Thanksgiving. It’s a time for family, fun, football and most importantly food! It is the one day of the year completely dedicated to eating! (In my opinion, the best holiday) But sometimes Thanksgiving can become predictable. It’s the same sweet potato casserole that’s really a dessert, the cranberry sauce that no one really eats, and the pile of buttery mashed potatoes. If you are ready to change up your Thanksgiving this year, check out these recipes. They would be a great addition to your table, and the best part is they are from real, whole food ingredients. It’s not processed, pre-made stuffing bags, it’s real, its healthy and it’s delicious. So if you are ready to change it up this year, you will love these recipes.
1. Butternut Squash Salad with Apples, Dates, Pecans
This warm salad is delicious and needs a place on your table. It’s base is butternut squash, apples, and onions spiraled out into noodles. Pour some rich olive oil and maple syrup over top and mix it all together with those warm holiday favorite spices such as all-spice, curry and ginger. Sprinkle pecans over top and bake it till the fruit has caramelized. Stir in dates and devour. I don’t know about you, but my mouth is watering right now.
Photo: Food Faith Fitness
2. Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Yes it has fried onions, and yes it is STILL a healthier option than the original, actually it tastes much better! The secret ingredient here is cashews. Soaking them in the unsweetened almond milk is what makes this dish irresistible and full of flavor. The onions are fresh and the mushrooms are packed with flavor and nutrients. This will change the way you make this famous casserole dish forever!
Photo: Hummusapien
3. Bourbon Maple Sweet Potatoes
Maple syrup covered sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar?! Yes please!! The sweet potatoes are covered in a delicious thick sauce, baked till they are the perfect consistency, and then covered with a walnut glaze. It’s a sweet and delicious recipe with maple syrup as the main sweetener and infused with all the best autumn spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and all-spice.
Photo: If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen
4. Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Dressing
A salad filled with harvest spices, pumpkin goodness, and all the greens your body needs. This is a great light dish to have on your table this year to balance out all of that turkey and mashed potatoes you will eat. This salad allows you to enjoy all of the seasons perfect flavors while nourishing your body at the same time!
Photo: The Seasoned Mom
5. Honey Sriracha Roasted Carrots
This is a simple dish packed with a lot of flavor. It will taste like you spent hours on it, and it’s bright vibrant colors will look beautiful on your table. Sweet and spicy is one of the best combinations, and the mixture of flavors will make your taste buds fly! These carrots are so quick and simple, it will give you more time with your family and less time in the kitchen.
Photo: Closet Cooking
6. Cornbread Casserole
A healthier take on a Thanksgiving classic? And dare I say more delicious than the original? Say good bye to box mixes and use this healthy ingredients to make a dish you are excited to share and eat!
Photo: The Pretty Bee
7. Homemade Gluten Free Mac & Cheese
You can be gluten free and eat your pasta too! You can make this almost as fast as the blue box version, but with way healthier ingredients and lots of homemade love. Sprinkle rosemary on top and get ready for some delicious real cheesy goodness to be coming your way!
Photo: A Girl Worth Saving
8. Sweet Potato Fritters
Maybe a good crispy appetizer while the turkey is roasting, these sweet potatoes are covered in ginger and the sauce has hints of honey in it. It’s sweet and crunchy and it would be the perfect little snack for the fam to munch on.
9. Feta Sprinkled Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries
Full of vitamin C and E, this butternut squash dish is healthy and delicious. Sound like a win win to me! Using fresh cranberries and just a hint of feta, the flavor combo comes alive as it bakes in the oven and then is covered in cinnamon. Mmm so good!
10. Pumpkin Pie
This pumpkin pie is sweetened with stevia and coconut sugar, and is mixed with full fat coconut milk, rolled oats and ground flax. With this recipe you can really have your pie and eat it too without feeling guilty! So save room for dessert, because this one is a keeper!
If you think it’s time to change it up for your family, we hope you give these recipes a try this Thanksgiving! They are healthy, natural, and full of all those fall flavors you know and love.