Planning a Thanksgiving menu that’s both festive and low carb doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re fully committed to a keto lifestyle or just trying to lighten things up this holiday season, we’ve gathered 25+ delicious low carb Thanksgiving recipes to make your holiday meal feel complete—from appetizers and mains to sides and even dessert.

Most of the recipes are from our own kitchen (tried, tested, and Whole Lotta Yum approved!), and we’ve also included a few favorites from other trusted low carb food bloggers. You’ll find everything you need to build a holiday menu that fits your goals without missing out on the comfort food you love.Low Carb Thanksgiving Menu
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite family traditions. We usually stick to our core holiday favorites, but I love mixing in a few new low carb dishes each year to keep things interesting—and delicious!
If you’re trying to serve a healthier holiday meal without sacrificing flavor, this sample low carb Thanksgiving menu is a great place to start. And if your guests can pitch in by bringing a dish? Even better!
One of my go-to holiday appetizers is a simple meat and cheese board with a few low carb veggies added in. No one ever guesses it's low carb, and it’s always a hit.
Here’s our suggested low carb Thanksgiving menu structure:
- 2–3 appetizers
- Roast turkey (or turkey breast if you want something easier!)
- 2–4 hot side dishes (based on party size)
- One salad
- Bread or rolls (low carb for some, regular for others)
- 1–2 desserts
Holiday Meal Planning Tips
Feeling overwhelmed by hosting a holiday meal? After cooking Thanksgiving dinner for over 20 years, here are my best tips to simplify the process and actually enjoy your day:
- Skip the whole bird. Nervous about cooking a big turkey? Roast a few turkey breasts instead—it’s easier, quicker, and just as tasty.
- Let people help. Most guests want to contribute—whether it’s bringing a side dish, helping prep, or cleaning up.
- Prep in advance. Bake casseroles and desserts 2–3 days ahead whenever possible.
- Set the table early. Do it the day before to save your sanity.
- Use shortcuts when needed. Not everything has to be homemade—store-bought appetizers like olives or cheese trays are totally fine.
- Free up oven space. Cook some dishes in the Crock Pot, Instant Pot, or air fryer.
- Delegate. Put older kids or your spouse in charge of simple tasks so you're not doing it all alone.
Low Carb Main Dish Ideas
Whole roasted turkey
If you're cooking for a crowd, making a whole roasted turkey in the oven is the way to go. You'll love our easy, tender, and juicy turkey recipe stuffed with citrus.
Herb Roast Turkey Breast
If you're cooking for a small group, our roast turkey breast recipe in the oven is the way to go. You'll love the herb butter that coats the entire breast while baking. Dare I say you won't even need gravy?
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
If you're cooking for just a few people and you have an air fryer, our popular and crispy air-fried turkey breast cooks in under an hour!
More of Our Air Fryer Turkey Recipes
- turkey cutlets
- Air fryer boneless turkey breast (from frozen)
- turkey thighs
- turkey legs
- turkey tenderloin
Air Fryer Cornish Hens
If you aren't a turkey lover, making air fryer Cornish game hens is a great alternative for Thanksgiving. Allow ½-1 hen per person. For a small group use your air fryer, otherwise, you can bake this entire recipe in the oven too.
Low Carb Thanksgiving Side Dishes (Hot)
Loaded Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
You have to have mashed potatoes at your Thanksgiving meal but don't want the carbs. You won't believe how creamy and addictive our keto cauliflower mashed potato recipe is, the consistency is similar to mashed potatoes since we mix in cream cheese, cheese, and garlic. Make ultimate potatoes or top with keto gravy.
Keto Sausage Stuffing
Our keto stuffing recipe with sausage hits it out of the ballpark! No one will ever know this is a keto dish. We show you how to make your own dried bread cubes with keto bread. It takes a bit of time, but it's totally worth it and all of the steps are super easy.
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, made with a cream cheese sauce instead of canned mushroom soup. Serve fried onions on the side or make our keto fried onions.
Pureed Butternut Squash
You'll seriously love our low carb mashed butternut squash. So creamy and flavorful, you won't even miss sweet potatoes. This is not a strict keto recipe, but is low carb. To reduce the carbs puree half squash and cauliflower together.
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 mac n cheese recipe using cauliflower. The cheese sauce is amazing!
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 our kids loved these low carb baked radishes.
Brussel Sprouts with Cream Sauce & Bacon
This simple Brussel sprouts casserole is made with roasted Brussels sprouts combined with a creamy cheeese sauce and bacon. I promise, even Brussels sprouts haters will love this casserole.
More Hot Sides
- Asparagus with brown butter hollandaise sauce - Low Carb Maven
- Low carb "sweet potato" casserole - Wholesome Yum
- Our original 2018 post had cauliflower mash recipes from Evolving Table and Keto Connect.
Low Carb Holiday Salads
While the hot veggie dishes are often prominent during the holidays when you're looking for keto Thanksgiving recipes, we suggest serving a cold salad on the side too. Here's a handful of the best everyone will love and no one would ever guess they are low carb.
Keto Broccoli Salad
Here’s another keto take on the traditional raw broccoli salad, which is a holiday classic for many families. Don't be put off by the raw broccoli, it's seriously amazing. It's also the most popular salad on our website with over 500K reshares.One of the most popular recipes on our site!
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
A spinach salad with hot bacon dressing was always one of our favorite holiday salads, we've adapted our family recipe to make it keto friendly.
Shaved Brussel Sprouts Salad
If you didn't realize you can eat Brussels sprouts raw, you can! The best way to serve them is thinly sliced and tossed with flavorful ingredients such as bacon, blue cheese, and our apple cider vinaigrette like we did in our shaved Brussel sprouts salad.
Sugar-Free Thanksgiving Sauces
The only two keto Thanksgiving recipes you need as far as holiday sauces go are cranberry sauce and gravy. We've included our two favorite recipes for both.
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.
10 Min Make Ahead Keto Gravy
If you can't live without gravy, and I feel ya there, we created a fantastic easy keto gravy you can make ahead that just takes 10 minutes. It's rich and thick, just the way you'll like it. We show you how add a touch of drippings on turkey day if preferred.
Sugar-Free Thanksgiving Desserts
To plan an entire low carb holiday meal, don't forget the keto Thanksgiving recipes like a dessert or two that no one will even know is sugar free. While pumpkin is traditional, there's multiple other options if you want a variety.
Keto Crustless Pumpkin Pie
If you're looking for an AMAZING keto pumpkin pie recipe, be sure to try our crustless recipe, it's highly rated. You can either bake it in a pie pan, bake it in individual muffin tins to make mini desserts, or bake them in ramekins.
Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse
More Dessert Ideas
- low carb pumpkin cheesecake - Foodie Affair
- low carb pumpkin pie with an almond flour crust - Briana Thomas
- low carb pecan pie bites - Joy Filled Eats
Low Carb Holiday Appetizers
You'll just need a couple of keto Thanksgiving recipes that are appetizers for your low carb holiday. Two hot dishes and something simple like veggies and cheese are great options. You don't want to stuff the guests before dinner even starts.
Hot Artichoke Green Chili Dip
4 ingredients, 15 minutes, and one happy chef. This mild artichoke green chili dip puts a kick in your guests' steps and a smile on their faces.
Antipasto Skewers
Boursin Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers
Stuffed Mushrooms with Bacon and Cream Cheese
Low Carb Charcuterie Board
Our favorite holiday appetizer is just putting together a meat and cheese board. All of the ingredient ideas for our low carb charcuterie board are keto friendly, other than the sliced apples (our son's favorites).
We love to shop at Trader Joe's when making a charcuterie board, they're hands-down the cheapest plus have a fantastic variety.
More Appetizer Ideas
- BBQ Bacon Wrapped Smokies - Ruled.me
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mushrooms - Snappy Gourmet
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
FAQ: Low Carb Thanksgiving Tips
Q: What do you eat on a low carb Thanksgiving?
A low carb Thanksgiving includes turkey or turkey breast, low carb side dishes like cauliflower mash or green bean casserole, a leafy salad, and sugar-free desserts. Many classic dishes can be made low carb with a few smart swaps.
Q: What is a good substitute for mashed potatoes on keto or low carb?
Cauliflower mash is the most popular substitute. You can also use pureed butternut squash, roasted radishes, or a cauliflower-squash mix for variety.
Q: Can I still have gravy on a low carb diet?
Yes! Traditional gravy thickened with flour or cornstarch isn’t low carb, but you can make keto-friendly gravy using broth, butter, and xanthan gum or arrowroot powder.
Q: What low carb desserts are good for Thanksgiving?
Crustless pumpkin pie, sugar-free pecan pie bites, and pumpkin cheesecake mousse are all delicious options. Many of your favorites can be made low carb with almond flour and sugar alternatives.
Q: Can I serve bread on a low carb Thanksgiving menu?
Absolutely! Offer almond flour rolls or low carb biscuits for low carb guests, and have regular bread on the side for others if needed.
More Low Carb Holiday Recipes
- 18 Keto Side Dishes
- 25 Days of the Best Keto Christmas Cookies
- 12 Keto Fat Bombs
- 12 Low Carb Cocktails
Be sure to save the low carb Thanksgiving recipes pin to Pinterest for later!
If you loved our recipe, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and leave us a comment too! Connect with us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube!
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!!