Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (2024)

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving .

Just because Thanksgiving is commonly known as a day of eating, it does not mean that you have to break the carb bank doing it.

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (1)

I truly believe that followers of a low carb and/or sugar free diet can still enjoy Thanksgiving.
This is because there are plenty of great food ideas out there that do not call for consuming a lot of carbs. However, you can still wear the elastic waist sweats if you choose to! 🙂

By the way, you should know that the majority of carbohydrates that are consumed are not coming from the turkey itself.

When baked plain, turkey nets out at about zero, or close to zero, carbs.
It is the bread and the dessert that you probably be worried about however!

Here are some tips for anyone asking how do you make Thanksgiving dinner easier.

Obviously, most anything that you can do or make in advance to make your Thanksgiving day flow by easier helps. This mean making what you can make a head of time and freeze or store is so very helpful!

Here are some more helpful tips for you.

  1. Designate what you can. That is, if someone asks if they can bring an appetizer, let them. It will not only make your life easier with one less thing to have to think about, it will make that person feel useful and thus, good vibes will be known. By the way, you can always suggest or provide your own low carb or healthy appetizer to serve in addition to theirs.
  2. Planning is essential. That is, plan your menu in advance and then make a list of all of the ingredients that you will need for that menu. Shop for what you can a week ahead of time because, we all know what the grocery stores look like the week of Thanksgiving. uuugggg... I should also remind you that because low carb and sugar free diets often need special ingredients, you should get those ingredients in advance rather than at the last minute.
  3. Do just what you need to do and not necessarily to impress the masses. Seriously, those folks that you see on TV or in magazines with those amazing Thanksgiving dinners with everything that you have never made or even tried, have put that visual together for the op. Think more about the folks and the memories and not so much about having to spend the entire day in the kitchen.
  4. Think about clean up before you even make the mess. Moms know that you clean as you go when you are working in the kitchen. Those photos and memes that you see with the Thanksgiving dinner dishes stacked up all over the kitchen probably did not take place when a mom was in charge in the kitchen. To be honest, I am way to tired to clean up the kitchen after I have eaten my Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Recipes that are Sugar Free or Keto Low Carb friendly.

Appetizers

Low Carb Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (2)

These Low Carb Cheddar Crackers kind of remind me of the famous ones that come in the big box
However, these crackers do not have all of the carbs in them like the ones that come in that big box.
Also, you can make these tasty crackers yourself in your own kitchen. This means that you can add the ingredients that you want to add and know exactly what you are adding.

Low Carb Jalapeno Cheese Crisps.

I first discovered my love for crisp cheese snacks the first time that I went on a low carb diet.

This is such an easy recipe to make. What I also like about this recipe is that it can be personalized by adding seasonings and other ingredients to it!

Sugar Free Homemade Peanut Butter.

You may be wondering why I would add peanut butter here.

Peanut butter makes for a great spread on crackers or a dip for celery. Plus, kids, and my dogs, love peanut butter!

Bread

Keto Coconut Flour Bread

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This coconut bread recipe is one of the few bread recipes that are friendly to many kinds of diets.

Because we do not add any sugar to this recipe, this coconut bread is sugar free. However, this bread recipe is also friendly to other diets including low carbohydrate, keto, and gluten free diets.

Low Carb Bread Machine Bread

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I must say that owning that bread machine was not a bad thing for me to do.
What I mean is that placing all of the ingredients into something that I could set a timer on in order to wake up to warm bread was really nice. Especially nice was the smell of that baking bread on a weekend morning when I was getting out of bed.

Low Carb Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits

This recipe for Low Carb Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits has been a very popular recipe.

I like that this is the perfect biscuit to serve at dinner, especially a holiday or special occasion of dinner. Everyone seems to like this copycat biscuit that can also be made low in carbohydrates.

Sides

Low Carb Cauliflower Gratin

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A recipe for Low Carb Cauliflower Gratin that tastes good.

This recipe is a great alternative to the usual potato gratin side dish recipe as well.
I love all of the delicious alternative recipes that can be made with cauliflower.

Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice

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Rice has a lot of carbohydrates in it which is why I prefer to make Low Carb Cauliflower Fried Rice.

Plus, I think this cauliflower fried rice is easier to make (yay for lazy!). I will also mention that I had a mom email me to tell me that her kids were all over this recipe!

Pies

Sugar Free Blueberry Pie

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (10)

This recipe does not feature a frozen blueberry pie filling nor is it a no bake blueberry pie.
Technically, this truly is a homemade blueberry pie recipe. Only, it has been modified to be both easy to follow and made without adding sugar to it.

Almost Sugar Free Sweet Potato Pie

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (11)

This Almost Sugar Free Sweet Potato Pie recipe is perfect for your holiday dining table.

I was surprised that this Sweet Potato Pie can be made without all of the added sugar.
This pie is probably not for the low carb diet folks however.

Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie

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Technically speaking, pumpkins do not have a whole lot of sugar in them by nature.
Once cup of cubed pumpkin has about three grams of sugar in it.
We should also mention that pumpkin pie is really the standard (well, and pecan pie..) pie to seve on Thanksgiving.

No Sugar Added Pecan Pie

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Because, it is possible to make a pecan pie without adding a bunch of sugar to it.

This pie is by no means perfect when it comes to pecan pies. However, it contains pecans, is a pie, and has no added sugar. Regular pecan pie contains a lot of corn syrup and sugar in it. No added sugar pecan pie does not.

Cookies

Sugar Free Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (14)

We all know that Snickerdoodle cookies are so popular this time of the year!

However, pumpkins are also pretty popular during the season.
What I like about these cookies, other than the fact that they are cookies, is that pumpkin says fall like Snickerdoodles say holiday cookie baking. This cookie reminds me of a bridge from fall to the holidays (make a double batch?).

No Added Sugar Fruit and Oatmeal Cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (15)

This is a great tasting oatmeal cookie that is made without adding sugar to it.

But, adding a bit of fruit does make this cookie both more colorful and more flavorful.
This is the kind of a cookie that does a good job at pleasing multiple age groups too!

Sugar Free Double Espresso Cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (16)

I like that this cookie does not look or taste like other cookies.

That is, if you are looking for a different kind of cookie to serve, this is a good choice.
Plus, this double espresso cookie is popular with the coffee crowd.

3 ingredient peanut butter cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (17)

This 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies says 'easy' like no other cookie.

When you only need three ingredients to make a cookie, you know that that it is a good day.
Plus, kids like this cookie too!

Sugar Free Soft Pumpkin Cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (18)

This Sugar Free Soft Pumpkin Cookie is like an old fashion cookie that grandma may have made.

It is a soft cookie that works well with crowds.
I like how this cookie is different from other pumpkin cookies which makes it an even more interesting cookie to serve up.

The Best Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (19)

This sugar free chocolate chip cookie has been a very popular cookie around here.

It is a recipe that is based upon a basic chocolate chip cookie only. However, my sugar free chocolate chip cookie has options for keto and low carb variations in addition to simply being sugar free.

By the way, I have many chocolate chip cookie recipes.

I like to prove that sugar free, keto, or low carb dies are not a reason to to skip chocolate chip cookies.
You can see my sugar free, keto low carb friendly, chocolate chip cookie recipes here.

Keep up to date with my recipes

You can check out my guide on baking with sugar alternatives on Amazon

I have some great tips on which alternatives may work in a recipe that you may be working on.

Be sure to follow me on facebook and subscribe to my recipes via email to keep up to date as well.

Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (20)
Low Carb and Sugar Free Recipes for Thanksgiving (2024)

FAQs

What can a diabetic eat at Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Non-starchy veggies should fill half of your plate (plus, the veggies will add festive color to your meal!) and lean protein, like turkey or plant-based proteins, should fill one quarter. Finally, fill up the last quarter of your plate with carbohydrates (carbs), such as mashed potatoes or whole grains.

Should I break keto for Thanksgiving? ›

There Are Plenty of Conscious Ways to Have a Keto Cheat Day

Or, if it's Thanksgiving, don't offer to cook green beans or turkey (which are already keto-compliant). Instead, bring a low-carb pumpkin pie or make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.

What are the three meals for diabetics? ›

Eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast followed by a substantial lunch and a small dinner — the so-called "three-meal diet" (3Mdiet) — promotes weight loss and significantly improves glucose control in type 2 diabetes, a randomized, controlled trial suggests.

What happens when you quit keto? ›

Low levels of electrolytes can cause headaches, fatigue, nausea and dizziness as well as muscle cramps. Additionally, carbohydrate withdrawal symptoms such as cravings may occur since the body is no longer used to processing carbohydrates efficiently after such a long period of being deprived of them.

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.

What is the popular alternative to turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors.

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”.

Can I eat peanut butter on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Will one slice of pizza take you out of 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.

Can diabetics eat turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

A six-ounce serving of turkey has only six grams of carbohydrates and roughly 185 calories and 30 grams of protein, this will not cause a drastic spike in blood sugar by itself, the beverages, sides and desserts are the items we really want to focus on for optimal blood sugar control which brings us to our next topic.

Can a diabetic eat stuffing at Thanksgiving? ›

Stuffing can pack a calorie, fat, and carbohydrate wallop. The main ingredients in dressing are bread and butter. Understandably, if it's your favorite side dish and you look forward to it all year, by all means, take some, but try to keep your portion in check (about 1/2 cup).

Can diabetics eat turkey stuffing? ›

For diabetes-friendly stuffing:

Use whole-grain bread. Add generous amounts of chopped vegetables (such as celery, carrots, onion, and cauliflower), nuts, and pumpkin, chia, or sunflower seeds. 6.

What are the healthiest things to eat at Thanksgiving? ›

Choose the best bets on the buffet. While each of us has our own favorites, keep in mind that some holiday foods are better choices than others. White turkey meat, plain vegetables, roasted sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, thin gravy, and pumpkin pie tend to be the best bets because they are lower in fat and calories.

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