Are you frazzled by the prospects of hosting your first-ever Paleo Thanksgiving?
Not sure how to serve crowd-pleasers that will comply with your lifestyle? Confused about all the ways you can roast, smoke, bacon-weave, truss, dress, stuff, eat or whatever else people do to a turkey? We’ve got you covered.
From cranberry sauce to the stuffing, here’s the complete guide to serving a delicious, indulgent but clean eating Paleo Thanksgiving dinner. We’ve compiled our best crowd-pleasing appetizers, copious side dishes, and perfect desserts to make sure nobody at your Thanksgiving table leaves hungry. We’ve also linked to guides on three mouthwatering ways to prepare your Thanksgiving bird, from roasting, smoking and weaving it a cute little bacon jacket (really). Happy Thanksgiving!
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APPETIZERS
Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
It’s Thanksgiving – if you’re going to indulge and stick to your Paleo diet, you know bacon is going to find its way into the meal. Enjoy the pairing of salty bacon with bitter, cruciferous Brussels sprouts in the easiest appetizer to throw together ever.
Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 35 minutes
Crunchy Paleo Egg Roll
Try something different and give your Thanksgiving spread an Asian twist. These crunchy egg rolls are filled with crisp, skillet-fried vegetables and blanketed in a fried, crepe-like wrapper. They’ll be a crowd pleaser for sure.
Recipe: Crunchy Paleo Egg Roll
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 40 minutes
Spicy Sweet Potato Hummus
Prove to your non-Paleo guests that their favorite party snacks, like hummus, are easily made Paleo. With the addition of sweet potato, this sweet and spicy, endlessly creamy hummus makes a nice autumn-inspired appetizer.
Recipe: Spicy Sweet Potato Hummus
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 50 minutes
Sweet Potato Skins
Be sure to double up on these, because your guests will gobble them up (yes, cheesy pun intended). Potato skins are a favorite appetizer at any gathering. Made with sweet potatoes, bacon and guacamole, these potato skins replicate the rich, savory flavor of the restaurant appetizer, sans cheese and simple carbs.
Recipe: Sweet Potato Skins
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
SIDES
Paleo Dinner Rolls
Who doesn’t love dinner rolls to sop up their turkey gravy? These warm, perfectly flavored rolls are Paleo-compliant and super simple to make. Just mix together all the ingredients, bake in a muffin tin, and serve warm with grass-fed butter (if you’re into that).
Recipe: Paleo Dinner Rolls
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30 minutes
Spicy Cajun Sweet Potato Mash
This uber-spiced sweet potato mash is as clean as eating gets. Just mash together steamed sweet potato and five complementary spices including turmeric and paprika – perfect for those trying to keep their Thanksgiving meals balanced.
Recipe: Spicy Cajun Sweet Potato Mash
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 25 minutes
Maple Nut Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
For a sweeter, more decadent (but still healthy!) sweet potato side, try this recipe. It’s miles away from the canned yams and marshmallow-topped stuff of your childhood, and takes only a handful of ingredients and less than an hour to throw together.
Recipe: Maple Nut Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 50 minutes
Chorizo Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Did you forget to get a vegetable side on the table? Skip the predictable salad and opt for these 15 minute Brussels sprouts, flavored simply but effectively with salty chorizo, garlic and lemon.
Recipe: Chorizo Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15 minutes
Creamed Collard Greens
Like the Brussels sprouts, these come together quickly with only a few key ingredients. But with bacon and a quick cream sauce made with coconut milk and coconut flour, they’re a bit more decadent way to eat your veggies.
Recipe: Creamed Collard Greens
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15 minutes
Caramelized Roasted Parsnips
You could serve roasted carrots – or you could switch it up and roast some parsnips, caramelized to sweet, sticky perfection in the oven thanks to the combination of olive oil and honey.
Recipe: Caramelized Roasted Parsnips
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 45 minutes
Paleo Cranberry Sauce
Put the canned or fresh cranberry sauce debate to rest with this foolproof recipe, which tastes like autumn incarnate, with notes of tart cranberries, maple, orange zest and spice milling about in a sauce suited to top your turkey or eat all on its own.
Recipe: Paleo Cranberry Sauce
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30 minutes
Paleo Grain-Free Stuffing
This grain-free stuffing is great if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to deal with finding the perfect Paleo-friendly bread. Instead of bread, it’s beefed up with sweet potatoes, sausage, a cornucopia of vegetables and, most importantly, bacon.
Recipe: Paleo Grain-Free Stuffing
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
TURKEY, 3 WAYS: SMOKED, ROASTED & BACON-WRAPPED
The Perfect Smoked Turkey
Yes, smoking a turkey is a bit of an involved process, but The Domestic Man offers a step by step guide that’ll make your turkey smoking seamless. Key things to keep in mind: opt for milder smoking woods like apple or cherry, don’t truss the turkey, and if you’re going to smoke it, be sure to brine the turkey.
Recipe: The Perfect Smoked Turkey
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 12 hours for brining, 2+ hours cooking
Turmeric and Honey Roast Turkey
If smoking your turkey is a bit too daunting, roasting your turkey is an accessible, traditional (and still delicious) way to prepare it. Turmeric and honey glaze this turkey, making it ultra-moist and flavorful.
Recipe: Turmeric and Honey Roast Turkey
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 2 hours, 50 min
Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
The hardest (and most fun) part about this super moist and flavorful turkey is weaving its “bacon jacket.”
Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Turkey
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 4 hours
DESSERTS
Mini Paleo Apple Pies
Mix up the traditional apple pie with these Paleo-friendly single serve versions. Apple, spices, vanilla and honey coalesce into a beautiful filling. With a little patience, you can make these adorable egg-free, gluten-free and dairy-free mini latticed crusts to hold in that filling.
Recipe: Mini Paleo Apple Pies
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Pumpkin Spiced Donuts
While we hazard to call a donut “light,” these slightly gooey, sweet, spicy and pumpkin-filled baked donuts prove a lighter alternative to the traditional pie selections. That said, all it takes is the addition of your favorite Paleo ice cream to make them a bit more decadent.
Recipe: Pumpkin Spiced Donuts
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 35 minutes
Paleo Peach Cobbler
If after making a full Paleo Thanksgiving spread you come to the abrupt realization that you forgot to make dessert, turn to this sweet Paleo treat. Simply mix the fruit in a bowl, layer, blend, layer, and pop it in the oven. By the time you’re done eating your turkey, it’ll be hot and ready!
Recipe: Paleo Peach Cobbler
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 35 minutes
(You’ll Also Love: The 23 Best Gluten-Free Stuffing Recipes)
Paleo Grain-Free Stuffing Recipe
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