Healthy Harvest: 40+ Paleo & AIP Recipes for a Nutritious Thanksgiving Feast

by

40+ Paleo & AIP Recipes to Make for Thanksgiving

Introduction

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones and enjoy a feast that celebrates the flavors of the season. If you’re following a Paleo or AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) diet, you don’t have to miss out on traditional favorites or delicious variety. With over 40 Paleo & AIP recipes designed for Thanksgiving, you’ll have a whole table’s worth of satisfying dishes—each bursting with flavor, nourishing ingredients, and totally grain, dairy, and refined sugar free.

Why 40+ Paleo & AIP Thanksgiving Recipes Belong on Your Holiday Table

Following special diets during the holidays can feel limiting, but this roundup ensures everyone at your table eats well, regardless of dietary needs. Using whole food ingredients and creative swaps, these recipes are as delicious as they are allergy friendly. Surprise and delight your guests—for example, with a velvety mashed “potato” made from cauliflower, sweet potato casserole that’s naturally sweetened, or a show stopping pumpkin pie with a flaky almond flour crust!

40+ Paleo & AIP Thanksgiving Recipes: Crowd Pleasers From Starters to Dessert

These are the best Paleo and AIP Thanksgiving recipes for the season:

Starters & Appetizers

  • Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (AIP, Paleo)
  • Turkey & Vegetable Meatballs (AIP, Paleo)
  • Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
  • Deviled “Eggs” with Avocado Filling
  • Apple Cider Braised Brussels Sprouts (AIP, Paleo)
  • Homemade Cranberry Chutney

Main Dishes

  • Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast with Garlic (AIP, Paleo)
  • Maple Glazed Roast Chicken
  • Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Thyme
  • Sage & Lemon Stuffed Whole Fish

Starchy Sides & “Breads”

  • Mashed Cauliflower “Potatoes” (AIP, Paleo)
  • Sweet Potato & Apple Bake (AIP, Paleo)
  • Carrot & Parsnip Mash
  • Crispy Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
  • Paleo Biscuits (Cassava/Arrowroot based)
  • Coconut Flour “Cornbread”

Vegetable Sides

  • Roasted Green Beans with Garlic Oil
  • Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (AIP, Paleo)
  • Maple-Glazed Carrots (AIP, Paleo)
  • Roasted Broccoli & Garlic
  • Balsamic Roasted Beets
  • Cauliflower Stuffing (AIP, Paleo)
  • Autumn Squash with Rosemary

Gravy & Sauces

  • Homemade Paleo Turkey Gravy (AIP option)
  • Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce

Salads

  • Spinach, Apple & Pomegranate Salad
  • Kale & Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
  • Simple Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Desserts

  • Paleo Pumpkin Pie (AIP option, almond/coconut crust)
  • Apple Crisp with Coconut Topping
  • AIP Sweet Potato Pie Bars
  • Pumpkin Custard (AIP, Paleo)
  • Paleo Cranberry Crumble
  • Coconut Whipped Cream

Beverages

  • Spiced Apple Cider (AIP, Paleo)
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte (Dairy Free, Paleo)
  • Chilled Hibiscus Tea

[ingredients]
A sample shopping list for a well rounded Paleo & AIP Thanksgiving:
– 1 whole turkey breast or roast chicken
– 2 pounds sweet potatoes
– 1 head cauliflower
– Assorted root vegetables (parsnips, carrots, beets, turnips)
– 1 bag fresh spinach
– 1 bunch kale
– 2 pomegranates
– Coconut flour, almond flour, arrowroot or cassava flour
– Garlic, onions, fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)
– Coconut cream/milk
– Apple cider vinegar
– Avocados, apples, butternut squash
– Pastured eggs (optional for Paleo versions)
– Unrefined maple syrup or honey
– Olive and avocado oil
– Spices: cinnamon, cloves, ginger, turmeric, sea salt

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save these recipes to quickly generate organized shopping lists, categorized by grocery aisle. This saves you time on meal prep and ensures you never miss an ingredient—even on the busiest holiday weeks!

CookifyAI meal planning interface

Instructions & Key Preparation Tips

1. **Plan ahead:** Choose your favorite recipes from each category. Many AIP & Paleo side dishes can be made a day or two before—soups, mashes, and baked goods freeze or refrigerate well.
2. **Batch-cook sides:** Roasting multiple vegetables together is both time and energy efficient.
3. **Stay organized:** Make sauces and gravies ahead, and reheat gently before serving.
4. **Assemble salads and dressings last minute** for freshness.
5. **Desserts:** Bake pies, custards, and crumbles the night before for best texture.

Weekly Meal Planning

Thanksgiving week can get hectic—let a smart system help! Save and schedule your recipes to plan out each course, consolidate ingredients, and generate an automatic shopping list that combines all your Paleo & AIP Thanksgiving needs.

Planning Benefits:

  • Automatically adjusts ingredient quantities for guest count
  • Keeps track of what you have vs. what you need to buy
  • Organizes lists by store section for efficient shopping trips
  • Makes multi-recipe prep seamless and stress-free

Pro tip: If you’re cooking for multiple dietary preferences, use ingredient overlap features to combine quantities for shared ingredients like sweet potatoes, fresh herbs, and more—eliminating duplicate purchases and reducing kitchen chaos.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 1–2 hours per full meal (varies by menu and number of dishes)
Cook Time: 1–3 hours (roasting meats, baking casseroles, etc.)
Total Time: 3–5 hours for a complete multi-course Thanksgiving spread

—

Create a Thanksgiving to remember—full of gratitude, flavor, and festive dishes everyone at the table can enjoy, all while staying true to Paleo & AIP principles. With smart planning and a curated list of recipes, you’ll be ready for a seamless, satisfying holiday. Happy feasting!

Leave a Comment