60 Healthy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Introduction

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to mean a table full of dishes heavy on cream, butter, and sugar. With these 60 healthy Thanksgiving menu ideas, you can enjoy a vibrant, flavor-packed holiday meal that celebrates seasonal produce and wholesome ingredients—without sacrificing tradition or taste. Whether you’re hosting a big family dinner or bringing a dish to a Friendsgiving, these recipes keep things light and delicious, making it easy for everyone to feel great after the feast.

Why Choose Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes?

Elevate your holiday table by focusing on fresher, lighter, and more nutrient-dense ingredients. These recipes highlight creative ways to incorporate vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, delivering plenty of flavor with less fat and calories. Whether you’re accommodating special diets or just looking for some lighter fare, this collection has you covered—so you can spend less time stressing and more time making memories.

60 Healthy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Here’s how to build a wholesome, crowd-pleasing menu for your gathering, inspired by the flavor-forward approach of A Couple Cooks. Mix and match from appetizers, salads, main courses, sides, and wholesome desserts.

Appetizers & Starters

1. Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
2. Herbed Greek Yogurt Dip with Crudités
3. Baked Sweet Potato Rounds with Avocado
4. Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
5. Spiced Nuts
6. Pumpkin Hummus
7. Endive Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Dip
9. Citrus-Marinated Olives
10. Mini Smoked Salmon Skewers

Fresh Salads

11. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Pecans
12. Kale and Butternut Squash Salad
13. Arugula Salad with Pomegranate and Pistachio
14. Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad
15. Pear and Walnut Spinach Salad
16. Chopped Autumn Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
17. Marinated Green Bean Salad
18. Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
19. Apple-Blue Cheese Salad
20. Quinoa Cranberry Salad

Main Courses

21. Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast
22. Maple Glazed Salmon
23. Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice and Cranberries
24. Vegetarian Lentil Loaf
25. Sheet Pan Chicken with Root Vegetables
26. Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Herb Sauce
27. Balsamic Glazed Tofu Steaks
28. Mushroom Wellington
29. Pecan-Crusted Chicken
30. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

31. Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
32. Lemon-Thyme Roasted Carrots
33. Quinoa-Stuffed Bell Peppers
34. Maple-Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
35. Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries
36. Sautéed Green Beans with Almonds
37. Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges
38. Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
39. Whole Grain Cornbread Muffins
40. Cider-Glazed Delicata Squash

Wholesome Desserts

41. Crustless Pumpkin Pie Cups
42. Baked Apples with Oat-Nut Crumble
43. Almond Flour Apple Crisp
44. Dark Chocolate Avocado Mousse
45. Poached Pears in Red Wine
46. Greek Yogurt Berry Parfaits
47. Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars (lightened up)
48. Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
49. Cranberry-Orange Energy Balls
50. Sweet Potato Chocolate Brownies

Breads & Spreads

51. Cranberry-Pecan Wheat Bread
52. Herbed Olive Oil Dip
53. Sourdough Stuffing
54. Pumpkin Seed Crackers
55. Honey-Whole Wheat Rolls
56. Sweet Potato Biscuits
57. Rosemary Garlic Focaccia
58. Multigrain Dinner Rolls
59. Healthy Apple Butter
60. Avocado Herb Spread

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this Thanksgiving menu to instantly build a master shopping list—all ingredients sorted by grocery section for a stress-free store run! CookifyAI’s smart list feature helps you stay organized and avoid last-minute ingredient runs.

Instructions for Stress-Free Thanksgiving Meal Prep

1. Choose your menu mix. Select 1–2 appetizers, a salad, 1–2 mains, 3–4 sides, and a dessert or two for a balanced feast.
2. Map out your timeline. Roast vegetables and prepare grains a day in advance; assemble salads and make desserts the morning of; cook main dishes right before serving for peak freshness.
3. Batch prep ingredients. Wash and chop veggies, measure out grains, and set out serving platters in advance to streamline your workflow.
4. Assemble and serve. Arrange each dish just before guests arrive, garnish with fresh herbs, and enjoy a healthy, beautiful Thanksgiving spread!

Weekly Meal Planning

These healthy Thanksgiving ideas aren’t just for the holiday—they’re perfect for meal planning throughout the fall. Save and schedule your chosen recipes to your weekly meal plan with CookifyAI. Effortlessly add individual dishes or the entire menu to organize shopping lists, consolidate overlapping ingredients, and streamline your prep.

Planning Benefits:

• Consolidate ingredients across all planned meals
• Smart grocery lists, organized by store section
• No more duplicate ingredient buys or forgotten staples
• Batch prep for multiple days—especially helpful for those busy Thanksgiving week nights

Pro tip: When you plan your full holiday menu or weeknight meals with CookifyAI, the app keeps track of what you have left over (like herbs or sauces), minimizing waste and giving you creative ways to use up extras.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: Most dishes can be prepped in 15–30 minutes each
Cook Time: 20–45 minutes per dish, depending on the recipe
Total Time: Full menu (multiple dishes): 2–3 hours (with advance prep)

Recap: Healthy Thanksgiving Made Simple

Building a fresh, wholesome holiday meal is easy (and delicious!) with these 60 recipes. Use this menu to plan a vibrant Thanksgiving gathering everyone will love—and take advantage of CookifyAI to make your meal planning, prepping, and shopping a breeze. Happy, healthy feasting!