31 Keto Thanksgiving Recipes for Low-Carb Dieters
Two words: pumpkin pie.
Thanksgiving is one of the best food days of the year. It's hard to beat platters of turkey, boats of gravy, mounds of stuffing, and tubs of cranberry sauce. And then there's the pie. Glorious, glorious, glorious pie.
(Okay, and yes, and it's a time to gather the family around the table and remember how grateful you are—namely for family.)
All that said, Thanksgiving can be hard to maneuver if you're on the high-fat, ultra-low-carb ketogenic diet. That's because high-carb foods like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and—unfortunately—pie, can knock you out of ketosis, the fat-burning mode that proponents of a keto diet argue might be just as important as family (kidding!).
Look, enjoying yourself for one day won't wreck your commitment to a healthy eating plan. So one option to retain your sanity on the holiday is to just let loose and eat whatever Thanksgiving feast has to offer, in all of its glorious bounty, guilt-free.
But if you don't want to take a day off of your diet (but, really, it's okay if you want to), you can pull off some kitchen slight-of-hand, magically transforming some of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes into keto-friendly dishes that actually taste pretty close to the real thing.
Now, granted, you will have to spend some time cooking—or at least the energy convincing Mom that, no, you want a keto apple pie this year—but if you're as committed as you are to remaining in ketosis, then maybe these obstacles are surmountable ones.
So, with fanfare, here are 31 keto Thanksgiving recipes—from bacon-wrapped turkey to green bean casserole to all sorts of pies—that will satisfy T-day cravings without breaking from traditional (too much).
Air Fryer Asparagus
Nutritious and simple, asparagus is a healthy and festive side to go with heavier Thanksgiving day foods. This air fryer recipe from Wholesomelicious has good fats from ghee and coconut aminos to work well for the keto diet.
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast with Tomatoes
Talk about a meaty Thanksgiving dish, this turkey from Ketogasm is wrapped in bacon for a feast for any carnivore out there. The one pot dish contains just three grams of net carbs, along with great protein and fat to fill you up. It’ll cook for about six hours, but you don’t need to do much—just put it in and wait.
Low Carb Candied Yams With Marshmallows
Yams with marshmallows are a Thanksgiving staple, but the whole side dish is super high in carbs and sugar. Luckily, this makeover from Keto Diet App has all the sweet flavor you want from erythritol (or stevia) but for just 5.1 grams of net carbs and 2.5 grams of sugar a serving. YAAAAS.
Turkey!
It's true! The bird itself is high in protein and the dark meat (legs, thighs) is also rich in fat. Also long as you're passing on any stuffing, consider the turkey keto-approved.
Keto Apple Pie
Apple pie is super comforting for Thanksgiving dessert, and this one by gnom-gnom is gluten-free and keto-friendly. The pie crust is super flaky and the zucchini filling adds nutrients and fiber.
Keto Mashed Cauliflower
Swap cauliflower for potatoes, and you’ll still get the same texture and flavor you’re craving alongside your turkey leg. This recipe from Hey Keto Mama is a great companion for Thanksgiving dinner, and you can dress it up with whatever you like—bacon, spices, herbs, and more.
Keto Pecan Pie Clusters
These mini pecan pie clusters from Hey Keto Mama give you the dessert you want but in a small fun-size version to keep carbs, calories, and sugar in check. Use dark and sugar-free chocolate to make the total sugar zero. Each cluster is just 140 calories.
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Are you seeing a (delicious) theme emerge here? Bacon is high-fat, and a good source of protein. Wrap it around a low-carb vegetable and you're good to go.
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops
Same deal.
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie
Pecan pie has that amazing chewy texture and deliciously nutty flavor. This keto sugar-free pie from All Day I Dream About Food is made with almond flour pie crust, keto friendly sweeteners, and some vanilla or maple extract to round it all out.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Bacon: keto! Asparagus: keto! Together: delicious!
Keto Sausage Stuffing
Stuffing it a total superstar at the table, but it’s definitely not on the keto diet. Yet this stuffing from All Day I Dream About Food is made with keto bread, which tastes just like the real thing. Add a kick with spicy sausage and enjoy for just 2.8 grams of net carbs a serving.
Keto Cornbread
Cornbread is comfort food in a nutshell and it goes great as a base for a stuffing (here’s another low-carb keto stuffing) or for a side with turkey and veggies. This recipe from Cast Iron Keto has a kick from jalapeno pepper, too.
Keto Pumpkin Pie
A classic for Thanksgiving, this pumpkin pie from Cast Iron Keto is creamy in the center but flaky on the outside, making it the perfect dessert this holiday. It even has a bit of protein—12.1 grams—so you won’t feel like grabbing a second slice.
Keto Scalloped Turnips
A great side dish from Cast Iron Keto, these scalloped turnips are rich and comforting thanks to a delicious cream sauce and butter. They’ll taste just as decadent as potatoes but without all the carbs, clocking in at a mere 4 grams of net carbs a serving.
Lemon Garlic Salmon
Not everyone eats meat, so a turkey won’t cut it for vegans and pesctetarians. Fortunately, this lemon garlic salmon from 40 Aprons is an excellent option for those looking to have more fish in the diet. It's ready in 25 minutes, too, which is super fast!
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Tarts
These mini pumpkin cheesecake tarts from Ruled.me are perfect for keeping portions in check, and you can use them as an easy dessert. There’s a nice medley of vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, and ginger to bring out Thanksgiving spices.
Low-Carb Raspberry Baked Brie
Before digging into turkey, you’ve got to have some apps first. This raspberry baked brie from Keto Diet App is the perfect appetizer, and it is low in carbs, with just 3.7 net grams a serving. You get the creaminess of the brie along with good fats from the walnuts and chia seeds to fill you up.
Low-Carb Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is typically like all sugar—yes there are antioxidants from the berries, but the sugar and carb count in a Thanksgiving cranberry sauce is way too high for a keto lifestyle. This one from Keto Diet App still has the acidity from oranges, the kick from cloves and cinnamon, and the sweetness from the berries to satisfy the craving without wrecking your diet.
Shrimp
You might see it on the appetizer table paired with cocktail sauce, which is just ketchup mixed with horseradish. Ketchup isn't suuuuper keto, so just stick with the high-protein shrimp.
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