AIP Thanksgiving Menu

Welcome! So glad you are here today! At Flawed yet Functional, I am passionate about using food to heal your body. I use the Autoimmune Protocol to heal my gut and keep my blood sugar under control, as I’m an adult-onset, Type 1 Diabetic. With the holidays just around the corner, those of us with dietary restrictions, allergies, or sensitivities are madly searching Pinterest for acceptable holiday dishes. Am I right? Let me help you out today with a list of AIP Thanksgiving recipes: all are dairy-free, egg-free, grain-free, gluten-free, nightshade-free, and nut-free. Is it possible? Oh, it is, and it will be a delicious day!

Main Course

The beauty of the Autoimmune Protocol (or Paleo, Keto, and all allergies) is that all meat is acceptable. The only caveat is watching what is put on the meat in the form of glaze, fat, or gravy. Most recipes on Pinterest call for butter to help the herbs stick to the skin, just substitute olive oil! Piece of cake.

Roasting the perfect turkey or ham can be an art form or a simple rub and toss in the oven. Here are a few levels of difficulty:

Alton Brown’s Classic Brined and Roasted Turkey – Substitute olive oil for the butter

The Best Roast Turkey by The Yummy Life – Compliant as written! Also includes fantastic step-by-step for how to roast the bird properly!

Pressure Cooker Bone-In Ham with Maple-Honey Glaze by Simple Awesome Cooking – omit nutmeg

Mashed Vegetable Sides

White potatoes might be out of the AIP diet, but there are plenty of other delicious substitutes that don’t have an inflammatory effect. So you’ll feel good after you eat these!

Cauliflower-Parsnip Mash with Roasted Garlic by Love & Lemons

Mashed White Sweet Potatoes by Wendi’s AIP Kitchen

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes by Ari’s Menu

Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes by The Real Food Dieticians – omit nuts and nutmeg

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Other Vegetable Sides

Never fear, green bean casserole is not a necessity on the Thanksgiving table! Try these roasted delights out to round out your table!

Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms by Kalyn’s Kitchen

Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries by Little Bits Of

Roasted Carrots with Garlic and Basil by Prepare and Nourish

Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts by Flawed yet Functional

Fruit Sides

Fruit does not need to be over-thought. Make a tray of fresh berries, grapes, pineapple chunks, and apple slices and call it a day. However, if you want to put more effort into it, try these!

Pumpkin Spice Fruit Dip by Raia’s Recipes – omit nutmeg

Stone Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Syrup by Downshiftology

Fruit Salad with Lemon Dressing by Paleo Leap – omit poppy seeds

Winter Fruit Salad by Dinner at the Zoo – omit poppy seeds

Appetizers

Not everyone makes appetizers for Thanksgiving, but it is nice to have something to munch on while waiting for dinner to be served. These will satisfy the munchies and still leave room for dinner!

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus by Damn Delicious

Bacon Wrapped Dates by Lou Lou Biscuit

Sweet Potato and Bacon Croquettes by Paleo Diet and Fitness

Salmon and Leek Paté by Healing Family Eats – serve with cucumber slices and carrot sticks

Desserts

Sweets can be very tricky on AIP. Sugar is not encouraged, especially while in the elimination phase. However, if sugar is not the norm for you, I think indulging, reasonably, on Thanksgiving is ok. You know your body best though, and if you think this should be a sugar-free Thanksgiving, then, by all means, skip this category! It is not necessary!

Pumpkin Pie by Flawed yet Functional – use AIP crust option

Apple Pie by Autoimmune Wellness

Cinnamon Apples by Flawed yet Functional

Dairy-Free Whipped Cream by Flawed yet Functional

Caramel Apple Parfaits by Grass Fed Salsa

The best part of eating AIP for a holiday meal is not having the bloated, nap-inducing effect of overeating on grains and potatoes. If you are like me, you’ll have to try it to believe it, but it is true. There is no bloat after an AIP meal (or Paleo!). These are recipes you can thoroughly enjoy and still be able to enjoy family/friend time after dinner without hitting the couch for a nap.

Ok, it’s official. I’m hungry now. Do you believe me now that AIP Thanksgiving recipes can be delicious?! Truthfully, these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more amazing recipes out there! If you already have a plan for turkey day, what do you plan to make? Share your thoughts or a link in the comments. I’d love to hear what you’re making!