Need some gluten-free dairy-free Thanksgiving recipe inspiration? Look no further! Check out these 25 recipes, including breakfast, appetizers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts all to make sure you keep on track with your diet – and feel good the next day!
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Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if this is your first (or second or third…) Thanksgiving eating a gluten-free dairy-free diet, you may be on the hunt for some recipes that taste great but still will leave you feeling your very best the next day after.
Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday… until I had to cut a bunch of foods out of my diet. Gluten, dairy, eggs…
For a few years in a row, I felt like the odd one out at holidays.
I couldn’t eat my Grandma’s famous sweet potato casserole.
I couldn’t enjoy the stuffing or rolls anymore.
I couldn’t even have a piece of pumpkin pie without regretting it the next morning. Or before we even made it home from the big dinner itself.
My favorite holiday became my least favorite in one year flat.
After that first year of feeling so out of touch with what everyone else was enjoying, I decided to take things into my own hands. I decided I would try to contribute more to the menu. I brought a new sweet potato dish. I brought a quinoa stuffing in addition to the stuffing that everyone else enjoyed. I even made my own pumpkin dessert pumpkin parfaits.
To say the least, I was the only one who really enjoyed the new dishes. No one was willing to touch let alone eat and enjoy my new creations. After all, Thanksgiving is almost always about tradition and family recipes that everyone loves. There was nothing traditional about quinoa stuffing. I guess I cant blame them.
Fast forward a few years, I’ve learned a few things about making it through Thanksgiving (and really all the food-related holidays):
- Try to make gluten-free dairy-free dishes as close as possible to their traditional versions. And then don’t mention that they’re completely gluten-free and dairy-free friendly. (People can be weird when they know its not the real thing)
- Don’t be afraid to bring a dish or two of your own.
- Talk to the host/hostess about making the dinner gluten-free and dairy-free friendly. I know it’s a total pain and potentially awkward, but you’d be surprised how people who care about you are willing to help you on your journey. (Not always, but many times)
These days, I love Thanksgiving again. I have shared my Thanksgiving menu in the past, when I created a new slew of recipes that are adapted to be GFDF-friendly AND taste good to everyone else in my family. In fact, I’ve even hosted Thanksgiving since going gluten and dairy-free – and everything turned out to be a hit – woohoo!
If you’re on the hunt for some excellent Thanksgiving recipes that will help you stick with your gluten-free dairy-free diet AND still enjoy the food on the table, you’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up 25 awesome recipes, including breakfast, appetizers, main courses, side dishes – and best of all, desserts.
I hope you enjoy this holiday season as much as I will – and vow to never be the odd one out at the table again!
Gluten-free Dairy-free Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes
1. Best Gluten-free Pumpkin Muffins
These gluten-free pumpkin muffins are allergy-friendly all around – no gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, corn, and refined sugar-free. If you want to get a little festive for Thanksgiving morning, try these tasty muffins a try!
2. Gluten-free Dairy-free Sausage Egg Casserole
I love that this gluten-free dairy-free sausage egg casserole can be made into individual portions so that you can make them ahead and retreat for easy on the go breakfasts. For a busy morning where food prep will be happening all day long, I can’t think of a better thing than a make-ahead breakfast!
These apple cider glazed donuts are a perfect treat for Thanksgiving morning. Making gluten-free and dairy-free donuts at home is super easy as long as you have a donut pan on hand. This is the one I have and love to use.
This chai tea inspired quick bread recipe is a fun breakfast idea for any holiday morning, but feels perfect for Thanksgiving because of the warm spices that just scream FALL to me. This one is made with oat flour and tapioca starch, so you know it’s gluten-free and non-dairy milk so it’s dairy-free too.
5. Paleo Pumpkin Muffins with a Swirl
These paleo pumpkin muffins with a swirl look divine – straight out of a magazine or a rainy day at a coffee shop in the fall. What makes these muffins great is that they’re gluten-free and dairy-free AND can be prepped all in one bowl. Easy cleanup and a delicious result on Thanksgiving morning? I’m in!
Gluten-free Dairy-free Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
These gluten-free sausage balls are an excellent appetizer idea for Thanksgiving if you have folks gather around early in the day while the main meal is cooking. These use almond flour in place of traditional flour to make them gluten-free. To make them dairy-free, be sure to swap out the butter for vegan butter and use a dairy-free cheese like Daiya or omit the cheese altogether.
These maple candied pecans are simple and take only 3 ingredients and just 5 minutes to prepare. These come together with pecans, maple syrup, and cinnamon so they’re gluten-free and dairy-free. These will be a hit for serving guests during your holiday get-togethers, and an awesome sweet snack to serve as an appetizer before the big meal.
8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Aioli
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon aioli are a healthy and a fresh twist on your standard appetizer. The bacon aioli is made using a dairy-free mayo, lemon juice, garlic, bacon, and fresh thyme. Super easy and super flavorful. There’s nothing like something simple to impress your guests, without all the effort!
Spinach and artichoke dip can be a tricky one to make dairy-free since it’s usually loaded with cream cheese and loads of cheese. This gluten-free and dairy-free version is made with cashews and mayonnaise for a healthier dip. Try this one for big flavor before the big meal!
10. Roasted Pumpkin Walnut Dip
If you want to serve a festive appetizer at your Thanksgiving dinner this year, try this roasted pumpkin walnut dip is just for you. This recipe is Low FODMAP, gluten-free and dairy-free, and is great with veggie sticks or gluten-free crackers.
Gluten-free Dairy-free Thanksgiving Main Course Recipes
If you love turkey for Thanksgiving (who doesn’t, right?), well here’s a great turkey recipe for you. This recipe is cooked up in a foil tent so it steams inside, then at the end you get to take the foil off for an extra crispy skin. Best of all, you don’t need any gluten or dairy for this flavorful holiday main dish.
12. Baked Ham with Apple Cider Maple Glaze
If your family likes turkey AND ham on Thanksgiving, try this baked ham recipe. This one is super yummy with the addiiton of apple cider as the base of a glaze. I feel okay about using butter in this recipe since it’s on the glaze, but you can always swap for vegan butter or coconut oil if you’re more comfortable with that.
13. Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Cranberries
Not sure about going through all the trouble of cooking a turkey on Thanksgiving? Try this delicious garlic rosemary chicken with cranberries that’s full of flavor, but way less effort. There’s no flour or butter in this recipe, so it gets the thumbs up for being gluten-free and dairy-free too.
14. Crock Pot Maple Brown Sugar Ham
This lovely holiday ham recipe is made in your crockpot for an easy main dish that won’t take you away from spending time with your family. If you wind up serving a ton of people at Thanksgiving, having a ham going in your crockpot is a pretty easy way to feed more people with minimal extra effort. Best of all, this recipe couldn’t be simpler – just put the ham in the crockpot, rub brown sugar over it, then pour maple syrup and pineapple over everything. Cook for 4 to 5 hours, and voila! Dinner is served!
15. Cranberry Rosemary Stuffed Pork Loin
Here’s another non-turkey option for you this Thanksgiving. This stuffed pork loin is gorgeous filled with a deep red cranberry and rosemary sauce. This recipe is dairy-free, and can be made gluten-free by swapping out the whole-wheat breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Gluten-free Dairy-free Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
16. Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Praline Topping
My grandma makes a sweet potato casserole for every Thanksgiving and Christmas for our family – we love it so much. When I first went gluten and dairy-free, she had no idea how to make changes so I could eat it. Here’s a similar version of what she makes and an awesome GFDF recipe for you to check out if your family loves sweet potato casserole too.
17. Healthy Green Bean Casserole
This green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish transformed to be healthier and gluten-free dairy-free. The secret to this reinvented dish is raw cashews to make a dairy-free creamy texture instead of cream-based soup. Another secret? Make your own ‘french fried onions’ to go on top!
This crockpot stuffing isn’t your traditional stuffing, but it’s full of flavor and delicious anyway. It’s made with wild rice, cranberries, and almonds – all delicious and classic ingredients for a Thanksgiving dish. Other than being gluten-free and dairy-free, the other big reason I love this is that it’s a real time-saver by using your crock pot. It looks hearty and delicious!
Did you know mashed potatoes don’t require loads of butter and cream to make at home? These mashed potatoes are made using a surprising ingredient in place of all that dairy – chicken stock. The chicken stock provides the moisture and flavor that you want in mashed potatoes without having to regret it later.
20. Gluten-free Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
These gluten-free pull apart dinner rolls are an awesome recipe to keep handy during the holidays, and Thanksgiving is no exception. It’s tough to find a bread or roll recipe that doesn’t have gluten or dairy – and that turns out. You can make these dairy-free by substituting the butter for vegan butter or vegetable shortening.
Gluten-free Dairy-free Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Pumpkin pie is the quintessential Thanksgiving dessert, but it’s not perfectly straight-forward how to make this gluten-free and dairy-free without shelling out tons of money for extra ingredients, amiright? This gluten-free and dairy-free maple pumpkin pie will make sure even us gluten-free dairy-free folks can enjoy our holiday and round out the meal with our favorite dessert.
22. Gluten-free Apple Spice Cake
Gluten-free apple spice cake is great for an alternative Thanksgiving dessert if you’re sick of (or want extra options in addition to) pumpkin pie. These are super simple to make and only require one bowl and no mixer. Hands up for those of us who like doing less dishes around the holidays!!
23. Paleo Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes
If pumpkin is your thing but pie feels a little overdone, these paleo pumpkin pie cupcakes will be right up your alley. Recipes that require one tool… like a blender – or food processor in this case… get a two-thumbs-up approval from me! Plus they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, and look great too.
If you love to serve a few dessert options at Thanksgiving, or if the traditional pie isn’t your jam, these gluten-free dairy-free paleo gingersnaps are an easy and quick treat to whip up. Simply mix up the dough, roll them out, then bake them! Done and done – dessert’s ready! Best of all, they can be made in advance so you can focus your efforts on the main meal.
25. Vegan Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
These gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan pumpkin cookies are awesome, because they melt in your mouth, have chocolate chips(!!) in them, and are ready in 30 minutes. These are awesome for Thanksgiving, because they will suit you and your guest’s love of chocolate – and combine it with the truly festive ingredient: pumpkin. Make these ones for your guests or bring them to your family get-together to really impress them!
So there you have it! 25 delicious Thanksgiving recipes that will help you stick with your gluten-free dairy-free diet – no sweat!
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