Low-Carb Thanksgiving Recipes

To ensure healthy aging, many people have turned to the low carb lifestyle. This way of eating is a nutrition plan that focuses on providing plenty of protein and fat, while including minimal carbohydrates. While some people can include holiday indulgences once or twice a year, many others find that, for maintaining weight after weight loss, they must stay diligent, even on special days. Some people will fall off of the nutrition wagon entirely if they take a break, or it may take several weeks to get back on track. If you need some low carb recipes to enjoy this Thanksgiving, you can try our recipes for Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce, Low Carb Sausage and Herb Stuffing, Browned Butter Mashed Cauliflower, and Green Beans Almondine.

Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce doesn't have to be loaded with sugar. With just 7 grams of carbs per serving in this recipe, you can enjoy the tang of cranberries along with your turkey.

• 1 pound fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (read the label to ensure that no added sweeteners are included)

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon orange or lemon zest

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Put the cranberries, applesauce, orange zest, and cinnamon into a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce the heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the vanilla and chill the sauce in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before serving with turkey.

Low Carb Sausage and Herb Stuffing

Turkey is naturally low in carbohydrates, so you can enjoy as much as you want. However, traditional stuffings are laden with carbohydrates, this recipe for Sausage and Herb Stuffing swaps in other veggies for the bread that are included in traditional recipes.

• 1 pound breakfast sausage, browned and drained of grease (turkey sausage is best)

• 1/2 stalk chopped celery

• 1/4 cup diced onion

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 2 cups chopped cauliflower

• 1/2 cup yellow squash, diced

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

• 1 tablespoons dried sage

• 1 tablespoons dried thyme

• 1 tablespoons minced garlic

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Grease an 8 by 8 square pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In the same skillet that you used to brown the sausage, add the onion, and celery to a small bit of the grease from the sausage, cooking and stirring it until it is lightly browned and soft.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the sausage, onion, celery, cauliflower, and squash, along with the remaining herbs, spices, and cheese. Add the eggs and stir to combine.

Spread the stuffing in the pan and bake it for about 30 minutes, or until it is hot and browned.

Browned Butter Mashed Cauliflower

While traditional mashed potatoes are okay in moderation, our recipe for Browned Mashed Cauliflower allows for a lower carb alternative! While it's not the same as mashed potatoes, it is still a delicious low carb side dish.

• 2 yellow onions, diced

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 3 pounds cauliflower, grated or chopped in a food processor to rice sized pieces (you can also use 2 pounds frozen cauliflower rice)

• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 1 stick butter for browning

In a large, heavy frying pan melt the three tablespoons of butter. Add the onions and fry them until they are soft and golden. Put the onions in a bowl to cool.

Pour the heavy cream into a pan and heat over medium low heat. Stir in the riced cauliflower and boil the cauliflower, raising the heat to medium. Let this simmer for about 15 minutes until the cauliflower is soft.

Salt and pepper the cauliflower to taste, adding the onion and the shredded cheese, stirring to combine. Turn the heat down to very low, just to keep this mixture warm.

In the skillet that you used to fry the onions, melt the 1 stick of butter. Continue cooking it over medium heat until the butter turns a golden brown color.

Pour most of the browned butter into the cauliflower, stirring it to combine. Top the dish with the small amount of reserved brown butter as a garnish. Serve hot.

Green Beans Almondine

Green vegetables are one of the foods that you can consume freely when you follow a low carb nutrition plan. This recipe for Green Beans Almondine is special enough for your Thanksgiving table. It has an added bonus of being a quick and easy to prepare recipe, so you won't have to spend additional time in the kitchen.

• 1 1/2 ounces of slivered almonds

• 2 pounds fresh green snap beans

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Wash and snap the beans into small bite sized pieces. Steam the green beans in a steamer for 7 to 9 minutes until they are crisp tender.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the almonds and cook them in the butter until the butter is lightly browned and the almonds are fragrant.

Add the cooked green beans to the pan and toss them to coat with the butter and almonds. Season the beans to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer the beans to your serving dish and serve the dish piping hot.

We hope you enjoy these low-carb Thanksgiving recipes! Happy holidays to the Mighty Family!