These gluten-free and dairy-free Thanksgiving recipes make it easier to plan a holiday menu for family and friends with special dietary needs. From appetizers and side dishes to turkey and dessert, you'll find delicious recipes clearly identified as gluten-free, dairy-free, or easily adapted to suit your Thanksgiving table.
Many of these recipes are both gluten-free and dairy-free, with options that work for plant-based diets too. Each recipe includes notes for modifications where needed. If you have questions, leave a comment or email me. I'm happy to help.
Thanksgiving Breakfast
Keep Thanksgiving morning easy with breakfast options everyone can grab while you're busy preparing the feast. Make the carrot cake muffins or homemade pumpkin bread a day ahead, or leave the smoothie recipe by the blender for an easy help-yourself breakfast.Another delicious breakfast offering is homemade pumpkin bread.
Pumpkin Smoothie (with canned pumpkin)
This pumpkin smoothie tastes like liquid pumpkin pie. Smooth and creamy with warm spices, vanilla, and of course, canned pumpkin (GF/DF/V).
Carrot Cake Muffins
These light textured, delicious muffins are grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, sweetened with maple syrup. They make a great breakfast addition or snack. (GF/DF).
High Protein Overnight Oats (with Chia Seeds)
A healthy breakfast is easy each morning when you make overnight oats the night ahead. Soaking rolled oats and chia seeds in your preferred milk makes them soft and creamy. Meal prep them in individual sized containers to grab-and-go. (GF/DF/V).
Thanksgiving Appetizers and Nibbles
Start with easy Thanksgiving appetizers and nibbles while dinner is coming together. Maple candied pecans are perfect for cocktails, salads, or cheese boards, while spinach stuffed mushrooms make a savory bite. Add green goddess dip with fresh vegetables, classic deviled eggs, or my personal favorite, creamy salmon dip. Each recipe is gluten-free, with dairy-free options clearly noted.
Butternut Apple Soup
Velvety smooth and beautifully colored, creamy butternut apple soup is simple to make and filled with fall flavor. The secret ingredient for the creaminess is coconut milk. Serve it as appetizer soup shots in shot glasses! (GF/DF/V).
Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms filled with spinach, cheese and sun-dried tomatoes make a great pre-dinner appetizer, or for parties and game-day too. Make them ahead a few hours ahead, then broil or bake to serve. (GF/DF with vegan parmesan).
For your guests who eat dairy, add a selection of cheeses and gluten-free crackers or regular crackers. Goat cheese is a good choice because some people who eat dairy-free find they can eat goat cheese (versus cow's milk).
Candied Maple Pecans
These addictive pecans are a great cocktail nibble while the feast is being readied. Use a good plant-based butter. (GF/DF)
Green Goddess Dip
Creamy and bursting with herbs, use Green Goddess recipe as an appetizer dip or sauce with raw veggies as a Thanksgiving appetizer. (GF/DF).
Creamy Smoked Salmon Dip
If you enjoy smoked salmon, you will love this easy smoked salmon dip. Whips together in minutes Serve with raw veggies or GF crackers. Endive leaves make good dippers too. (GF).
Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (Step by Step)
Deviled eggs are a classic appetizer for any holiday. See my trick for using a piping bag for a nice presentation. (GF/DF).
Thanksgiving Sides
Fill your holiday table with delicious side dishes, from butternut squash soup and Brussel sprouts to whipped sweet potatoes with simple ingredients. Pick your family favorites and throw in a new one.
For Brussels sprouts, go simply roasted or try this Brussels sprouts recipe with pancetta and dried cranberries or with fresh lemon zest and thyme (skip parmesan for DF).
Skip green bean casserole with canned mushroom soup and fried onions with palm oil and wheat flour. A better option is green beans topped with browned buttery almonds, my green bean almandine recipe. For another side, the maple roasted acorn squash is garnished with ruby pomegranates for eye appeal.
And for the all important dressing (or stuffing), I've listed my gluten-free cornbread stuffing and my family traditional herbed bread stuffing. If you'd like to lighten things up a bit, try the spinach salad with pomegranate seeds and a pomegranate vinaigrette.
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash with Pomegranate Seeds
A sweet, savory and spiced glaze is brushed over acorn squash slices before roasting, then garnished with pomegranate and pumpkin seeds to serve. (GF/DF/V).
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce with Pomegranate
A twist on classic Thanksgiving cranberry sauce with far less sugar and the addition of pomegranate seeds for more flavor and texture. Make it in minutes, days ahead of time. (GF/DF/V).
Creamed Pearl Onions
Creamed pearl onions are an earthy, sweet addition to a Thanksgiving turkey, but there is no rule you can't enjoy them year round. (GF/DF)
Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing (step by step)
Leeks, fennel, onion and celery make a wonderful, aromatic vegetable base for the dried bread cubes and herbs. See recipe for swaps and prep-ahead steps. (GF/DF).
Creamy Riced Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes made with riced potatoes for a smooth, light texture. A classic Thanksgiving side that belongs on every holiday table. (GF/DF/V).
Super Easy Green Beans
These baby green beans are easy and fast. Decide on your garnishes in advance. Ideas are noted in the post. Cook the beans a day ahead to save time. Warm and garnish at serving time. (GF/DF).
Gluten Free Cornbread
With a golden color and tender crumb, this gluten-free cornbread has big corn flavor. Its nice with a bowl of soup or a cup of tea for a snack. It's also wonderful in cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving turkey. (GF/DF).
Easy Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic
These little cabbages of the vegetable world, Brussels sprouts, are best from fall through early spring. Roasting them is easy and brings out their natural nutty sweetness. Lining the baking sheet with parchment makes clean up easy and prevents over browning. It's available everywhere these days on the aisle where you find foil and storage supplies. (GF/DF/V).
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse vegetable packed with flavor and nutrition. Skip the marshmallows, brown sugar or maple syrup. They don't need it. Simply simmer until tender, then drain, mash and add a little butter or olive oil. Mashed sweet potatoes make a healthy side dish any time of the year. (GF/DF/V).
Cornbread Stuffing with Cranberries
Cornbread cranberry dressing. Everyone will eat well, and your gluten-free, dairy-free guests will be both happy. See swaps in recipe notes. (GF/DF/V).
Spinach Salad with Pomegranate
Light, cheesy, and golden, this corn soufflé has a creamy, custardy interior and is made from scratch without boxed mix. A delicious gluten-free side for Thanksgiving. (GF).
Thanksgiving Turkey
For the Thanksgiving main course, choose a classic dry-brined roast turkey or a smoked turkey breast. Dry brining is my favorite easy method for flavorful, juicy turkey with beautifully browned skin, while smoked turkey breast is a great option for a smaller gathering or a second turkey for the holiday table.
How to Dry Brine a Turkey
Dry brining a turkey is an easy technique that gives you a crisp golden crust and moist delicious meat and it's easy! This brine recipe is for a 12 pound bird. See post for full directions. (GF, DF)
Smoked Turkey Breast
A delicious, elegant, alternative to a whole bird-perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas (DF/GF).
Delicious Desserts
What would Thanksgiving be without dessert? When baking gluten-free for Thanksgiving, I prefer a pumpkin tart to a pumpkin pie. With my recipe for an easy press-in crust, there is no rolling out dough.
And if you want a chocolate option, this bittersweet chocolate tart is rich and decadent, made with coconut milk. And if you must have apple, try my friend Tiffany's apple-pear pie.
Pumpkin Tart Recipe with Gluten Free Crust (and grain free)
Smooth and nicely spiced, this pumpkin tart has a gluten-free, wheat-free crust. It's perfect for Thanksgiving dessert and can be made a day ahead. This recipe is sugar-reduced using pumpkin spice flavored liquid stevia drops. You can use all maple syrup if preferred. Taste the filling and add more maple to your taste preference. (GF only).
The Best Creamy Pumpkin Mousse (low carb)
Creamy, rich and light-textured, make this pumpkin mousse a day ahead and have dessert ready to go. Serve in small dishes or stemmed glasses. Make this with granular monk fruit blend for a sugar-free dessert or sugar if you prefer, or half and half blend. (GF only).
Chocolate Tart With Hazelnut Crust
When dessert has to be chocolate, this recipe will knock your socks off. Decadent, rich, smooth, and chocolaty with a hint of orange. Make it up to several days ahead. It holds well wrapped and refrigerated. Crust can be made a day ahead, wrapped and stored at room temperature until ready to fill and bake. (GF, DF).
Nantucket Cranberry Pie
Despite the name, there's no pastry crust in this easy cranberry pie that bakes like a rustic cake with a jammy cranberry layer, and toasted nuts for crunch. So easy!
Get Organized for Thanksgiving
Want to enjoy Thanksgiving without the last-minute stress? My detailed Thanksgiving planning guide walks you through getting organized for the big day, from setting the table and prepping ingredients ahead to knowing when to start brining that glorious turkey. And don't be afraid to ask for help.
Need More Ideas?
Still planning your menu? Browse my complete collections of Thanksgiving recipes and Christmas recipes for more appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts.
And one last tip: don't tell them it's gluten-free or dairy-free until it's all over. No one will guess! If you have a question, leave a comment and I'm happy to help.
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