11 Healthier Thanksgiving side dishes that are guaranteed to make your mouth water.

We all know the best part of Thanksgiving dinner is the side dishes. The stuffing. Cranberry sauce. Mashed potatoes. Green bean casserole. My mouth is watering already.

Honestly? I’m partial to sticking with the classics and just enjoying the day without thinking about macros or calories. That said, I do feel better (and less bloated), when I fill my plate with better-for-me foods. So I thought a recipe round up with healthier versions of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes would be fun!

11 Healthier Thanksgiving Side Dishes

And we’re off! These are some of my favorite recipes and ideas from some of my favorite blogs and websites!

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes aren’t mashed potatoes without the creamy texture and buttery taste. So rather than pull out all of those key ingredients, try substituting partial amounts for lighter, healthier options.

Healthier Classic Mashed Potatoes

This recipe by Ahead of Thyme substitutes some low fat milk and chicken stock to lighten things up. I love that she uses Greek yogurt as a substitute for the classic sour cream. I do that a lot in my own kitchen and find that no one even notices the difference!

Garlic Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower

Growing up, my mom always made garlic mashed potatoes. I remember how the whole house smelled like it while she was cooking – and I couldn’t wait for dinner! This mashed cauliflower recipe is reminiscent of those smells.

Herby and Delicious Skin-On Mashed Potatoes

I happen to be a big fan of leaving the skin on when making mashed potatoes. I know – that’s heresy for some people (like my husband). But I love the texture and the look of it. Throw in some herbs on top of that and I am a happy Thanksgiving girl.

Sweet Potato Casserole

I’ll be honest, my husband’s family makes the BEST sweet potato casserole and I’m never (ever) going to mess with it. It’s closer to dessert than side dish but I’m willing to indulge once a year! That said, these recipes simplify and healthify a typically over-the-top side dish into something you could actually enjoy all year long.

Lightened Up Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel

Ambitious Kitchen always finds a way to take a comfort food and make it better for you, without denying you the comfort factor! Like this lightened up version of Sweet Potato Casserole…streusel and all!

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Eating Well always comes through with the simple, but delicious, recipes. This one is for maple roasted potatoes – simple enough for an every night meal but can level up for a holiday, too! Roasted sweet potatoes have a bit more bite to them (obviously), than mashed or casserole style potatoes so they’re a great way to add a healthy scoop of color and fun.

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

If you really want to shake up the sweet potato game this fall try hasselbacks! They’re fun to make and fun to eat. And quite frankly, the simplicity of this recipe makes it a very easy add on to a hectic day of holiday cooking.

Stuffing

About ten years ago I started making my own stuffing instead of using the boxed stuff. Say what you want, it’s a game changer! These three stuffing recipes run the gamut – you’ve got your classic (ish), your sweet and savory, and there’s even a rice stuffing!

Healthy Harvest Stuffing

Leave it to Martha to add shiitake mushrooms to stuffing. I love this combination of ingredients – it feels very New England to me. Granny Smith apples, cranberries, walnuts and (of course), mushrooms? Sign me up.

Rosemary Whole Wheat Stuffing with Figs and Hazelnuts

Okay fine. The last recipe was very New England, but how about this one! Starting with the main ingredient (bread), you’re making a healthier choice by going with whole wheat bread. And it’s flavor bomb after flavor bomb after that.

Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing

This is a great recipe for anyone trying to simplify life on Thanksgiving, and who’s willing to go out of the box a bit. Well Plated, another of my go-to healthy cooking blogs, does stuffing right. This article even offers a few variations (sausage, anyone?).

Green Bean Casserole

I discovered this recipe for a healthier version of green bean casserole last year and I’m hooked. Plus as far as healthier Thanksgiving side dishes go, this is one that you can really get away with leveling up!

Green Bean Casserole with Garlic and Onions

No canned mushrooms or Crisco fried onions here! Ambitious Kitchen lightens up this Turkey Day classic by using fresh, well, everything. And that topping though!

Blue Cheese Walnut Green Beans

I find the idea of blue cheese at Thanksgiving really appealing. Every dish is already homey, comfy and cozy. So why not add a little pop of funk with a really good blue cheese? This is another Eating Well recipe. I love it because it’s simple, quick, and surprising.

Cranberry Sauce

As a kid I wouldn’t even dream of touching whole cranberry sauce. For me, it was canned, jiggly, maybe-has-a-cranberry-in-there-somewhere sauce or bust. That’s not quite the case anymore. Personally I reach for raw cranberry sauce these days. It’s the perfect tart-but-sweet juxtaposition to all of the heavier dishes on the Thanksgiving table.

Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce recipe from Cookie and Kate has just 4 ingredients. 4, perfect, ingredients. That’s the sign of a well balanced recipe!

A couple of tips to make the most out of this Thanksgiving…

As much of a health nut as you might be, remember that there’s a time and a place for everything! A little indulgence on a wonderful holiday, surrounded by family and friends will be far better for your health than skipping the festivities. Use some of these tips to get the most out of this year’s holiday season:

• Portion control. Want a bit of everything on the table? Have it! Simply try to use what you know about portion control to keep yourself from going way overboard and feeling crappy afterwards.
  
• Make sure to move! My family has a tradition of finding the closest Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It feels really good to get out and move, and get some fresh air. Plus, the feast tastes so much better knowing you crossed that finish line!
  
• Stay hydrated. Between the pile of dishes on the table and the celebratory beverages, make sure that you’re sipping water and staying hydrated.
  
• Save the guilt for…never. This is Thanksgiving! Enjoy it, babe.