15+ Low Carb Diabetic Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes & Menu Ideas

Thanksgiving. It’s meant to be an enjoyable time but it can all get a bit daunting when you’re diabetic.

There’s so much delicious food to be eaten and most of it is not diabetic friendly.

Yes, it can present it’s challenges but there are plenty of delicious low carb diabetes-friendly Thanksgiving recipes you can enjoy.

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your own home, serve up low carb dishes to everyone—they’ll love them equally the same.

If not, one thing you know is that everyone will have turkey, ham and other proteins you can eat; and take along a plate or some side dishes of your own.

Find Thanksgiving menu inspiration and recipes below – Thanksgiving dinner dishes, the perfect diabetic side dishes, Thanksgiving desserts and even pies – there’s certainly nothing to be missed and everything to enjoy!

First though, let’s cover the types of foods to avoid at Thanksgiving.

Foods to Avoid at Thanksgiving

Sweet potatoes – one baked sweet potato can crank up anywhere from 23 to 38 grams of carbohydrates. Sorry, that sweet potato casserole will have to be given a miss.

Apple pie – one slice of apple pie is anywhere from a whopping 30 to 60 grams of carbs per slice –ouch!

Pumpkin pie and pecan pie – at least in the traditional sense. The average wheat flour pie crust can come in at anywhere from 10 to 20 grams of carbs per slice. And that’s before you add sugary-filled toppings. But, you can safely eat our low carb diabetic pie crust filled with all your favorite toppings – see the Raspberry Cream Pie below.

Mashed potatoes – a half cup is going to be from 15 to 20 grams of carbs – don’t worry, there is an alternative (see below).

Bread – skip the starchy sides and head for the turkey and salad recipes. Just one slice of bread or one roll is going to add an additional 15 to 20 grams of carbs to your meal in an instant.

Okay, so that’s the bad news. And you might be thinking… great, that basically rules out all the delicious options available to me.

No, no… hang on just a sec. Keep reading to discover a variety of delicious options for all of the above.

Turkey

Of course, golden roasted turkey is the standard meat that highlights the center of the table at any Thanksgiving feast.

Here’s a few tips on roasting the perfect turkey.

Leave ample time for thawing: If you’re using a frozen turkey, remember it is a big bird, so a 16-pound turkey (16 kg) needs about 4 days to thaw properly in the refrigerator. The thawing calculation for refrigerator thawing is at a rate of around 4 pounds (1.8 kg) per day – go do the math.

Pre-warm the turkey: stand at room temp for at least an hour, up to 3, to allow the turkey to get to room temperature. It helps the bird cook more evenly.

Dry the turkey: For a crispier skin, use paper towel to dry the turkey thoroughly on the inside and out before cooking.

Season well: Season the turkey well, at the very least with salt. Don’t forget to season inside the cavity, so the meat is seasoned from the inside out as well. You could also place a garnet of rosemary or other fresh herbs in the cavity for an overall rustic tone.

Use a roasting rack: For an even cook, it’s best to roast turkey (and chicken) on a rack.

Turkey roasting: Click here for the easiest way to cook it.

Stuffing

You can either stuff your turkey or make a side of stuffing that everyone will enjoy.

Here’s a few inspiring recipes:

Spicy Sausage and Cheddar Stuffing from All Day I Dream About Food

Low Carb, Gluten-Free Turkey Stuffing from I Breathe, I’m Hungry

Cornbread Stuffing from Maria Mind Body Health

DMP Side Dishes

Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”

Cauliflower makes the perfect substitute to mash. You can cook it plain or make a garlic mashed “potatoes” or add Parmesan cheese for a Parmesan mashed “potatoes.”

RECIPE: Cauliflower Mashed ‘Potatoes’

Cauliflower “Potato” Salad

Just as cauliflower makes a great substitute for mashed potatoes, it works equally well for “potato” salad.

RECIPE: Cauliflower “Potato” Salad

Green Bean Salad or Casserole

Green beans make a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Try making a green bean salad – the simplest recipe is to coat in butter and salt before serving. Or drizzle the beans with your favorite salad dressing or balsamic vinegar.

You could also cook them up with some onion, chili and spices for an Onion, Chili Green Bean Salad.

Another option is a delicious green bean casserole. The addition of mushrooms, bell pepper, white wine, cream, dijon mustard and fried shallots give this meal incredible flavor that will keep you coming back for more! You can also add bacon for an extra flavor hit.

RECIPE: Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Vegetable Bake

This veggie bake is a recipe that everyone loves – it is sensational (so tasty) and so easy to make – so definitely add it to the menu!

RECIPE: Cheesy Vegetable Bake

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Another perfect vegetable side is Brussels sprouts, roasted to bring out their sweet, deep flavor.

Roasting Brussels sprouts is so simple – just coat them in olive oil and bake for around 20 minutes. You can also add a variety of seasonings (garlic or onion powder, ground black pepper, salt, lemon) to give them a really tasty kick.

RECIPE: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Our members Thanksgiving menu contains many more side dishes and delicious menu ideas, including easy-to-make low carb breads and rolls, to enjoy a blood sugar friendly Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Desserts for Diabetics

You definitely don’t have to live without dessert when you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. But be warned – you will likely have to make your own dessert if you want to keep blood sugar in check.

Skip the apple and pumpkin pies with 30-60 g carbs – that’s not going to leave you blood sugar happy!

Instead, try our Raspberry Cream Pie. Or if you have another idea for a lower carb filling, make our low carb diabetic pie crust.

RECIPE: Raspberry Cream Pie

Cheesecake

Who doesn’t love a creamy cheesecake? This cheesecake is diabetic friendly – it has zero added sugar, it is super creamy, and it is easy to make.

The best thing about it is your family and friends won’t know it’s a ‘diabetic’ food. They’ll just think you’re a fabulous dessert maker and they won’t know any different – everyone will love it!

RECIPE: Creamy Diabetic Cheesecake

And a few more Thanksgiving dessert ideas:

No Bake Chocolate Pudding

Carrot and Cinnamon Loaf

Strawberry Coconut Chia Pudding

VIP MEMBERS: Find a low carb Pumpkin Pie and Vanilla Coconut Pie and ample dessert recipes under “Sweets” in the members area.

Alcoholic Beverages

If you’re wondering if it’s safe to drink a glass of red or white wine or a beer, the answer is yes. Indulge and enjoy!

If you want to learn the carb counts and facts about all the different types of alcohol, check out this detailed alcohol chart over here.

8 Tips to Enjoy Your Diabetic Thanksgiving and Continue to Take Care of YOU

1. Eat Breakfast

Eat a balanced breakfast with some protein and fiber. If you show up to the meal starved, your willpower will be low and you will find it very easy to excuse overeating.

2. Converse Away From Food

Avoid congregating around gobs of food as this will only make the temptation to eat mindlessly and you will be more likely to keep picking at foods. Move conversations away from the food area.

3. Make Your Choices Count

Okay, so you might splurge a bit – that’s perfectly fine – but make your splurges count. Don’t waste 40 grams of carbs on a dumb store-bought roll or pre-packaged pie. Find that homemade dessert or favorite potato dish and savor a small portion.

4. Enjoy Your Meal

Don’t feel guilty. Enjoy your meal and make it last, slow down and focus so you can be thankful and savor it!

5. Enjoy Your Family More

The holidays are not (or shouldn’t be) about food, but the people we connect with and enjoy. As we gather together, let’s remember who we are, where we came from, and what we’re living for.

6. Use Small Plates

All studies measuring variation in plate size show that people serve themselves significantly more at Thanksgiving, on average 30% more. The same goes for all dishes.

If you’re hosting, you can simply swap out your own plate (no one will probably even notice) and if dining in someone else’s home, just use the salad plate to reduce your overall portion size.

7. Don’t Drink Your Calories

Liquid calories are always a bad idea. For one thing, they are almost always sugar or alcohol, which means they are “empty” carbs and calories.

8. Skip the Snacks

Stay conscious of your food intake throughout the day and skip the mindless snacking. The extra food is usually not needed and can lead to more blood sugar spikes than are necessary.

With that large collection of diabetic friendly Thanksgiving recipes and menu ideas should give you plenty of new things to try and enjoy for this years dinner.

And with those additional tips, you should find you can easily make it through the holidays in the best health!

Please pin or share these delicious recipes and ideas to help others.

And while you’re here, make sure you download our free food list. After all those Thanksgiving indulgences, you’re going to need to get back on track with the best plan!