Planning a holiday menu when you’re trying to follow a specific health plan isn’t always easy. Let us help you plan your Thanksgiving or holiday dinner with our favorite low carb and keto-friendly holiday recipes!
We have 25+ of the best keto Thanksgiving recipes from your appetizers, main dish, side dishes, sauces, and dessert!
Some of the dishes are low carb and might not be true keto. We have a wide variety of readers and some try to follow strict keto during the holidays, and others are just trying to keep their carbs down but want to still enjoy their favorite holiday. Just do what’s best for you and your health program!
Keto Thanksgiving Menu
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is always one of my favorite family celebrations. For the most part, we stick to the same core dishes but it’s always nice to add in a few new surprises each year.
As a general rule of thumb, here’s what I serve as our Keto Thanksgiving Menu. If you can get your guests to help bring some of the dishes, even better!
My go-to holiday appetizer is putting together a simple meat and cheese board, with the addition of low carb vegetables. No one would guess it’s low carb and it’s ALWAYS an impressive crowd-pleaser. Even better? This is an easy dish for older kids to assemble for you!
- 2-3 appetizers
- turkey
- 2-4 hot side dishes (depending on your party size)
- salad
- bread (whether it be keto or just bread for your non-keto guests)
- 1-2 desserts
Holiday Meal Planning Tips
Wondering how to juggle it all and not end up stressed and frazzled by the time dinner is served? Here are my top tips after serving large holiday meals for the past 20+ years:
- Get your guests to help! Trust me, they WANT to! Whether it be to bring a dish or help with prep, let them assist.
- Assemble the baked dishes and desserts 2-3 days in advance.
- Set the table the day before.
- Don’t make everything from scratch, some store-bought items like a meat and cheese tray or olives for an appetizer are just fine.
- Make some dishes in a crockpot, Instant Pot, or air fryer to free up oven space.
- Put older kids (and spouses!) to work. Don’t try to do it all.
- Scared of a big turkey? Cook turkey breasts instead.
Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
Main Dish Ideas
Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey
If you’re looking for a recipe for a whole turkey, this is a fabulous one to try! The turkey recipe itself is low carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly, the gravy is NOT. Please substitute with the keto gravy instructions posted further down in this post as a substitute!
This makes a wonderful main dish for a Keto Thanksgiving dinner.
Recipe can be found on Half Baked Harvest
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Do you have an air fryer yet?? Thanksgiving might just be the best time to go out and get one if it’s been on your wish list! Here’s our recipe for yummy air-fried turkey breast that cooks in under an hour.
Find the recipe on Whole Lotta Yum
Holiday Salads
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
A spinach salad with hot bacon dressing was always one of our favorite holiday salads, we’ve adapated our family recipe to make it keto friendly.
Recipe and image by Whole Lotta Yum
Keto Broccoli Salad
Here’s another keto take on the traditional cold broccoli salad. One of the most popular recipes on our site!
Recipe and image by Whole Lotta Yum
Hot Side Dishes
Low Carb “Sweet Potato” Casserole
A low carb sweet potato casserole tastes just like the real deal but she uses a mix of butternut squash and cauliflower instead. There are only 5 net carbs in each serving!
Find the recipe on Wholesome Yum
Loaded Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
You have to have mashed potatoes at your Thanksgiving meal. But you don’t necessarily have to eat potatoes… Cauliflower has a ton of health benefits without the starch and high carbs.
This might just be your next Keto Thanksgiving recipe favorite (plus there are bacon crumbles in it!)
Find the recipe on Evolving Table
Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes w/ Keto Gravy
And if you want to try a second amazing recipe, Matt and Megha have created a VERY creamy and delicious keto mashed cauliflower dish with keto gravy.
Find the recipe on Keto Connect
Keto Baked Mac N Cheese
In some parts of the country, having Mac N Cheese on the holiday table is the norm, if you’re missing it from your Thanksgiving table this year, make a lower carb version with our keto friendly recipe using cauliflower. The cheese sauce is amazing!
Get the recipe Whole Lotta Yum
Keto Roasted Radishes
Before you turn up your nose at the thought of roasted radishes, you’ll be surprised to hear that radishes are actually the closest tasting cooked vegetable to our dear old friend the potato!
Even my teen son and his friends like this dish when they found themselves my taste testers at their recent get-together.
Find the recipe on Whole Lotta Yum
Keto Thanksgiving Stuffing
While this stuffing recipe takes a little longer to make, it’s worth it. Your ketogenic Thanksgiving menu is looking good so far, and this stuffing is great tasting for dieters and nondieters.
Find the recipe on Keto Diet App
Brussel Sprouts with Cream Sauce & Bacon
This simple Brussel sprouts casserole is one of the most popular on our site! I promise, even Brussel sprouts haters will love this casserole.
Find the recipe on Whole Lotta Yum
Asparagus with Brown Butter Hollandaise
Asparagus has so many nutrients but doesn’t always pop into your head as a desirable side dish without some sort of sauce or bacon wrapped around. Well, try this one out for size. The hollandaise buttery flavor pairs so well with the green veggie, even your kids will love it!
Find the recipe at Low Carb Maven
Creamy Broccoli Bacon Bake
There ain’t nothin’ better than warm, cheesy broccoli and bacon on my plate. With low carbs, good protein and fat, this will leave a delicious taste in your mouth and a good feeling for your diet regime.
Find the recipe on Kraft Recipes
Low Carb Green Bean Casserole
Casseroles were popular in my house growing up. But a low carb, gluten-free, keto green bean casserole?! Count me in.
It’s rich, creamy, and perfect for the holidays. A keto Thanksgiving recipe on the top of my list!
Find the recipe on Low Carb Maven
Holiday Sauces
Low Carb Cranberry Sauce
If you thought you had to skip the cranberry sauce for a keto Thanksgiving, have no fear, keto friendly cranberry sauce is easy to make and cooks in just 15 minutes.
It’s very yummy on turkey, chicken, keto biscuits, and more. This is definitely something you should add to your keto Thanksgiving menu.
Find the Recipe on Whole Lotta Yum
Keto Gravy
If you can’t live without gravy, and I feel ya there, Martina makes one of the best ketogenic gravies with a plethora of tasty ingredients. It’s rich and thick, just the way you’ll like it.
Find the recipe on Keto Diet App
Low Carb Breads
Low Carb & Keto Dinner Rolls
What’s a holiday meal without the dinner rolls and butter? You don’t have to skip out just because you’re on a health mission for yourself. This recipe uses almond flour and the bread-like texture turns out beautifully.
Find the recipe on Low Carb Maven
Low Carb Biscuits
Also made with almond flour, these biscuits work wonders with keto gravy, or honestly a little Thanksgiving biscuit sandwich.
Keep in mind this recipe is low carb, wheat and grain-free only.
Find the recipe on Heart of a Country Home
Cheesy Cauliflower Muffins
These little cauliflower muffins are adorable and so tasty! You can alter the amount of cheese you use, depending on how much you love cheesy foods. They make for a great appetizer, snack, bread-like side dish, and anything else you can think of, really!
Find the recipe on Kirbie’s Cravings
Keto Thanksgiving Desserts
Keto Crustless Pumpkin Pie
If you’re looking for an AMAZING keto pumpkin pie recipe that does NOT have a crust, then you’ll definitely want to make our keto crustless pumpkin pie. This is easy to adapt and bake individual servings into ramekins too.
Find the recipe on Whole Lotta Yum
Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake
For you sweet toothers out there, Sandra has an amazing low carb pumpkin cheesecake to satisfy your needs! It’s made with homemade pumpkin spices, pumpkin puree, and ricotta cheese. YUM.
Find the recipe on Foodie Affair
Low Carb Pumpkin Pie
For a classy keto take on pumpkin pie with crust, this Thanksgiving recipe tastes like the real thing. It’s got a beautiful texture when baked right, and it tastes amazing cold or warm!
Find the recipe on Briana Thomas’s blog
Low Carb Pecan Pie Bites
Looking for a little less of a slice and more of a pop-in-your-mouth treat? Pecan pie bites are a great crowd-pleaser and low carb dessert. You can eat them by themselves or add a little (or a lot) whipped cream on top, OR dollop some ice cream on the side.
Find the recipe on Joy Filled Eats
Appetizers
Hot Artichoke Green Chili Dip
4 ingredients, 15 minutes, and one happy chef. This spicy artichoke green chili dip puts a kick in your guests’ step and a smile on their face. This is a popular dip for events and I highly recommend it!
Recipe by Whole Lotta Yum
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Just about anything bacon-wrapped is a hit. These little appetizers have a big taste, full of sweet, smokey goodness, and they’re so easy to put together.
Plus they’re ketogenic! Just make sure to make enough for everyone to have seconds because it will happen.
Recipe can be found on Ruled.me
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms
If you’re opting for a less heavy version of Buffalo chicken flavor, such as wings, Lisa created a Buffalo chicken stuffed mushroom and they are SO GOOD.
They’re the perfect sized snack or appetizer for events or even just for yourself, and they’re fun to make.
Recipe can be found on Snappy Gourmet
Low Carb Keto Charcuterie Board
Here come your designing skills! Charcuterie boards are easy and enjoyable to make. All you need is a board and some fresh, ready ingredients for this favorite dish.
And if you don’t have a display board, there are links to buy some on our recipe page for it here.
Recipe by Whole Lotta Yum
More Keto Holiday Recipes
- 18 Keto Side Dishes
- 25 Days of the Best Keto Christmas Cookies
- 12 Keto Fat Bombs & Candies You Can’t Resist
- 12 Low Carb Cocktails to Make Your Holidays Merry and Bright
Jillian says
Your Thanksgiving menu looks delicious! I may use some of these recipes myself. Thanks for including my grain-free, wheat-free, gluten-free almond biscuit recipe! 🙂
WholeLottaYum says
Thank you, Jillian! You’re welcome! And I can’t wait to try your biscuits!!