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.
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. 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 hummus Whole30? ›
Traditional hummus is made from garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas), which are a legume and Plant-Based Whole30 compatible. Just read your labels to make sure your hummus doesn't contain dairy or other ingredients that aren't a fit for the Plant-Based Whole30.
Can I eat Chick Fil A fries on Whole30? ›
Potatoes of all varieties are in, but fries and chips are not. (This should not be a surprise. Fries and chips are about as Whole30 as Paleo Pop-Tarts.)
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 ).
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.
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 is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›
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.
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.
While homemade versions of chips made with whole foods are considered Whole30, no store-bought chips of any kind are considered Whole30 compatible — that goes for potato chips, sweet potato chips, Siete chips, plantain chips, terra chips, veggie chips, and any other store-bought chip you can think of.
Can I eat popcorn on the Whole30 diet? ›
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 olives on Whole30? ›
Canned olives are mentioned throughout the official Whole30 site as being a great natural fat to eat while on Whole30. Additionally, the Whole30 program states, "Do not consume carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites.
Is rotisserie chicken Whole30 compliant? ›
You can buy prepackaged cooked chicken or cook some chicken breasts or thighs in the oven, Instant Pot or slow cooker. Do not use rotisserie chicken if you are following Whole30. Neither whole or packaged shredded rotisserie chicken is Whole30-compliant.
Is almond milk allowed 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.
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. I am thrilled with how creamy these came out with absolutely zero dairy products. None. Zilch.
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 rice ok on Whole30? ›
You cannot have rice on a Whole30. But don't let that scare you off! Stick around and learn a little more about what this whole Whole30 thing is all about, including why rice is off limits and what you can have instead.
