All the Recipes You Need for a Very Ambitious Thanksgiving (+ a printable menu!)
All of the recipes you need for an epic, delicious Thanksgiving! These healthy Thanksgiving recipes are unique twists on the traditional ones that you know and love. From appetizers and mains to amazing side dishes and desserts, these recipes will be your new favorites to share with family & friends.
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Thanksgiving might just be the greatest holiday ever (hello, pumpkin pie 4 life) and I’m so excited to share all of my healthy Thanksgiving recipes with you. I included a delicious mix of appetizers, salads, mains, sides, and desserts for you to pick and choose from for the big day, PLUS a printable menu for you to write in your recipes!
Whether you’re hosting for the first time or heading to a family member’s house, these unique, healthy twists on traditional Thanksgiving recipes are guaranteed to impress.
Take a scroll, pick out your favorites, and be sure to leave a comment to tell me what you think! I’d love to see your Thanksgiving creations, so share any photos in our Facebook group and be sure to tag #AmbitiousThanksgiving on Instagram.
All of our Thanksgiving resources
- All of our best tips for hosting Thanksgiving
- Our FREE printable checklist for planning your Thanksgiving 2-3 weeks in advance up until the day-of
- And your printable menu at the bottom of the post!
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I’ve been hosting or helping to host Thanksgiving for years now and when I say this Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide email is for everyone, I truly mean it. Sign up here to get one comprehensive email with:
- Our best recipes: all of my go-to appetizers, sides, main dishes and desserts that guests are guaranteed to swoon over.
- A FREE checklist: a downloadable, printable checklist to help you prepare for Thanksgiving whether you’re 1 week or 1 day out. Take what you need for your holiday to make it amazing!
There are just days until Thanksgiving, sign up here to be fully prepared!
GF = Gluten Free
V = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian
** = Monique’s favorites
Thankful for all of you each and every day. Enjoy, xoxo!
Appetizers
- Slow Cooker Sweet & Spicy BBQ Cranberry Turkey Meatballs
- How to Make Super Creamy Hummus (+5 different flavor variations!) V, GF
- Bacon Wrapped Dark Chocolate + Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates GF **
- Apple & Brie Crostini with Hot Honey
- Ultimate Charcuterie Board **
- The Best Garlic Bread You’ll Ever Eat
- Sweet & Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Plantains GF
- Whipped Feta & Avocado Goat Cheese Crostini VT
- Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF
- Vegan Charcuterie Board inspiration
- Roasted Grape & Brie Crostini with Honey + Sea Salt
Salads
- Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad GF **
- Brussels Sprouts Kale Honeycrisp Apple Salad with Maple Cider Dressing V, GF
- Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF
- Roasted Carrot Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Sunshine Dressing V, GF
- Autumn Butternut Squash Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad GF
- Winter Roasted Butternut Squash Black Lentil Salad V, GF **
- California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF
- Roasted Sweet Potato, Pear & Pomegranate Spinach Salad VT, GF **
- Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
- Chickpea Apple Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing VT, GF **
- Shredded Brussels & Kale Salad with Apple, Gorgonzola & Candied Pecans VT, GF
- Butternut Squash and Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Toasted Almonds + Goat Cheese VT, GF
Mains
- Herb Butter Maple Roasted Turkey GF **
- Butternut Squash, Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole GF
- Spinach Bacon Pumpkin Mac and Cheese GF ** (easily vegetarian without the bacon!)
- How to Make an Easy Roasted Chicken GF
- Blow Ya Mind Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Pot Pie
- Cilantro Pesto Pasta with Roasted Pumpkin & Honey VT, GF
- Cranberry Pecan Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash with Goat Cheese Crema VT, GF
- Vegetarian Spinach Pumpkin Lasagna VT
- One Pot Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Beef Pasta GF
- Lightened Up Chicken Pot Pie
- Cheddar-Stuffed Sweet Potato BBQ Meatloaf GF **
- Mom’s Ultimate Vegetarian Lentil Loaf V, GF
- Vegan White Bean & Roasted Butternut Squash Soup V, GF
- Saucy Baked Pumpkin Pasta GF **
- Whole Wheat Honey-Jalapeño Cornbread Chicken Tamale Pie
- Vegan Butternut Squash Lasagna with Garlic Tahini Tofu Cream V
- Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese V, GF
Sides
- Parmesan Bacon Sourdough Mushroom Stuffing
- Dad’s Creamy & Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes VT, GF
- Twice Baked Butternut Squash GF
- Perfect Homemade Turkey Gravy GF
- Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF
- The Best Cornbread Stuffing Ever VT, GF **
- Lightened Up Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Oat Streusel VT, GF **
- Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Gratin VT
- The Best Creamy Garlic Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes VT, GF **
- Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots with Pistachios & Goat Cheese VT , GF **
- Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (V, GF)
- The Best Fluffy Moist Cornbread Recipe Ever VT
- The Best Homemade Healthy Green Bean Casserole VT, GF **
- Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF
- Lightened Up Brown Butter Mashed Sweet potato (with a slow cooker option!) VT, GF **
- Balsamic Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables V, GF
- Spicy Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon GF
- Garlic Chil-Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate + Gorgonzola VT, GF **
- Honey Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins VT **
- Chipotle Gouda Scalloped Sweet Potatoes VT
- 15-Minute Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce V, GF **
- Brown Butter Cranberry Pumpkin Cornbread Skillet VT
- Healthy Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Casserole with Almond Oat Crumble VT, GF
- Butternut Squash Quinoa Patties with Cranberry Sauce V
- Sesame Garlic Roasted Asparagus V, GF
Desserts
- The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat**
- Best Ever Healthy Pumpkin Pie**
- Tony’s Very Favorite Dutch Apple Pie**
- Vegan & Paleo Pecan Pie Bars V, GF
- Blow Ya Mind Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting GF
- Flourless Monster Cookies GF
- Cinnamon Walnut Pear Crisp GF
- Brown Butter Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
- Mini Paleo Pumpkin Pies with Gingerbread Cookie Crust GF
- Ooey-Gooey Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars GF
- Paleo Ginger Molasses Cookies GF **
- Best Healthy Apple Crisp Ever V **
- Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies V, GF **
- Deep Dish French Silk Pie **
- Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars with Almond Flour Sugar Cookie Crust GF
- Healthy Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Salted Maple Frosting GF **
- Grain Free Tahini Brownies (the best brownies I’ve ever eaten!) GF **
- Brown Butter Snickerdoodles Cookies **
- The Best Paleo Chocolate Cake with Paleo Chocolate Frosting GF **
- Coffee Tahini Date Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
- Lightened Up Sweet Potato Pie with Sweet and Salty Pecan Crust GF
- Grain Free Snickerdoodles GF
- Old Fashioned Iced Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies **
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cream Pies with Fluffy Peanut Butter Filling
- Paleo Orange-Kissed Loaf with Dark Chocolate Glaze GF
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie with Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust GF
- The Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat **
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OUR PRINTABLE MENU
And don’t forget to grab our FREE printable checklist for hosting!
I hope you love these delicious Thanksgiving recipes! If you make anything from AK, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. I love seeing your creations and featuring followers!
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10 comments
Vegan charcuterie? Garlic bread? Mac n’ cheese? Lentil loaves? Sweet potato casserole? AND…VEGAN APPLE CRISPS AND PUMPKIN PIE?! Where is my invitation to this Thanksgiving party??? But in all seriousness, I absolutely adore this collection of recipes! Such a splendid way to show off your culinary creativity!
All of the goods here for Thanksgiving! Thanks, Cassie 🙂
Vegan charcuterie? Garlic bread? Mac n’ cheese? Lentil loaves? Sweet potato casserole? AND…VEGAN APPLE CRISPS AND PUMPKIN PIE?! Where is my invitation to this Thanksgiving party??? But in all seriousness, I absolutely adore this collection of recipes! Such a splendid way to show off your culinary creativity!
All of the goods here for Thanksgiving! Thanks, Cassie 🙂
Thank you for this round up! I’m looking at the Garlic Chili-Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels and definitely the new lightened up green bean casserole. About to head to the farmers market now 🙂 THANK YOU Monique and Abra! (And Tony for taste tasting through the years? 😉
Amazing! Hope you love them 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!
Thank you for this round up! I’m looking at the Garlic Chili-Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels and definitely the new lightened up green bean casserole. About to head to the farmers market now 🙂 THANK YOU Monique and Abra! (And Tony for taste tasting through the years? 😉
Amazing! Hope you love them 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!
Such a great list! Thank you. Also thank you for so many GF dessert options for Thanksgiving. Your list shows brown butter pumpkins snickerdoodles as GF but when I click the link there is no reference I saw about gf flour or substitute. Is there a different recipe like this that is gf? I tried a quick search but didn’t see anything. Thanks!!
Oops, you’re right! Sorry about that. These grain free snickerdoodles are gluten free!