Top Keto Thanksgiving Sides That Will Transform Your Low-Carb Holiday Feast!

Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday centered around a grand feast shared with family and friends. However, for individuals with dietary restrictions, particularly those following a ketogenic (keto) diet, navigating the traditional Thanksgiving spread can be challenging.

Fortunately, it's entirely possible to relish a satisfying Thanksgiving dinner while adhering to a low-carb lifestyle. The key lies in creatively reimagining classic side dishes with keto-friendly alternatives. This article provides a comprehensive guide to crafting delectable keto Thanksgiving sides that will delight your taste buds and keep you on track with your health goals.

Embracing Keto-Friendly Thanksgiving Sides

Making keto sides for Thanksgiving is a great way to keep carbs low without sacrificing an ounce of great flavor! You can easily come up with a well-rounded Thanksgiving menu full of low-carb recipes!

The beauty of keto Thanksgiving sides lies in their ability to mimic the flavors and textures of traditional favorites without the carb overload. By utilizing low-carb vegetables, alternative flours, and clever ingredient substitutions, you can create a Thanksgiving spread that is both delicious and compliant with your dietary needs.

Here are some examples of dishes you can have while keto:

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Bread Recipes: You don’t have to miss out on tasty dinner rolls with these amazing Keto Dinner Rolls!
Mashed Potatoes: You can’t have the classic mashed potatoes, but you can replace those with these delicious Keto Mashed Cauliflower, packed full of garlic butter flavor!

Keto Bread and Rolls: A Low-Carb Delight

Bread is a staple on most Thanksgiving tables, but traditional bread is typically high in carbohydrates. Fortunately, there are numerous keto-friendly bread and roll recipes that utilize almond flour, coconut flour, and other low-carb ingredients to create satisfying alternatives.

Keto Dinner Rolls: These rolls are perfectly soft and fluffy, you would never guess they are low carb!
Keto Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits: Exploding with flavor, these biscuits are a savory delight.
Rosemary Garlic Keto Rolls: Infused with aromatic herbs, these rolls add a touch of elegance to your meal.
Keto Garlic Bread Chaffles: Perfect with a low-carb soup, these chaffles offer a garlicky twist.
Cheddar Garlic Keto Biscuits: A perfect low carb Red Lobster Biscuit copycat! Only 2 net carbs each and loaded with flavor!
Keto Three Cheese Biscuits: These are perfectly soft and fluffy! Each low carb biscuit is loaded with sharp cheddar, mozzarella and fresh basil for just 2 net carbs each!

Cauliflower Creations: The Versatile Keto Substitute

Cauliflower is a true workhorse in the keto kitchen, offering a mild flavor and versatile texture that makes it an ideal substitute for potatoes, rice, and other high-carb ingredients. For those who ignore Popeye and won’t eat their spinach, I find that spinach with garlicky butter and Parmesan helps change their minds.

Keto Mashed Cauliflower: This is a delicious, low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes!
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole: This ultra rich casserole is the perfect low carb, keto-friendly side dish!
Loaded Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Casserole: If you need a cheesy low-carb side dish, this casserole is packed with everything you love in a baked potato!
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole: Tender roasted vegetables are covered in a rich, cheese sauce and topped with crunchy bacon in this dish!
Cauliflower Salad: This creamy salad is the perfect addition to summer meals!
Cauliflower Fritters: These are a crispy, cheesy treat! You only need four ingredients and a few simple spices to make these low-carb fritters. Top them with sour cream and chives for a satisfying side!
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower: This is perfectly seasoned and roasted until crisp and full of flavor! Each serving has about 3 net carbs, making it an excellent keto side dish!
Cauliflower Risotto: This delicious risotto is made with parmesan, cream cheese and piled high with seasonings!

Green Bean Sensations: A Low-Carb Holiday Staple

A green bean recipe is a necessity for all holidays. Green beans are a classic Thanksgiving side dish that can easily be adapted to fit a keto lifestyle.

Green Beans Almondine: This is a classic side dish that goes perfectly with most entrees! Tender green beans are tossed in a rich butter sauce and toasted almonds, for only 3.6 net carbs per serving!
Lemon Green Beans: These rich and zesty beans with garlic make the perfect addition to any meal!
Crispy Green Bean Fries: Try these low carb fries perfect for a game day snack! You can make these keto fries in the oven or air fryer!
Air Fryer Green Beans: Learn how to make easy Air Fryer Green Beans!

Other Vegetable Dishes

You could easily stop there, but feel free to add creamy mashed cauliflower or a cheesy cauliflower casserole.

Air Fryer Mushrooms: This recipe features tender mushrooms loaded with Italian sausage, marinara, and cheese!
Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli: This tender and perfectly crispy broccoli only takes 8 minutes to make and has three net carbs!
Italian Baked Mushrooms: These are smothered in a delicious butter, garlic, and herb sauce!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: These crispy sprouts are ready in 10 minutes and are served with an easy 3-ingredient Asian dipping sauce!
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli: This is ready in only a few minutes and has just 3.6 net carbs per serving!
Cheesy Roasted Asparagus: This low carb, keto-friendly side dish is the perfect side dish! Prepare this easy recipe with just five basic ingredients!
Bacon Wrapped Cabbage: This easy Keto Bacon Wrapped Cabbage is a tasty low carb side dish that can be grilled or baked!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Enjoy these perfectly crispy sprouts sprinkled with parmesan and lemon juice!
Keto Roasted Radishes: Try these for an easy low carb side dish!
Easy Wedge Salad: This is a simple low carb, keto-friendly side dish! Chilled iceberg lettuce is topped with tangy blue cheese, crispy bacon and tomatoes for a refreshing dish!
Cheddar Roasted Broccoli: This is a low carb, keto-friendly side dish that is ready in about 20 minutes!
Roasted Cabbage: This is the perfect healthy side dish!
Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: This is the best keto side dish or appetizer!

Cranberry Sauce and Stuffing: Keto-Friendly Twists on Tradition

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without cranberry sauce and stuffing. Fortunately, these dishes can also be adapted to fit a keto lifestyle.

Keto Cranberry Sauce: This three-ingredient sauce is essential for your keto holiday spread!
Keto Sausage Stuffing: This is loaded with flavor, naturally gluten free, and has about 5 net carbs per serving! This low carb side dish is perfect for all of your holiday gatherings!

Additional Keto Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

The possibilities for keto Thanksgiving sides are endless. Here are a few more ideas to inspire your culinary creativity:

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad: This broccoli cauliflower salad has been to as many family gatherings as I have! It holds well and leftovers are still tasty a day later.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze: Even people who normally don't care for Brussels sprouts will ask for a second helping of these.
Balsamic Green Beans: Serve up those green beans in a whole new way-with a green bean salad recipe! The tangy flavors and crunch of these balsamic green beans complement any special meal or holiday potluck.
Spinach with Garlicky Butter and Parmesan: When I was a culinary student, this creamy dish wowed me, and I don't even like spinach. This side is a keeper!
Creole Green Beans: I usually make this minus the Creole seasoning, but a few weeks ago, I decided to try adding a different spice just to see what would happen. I loved it! It's garlicy, spicy and crunchy!
Roasted Cauliflower with Red Pepper, Almonds, and Parsley: For easy veggies, I make a simple sauce of sweet red peppers, almonds and parsley. We also like this sauce with zucchini or roasted cauliflower.
Grilled Mushrooms with Lemon Sauce: I baste whole mushrooms with a lemony sauce to prepare this simple side dish. Using skewers or a basket makes it easy to turn them as they grill to perfection.
Italian Green Beans and Peppers: A colorful mixture of peppers and green beans gets an Italian treatment with basil and Parmesan cheese in this delightful vegetable dish. The garlic adds a savory zip.
Roasted Turnips, Carrots, and Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic: Pleasantly seasoned with rosemary and garlic, this appealing side dish showcases good-for-you roasted turnips, carrots and potatoes. It's a nice homey addition to our family's holiday meal.
Cauliflower with Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: A standout cauliflower side is easy to prepare with just a few ingredients. Crushed red pepper flakes add a touch of heat.
Spinach with Lemon and Nutmeg: Although he isn't a fan of spinach, my husband loves this dish. The combination of ingredients may sound unusual, but the flavors meld well. It's an excellent side vegetable for a formal dinner.
Vegetable Medley with Shallots, Basil, and Broth: Shallots, basil and broth rev up the taste of this nutritious vegetable medley. The bright color and fresh flavors will dress up your plate!
Garlicky Brussels Sprouts: My roommate and I used to make garlicky Brussels sprouts at least twice a week. Now I make them as a healthy side for all sorts of occasions.

Make-Ahead Convenience

To keep the day stress-free, several of these low-carb holiday sides also work as make-ahead side dishes for a crowd, allowing you to prepare them in advance and reheat when guests arrive.

Low-Carb Thanksgiving Sides FAQ

What non-starchy vegetables are low-carb for Thanksgiving? Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are non-starchy and fit perfectly into a holiday menu, so you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything. For low-carb Thanksgiving side dishes, you can include classic herbs, like rosemary, thyme and sage, to pair with the rest of the meal or try new seasonings, like a Cajun spice blend.
How do you make stuffing low-carb? Traditional Thanksgiving stuffing recipes have a bread or cornbread base, but swapping in low-carb bread is an easy way to transform the side and reduce carbohydrates. Try store-bought or homemade keto bread and add plenty of herbs and broth for moisture and flavor. Sauteed low-carb aromatics, like celery, garlic and onion, will keep the same comforting taste as classic stuffing, and eggs can help bind everything together.
What can I substitute for mashed potatoes on a low-carb diet? Mashed cauliflower is the go-to mashed potato substitute for those on a low-carb diet, offering a similar mild taste and creamy texture.

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