Heavy, fat-laden dishes begone!  Whether you need a quick app or side to bring to a Thanksgiving gathering or are hosting the big event yourself, we’ve got you covered.  Try adding these healthy yet flavorful and satisfying dishes to your Thanksgiving spread.

APPETIZERS

Butternut Squash, Coconut, and Tumeric Soup with Crispy Sage // The Green Life

Packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients, this nourishing soup is the perfect start to your Thanksgiving meal!

Fig and Goat Cheese Ball // Eat Drink Love

Fig preserves, goat cheese and walnuts combine to create an impressive appetizer that is the perfect mix of sweet and savory.

Spiced Carrot Soup // The Homemade Haus

This smooth soup is full of warming spices to keep you feeling cozy, and is dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free and Whole 30 approved!

Butternut Squash Bruschetta // Culinary Ginger

Put an Autumn touch on bruschetta by topping bread with a delicious mixture of butternut squash, sage and Parmesan cheese.

Savory Butternut Squash Soup with Homemade Croutons // Peas of Cake

Top this butternut squash soup, which is full of veggies, with fresh, crunchy croutons.

Baked Parsnip Chips // My Pretty Brown Fit

For a pre-dinner nibble, these easy baked parsnip chips are a healthier – and tastier!- alternative than traditional chips.

Roasted Carrot Soup with Ginger Chickpeas // Not Just Baked

Warm carrot soup is topped with ginger roasted chickpeas and Greek yogurt for a beautiful starter.

Pumpkin Lentil Flax Crackers // Queen of My Kitchen

With lentils, flaxseed and beets, these festive crackers are a healthy option.

SQUASH DISHES

Delicata Squash with Dried Cranberries and Quinoa // Lemons and Basil

Roasted delicata squash and cranberry studded quinoa make a delicious and nourishing side dish.

Roasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pistachio Stuffing // A Couple Cooks

Sweet acorn squash is stuffed with a savory mixture of wild rice, pistachios, kale and feta cheese.

Quinoa and Cranberry Stuffed Delicata Squash // A Little Rosemary and Time

Quinoa with mushrooms, cranberries, pecans and spices served in delicata squash boats make a perfect vegetarian entree.

Roast Pumpkin with Feta & Honey // Not Quite Nigella

Delicious roasted pumpkin with feta and honey makes an impressive side dish.

Roasted & Stuffed Acorn Squash // The Cozy Apron

Stuff roasted acorn squash with rice, beans and plenty of veggies!

Nutty Curry Stuffed Squash // Robin Asbell

These single serving squashes are stuffed with a curry spiced mixture of nuts and coconut for a vegan option.

SALADS

Shaved Brussels Sprouts With a Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette // Orchard Street Kitchen

Brussel sprouts, toasted hazelnuts and dried cherries are tossed with a homemade maple and balsamic vinaigrette.

Maple Brussel Sprout Quinoa Salad // The Yooper Girl

Brussel Sprouts, almonds, cranberries and quinoa are tossed with a maple dressing for a healthy salad option.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Squash with Dried Cranberries and Dijon Vinaigrette // Blogging Over Thyme

With brussel sprouts, squash and dried cranberries, this veggie-rich side screams Thanksgiving!

Brussel Sprout Salad with Pistachios and Pecorino // Little Ferraro Kitchen

This easy yet impressive salad is a great way to get your greens this Thanksgiving.

Three Sisters Butternut Squash Salad // Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

With squash, beans and corn, this salad will make an impact at your Thanksgiving table.

Roasted Apple Salad with Candied Pecans // Cadry’s Kitchen

With roasted apples, candied pecans and a cider dressing, this salad is an instant holiday classic.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Cumin Vinaigrette // The Cafe Sucrefarine

Roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, feta, sea salt roasted pecans and fresh salad greens are all tossed up in a honey and cumin vinaigrette.

Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta // Pinch of Yum

This gorgeous salad is quick to prepare, and packed with loads of tasty ingredients!

Asparagus Salad // Running in a Skirt

Take asparagus up a notch by tossing it in a homemade vinaigrette and topping with fresh Parmesan cheese – yum!

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad // Lemon Tree Dwelling

This salad gets a punch of sweetness from roasted butternut squash and cranberries, all topped with a delicious maple and mustard dressing.

French Onion and Pear Salad // This Chick Eats Clean

This salad takes its inspiration from French Onion Soup and has plenty of autumn ingredients like pear and cranberries, too!

Harvest Salad // A Farmgirl’s Dabbles

Inspired by the harvest, this beautiful salad features butternut squash, maple pecans and a curry fig vinaigrette.

Fall Frisee Salad // Cafe Johnsonia

Frisee lettuce is tossed with beets, pears, pomegranate seeds and pepitas for a Fall salad.

STUFFING AND ALTERNATIVES

Apple-Walnut Stuffing // VegKitchen

This whole grain stuffing contains sweet apples, crunchy walnuts and plenty of herbs.

The Best Grain-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing // Pork and Greens

This paleo-friendly stuffing option is free of any grains and, instead, loaded with tasty yet satisfying ingredients like butternut squash, mushrooms, chestnuts, sausage and fresh herbs.

Crockpot Cranberry Apple Stuffing // House of Yumm

Free up some oven space by making this stuffing recipe in the crockpot!  It’s got plenty of flavor from the addition of cranberries and apples.

Wild Rice Pilaf with Butternut Squash, Cranberries, and Pecans // What Would Cathy Eat?

This wild rice pilaf is gluten-free and vegan, and makes a perfect stuffing alternative!

Cranberry Apple Freekeh Stuffing // The Mediterranean Dish

High in protein and fiber, freekeh makes a great addition to your Thanksgiving table! The cranberries, apples, walnuts and parsley take things up a notch.

Savory Turkey Sausage & Kale Bread Pudding // The Nutrition Adventure

For a twist on stuffing, try this savory bread pudding with turkey sausage, kale, shiitake mushrooms and cheese.

The Ultimate Gluten-Free Bread Stuffing // Rachel’s Nourishing Kitchen

This stuffing is made with a gluten-free and paleo-approved bread mix for a more traditional stuffing that still works for a number of different diets.

Cornbread and Quinoa Dressing // Dora Daily

Cornbread and quinoa are tossed with plenty of herbs and spices for a flavorful and satisfying dressing option.

Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing // Real Food By Dad

Sweet butternut squash, savory sausage and crusty bread create an unforgettable stuffing.

Paleo Sausage, Apple & Cranberry Stuffing // Paleo Newbie

For a paleo-friendly option, try this stuffing recipe with sausage, apples, cranberries and white wine.

Mushroom, Apple and Sage Stuffed Red Onions // She’s Cookin

These onions stuffed with mushrooms, breadcrumbs and cheese make a beautiful looking – and tasty!-  side dish.

Butternut Squash Cranberry Sorghum Salad // Savory Simple

Whole grain sorghum is the base of this recipe which is the perfect mix of savory and sweet.

POTATOES AND ALTERNATIVES

Parmesan Garlic Mashed Cauliflower // Running in a Skirt

This mashed cauliflower flavored with Parmesan and garlic is a great low-carb swap for mashed potatoes, but is still super creamy!

Roasted Garlic Cauliflower // Arielle Likes to Cook

Millet and cauliflower combine with roasted garlic, parsley, green onion and Dijon mustard for a delicious side.

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole // Cook The Story

Make over your traditional sweet potato casserole with this lightened-up version, which uses vanilla Greek yogurt to cut the fat and sugar.

Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Cranberries // Little Bits Of

These roasted sweet potatoes with cranberries add a punch of both sweetness and spiciness to your Thanksgiving dinner.

Healthified Sweet Potato Casserole // A Mind “Full” Mom

This delicious sweet potato casserole is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and apple juice concentrate, and is topped off with a crunchy oat and nut topping.

Roasted Garlic Mashed Turnips // Grass Fed Kitchen

For a different twist on traditional mashed potatoes, try mashed turnips!

Honey Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes // Buns In My Oven

Honey and cinnamon add plenty of flavor to this easy potato side dish.

MEAT DISHES

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast // Oh Sweet Basil

This easy roasted turkey breast gets its flavor from thyme and sage.

Cranberry-Apple Stuffed Chicken Breasts // Inside Karen’s Kitchen

For a twist on the traditional turkey dinner, try these chicken breasts stuffed with cranberries and apples and topped with a cherry balsamic glaze.

Roasted Turkey Breast // Home Cooking Adventure

The marinade for this roasted turkey breast helps to keep this lean meat moist and tender.

Turkey Roulade // Home Sweet Jones

This impressive looking turkey roulade can be stuffed with your favourite stuffing, and requires much less time to cook than a whole turkey.

DESSERTS

No-Bake Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake // Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen

This no-bake pumpkin swirl cheesecake can be made in advance and stored in the freezer or fridge.  With a base of cashews, it’s also vegan-friendly.

Poached Pears with Salted Maple Caramel Syrup // Home at Six

Poached pears make the perfect light and healthy Thanksgiving dessert.  These can also be made ahead of time and reheated, making them an ideal option to save valuable kitchen time pre-dinner.

Apple Raspberry Ginger Pie // Light Orange Bean

This gluten-free pie has no sugar added and is also vegan.  The apple, raspberry and ginger flavors make a delicious filling.

Mini Layered Apple Pie // Sarah Kay Hoffman

This delicious layered pie is made with almond meal and coconut flour to make it a paleo-friendly option.

Vegan Pumpkin Pie // The Spunky Coconut

Vegan-ize the traditional pumpkin pie with this version, made with coconut milk and sweetened naturally with stevia and coconut sugar.

Apple Cranberry Slab Pie // Generation Y Foodie

This beautiful, rustic take on a traditional pie gets plenty of fiber from the rolled oats and whole wheat flour.

Honey Roasted Pears with Quinoa Nut Crunch // Tending the Table

Honey roasted pears are topped with a crunchy topping made of quinoa, hazelnuts, cocoa nibs and cinnamon for a gorgeous end to your meal.