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
What Can't You Eat?
- Added real or artificial sugars.
- Alcohol.
- Carrageenan—a type of plant-based sugar—or sulfites.
- Commercially-prepared chips or French fries.
- Dairy products, except for clarified butter or ghee.
- Foods recreated with allowed Whole30 ingredients (e.g., coconut milk ice cream)
- Grains.
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.
Can you eat cheese on Whole30? ›
On the Whole30 diet, you can't have: dairy (say good-bye to cheese), legumes (so no beans, pea, chickpeas, lentils peanuts or peanut butter, soy sauce, tofu, and anything else soy-related), grains (wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and even gluten-free grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth), added sugars (from ...
Can you eat bacon on Whole30? ›
Bacon can be a delicious addition to your Whole30 meals, but you'll need to find bacon without added sugar.
Are bananas OK for Whole30? ›
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.
What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›
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.
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 ).
How many pounds do you lose on Whole30? ›
My first round of Whole30, I dropped 11 pounds and 13 inches; my second round, I dropped 6 pounds and 5 inches; and my third round, I maintained a healthy weight and dropped 3 inches.
What vegetables are not allowed on Whole30? ›
Green beans. Most peas (sugar snap, snow, green, yellow, and split peas) Ghee or clarified butter.
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®.
IS POPCORN WHOLE30? No — popcorn is made from a whole grain (dried corn AKA popcorn kernels), and grains are eliminated on the Whole30 diet.
Can I have almond milk on Whole30? ›
It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30. Silk's unsweetened vanilla carton is fair game, too.
Can you eat canned tuna on Whole30? ›
That's why Safe Catch tuna is the very first Whole30 Approved canned tuna. Keep a stash of Safe Catch in your Whole30 pantry for a convenient on-the-go protein; quick, nourishing lunches; and creating delicious dinners. (Scroll to the end of this post to see exclusive Whole30 recipes using Safe Catch tuna.)
What fruit is allowed on Whole30? ›
What should be on your Whole30 shopping list?
| Meat/Protein | Vegetables | Fruits |
|---|
| Pasture-raised chicken | Kale | Blueberries |
| Pasture-raised pork | Broccoli | Apples |
| Wild-caught salmon filets | Green beans | Oranges |
| Shrimp | Sweet potatoes | Bananas |
2 more rowsZeitlin said she recommends trying some Whole30-friendly protein-packed dishes like grilled salmon, grilled chicken, vegetable-filled omelets, sliced apples with hazelnuts (or any other Whole30-approved nut, which is all nuts except for peanuts as they are technically considered to be a legume), and salads topped tuna ...
What is banned on Whole30? ›
On Whole30, you can eat meat, vegetables, fruit, tree nuts and seeds, and healthy fats. However, you must avoid sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, alcohol, and processed food additives. Although it would be difficult and very restrictive to maintain long term, the Whole30 is designed to be done only for 30 days.
What are the don'ts on the Whole30 diet? ›
To accurately identify any specific food sensitivities, you must commit to the complete elimination of these groups for 30 straight days.
- Added sugar (real or artificial) ...
- Alcohol (wine, beer, cider, liquor, etc.) ...
- Grains (wheat, oats, rice, corn, quinoa, etc.) ...
- Legumes (beans, lentils, soy, and peanuts)
Since the Whole30 diet is more of a food challenge than a long-term change, there are some hurdles. The Whole30 diet has strict rules. The overall goal is to restrict your eating. So, if you “cheat” on a day of your challenge, they recommend you start again from day one.
Can you eat too much on Whole30? ›
However, it is possible to eat too much fat on a Whole30, and that can negatively affect your hunger levels, energy, and digestion. We see this most often when people mindlessly snack on nuts and seeds.
