30 Paleo Thanksgiving Recipes to Impress Your Guests

This roundup features the best paleo Thanksgiving recipes from Pure and Simple Nourishment. Below you’ll find my favourite gluten-free, dairy-free and grain-free recipes for holiday appetizers, sides, mains and desserts — all tested and delicious.

A collage of different Thanksgiving dishes including cranberry sauce, stuffing, apple pie bars, cranberry apple bars and scalloped potatoes.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and you don’t need to abandon your paleo lifestyle to enjoy a festive meal. I followed a strict paleo approach for over a decade and through trial and error I collected recipes that recreate traditional holiday flavours while staying gluten-free, dairy-free and grain-free. Below are my top picks for appetizers, side dishes, mains and desserts that are perfect for the holiday table — all made to taste like classic favourites while using wholesome ingredients.

If you enjoy recipe roundups, check out my gluten-free Super Bowl recipes as well.

Paleo Thanksgiving appetizers:

Dairy-free Spinach and Artichoke Dip

A creamy, dairy-free spinach and artichoke dip ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect as a holiday starter — also vegan and Whole30 friendly.

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A white casserole dish filled with a vegan spinach artichoke dip with crushed crackers on top.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

A thick, flavourful roasted red pepper dip that pairs beautifully with vegetables or crackers. Dairy-free and vegan.

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A bowl of vegan roasted red pepper dip garnished with chopped green onion and with four crackers in it.

Roasted Honey Dijon Pecans

Sweet and tangy pecans roasted with honey and Dijon for an irresistible crunchy appetizer or snack.

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A bowl of honey glazed pecans, surrounded by more pecans.

Cranberry Turkey Meatballs

Quick turkey meatballs made with cranberry sauce — a tasty, bite-sized appetizer that evokes classic holiday stuffing flavours. Gluten-free and dairy-free.

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A plate with cranberry turkey meatballs on it with a bowl of cranberry sauce beside the meatballs.

Dairy-free Carrot Dip

A sweet and spicy carrot dip with a creamy texture and bright flavour — simple, healthy and vegan.

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A bowl of carrot dip topped with chili flakes and two crackers.

Paleo Thanksgiving main dishes and side dishes:

Maple Cranberry Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with tart cranberries and maple syrup for a colourful, flavourful side that complements the main course.

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A bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries.

Paleo Scalloped Potatoes

Rich, creamy dairy-free scalloped potatoes that deliver the comforting, cheesy flavour of the original without any dairy.

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A pan filled with cooked scalloped potatoes garnished with fresh thyme.

Healthy Cranberry Sauce

A sugar-reduced cranberry sauce made with orange juice, grated apple and warm spices for holiday-ready flavour without refined sugar.

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A bowl of sugar free cranberry sauce with mint leaves on top for garnish.

Kale Apple Salad

A crunchy, bright kale and apple salad with almonds and a delicious dressing — a fresh counterpoint to heavier holiday dishes.

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A wooden salad bowl filled with a kale apple salad with a serving spoon in it.

Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup

A velvety fall soup that’s rich and comforting — dairy-free and perfect as a starter or alongside the main course.

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A bowl of pumpkin and sweet potato soup topped with chopped cilantro and pumpkin seeds.

Paleo Stuffing

A moist, flavourful paleo-friendly stuffing full of herbs, vegetables and texture — the holiday essential reworked for a grain-free table.

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A casserole dish filled with paleo stuffing with chopped apples and celery in it.

Dairy-free Cream of Mushroom Soup

A silky, umami-rich mushroom soup that’s dairy-free and ideal as a comforting side or starter on the holiday menu.

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A bowl of vegan cream of mushroom soup with a spoon in it and topped with cooked mushrooms.

Paleo Cornbread Muffins

Crumbly, lightly sweet muffins that replicate cornbread texture without corn — a great grain-free accompaniment to turkey and sides.

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A wire rack with cornbread muffins on it.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

A warming curried squash soup with bright spices — an easy, elegant starter that’s dairy-free and paleo-friendly.

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A bowl of paleo curried butternut squash soup garnished with flowers and fresh parsley.

Cranberry Maple Chicken

A vibrant one-pan chicken roast with cranberry-maple glaze — an attractive, flavourful alternative to turkey that’s quick to prepare.

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A pan filled with cooked chicken thighs surrounded by cooked broccoli and topped with cranberries.

Healthy Broccoli Salad

A creamy, crunchy broccoli salad with a satisfying dressing — a reliable potluck-style side that fits paleo menus.

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A bowl of healthy broccoli salad with a serving spoon in it.

Almond Flour Biscuits

Light, crumbly almond flour biscuits that make an ideal paleo-friendly bread substitute for the holiday table.

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A batch of almond flour biscuits in a basket lined with a blue striped tea towel.

Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup

A creamy roasted butternut and red pepper soup that’s elegant, dairy-free and ideal for a fall holiday menu.

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A bowl of butternut squash and red pepper soup garnished with croutons and fresh herbs.

Paleo Thanksgiving desserts:

Gluten-free Apple Pie Bars

Caramel-apple style bars that capture pie flavour with less fuss. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and paleo-friendly.

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A paleo apple pie bar with a bite out of it and pieces of cooked apples beside it.

Gluten-free Cranberry Lemon Bars

Sweet lemon base topped with tart cranberry — a bright, refined-sugar-reduced dessert that suits holiday gatherings.

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Cranberry lemon bars on plates with lemons and cranberries around them.

Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft, chewy pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips and warm spices — ready quickly and great for sharing.

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A paleo pumpkin chocolate chip cookie on a baking sheet with sea salt on top of it.

Gluten-free Apple Crumble Bars

Buttery crumble topping with a tender apple filling — dairy-free and refined-sugar-free options make these seasonal favourites suitable for many diets.

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Gluten-free Pumpkin Chocolate Chips Bars

Soft, gooey pumpkin bars studded with chocolate — an easy, crowd-pleasing fall dessert.

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Pumpkin chocolate chip cookie bars cut into pieces.

Gluten-free Carrot Cake Donuts

Moist carrot cake donuts with a light glaze — a familiar dessert made paleo-friendly for holiday mornings or after-dinner treats.

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A carrot cake donut with icing on it with a bite out of it.

Edible Pumpkin Cookie Dough

A safe-to-eat pumpkin cookie dough packed with chocolate chips — ready in minutes and perfect for spooning straight from the bowl.

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A bowl of edible pumpkin cookie dough with chocolate chips with a spoon in it.

If you make any of these paleo Thanksgiving recipes I would love to know what you think!

Paleo Thanksgiving recipes FAQs:

Is butter paleo?

No, butter is not considered paleo. Ghee (clarified butter) is typically used as a paleo-friendly alternative.

Is brown sugar paleo?

No. Coconut sugar is a common paleo-friendly substitute that works well in many recipes.

Is turkey paleo friendly?

Yes, turkey is paleo-friendly. Avoid roasting it with butter if you’re strict paleo; use ghee or other paleo-safe fats, and make sure any stuffing is made with paleo ingredients.

Other paleo recipes you will love:

Dairy-Free Shepherd’s Pie (Whole30, Gluten-Free & Paleo)
Whole30 Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli
Healthy Sloppy Joes with Ground Beef
Dairy Free Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Spinach

If you made it this far — thank you! Follow Pure and Simple Nourishment on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook for more recipes, and feel free to rate any recipes you try.