Sorry Dad :: Keto Friendly Thankgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays ever, because FOOD :: 

Thanksgiving can be so much fun. If you have never hosted Thanksgiving, it can be stressful. Soon you will be inundated with Tips to Hosting Thanksgiving, How to Survive Thanksgiving with Food Allergies, or even tips on having a vegetarian Thanksgiving. You will even be searching for Thanksgiving Cocktails to help you get through this magical holiday. My family {generally 8 adults, 6 kids, and 7 dogs} comes together to eat a meal that has been the same for thirty-something years. BUT, this year, it’s all up in the air because quite a few of us are following the Keto diet {or are self-proclaimed keto-ish and focusing on low-carb and real foods}, so the recipes will be changing.

There are some basic principles to Keto that we follow :: Low carb {No breads, rice}, high protein {Turkey, chicken, beef, salmon}, high fat {coconut oil, butter, avocado, EVOO}, veggies {Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus}, and fruits {which are not all okay on Keto, but I can’t live without apples, man}.

So, for Thanksgiving, we are going to follow similar rules ::

1) Eat the meat {turkey, ham} and low-carb vegetables

2) No breads {NO rolls, NO dressing}

3) Eat only Keto-friendly desserts

4) Eat real foods that you know what is in it

5) Bacon. Use it. Eat it. Love it. Bacon is life. 

Keto Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes {Sorry Dad!}:: 

Appetizers ::

I am a snacker, so in order to snack on Keto, I have to have snacks that I can eat. In order to do that, I LOVE charcuterie trays :: Pepperoni, salami, cheese {many different kinds}, olives, grapes, and low carb crackers { I love these from Costco}. There are tons of other options to add to your charcuterie tray, but these are the best snacking options. I’m also a prosciutto fan, so these prosciutto-wrapped asparagus are amazing! 

 

 

 

 

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Main Dishes :: 

Our normal menu includes Alton Brown’s Turkey recipe, a honey-glazed ham {whichever one that goes along with the coupon at the grocery stores}, and some delicious flour-filled brown gravy. For a Keto-Thanksgiving, there is a yummy sugar-less Turkey Recipe, a not-so-sweet {but EASY} ham recipe, and a yummy Keto turkey gravy. 

 

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Side Dishes :: 

This is the section my dad and brother have a hard time with. They miss the yummy dressing that my mom makes with her super secret recipe and the cream of whatever’s green bean casserole, buttery mashed potatoes, marshmallow-y sweet potato casserole, handmade mac n cheese, yeasty carb-filled rolls, and all the other things that sound magical awful on a Keto diet. Instead, try a cauliflower stuffing {All you want is the spices anyway! Not the carbs!}, cauliflower mash, bacon wrapped brussel sprouts, and a low-carb green bean recipe. 

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Dessert :: 

Admittedly, this is where I usually shine. I love baking and there’s not a set menu at our Thanksgiving. I love playing with recipes, but I haven’t had a lot of luck with Keto-friendly desserts. I just can’t get into most alternative sugars. Saying that, these recipes for sugar-free Cranberry Sauce and a low-carb Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake hold up. They are so yummy. Try them to round out your Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving. 

[yumprint-recipe id=’5′][yumprint-recipe id=’10’]We know the holidays are stressful, but the food doesn’t have to be. With these recipes, I am bound and determined to make my dad a Keto believer. What do you think? Do you think he will agree?

Either way, enjoy cooking with your family this year and share some of your recipes with us so that we can try them out! 


Looking for more? Check out these past Thanksgiving Posts…

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes

6 Tips for Hosting a Mostly Perfect Thanksgiving

Surviving Thanksgiving With Life-Threatening Food Allergies

Cocktails for Managing Your Family Thanksgiving 

5 Thanksgiving Recipe Swaps {…to save calories & guilt!} 

Sparing the Bird :: A Vegetarian’s Guide to Thanksgiving 

Cocktails for Managing Your Family Thanksgiving 

5 Thanksgiving Recipe Swaps {…to save calories & guilt!}


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Jennifer H
Jennifer is a native outside-the-loop’er growing up and living in the Richmond/Rosenberg area. She has a Bachelors in theology and political science from Texas Lutheran University and a Masters in Liberal Arts from Texas Christian University. She and her husband Greg met in 2010 through Match.com and fell in love on their first date. They married exactly one year later and have fought lovingly and constantly since. They have two amazingly brilliant girls, Kaitlyn {June 2013} and Elizabeth {June 2015} who Jen stays home with during the day. When Jen is not curled in a little ball rocking back and forth with Peppa Pig on in the background, she can be found crafting with her Silhouette and/or binge watching The Office for the millionth time. Jen has an uncanny ability to be comfortable in almost any situation put in front of her, thanks to growing up in politics and on the debate team. Before having kids of her own, she had the opportunity to help other kids through teaching, youth ministry, and generally being a helpful, kind soul. You can check out more about Jen on IG @themommymiddle.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I love this! I have to try your Keto Cauliflower stuffing recipe! This year, I’m excited to make a Keto Chocolate pie for dessert. I hope that you have a great Thanksgiving! I’m making Keto options for Thanksgiving too. Enjoy your day!

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