Most Americans would never consider holding back on Thanksgiving. It’s the feast of childhood memories and it’s tradition to join family in pure carb indulgences. I would never consider doing anything to the Thanksgiving feast except to improve it with a keto-friendly thanksgiving.
What if you can have a Keto Thanksgiving Feast and stay on your keto diet or just simply enjoy eating lots of food without repercussions?
This might sound crazy but cutting out the bloated feeling and the effects of over-eating is wonderful. I have already dreaded thanksgiving for most of my life because it’s never been the food that makes me feel good, as its the dinner of hundreds of carbs at once.
Can you go ahead and have a cheat meal on keto? I’ll tell you what I do. I think about the Monday after Thanksgiving, and how that weekend makes us feel and then I rewrite the traditions in such a way no one notices.
I make most of the starchy things keto-friendly, grain free, sugar free. We will probably still eat more than we should, but here’s the thing, friends. We won’t be spiking blood sugar, getting sucked back into food addictions and feeling bad from food. We WILL be eating a most delicious keto Thanksgiving dinner, including my favorite stuffing and Doug’s favorite sweet potato biscuits.
Even if we over-indulge, the food is still nutritious and won’t take us into the holiday plus 8 pounds dilemma. It will be easier to ease back into Monday morning, because there will still be six “holiday eating” weeks left, and I want to start 2020 feeling great!
If you still look forward to stepping off the keto train for the weekend, step off with fresh fruits and starchier vegetables you’ve been avoiding and eat the carbs that still love you back. It will be an easier reset for you the following week.
Starters for a Keto Thanksgiving
Sausage balls are a Southern tradition, new to me, and very easily made grain free. Serve with ultra thin slices of apples.
Sausage Balls, grain free recipe here.
These pimento cheese deviled eggs are 100% keto, and have a little kick to them.
Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs recipe here.
The Turkey is the Star of a Keto Thanksgiving
My Legendary Roasted Turkey with Cheesecloth
Every year I think I’m going to try a different method, but I chicken out because this is so moist and delicious using the cheesecloth. It’s EASY and there’s a Video.
Sides for a Delicious Keto Thanksgiving
Kale Salad – This is more of a paleo choice with figs and butternut squash, but it’s one of the ways to stretch the diet and eat some healthy fruits you might be missing. This is the way to celebrate with food!
Potluck Kale Salad with Sweet Potatoes
The nice thing about this salad is that it’s made ahead and I promise you not one bite will be left. It’s my most popular potluck dish ever!Shuck the candied sweets for a salad with apples, pecans, and a few roasted diced sweet potatoes. This is not the food that made anyone fat ever! Replace Maple syrup in vinaigrette with this maple extract.
There is no way I’m not having cranberry sauce. Made with Swerve (the better choice in sweetners), it’s sugar free.
I’ve served this as mashed potatoes in the past and no one knew the difference! It’s that good! We always make regular mashed as an alternative for guests. The no-lump real potato recipe is here.
We love the roasted turnips. You will too.
You can roast, saute or eat raw, but this quick five minute flash would be a great appetizer.
Five Minute Flash Fried Brussels Sprouts
What’s a table without squash at Thanksgiving? While 1/4 cup is about 4 net carbs, remember this is nutritious food. If you plan on eating extra carbs this weekend, make it carbs that give you nutrition, not food addiction.
This green bean casserole is 5 stars in my book. It’s fresh. It’s umami. It’s low carb. It’s divine and you can put away that nasty carb laden yuck green bean casserole of the past!
Low Carb Green Beans Casserole with Bacon and and Brussels
Here’s an easier green bean dish that may tickle your fancy.
How to Cook Brussels Sprouts Ten Ways
Biscuits and Stuffing Recipes for a Delicious Keto Thanksgiving
My husband loves sweet potato biscuits and the day I came up with a grain free option (with video), he asked me to marry him again. I like to use these also to make a quick stuffing that due to the sweetness can remind you of corn bread stuffing.
Grain Free Sweet Potato Biscuits
Everyone has the one thing they HAVE TO HAVE at Thanksgiving. For me, it’s stuffing and was I ever thrilled when my idea worked. I use my grain free biscuits. I’m right smack in the middle of a new recipe test to try and make this even easier for you, so stay tuned and subscribe here to get that. Also, watch my instagram stories where all the kitchen testing is displayed.
Keto Friendly Desserts for A Delicious Keto Thanksgiving
Of course, there will be desserts. Of course, we will tap into all the Fall flavors such as pumpkin, apple, pecans, etc.
These keto maple pecan cheesecake bars are beyond words in how good they are. It’s hard to eat one bite of this one.
Keto Maple Pecan Cheesecake Bars
There’s pumpkin pie and there pumpkin cheesecake. We all run to the pumpkin pie cheesecake that tastes like a sugar free grain free version of the Cheesecake factory pumpkin. Serve with my stabilized whipped cream and have a happy day.
If you don’t want to mess with any crust, these pumpkin pie jars are the easiest thing to make and amazing.
Keto Crustless Pumpkin Jars with Pecan Streusel Topping
For my bakers who have to turn that oven on a few days ahead of Thanksgiving, you will charm your guests with an upside down apple cake. This could also double as breakfast cake at the holidays.
There are times I have to have cake (haha). I do this cake in mini version for my keto home bakery and people love it so much. I have to use a glaze for the bakery, but you can really go all out and make pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting.
Keto Pumpkin Spice Cake with Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting
These are the mini cakes I was talking about. You can use this recipe for cupcakes.
Keto Pumpkin Mini Cakes (or Cupcakes) with Maple Glaze
I’m in love with almond tarts and there are many version of this here at Spinach Tiger. This is my apple sugar free, low-carb version.
Pecan Tassies – This is my favorite holiday cookie and this low-carb version is just as good as the ones from childhood.
Keto Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe
I’m almost more excited for the weekend after Thanksgiving to make this hash.
What do we do with all this left over turkey. I never throw out food. I am extravagant at the grocery store and extremely frugal with those purchases
Here is one way to repurpose the turkey easily.
By this point, you might be over comfort food. Save some turkey and make this the following week. Just change the chicken our for the turkey. Don’t forget to save some gravy.
Grain Free Chicken and Biscuits Pot Pie (Use your turkey for this recipe)
I do hope you get into the kitchen this Thanksgiving and show your friends and family there is a way to enjoy this outstanding American tradition with joyful food!
The kitchen is a busy place and you should have only the kitchen equipment you absolutely need.
Although I’m not a fan of Low Carb, the food looks good.