1Carrot Ribbon Salad
David Malosh
Fall is the perfect time of year to cook fresh and flavorsome carrots, and this ribbon-style iteration makes eating the in-season vegetable so much more fun! Add Ree Drummond’s carrot ribbon salad, coated in a lemon-tahini dressing, to your menu, and watch mouths water!
Get Ree’s Carrot Ribbon Salad recipe.
2Air Fryer Cauliflower
Stacy K. Allen
If you’re looking for a lighter appetizer to serve before your feast, ditch oily crackers and fried chips and give these air-fried cauliflower bites a try. They’re smoky, spiced, and perfect for dipping into the accompanying remoulade-inspired sauce.
Get the Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe.
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3Mock Apple Pie
C.W. Newell
While, yes, traditional apple pie has plenty of produce, if you want something less calorically dense, swap apples for zucchini! Truly, this pared-back version tastes just like the original, thanks to the warm spices, brown sugar, and flaky crust!
Get the Mock Apple Pie recipe.
4Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Gordon Sawyer
Sweet potato casserole is loaded with butter and sugar, which can detract from the vitamins and minerals brimming inside this root vegetable. Grilled sweet potato rounds, on the other hand, are a healthier option that taste just as seasonal and delicious. Plus, preparing them is less involved and much quicker!
Get the Grilled Sweet Potatoes recipe.
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5Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates
David Malosh
Green beans are another vegetable whose casserole counterpart isn’t nearly as healthy as the real thing. This recipe from Ree breathes new life into the go-to Thanksgiving veggie by including pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and parsley—in our opinion, the perfect balance of flavors.
Get Ree’s Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates recipe.
6Turkey Meatballs
Antonis Achilleos
If you’re hoping to switch things up without entirely straying from tradition, consider whipping up turkey meatballs. They’re protein-packed and satiating, and you won’t have to carve an entire bird or wait hours for them to cook. If you do prefer a full turkey, though, you can always serve these meatballs as an appetizer!
Get Ree’s Turkey Meatballs recipe.
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7Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Stacy K. Allen
This healthy Thanksgiving recipe might not be the most conventional, but it’s certainly lighter than the usual pumpkin treats! Just like pumpkin pie, these cookies are sweet and spiced, but the oats offer a bigger boost of fiber. The smaller portion sizes also minimize the amount of sugar and butter in each bite.
Get Ree’s Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
8Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash
David Malosh
Round off your Thanksgiving spread with a nutrient-dense and holiday-approved salad! With baby kale, dried cranberries, roasted pepitas, and acorn squash, this medley calls on all the freshest (and healthiest!) flavors of the season.
Get Ree’s Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash recipe.
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9Stuffed Butternut Squash
C.W. Newell
Hearty and healthy, this Thanksgiving side will appeal to everyone’s taste buds. In Ree’s recipe, butternut squash is halved, scooped, and roasted before being stuffed with rice, mushrooms, Gruyère, and sausage. To make it more of a light side and less of a filling meal, you can always remove the sausage, though!
Get Ree’s Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe.
10Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
C.W. Newell
Brussels sprouts, especially this yummy version, deserve a spot on every Thanksgiving dinner table. With this healthy Thanksgiving recipe, you’ll get roasted sprouts that are crisp and golden and a burst of sweet-yet-tart flavors from the balsamic glaze.
Get the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts recipe.
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11Roasted Delicata Squash
Danielle Daly
There are so many reasons to love winter squash! And delicata squash is no exception, especially because it’s one of the easier veggies to roast. You don’t need to peel it!
Get the Roasted Delicata Squash recipe.
12Thanksgiving Salad
Danielle Daly
There’s nothing boring about this colorful salad! It’s packed with flavorful mix-ins, like fennel fronds, pickled apples, smoked almonds, and blue cheese.
Get the Thanksgiving Salad recipe.
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13Spatchcock Turkey
Danielle Daly
The protein in turkey will keep you feeling satisfied and when it’s seasoned with this smoky rub, it’s anything but bland. The spatchcocking method also helps to keep the whole bird nice and moist.
Get the Spatchcock Turkey recipe.
14Baked Sweet Potatoes
Will Dickey
Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, which helps support healthy vision. Plus, they’re filling and will keep everyone around the table feeling satisfied.
Get the Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
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15Air Fryer Okra
Will Dickey
Is it a Southern Thanksgiving without okra? Nope! Make it way healthier by skipping the oil and crisping it up in the air fryer instead. That way, you can give it an extra dip in that zesty sauce!
Get the Air Fryer Okra recipe.
16Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ralph Smith
Making your own cranberry sauce from scratch means that you can adjust the amount of sugar depending on your preferences. Ree’s version opts for a natural sweetener like maple syrup, which is better for you, too!
Get Ree’s Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe.
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17Stuffed Acorn Squash
Will Dickey
The beautiful orange flesh of acorn squash is sweet and nutty, making it the perfect vessel for a fall meal. Fill it up with sausage, rice, and even more veggies to make it a hearty addition to the table.
Get the Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
18Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Caitlin Bensel
If you’ve never tried raw Brussels sprouts before, now is your chance! The fall veggie can be shredded and added to a hearty slaw-like salad that’s nice and crunchy.
Get the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
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19Air Fryer Baked Potato
Will Dickey
Baking potatoes is a healthier alternative to mashed because you can control the amount of butter or sour cream you put on your portion. Plus, making them in the air fryer is saves time and oven space!
Get the Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe.
20Slow Cooker Green Beans
Caitlin Bensel
Skip the heavy green bean casserole and make these tender green beans slow cooked in a brothy tomato sauce instead. We promise you won’t be disappointed―they’re topped with bacon!
Get the Slow Cooker Green Beans recipe.
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