means sports on the TV. What’s watching football without snacks to munch on? This paleo snack mix is low-carb and keto-friendly.

It’s great to give your guests a little something to crunch on while they wait for dinner. I like to prepare a big batch ahead of time and store it in an airtight container (it can be made well in advance).

Baba Ganoush

Typically, during the holidays, everyone loves to enjoy an assortment of dips. I like to put out cucumber and pepper strips which give guests an easy, crunchy dipper without filling them up. In this creamy eggplant based dip, there’s a mild garlic flavor from roasted garlic.

This dip is perfect for Thanksgiving because it’s different enough to feel festive. This is a dairy-free, keto, paleo, and vegan dip, so it’s appropriate for almost any guest at your table.

Grilled Eggplant and Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Another eggplant based dip, this smoky, savory, and slightly spiced dip is a great addition to your repertoire of Thanksgiving ideas. Something almost magical happens to eggplant when it’s roasted. It becomes meaty, savory, and so different.

People love this party dip. It’s also perfect for topping vegetables or meat (try it on your turkey!).

Cauliflower Hummus

Hummus has become a very popular party dip. In this keto version, cauliflower stands in for the chickpeas, creating a smooth, savory, silky dip everyone will rave about.

Try using cauliflower in unexpected ways. It’s so versatile and easily takes on the flavor of whatever it’s paired with. This spreadable, low-carb dip is a party favorite.

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail

What is a get-together without shrimp cocktail? At Thanksgiving and other big meals, the addition of sweet, savory shrimp feels festive and special. I love making this roasted version of the classic appetizer.  For the sauce, I whip together my own low-carb cocktail sauce, which adds the perfect spicy pairing for this party recipe.

Easy Smoked Shrimp

This smoked shrimp recipe is much easier than you may think and pairs well with the cocktail sauce above (or a little garlic sauce is also divine). Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of cooking these seafood bites up on a smoker or grill; it’s very simple and takes no time at all. What’s Thanksgiving without a few festive appetizers to whet your appetite?

Soups

I love soup and honestly, the soup course is one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving dinner. These low carb soups are a great addition to round out your holiday meal.

Easy Cauliflower Celeriac Soup with Bacon

If you aren’t familiar with celeriac, it’s a great low-carb potato-like veggie with a mild flavor. It pairs perfectly with cauliflower for a creamy keto soup that’s light and delicious. The addition of bacon makes this cauliflower soup seem extra special and adds great contrasting flavor.

Easy Broccoli Soup

This broccoli soup tastes like it took a while to cook, but it’s SO easy. It’s a beautiful green color that’s a great contrast to the other dishes on your table. Plus, this broccoli soup is light enough to be a great opener to the rest of your holiday meal.

Salads

Including a salad on your Thanksgiving menu highlights the bounty of the season and these salads are perfect starters before the big entrees.

Shrimp and Arugula Salad

This is one of my favorite salad recipes. It reminds me of my Sicilian vacation several years ago and it feels very special on my dinner table. This shrimp salad is hearty enough for a dinner salad, but I would suggest serving it as a small plate salad before the main event. The flavors are unbeatable and it’s a restaurant-worthy treat.

Bacon and Avocado Salad

Who doesn't love bacon and avocado? This salad is topped with a simple chipotle and balsamic dressing. These two flavors are such a hit and when combined with smoky, salty bacon and creamy avocado, this salad is a real winner.

Arugula Strawberry Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

This is a cheerful, beautiful salad. It will look great on your table with the fresh berries and deep green arugula. I love that this salad recipe is also vegan-friendly, making it a great salad for all guests. The flavors are so light and refreshing. It’s a perfect palate cleanser.

Main Course

Thanksgiving is, of course, all about the entree. Whether you choose to do a whole bird or turkey breasts, the poultry is often the heart of the meal. That said, don’t feel afraid to go a little outside of the box or explore a few additional options. A second protein is a wonderful addition to your holiday meal.

Easy Roast Turkey Breast

This easy roast turkey breast recipe is perfect for a small Thanksgiving. I love this cooking method because it keeps the meat moist and tender. To be honest, I prefer cooking the turkey this way instead of the whole bird (which is much harder to cook evenly). Splurge on high-quality organic turkey for this special meal.

Easy Baked Salmon with Roasted Asparagus

Not everyone is a turkey fan. As I said before, I often like to serve two proteins as part of my meal. This mustard-baked salmon is stunning and turns out perfectly every time.

It’s so easy—simply add the ingredients to the sheet pan and bake. There’s very little prep. Fish is an unexpected but delicious way to round out your Thanksgiving meal.

Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken

I love this lemon garlic roast chicken. This recipe actually works with other poultry as well. I know the turkey is usually the main event, but when you taste this moist, succulent chicken, you may decide there’s a new bird in town.

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes and I highly recommend it. It’s impossible to mess up and the chicken is a real show-stopper.

Sausage and Butternut Squash Frittata

This sausage frittata recipe is a perfect addition to your table. The sausage and butternut squash are a great flavor combination and a wonderful alternative to Thanksgiving stuffing. This frittata is low-carb and high in protein, so while it’s filing, you’ll still save room for additional sides.

Keto Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Let’s face it. At Thanksgiving, the turkey is the easy part. Figuring out (and narrowing down) which sides to serve is much harder, especially when there are so many amazing recipe ideas to decorate your table. Why stop at just one or two? After all, it’s a holiday!

A note on side dishes: There are many beautiful vegetables in season this time of year. It’s important to keep in mind that most winter squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and starchy root vegetables are not keto diet-friendly as the main ingredient in your side dishes (some can be used in small quantities without increasing the carbohydrate count too much). Always look at the nutrition information and follow what is best for your body.

Fortunately, there are many delicious vegetables you can use as keto sides. Most of them are perfectly delicious roasted! Great low carb side dish ingredients include roasted radishes, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, collards, Brussel sprouts, eggplant, cabbage, zucchini, asparagus, and green beans. Don’t miss these all-star ingredients on your Thanksgiving table.

Easy Keto Gravy

This is the gravy I make every year for Thanksgiving. It is flourless and thickened with pureed vegetables and herbs making it low carb AND easier to make than traditional gravy.

Thanksgiving Stuffing

The ultimate in holiday casseroles! Use your favorite keto bread or the keto cornbread in this stuffing to keep it low carb. The delicious combination of vegetables, parsley, thyme, spices, and pecans in this holiday dressing has made it a staple on my Thanksgiving table for years. My family won't let me make any other stuffing recipe!

Mashed Cauliflower with Garlic and Truffle Oil

This mashed cauliflower dish will wow all your guests. The truffle oil is extra special and “Thanksgiving-worthy.” This recipe is the ultimate mashed side dish. Cauliflower is rich and so delicious in this low-carb mashed potato alternative. Your guests won’t believe it’s a low carb side dish (and even better—it’s SO easy to make)!

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Celery Root Mash

These roasted garlic mashers are another great mashed vegetable option. Cauliflower and celery root are a great low-carb swap for mashed potatoes, resulting in an ultra-satisfying, creamy dish. The roasted garlic butter adds depth-of-flavor and complexity to really help these mashed veggies stand out.

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is perfect for Thanksgiving. I personally love the nutty, savory flavor of cauliflower rice—it’s much better than bland white rice. Use this as a great low carb side dish for turkey. This rice can even be prepared ahead of time and then finished right before the meal—it’s a perfect time saver.

Grilled Asparagus Wrapped with Prosciutto

Everyone’s favorite dish on my table? Asparagus wrapped with prosciutto. The salty, flavorful prosciutto enlivens the asparagus. I use the cleanest prosciutto I can find—with only pork and sea salt as the ingredients. Purchase the highest-quality meat for this special holiday vegetable.

Simple Garlic Roasted Broccoli

Broccoli is one of those vegetables most people love. This side dish is simple, bright, and flavorful. It’s a perfect low carb vegetable dish to go with the other items on your table, as it really rounds out the meal. This is an easy-to-prepare side dish, but one that all of your guests will all appreciate.

Keto Bread

Don't forget the bread, rolls, biscuits and buns. Check out this collections for breads made with coconut flour, almond flour or macadamia nuts. You'll never miss the carbohydrates with these creative recipes.

Keto Thanksgiving Desserts

Of course, we all look forward to dessert as the perfect ending to the big Thanksgiving meal. Pie is the staple (but there are plenty of alternatives as well). Use these dessert recipes as the perfect low carb finale.

Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is perhaps the perfect keto Thanksgiving dessert. This one isn’t overly sweet but strikes the right balance and texture. Plus, the pecans and crust make this pie look absolutely beautiful on your holiday table. Your guests will love this low carb pecan pie recipe.

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

This pumpkin chia seed pudding is so festive and seasonal. I suggest serving these in cups as parfaits and even consider layering the pudding with pecans, walnuts, or low carb vanilla coconut whipped cream topping. This pumpkin pudding has all the delicious flavors of keto pumpkin pie.

Chocolate Almond Haystacks

These little treats are the ultimate salty, sweet bite to add to your Thanksgiving dessert table. Just follow the easy substitution to make the keto version (my family couldn't tell the difference when I made the swap!). They're the perfect way to finish off your holiday dinner.

I have plenty of easy keto dessert recipes, as well as paleo pumpkin desserts, and paleo Thanksgiving dessert ideas. Check them out for more great gluten-free dessert recipes.

For more holiday ideas, these keto Christmas recipes have plenty to choose from including all the holiday classics for everything from Christmas dinner to keto cookies to New Year's Eve cocktail parties.

With these delicious keto recipe ideas, you can please everyone at your holiday table. You won't have to worry about running out of low net carbs options for your Thanksgiving feast!