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A healthy Friendsgiving dinner includes Thanksgiving mocktails and other healthy Thanksgiving recipes.

Guide to a Stress-Free Paleo Friendsgiving

Welcome to a Healthy, Delicious Thanksgiving

Whether you’re celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving with family, staying home to host Friendsgiving, or simply enjoying a delicious meal on a Thursday in November—we’re here to help you share your gratitude over a tasty Paleo dinner. Explore our guide to healthy Thanksgiving recipes including appetizers, Thanksgiving sides, seasonal mocktails, and more.

You’ll find classic Thanksgiving dishes with a modern, healthy twist like butternut squash, roasted and mashed cauliflower, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, breadless stuffing options, and of course the star of the show: roasted turkey!

Garnish the main course with cranberry sauce and sautéed mushrooms. Polish off your thankful feast with healthy pumpkin pie. After you’ve had your fill, repurpose leftovers with our delicious turkey leftover recipes.

Build Your Own Thanksgiving Menu

Accommodate friends and family who have dietary restrictions using these healthy Thanksgiving recipes. Since all our recipes are Paleo, you can be confident that you are serving healthy Thanksgiving sides, entrees, desserts, and mocktails that are gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and low-sodium.

Appetizers

As the guests arrive, set out a few light starters for them to snack on before dinner is served.
Stuffed tomatoes

Stuffed Tomatoes

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

Shrimp-Stuffed Avocados

Salads to Start

Serve a light, refreshing salad to start as a first course to prep your guests for the dishes to come.

Fall Harvest Vegetable Salad

Butternut Squash Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Apples and Dates

Almond Lime Kale Salad

Beet and Pear Salad

Beet and Pear Salad

Side Dishes

These sweet and savory side dishes will pair well with any main course at your Friendsgiving celebration.
From above, a bowl of garlic mashed cauliflower garnished with chopped herbs next to a small wooden bowl of thyme, rosemary, and sage.

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping

A colorful bowl of healthier honey glazed carrots

Healthier Honey Glazed Carrots

Sweet potato biscuits with honey on a plate

PaleoFLEX™ Sweet Potato Biscuits

Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe in a cast iron skillet on a wooden cutting board

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Balsamic Glaze

Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Apple Cider Roasted Vegetables

Breadless Stuffing

These grain-free and dairy-free stuffing options will have your guests' coming back for seconds.

Breadless Cauliflower Stuffing with Turkey

Paleo Thanksgiving Stuffing with Butternut Squash

Herb and Pork Cauliflower Stuffing

The Main Course

A classic Thanksgiving dinner is not complete without a turkey! We also provided other options like chicken or vegan dishes that can subsitute in for turkey as the main protein.

Easy Roasted Turkey Breast

Garlic Orange Herb Turkey

Whole Roaster Herb Chicken

One-Pan Pork Chops with Mushrooms & Leek Cream Sauce

PaleoFLEX™ Orange Glazed Duck with Herb Stuffing

All Packed Up Salmon

A plate of baked cod garnished with chopped fresh parsley and two lemon slices, with sautéed spinach and a silver fork, placed on a wooden charger plate.

Mediterranean Baked Cod

Paleo Eggplant Lasagna (Vegan-Friendly)

Sauces & Condiments

Dip, dunk, or pour any of these seasonal sauces and condiments over any of your dishes for a burst of flavor.

PaleoFLEX™ Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Mushroom Gravy

gremolata recipe

Gremolata

Cranberry Salsa

Button mushrooms saute in a ceramic-coated pan

Sautéed Mushrooms Recipe

Healthy Dessert Alternatives

These better-for-you sweets make the perfect ending to a Paleo Thanksgiving meal.

PaleoFLEX™ Pumpkin Pie

Healthy Apple Crisp

PaleoFLEX™ Coconut Cream Pie

DIY Craft Thanksgiving Mocktails

Make these mocktails to enjoy a festive drink without the alcohol. The Double Berry Mocktail is a great kid-friendly choice to help them feel included. For a simpler, non-alcoholic option, try a glass of sparkling water with a splash of unsweetened fruit juice.

PaleoFLEX™ Grapefruit Rosemary Mocktail

Red drink in glass with apple slice garnish.

Apple-Beet Shrub Mocktail

Double Berry Mocktail

hot toddy mocktail recipe

Hot Toddy Mocktail

Sparkling citrus digestif in glasses from above.

Sparkling Citrus Digestif

Apple & Pomegranate Lemonade

Keep Your Dishes Warm

If you have multiple ovens or a warming drawer, set one to 180°F to keep dishes warm until it’s time to eat.

Turn Thanksgiving Leftovers into Turkey Chili

Make use of your Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving leftovers by making this Leftover Turkey Chili.

FULL RECIPE

Friendsgiving Tip

Have everyone bring a dish and set it on the counter as they arrive for an easy, buffet-style dinner. Don’t forget to remind guests to bring food storage containers to bring home leftovers!

Use Thanksgiving Leftovers to Make Shepherd's Pie

Use any extra mashed sweet potatoes to make this Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie the week following your Thanksgiving celebration.

FULL RECIPE

Hosting Tip

When all the food is ready, the guests have arrived, and stomachs are rumbling, set up a buffet line with plates first, food in the middle, and utensils at the end.

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