Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes for the Whole Family

Thanksgiving is without a doubt a carb-heavy holiday. which can be complicated for those with gluten sensitivities.

Items such as stuffing, pumpkin pie, dinner rolls, apple pie, green bean casserole, cheesecake, and turkey gravy all traditionally contain gluten from wheat flour.

I gave up gluten long ago for health reasons, and yet I continue to enjoy delicious, traditional gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes each year.

How do I do it, you ask?

It is my pleasure to share with you some of my favorite gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes for your holiday table this year.

Here at THT, we only recommend recipes that are nutritious, dairy-free, gluten-free, and that pass our nutritionist’s seal of approval.

Let’s get cooking!

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes Roundup FNF

What Thanksgiving Foods Are Gluten-Free?

It is possible to make any Thanksgiving dish into an easy gluten-free version.

There are tons of flour substitutes that can be used in place of wheat flour while cooking any Thanksgiving meal.

I like to use almond flour or coconut flour in place of wheat flour, but you can use any gluten-free flour that you like.

By using gluten-free cornbread, you can make a fabulous stuffing for your turkey.

Some more gluten-free dishes at your Thanksgiving table are:

  • Cranberry sauce
  • Sweet potato casserole
  • Green bean casserole (be sure the crispy onions on top are a gluten-free variety!)
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Mashed potatoes

Is Thanksgiving Turkey Gluten-Free?

gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes

Yes, Thanksgiving turkey is gluten-free!

The item that is usually not gluten-free is the turkey gravy.

For traditional gravy, pan drippings from the turkey are typically cooked in a roux of flour and butter to thicken before serving.

In order to make gluten-free and dairy-free gravy, you can simply reduce your turkey pan drippings over low heat until thickened.

The drippings will not get as thick as a traditional gravy, but they will be deliciously seasoned.

You can also use gluten-free flour and vegan butter or oil to make a gluten-free roux for a thicker gluten free turkey gravy.

What Can I Cook for a Gluten-Free Guest?

gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes

You can use any of our gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes below, which I love and enjoy every year.

My favorite dishes are:

Incorporating gluten-free dishes onto your Thanksgiving table is easier than it sounds, plus, most people don’t even realize my dishes are gluten-free!

What Foods Can You Make Ahead for Thanksgiving?

Making some dishes ahead of time on Thanksgiving day can save a lot of time and sanity on your part.

Having 5 dishes to cook from scratch in one morning/afternoon sounds incredibly daunting.

It is possible to make certain dishes ahead of Thanksgiving day.

Just be sure that the dish can stand up to sitting in the fridge overnight, such as an assembled casserole that simply needs to be baked/reheated before dinnertime.

My favorite make-ahead dishes for Thanksgiving are:

  • Gluten-free pumpkin pie, or any other gluten-free pie
  • Pumpkin cheesecake
  • Gluten-free bread
  • Green bean casserole
  • Gluten-free stuffing
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Gluten-free cornbread
  • Any veggie recipes (broccoli, green beans, sweet potatoes)
Gluten-free Recipes for Thanksgiving

The Menu

We put a lot of care and thought into this menu to ensure each dish is delicious and satisfying, just as Thanksgiving should be.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

Knowing that Thanksgiving can be a celebration of rich and flavorful meals, it’s easy to be afraid of the high caloric content it may provide. Thus, adding a Thanksgiving salad prior to any meal can certainly reduce the chances of overeating and consuming high calories. This gluten-free Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette makes it perfect to be served during this holiday as it’s light, low in calories, nutritious, and so refreshing.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette
A perfect holiday salad recipe that uses a non-traditional, warm cider vinaigrette. It’s vibrant, fresh, and it provides two textures at the same time: starchy and crunchy. Thus, it makes a great in-between meal after a hearty soup and a crunchy appetizer or main entrée. The best part is, it’s loaded with healthy fats, fiber, anti-inflammatory properties, and yet it’s lower in calories!
Check out this recipe
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

After a satisfying salad course, everyone will be itching for the star of the show, the turkey.

Perfect Herb-Roasted Turkey with No Sugar Added Cranberry Sauce

Thanksgiving isn’t called one until there’s turkey on the table. However, a deep-fried one isn’t really the best option for us since it’s loaded with unhealthy fats. This gluten-free, Perfect Herb-Roasted Turkey with No Sugar Added Cranberry Sauce, however, makes it possible for our family to indulge in turkey without having the guilt. Its moist and herby-fruity flavor is really something that you’ll look forward to. Not to mention that the kids love it too!

Perfect Herb-Roasted Turkey with No Sugar Added Cranberry Sauce
A classic or traditional Thanksgiving recipe that’s healthier, moist, and flavorful! Thanks to the herbs and citrus fruits that are used in this recipe. On top of that, the cranberry sauce also has no added sugars in it so you can enjoy a complete meal that’s low in calories and sugar but high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. What a totally guilt-free holiday celebration treat for the whole family!
Perfect Herb-Roasted Turkey with NSA Cranberry Sauce

If having only one turkey recipe is not enough (and we agree), we wanted to add another savory, delicious turkey recipe in addition to the whole roasted bird.

Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs

This gluten-free Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs is one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes as it’s so versatile. If I’m hosting a large party, I can simply whip this up in the kitchen and serve it either as an appetizer, an hors d’oeuvres, or an addition to roasted turkey. Otherwise, I can use some turkey leftovers and do this in the next day or two, or when I’ve got sudden visitors after the holidays. I love that I can also toss it with some fresh greens for a healthy lunch, either for us parents or for my daughter’s lunch box.

Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs
This gluten-free and low-fat recipe is filled with protein, fiber, and vitamins that will help you to shed some fat and weight. It’s perfect to be consumed either on a weight loss or a detox diet. Plus, it also makes the best guilt-free holiday treat!
Check out this recipe
Baked Turkey Pesto Meatballs

Now it’s time for a flavorful side dish that everyone correlates with Thanksgiving recipes.

Cinnamon-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

This gluten-free Cinnamon-Roasted Sweet Potatoes not only adds a vibrantly orange-brown color to the table, but also provides excellent amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals. The cinnamon also features some weight loss, anti-inflammatory, and detoxing properties that make it perfect to be consumed in the middle of a heavy and rich meal. 

Cinnamon-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
A sweet and savory creative vegetable recipe that’s perfect to be enjoyed from the harvest season to the holidays. It’s vibrant, flavorful, and rich with a nice crunch to it, making it a great side dish to any meat or main entrée. Not to mention that it’s super easy and quick to make too!
Cinnamon-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

And now for the show-stopping dessert! And of course, it is an easy gluten-free take on a classic pumpkin dessert.

Low-Calorie Ginger Pumpkin Roll

This gluten-free, Low-Calorie Ginger Pumpkin Roll is my favorite dessert recipe to craft during Thanksgiving. Not only because pumpkins are much more affordable during this season, but also because it doesn’t give us sugar rush and crash afterward. It also features a great coffee filling that sums up the entire meal. For only 152 calories per serving, we can have 8 grams of protein and only 2 grams of sugar. I even think that this shouldn’t be considered a dessert after all. Well, nothing is impossible. 

Low-Calorie Ginger Pumpkin Roll
A delicious, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and low-carb dessert treat that will surely end your holidays with a refreshing and fulfilling taste. Thanks to the coffee that’s featured in this recipe, perfectly contrasting with the sweetness and richness of this dessert and/or the previous meal. Now, you don’t need an after-dinner coffee as this recipe simply rounds off a meal without the guilt.
Low-Calorie Ginger Pumpkin Roll

Related Helpful Information 

We’ve shared these gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes because we believe that you also want to enjoy Thanksgiving as much as you can, without the trip to the emergency room. 

I know exactly how that feels, so I vowed to help and share with you some helpful information. 

This easy health guide helped us a lot in compiling these gluten-free recipes.

On top of that, we’ve also collected and tested some tools and equipment that can loosen up your stress in preparing for this Thanksgiving. 

For the meat recipes, we found that this digital cooking probe thermometer with timer and the roasting pan with a carving knife (see review for carving knives here) makes a good and essential duo. 

The probe thermometer can be punctured directly into the bird, which sits in the roasting pan while roasting. 

Food processors are also helpful in making some of these recipes. 

Thus, we’ve gathered the Best Blender Food Processor Combo to help you not only for the holidays but also in the next years to come.

By the way, if you’re hosting a party or a large family gathering, this extra-large bamboo cutting board for the kitchen with a juice groove also helps. 

You can use it as a serving plate not only for the roasted turkey, but also for appetizers, platters, and desserts. 

I love that it features a juice groove for a cleaner holiday service.

Finally, if you have a lot of guests coming over, then you might not have enough plates. While these are fun, they are not ideal for the environment. You might consider a more sustainable paper plate option set, which is our preference for our house.

Adding a little holiday spirit with fun Thanksgiving hanging sign decorations for the front door or some fall garland with lights are great finishing touches for your Thanksgiving party

gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes

When the Party’s Over

When all is said and done, Thanksgiving is one of the most rewarding holidays.

Spending time with your closest friends and family, eating apple pie, gluten-free stuffing, and drinking sparkling cider are some of the best times of our lives.

Keep your holiday family time happy and peaceful by not overindulging in gluten-heavy dishes! It’s just not worth the risk.

Make these gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes to keep your family time at the dinner table, full of laughs and love.

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Mike

Mike

Hi! I’m Mike. I’m happily married and have a young daughter. I’ve lived all over the world and have learned a lot from seeing others’ perspectives. I’ve also had many life altering health challenges. Fortunately, my lovely and brilliant wife helped save me by finding a new and better way for us to live. We started The Healthy Treehouse to share what we’ve learned and to learn from others, too.