22 Paleo Thanksgiving Recipes

Four smoked turkey legs on a wire rack on a wooden surface.

Smoked Turkey Legs1/22

Even better than the ones at the Renaissance fair that you walk around gnawing off the bone. All it takes is a simple brine and a little patience.

Florets of spicy roasted cauliflower on a baking sheet with squeezed lime wedges and a bowl of green sauce beside them.

Roasted Cauliflower with Cilantro Sauce2/22

So intriguingly spiced and perfectly roasted that even avowed non-cauliflower eaters will change their minds. That's what folks are saying about this stealthy healthy side.

A smoked turkey on a platter with orange slices and fresh herbs.

Smoked Turkey3/22

It's not just about how lovely a turkey imbued with smoke would be. It's also about how lovely more space in the oven on Thanksgiving would be.

Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Paleo Pie Crust4/22

GF? Yep. Paleo? Yeah, that too. Devoid of anything that would offend a vegan? Check. Talk about a recipe for a happy Thanksgiving.

Roasted red cabbage on a cooling rack set in a baking sheet

Roasted Red Cabbage5/22

So incredibly easy to make it's ridiculous. Perfect for when you KNOW you need to eat your vegetables but desperately want to switch things up a little with something unexpected.

A cast-iron skillet with 8 whole roasted onions with papery skins and creamy interiors.

Whole Roasted Onions6/22

Plonk unpeeled onions on a baking sheet. Shove in oven. Come back later for achingly sweet, tender, mellow oniony goodness. Accept accolades. See how easy that was?

A whole deep-fried turkey, garnished with sage, bay, and thyme leaves on a wooden cutting board.

Deep-Fried Turkey7/22

Crisp, burnished skin and moist, impossibly tender meat can be yours. (Yes, deep-fried turkey IS everything it's bragged up to be.)

A layer of toasted, spiced pumpkin seeds

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds8/22

"Super easy." "Quite addictive." "Divine." That's what folks are saying about these surprisingly seductive spiced pepitas made from the guts of your carved pumpkin.

A jar of roasted applesauce with a spoon resting inside on a saucer with a strip of apple peel.

Roasted Applesauce9/22

So long, store-bought applesauce. Tuck into your own fuss-free, artisanal applesauce that's a little sweet, a little spicy, and as smooth or as chunky as you please.

A bowls of green beans gremolata with a small dish of gremolata on the side.

Green Beans Gremolata10/22

An easy way to gussy up green beans and make them seem fancy without being fussy.

A large metal sheet pan filled with slices of roasted carrots with allspice, sea salt and preserved lemons, with a serving spoon.

Roasted Carrots with Allspice11/22

Sweet. Spicy. Earthy. And a touch puckery. When did anything--or anyone--at your table boast such character? Certain to compensate for your duller dinner invitees.

A woman pouring maple syrup over a maple glazed turkey in a black roasting pan.

Maple Glazed Turkey12/22

Gluten-free. Dairy-free. Paleo-friendly. And tastes magnificent. Things just got a heck of a lot easier for you to plan your Thanksgiving menu.

A parchment-line rimmed baking sheet with fifteen whole duck fat roasted carrots.

Duck Fat Roasted Carrots13/22

Surely you’ve heard of potatoes roasted in duck fat? Same basic principle—and unspeakable loveliness—applies here.

2 halves of an acorn squash on a white plate, scooped out and lightly charred.

Roasted Acorn Squash with Maple Syrup14/22

This oh-so-easy riff on a cool-weather classic is quite a lot like eating candy at the dinner table. Hear that, kids?

Sheet pan with chunks of roasted pumpkin and Brussels sprouts

Maple Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts15/22

Ever been tempted by those piles of beautiful autumn pumpkins and squash at the market, only to get home and wonder, “Um, now what?!” Thankfully, we have the perfect solution.

Two roasted sweet potatoes on a wooden table.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes16/22

Virtuous for its simplicity as well as its versatility, the roasted sweet potato is a thing to behold--and to bejewel, whether with sugar or spice or anything nice.

A metal ice cream scoop with a scoop of concord grape granita in it.

Concord Grape Granita17/22

You're not going to believe how easy it is to create this tartly sweet grape granita. Really. You wanna make a bet?

Four baked pumpkin donuts on a donut tray, two coated with dark chocolate frosting and two coated with maple-bacon glaze.

Baked Pumpkin Donuts18/22

Deeply satisfying, these baked pumpkin donuts are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and doused with maple and bacon or dark chocolate.

A mortar partially filled with herb salt and a pestle and two sprigs of fresh sage leaves lying beside it.

Herb Salt19/22

Herb salt is, quite simply, herbs pummeled with salt to create a restaurant worthy condiment. Here's how to make it along with several incredible uses, whether fancy schmancy or simple.

A fork resting in a bowl of celery root salad with clementines.

Celery Root Salad with Clementines20/22

Not your typical salad, this is made with nutritious celery root that's cleverly blitzed until minced so finely it could stand in for couscous. The perfect balance of sweet, salty, sour, and surprise.

A white earthenware bowl of sweet potato soup with coconut milk drizzled over the top.

Sweet Potato Soup With Coconut Milk21/22

Easy, healthy, paleo, gluten-free, and vegan. More importantly, incredibly complex, rich, and velvety smooth. So much so you'll go wobbly in the knees. And so simple you can make it a weeknight staple.

Rosemary Carrot Puree22/22

This one's for the gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and Paleo peeps. It's unlike anything you've ever had, we guarantee it.