I’m doing Whole30 this year right before Thanksgiving. While I’ll officially be done on turkey day, I’ll still be in the process of adding back in certain foods, so I don’t want to full on assault my system with a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
I started looking up Whole30 Thanksgiving recipes for myself and decided to share them here. If you are going through Whole30 during Thanksgiving, having a Paleo Thanksgiving, or just want to try out a healthier Thanksgiving meal, you’re in the right place!
Whole30 Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
Thanksgiving appetizers can showcase your versatility and these Whole30 appetizers are good enough to make it into the menu every year.
Sausage Cranberry Stuffed Mushrooms by Wholesomelicious – Whole30 compliant sausage with cranberries and sage make these mushrooms look like the perfect way to start the Thanksgiving menu!
Bacon Wrapped Steak Bites by Real Simple Good – This might be the easiest possible appetizer! Perfect for paleo, Whole30, and keto!
Pear and Bacon Bites by Well Fed Ingredients For A Happy Life – I’d never thought about pear and bacon as a combination before, but this delight look like a perfect meal starter.
Whole30 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Turkey is the star of the show on Thanksgiving which means it deserves the right Whole30 recipe.
Perfect Whole30 Turkey Breast With Gravy by 40Aprons – Y’all. If you want to stay compliant and get the perfect turkey, this recipe might be the ticket. Did you know you could make gravy on Whole30? Amazing.
The Best Roasted Turkey (Paleo & Whole30 Friendly) by Baked New England – The photos of this roasted turkey are enough to sell you on the recipe, even with the awesome disclaimer “Please don’t be weirded out when you read the ingredient list… just try it.”
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Turkey Breast by Purely Primal – Perfect for a smaller gathering, this genius idea stuffs the turkey breast and incorporates bacon.
Whole30 Thanksgiving Sides Recipes
Sides make the meal complete on Thanksgiving! It’s easy to incorporate plenty of delicious plant based Whole30 sides so you won’t even miss the traditional grain heavy side dishes.
Whole30 Thanksgiving Stuffing by A Merry Life – Yep, I made this one! It’s seriously so good and you will hardly even miss traditional dressing. Packed with veggie like cauliflower and butternut squash, it’s also super healthy!
The Best Paleo Stuffing by 40 Aprons – It’s Thanksgiving, so you have to have stuffing right? So what do you do without bread? You get all the veggies together and make the best possible paleo Thankgiving stuffing.
Cauliflower Rice Stuffingby The Healthy Maven– Thanksgiving is all about the stuffing right? Well this low carb version made ofrice, celery, onions, and mushrooms garnished with pecans will hit the spot.
Carrot Fries with Bacon and Rosemary by Paleo Running Mommy – Combine the savory goodness of sugar free bacon and rosemary with sweet carrots for a match made in Whole30 side dish heaven.
Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Pecans with Balsamic Drizzleby Pastured Kitchen – This Whole30 side dish combines everything delicious about Thanksgiving into one dish, then tops it with a tangy balsamic drizzle. Perfection.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon by The Real Food RDs – Bacon and brussels sprouts are a true match made in culinary heaven! The Real Food RDs always have stellar recipes in my experience so I can’t wait to try this one.
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Mash by Healthy RecipeEcstasy– Versatile cauliflower makes a garlicky mash perfect for Thanksgiving! Choose a Whole30 compliant stock and this veggie recipe is perfect!
Paleo Whole30 Mashed Potatoes by Jay’s Baking Me Crazy – Mashed potatoes are a staple of our Thanksgiving meal so this Whole30 version is perfect!
Warm Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Asian Citrus Dressing by NomNomPaleo – This easy Whole30-friendly side dish offers a zesty zing to liven up your heavier Thanksgiving menu items.
Herb and Garlic Smashed Sweet Potatoes by The Endless Meal – Sweet and savory, this healthy side dish is naturally Whole30 compliant, no tricks needed!
Whole30 Scalloped Sweet Potatoesby Physical Kitchness–Instead of the traditional almost-a-dessert sweet potato side dish, this healthy alternative still offers a decadent side full of creamy delight.
Roasted Butternut Squash Cranberries and Celery with Rosemary and Lime by Kevin Is Cooking – From citrusy lime to tangy cranberries and caramelized vegetables, this Whole30 friendly side dish has it all flavor wise!
Apple Cranberry Sweet Potato Bakeby Stupid Easy Paleo– If you’re missing the sweetness in your menu then this dish hits the spot! The perfect fall flavors with just enough sweetness to satisfy your Thanksgiving cravings.
I’m so excited to try out all of these Whole30 Thanksgiving recipes this year!
FAQs
Yes, you can eat potatoes of all colors under the new Whole30 guidelines, white varieties included. Mash 'em up, roast them, or throw them in the skillet to enjoy. Just don't eat them commercially deep-fried or in packaged chip form to stay Whole30-compliant.
Is honey allowed on Whole30? ›
On Whole30, adherents must cut out all sweeteners including maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, monk fruit extract, and stevia. However, followers are permitted to use fruit juice as a sweetener.
Can you have bacon on Whole30? ›
Bacon can be a delicious addition to your Whole30 meals, but you'll need to find bacon without added sugar. Look for Whole30 Approved sugar-free bacon from Applegate, ButcherBox, or Pederson's Natural Farms.
Can you have corn on Whole30? ›
Well, the Whole30 diet requires you to eliminate many common foods in order to maintain a healthier diet. It eliminates grains, dairy, wheat, rice, oats, and corn. Soy, beans, and peanuts are eliminated, too. No alcohol, sugar, or other sweeteners are allowed.
Is peanut butter okay on Whole30? ›
Though peanuts and peanut butter aren't allowed on the Whole30 program, other nuts and nut butters are. Cashew butter is loaded with nutrients like healthy fats, magnesium, manganese, and copper. Its smooth, sweet taste pairs well with apples ( 1 ).
Can I eat bananas on Whole30? ›
What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.
Is co*ke Zero Whole30 compliant? ›
Though diet sodas and sugary beverages are off-limits on the Whole30 diet, you can drink water, herbal teas, coffee, and any other liquids that don't contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners. Fruit juice, when 100% pure, is also acceptable on occasion.
Is monk fruit Whole30 approved? ›
Per the official program rules, you must eliminate all of the following for 30 days, no exceptions: Added sugar, real or artificial. This includes (but is not limited to) maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, stevia, monk fruit, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, and xylitol.
Is olive oil allowed on Whole30? ›
Extra virgin olive oil is approved and Whole30 compliant. Regular olive oil (aka pure olive oil) and light tasting oil are also approved by the authors. While on the Whole30 plan, you should avoid most packaged salad dressings and mayonnaise. Most of these products are made with seed oils and are not compliant.
What deli meat is allowed on Whole30? ›
Our Applegate Organics® Roast Beef, Applegate Naturals® Prosciutto, and the majority of our carrageenan-free poultry deli meats are Whole30 Approved®.
Just One Bite
Here's the rule in a nutshell: If you think your less healthy treat is going to be so delicious, so incredible, so worth it, and then you take your first bite and discover it's not… STOP EATING.
Can you eat hot dogs on Whole30? ›
Our organic 100% grass fed beef, skinless hot dogs, make for the perfect choice when it comes to Whole30 hot dogs. And when it comes to buns, you can get really creative. Some recommend unique options like sweet potato, lettuce, or grilled peppers as the perfect bun substitute!
What salad dressing is allowed on Whole30? ›
What salad dressings are Whole30 Approved? Tessemae's, Primal Kitchen, Whole30 Brand, The New Primal, Thrive Market, and Primal Kitchen all make Whole30 friendly salad dressings.
What vegetables are not allowed on Whole30? ›
Green beans. Most peas (sugar snap, snow, green, yellow, and split peas) Ghee or clarified butter. Coconut aminos (made from fermented coconut syrup)
How to get enough protein on Whole30? ›
Our primary protein sources include legumes, lentils and peas; whole or minimally processed forms of soy like edamame, tofu, and tempeh; minimally processed meat alternatives such as Abbot's Butcher “beef” and “chorizo;” and whole forms of plant-based protein powders like pea, hemp, pumpkin, or chia.
What kind of potatoes are allowed on Whole30? ›
Are Potatoes Whole30? Yes! As of January 2021, all varieties of potatoes are included in the Whole30 diet. Yet, the catch is that fries and chips are not included in the diet as they are not considered to be “real” or whole foods.
What is a Whole30 potato substitute? ›
Other alternatives like mashed sweet potato, cauliflower, my easy pureed butternut squash, or any other starchy vegetable will work well in place of white potatoes.
What foods should I avoid on Whole30? ›
Foods that you'll need to avoid on the Whole30 diet include:
- Dairy.
- Grains.
- Junk foods.
- Sodas or other drinks with refined sugar in them.
- Foods with added sugars.
- Baked goods and dessert.
Chick-fil-A
They're off-limits because they contain ingredients like cornstarch, molasses, and soybean oil. Even the fruit cups contain added sugar, and the salads have ingredients like soybean oils and cornstarch.
