Great healthy Thanksgiving recipe ideas for your next family gathering. I’ve listed vegan and gluten free options as well. Happy holidays!

Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate around the holidays when you have certain dietary restrictions or food sensitivities. Here’s a list of some of my favorite healthy Thanksgiving recipe ideas that are either refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan friendly, or all of the above!

Since we’re all adults and old enough to make mature decisions, how about we start with dessert first?! 😜

Dessert

Pies

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

A Thanksgiving menu isn’t complete without some sort of pumpkin pie! This delicious pumpkin pie is made more creamy by the addition of cream cheese. It’s vegan friendly, refined sugar free, and includes a gluten free option as well!

Apple Slab Pie

This apple slab pie is made in a sheet pan, so it’s fit for a crowd, or an avid pie fan! It’s also vegan friendly and can be made gluten-free and with natural sweeteners.

Vegan Sweet Potato Pie

A vegan friendly sweet potato pie that can be made with either regular or purple sweet potatoes! It’s free of dairy, eggs, and refined sugar, but includes a gluten-free option as well.

Simple Apple-Blackberry Pie

This simple apple-blackberry pie is a twist on a classic apple pie with sweet, juicy blackberries added! It’s refined sugar free with dairy and gluten free options included.
 
 
 

Purple Sweet Potato Pie with Gingerbread Crust

Old-fashioned sweet potato pie made with beautiful purple sweet potatoes! Complete with a homemade gingerbread crust and a pecan streusel topping.
 
 
 
 
 

Vegan Spelt Apple Pie

This vegan apple pie is the perfect fall time dessert! The crust is made with whole grain spelt flour and overall free of dairy, eggs, and refined sugar.
 

Blueberry Pie with Purple Berry Crust

This delicious take on blueberry pie adds blueberries to the crust as well, creating a subtly purple crust after baking. This pie is vegan friendly, refined sugar free, and includes a gluten-free alternative!

Cakes

Pumpkin Layer Cake

This pumpkin layer cake has a tangy cream cheese-like frosting and is moist, fluffy and delicious! It’s also vegan friendly with a gluten-free option included!

Simple Chocolate Bundt Cake

If chocolate’s your thing, this simple chocolate bundt cake is a delicious option! It’s topped with an easy glaze and is vegan friendly with a refined sugar free and gluten-free option!

Apple-Cranberry Crumb Cake

A moist and delicious cake topped with sweet apples, cranberries, and a coconut sugar crumb topping. Makes a delicious breakfast, afternoon treat, or impressive dessert! Free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar.

Vegan Pumpkin Bundt Cake

A deliciously moist pumpkin cake that’s full of warm spices and free of dairy, eggs, and refined sugar. Includes a gluten-free variation as well!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Simple Carrot Cake with Cashew Cream Cheese Frosting

This simple one bowl carrot cake is moist and delicious! Topped with a cashew “cream cheese” frosting, it’s vegan friendly, refined sugar free, and includes a gluten-free option as well!

Fresh Pear Cake

This fresh pear cake is subtly flavored with spices, like ginger and cinnamon, and topped with fresh pears. It’s naturally sweetened, vegan friendly, and includes a gluten-free option. It’s the perfect cake to celebrate the delicious fall fruit!

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Meringue

If you love candied yams, you’ll love this combo of fluffy sweet potato cupcakes with a toasted marshmallow meringue! The perfect treat to welcome fall!

Bars, Cookies, & More

Healthier Apple Crumb Bars

Speaking of apple pie, these bars are perfect treat for apple pie lovers! These are more simple to make than a pie and free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and refined sugar. 
 
 
 
 
 

Easy Dairy-Free Fudge

This easy fudge is dairy-free and vegan/paleo friendly! Top with your choice of nuts or fruit and a sprinkle of flaked sea salt! 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Healthy Apple–Cranberry Crisp

This healthy apple-cranberry crisp is easy to make and topped with a simple oat crumble. It’s vegan friendly, plus free of gluten and refined sugar.
 
 
 
 
 

No-Bake Chocolate Pomegranate Fudge Tart

If you’re looking for a dessert which won’t monopolize time in the oven, no-bake treats are the way to go! This chocolate tart has juicy pomegranate arils throughout. It’s free of gluten, grains, dairy, eggs, and refined sugar, as well as paleo and vegan friendly!
 
 
 
 
 

Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Cookies

Soft and delicious chai-spiced pumpkin cookies with a maple glaze. Gluten, egg, and refined sugar free, plus vegan friendly!

Side Dishes

Fluffy Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls

Soft 1-Hour Dinner Rolls

These rolls are a family fave! They’re soft, fluffy, delicious, and can be made in an hour! Vegan friendly and refined sugar free too!   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole

This sweet potato casserole is lightly sweetened and topped with an easy pecan-sugar topping. It’s also made a little healthier with dairy free, gluten-free, + refined sugar free options.

Maple Pecan Butternut Squash Casserole

This delicious take on sweet potato casserole uses butternut squash as the star! It’s a super simple side which is free of gluten, dairy, grains, eggs, and refined sugar!

Purple Sweet Potato Casserole with Toasted Marshmallow Meringue

Move over candied yams, this vibrant purple sweet potato casserole is both beautiful and delicious! It’s topped with toasted pecans and a maple sweetened marshmallow meringue, plus it’s free of gluten, grains, dairy, and refined sugar!

Baked Pumpkin Filled with Sourdough Stuffing

This baked pumpkin filled with a delicious vegetarian stuffing makes for a pretty presentation and is perfectly edible as well! Can be easily adapted to be gluten-free and vegan friendly.
 
 
 

Slow Cooker Cornbread Stuffing

This slow cooker cornbread stuffing is moist and delicious. You can “set it and forget it” while you focus on the other dishes in your meal. It can be adapted to be gluten and egg free, as well as vegan.

Healthy Cranberry-Apple Compote

You definitely need cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving table, and this homemade, healthy cranberry-apple compote is much tastier and healthier than cranberry sauce from the can and ready in under 30 minutes! It’s also only sweetened with fruit and pure maple syrup!
 
 
 
 

Roasted Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts with garlic and thyme. A simple and healthy side dish which is free of gluten and grains.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin

Broccoli and Cauliflower are baked in a delicious creamy béchamel sauce. Gluten free with a dairy-free/vegan option.

Brown Butter Potato & Cauliflower Mash

The combination of potatoes & cauliflower add a bit more nutrition and flavor to these mashed potatoes. Browned garlic butter upgrades the taste even more! Gluten free, paleo friendly, and can be made dairy free/vegan.
 

Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

These maple glazed sweet potatoes are an easy and delicious side dish made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Free of gluten, grains, dairy, and refined sugar.

Main Dishes

Spanakopita Pie

Spanakopita is a Greek spinach and cheese wrapped in crispy phyllo pastry. It’s the perfect dish to serve your vegetarian friends and family!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Simple Asparagus Tart

This simple asparagus tart is not only delicious, but easy to make and has only a handful of ingredients. Can easily be made dairy-free/vegan friendly by using dairy-free cream cheese.
 

Vegetable Pot Pie

This wholesome vegetable pot pie is hearty, flavorful, and full of fresh veggies. Topped with a whole grain crust, this meal is vegetarian/vegan friendly and can easily be made gluten-free using the alternative ingredients. 

Roasted Purple Potato Soup

This vibrant roasted purple potato soup is such a comforting and healthy Thanksgiving recipe idea. It’s made with purple sweet potatoes, cauliflower, & carrots, but any color will work.
 

Herb Roasted Turkey

This herb roasted turkey recipe uses a delicious blend of herbs to flavor the turkey. A gluten and dairy-free gravy recipe is also included!

Pumpkin Barbecue Meatballs

Homemade baked meatballs smothered in a delicious pumpkin barbecue sauce. Gluten, dairy, and egg free. I hope you enjoy these healthy Thanksgiving recipe ideas!