With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I thought I’d put together a list of Keto Thanksgiving Recipes for those of you looking for Turkey Day keto inspiration. This roundup of Keto Thanksgiving Recipes will help you stay on track while enjoying all of your holiday favorites!
Keto Thanksgiving Recipes
This year has flown by so quickly. The fact that Thanksgiving is right around the corner baffles me. It still feels like it should be summer. It always surprises me how quickly the fall time and chillier weather comes rushing at us. Nevertheless, time neither stops or slows down for anyone. I know many people will be going off plan on Thanksgiving while others will prepare Keto Thanksgiving Recipes and stay the course. If you’ve been around for any length of time, you know my philosophy is for each person to find what works for them and go with it. Not everyone’s journey will look the same. I recently recorded a video regarding my thoughts on “cheat meals.” You might be surprised to hear my take. At the end of the day, diets are about feeling your best and taking care of your body. If that looks like a cheat meal every now and then, by all means go for it.
How can I eat low carb on Thanksgiving?
With just a few simple swaps, you can easily recreate your favorite Thanksgiving recipes while keeping it Keto. To be frank, they won’t taste the same as the classic Thanksgiving dishes we know and love. However, ingredients like sugar-free sweeteners and Keto flour substitutes save the day when needed in these recipes. As for vegetables, think low-carb veggies like cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, green beans, and spinachWhen you think about it, many beloved Thanksgiving sides are loaded with dairy and butter, which are Keto-friendly. If you are dedicated to keeping your Thanksgiving plate low carb and Keto, ensure that you or someone else is preparing a few of these recipes so that you can stay on track.
Can you eat turkey on the Keto diet?
Luckily for everyone who’s committed to Keto this Thanksgiving, you’ll be happy to know that the star of the show is totally Keto friendly. Turkey has less than 2g of net carbs per 3 ounce serving, so it’s safe to add to your Thanksgiving plate. It also remains Keto whether it is fried or roasted. Plus, you can eat the skin of the turkey on Keto. While it’s not a classic version of the dish, stay away from any breaded renditions of turkey or gravy that is prepared with traditional flour. Side dishes are where it gets tricky to keep your plate Keto, but turkey is by far one of the safest options at the table.
Can I go off of Keto for Thanksgiving?
I pass no judgment when it comes to how people do Keto. It can be a difficult diet to follow, and everyone has different needs and lives to work around. I will say that Keto works best and gives the best results when it is used long-term instead of as a temporary diet. However, many people on Keto do have cheat days. If you choose to go off of Keto for Thanksgiving, focus on spending time with family and loved ones rather than straying from the diet. You can always resume your diet the following day. As you will see in my list of Keto Thanksgiving recipes, there are plenty of ways to make classic dishes low carb and Keto friendly. At the end of the day, it is a personal choice!
Low Carb Thanksgiving Recipes
I tried to find a nice variety of both traditional and non-traditional Low Carb Thanksgiving recipes. I hope you find this list of Keto Thanksgiving recipes helpful when planning your holiday spread. These low carb dishes may even win over the non-Keto guests at the table!
Cauliflower Mac N Cheese
Baked Keto Ham with Sugar-Free Glaze
Southern Green Beans
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake
Easy Keto Creamed Spinach
Keto Stuffing
4-Ingredient Keto Cranberry Sauce(some may consider this recipe more low carb than keto)
Low Carb Green Bean Casserole
Keto Pumpkin Pie
Pull-Apart Clover Rolls
Pumpkin Crisp
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Garlic, Parmesan, & Lemon
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
Keto Turkey Gravy Recipe
Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Green Beans and Bacon
Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin
More Thanksgiving-themed Keto recipes:
These Keto recipes aren’t your standard Thanksgiving fare, but you may find them useful regardless. Whether it’s for a holiday potluck or another fall food affair, here are some more Keto Thanksgiving recipes to consider:
Blueberry Cobbler
Peanut Butter Fluff
Blonde Low Carb Brownies
Pumpkin Fluff
Pumpkin Spice Pecans
Keto Pumpkin Pie Bars
Keto Pumpkin Muffins with a Cream Cheese Swirl
German Chocolate Bars
Pumpkin Bread
Don’t Miss Any New Recipes
If you aren’t already following my Easy Keto/Low Carb Recipe Page on Facebook where I post all my new recipes, you can join hereand follow me on Pinterest here. If you are just getting started following a keto diet and would like more information, there are tons of fantastic resources. Amazon has several excellent books you may want to check out here.
Other Keto Recipes:
20 Tasty Keto Chocolate Recipes
20 Instant Pot Keto Recipes
Perfect Keto Breakfast Recipes
20 Delicious Keto Beef Recipes
Keto Shopping Guides
To make shopping easier, check out these fantastic shopping guides:
FAQs
A few general tips for making your Thanksgiving keto-friendly: Swap out mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower, nix adding any flour to thicken recipes like green bean casserole or creamed spinach, and load up on the low-carb veggies like Brussels sprouts, spaghetti squash, and mushrooms.
What foods keep you full the longest keto? ›
Plain Greek Yogurt and Cottage Cheese
A 2019 study published in Nutrients showed that both calcium and protein can reduce appetite and promote fullness. Choosing higher-fat yogurts and cottage cheese can help keep you full for longer, and full-fat products would be part of the ketogenic diet.
Should I break keto for Thanksgiving? ›
If you're unfamiliar with a keto diet, here's the quick explanation: It's extremely low in carbohydrates and high in fat. Meat, including turkey with skin, is fine to consume, but other Thanksgiving staples aren't. Mashed potatoes are off limits, along with bread stuffing, rolls, sugary cranberry sauce and desserts.
Is ground turkey OK for keto? ›
Here are the main foods that are high-in-fat, low-in-carbs and are great starting place for anyone wanting to dip their feet into keto diet: Meat: Steak, ham, sausage, bacon, turkey, and chicken. Cheese: Cheddar, cream cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella, or blue cheese (always unprocessed).
When should I quit keto? ›
While some people have success staying on keto for an extended period of time, “the long-term research is limited,” says Jill Gulotta, RDN, who's based in White Plains, New York. Gulotta recommends staying on keto for six months max before reintroducing more carbs to your diet.
What is considered a cheat day on keto? ›
For keto dieters, a cheat day can mean indulging in actual pasta, pizza, and other high-carb meals. While many dieters think of cheat day as a well-deserved reward, nutritionists say there are downsides to it.
What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›
Get ready for a whole lot of fat, some protein and just about zero carbs throughout your day. Keto-approved fridges and pantries include meat, seafood, dairy, eggs, nuts, fats and oils and some veggies that grow above ground.
What is filling but has no carbs? ›
These include protein choices such as chicken breast, eggs, plain yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese, as these foods are lower in overall calories but are high in protein to aid in an increased feeling of fullness, she explained.
What is the hardest day of keto? ›
1.The First 10 Days May Be The Toughest
Before starting, you should be aware that if you drop carbs cold-turkey, the first few days you will most likely experience symptoms of your body adjusting to lack of glucose. Many people starting off keto will go through this and it's often referred to as the “Keto Flu”.
Will one slice of pizza leave ketosis? ›
Regular Crust
This type of pizza crust can have up to 33g of carbs without any added sauce or cheese. If you're limiting your carbs to 20-50 grams per day, one slice of this type of crust will likely kick you out of ketosis.
Keto cycling doesn't have a strict definition. Some people choose to have five or six days on keto followed by a day or two off. Others will do keto for 10 to 12 days followed by three to four days off. Devine typically doesn't recommend taking more than two days off keto.
What is the best deli meat for keto diet? ›
Some of the best meats for keto include beef, pork, chicken, salmon, and bison. Still, all plain, unprocessed meats are keto-friendly and low in carbs — so there are plenty of options to choose from.
Is KFC considered keto? ›
Although KFC is renowned for the Colonel's crispy fried chicken, its batter unfortunately adds 8-11 net carbs for just one medium-sized piece. That being said, KFC can still be a keto-friendly spot to hit up when ordering Kentucky grilled chicken.
What deli meats are keto-friendly? ›
Choose the fattier cuts of meat if you have a choice (ribeye, pork belly), as well as organ meats like heart, kidney, liver, tongue and tripe. Cured meats such as sausages, deli meat, hot dogs, pepperoni, salami and bacon are usually acceptable, but check their ingredients first.
How can I go on keto without starving? ›
Make sure you are eating enough fat. Being much more energy-dense than carbohydrates, fats are also more satiating. They will also ensure that you stay in ketosis. Increase the size of your meals with nutrient-dense foods.
Does a cheat day on keto help? ›
As long as you don't go overboard with the cheating and you maintain an overall calorie deficit, you should still be able to see results in terms of weight loss. One benefit of a planned cheat meal is that it allows a short period of indulgence, making it easier to stick to the keto diet in the long run.
What happens when you cut carbs cold turkey? ›
You Might Feel Dizzy and Have Headaches
It will switch to breaking down fat into ketones, an alternative to glucose. This puts the body into ketosis, or a state with elevated ketones, which have side effects such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue and headaches.
How do you stick to your diet on Thanksgiving? ›
Check out these 23 simple strategies that are sure to help keep the “trim” in your turkey day:
- Don't skip breakfast. Don't “save space” for dinner. ...
- Work in a workout. ...
- Don't pick as you prep. ...
- Bring a helping of healthy. ...
- Drink water before and during your meal. ...
- Nix the rolls. ...
- Use a smaller plate. ...
- Veg out.
