Nothing beats coming together with your favorite people to indulge in a homemade feast. Cooking a Thanksgiving meal—or any big holiday meal—proves daunting, especially for busy college students. Here are 15 healthy potluck recipes that will impress your friends and family throughout the holiday season.
1. Butternut Squash Hummus
This creamy, protein-packed dip is bursting with autumn flavors. Bonus: it's incredibly easy to make. Simply toss the ingredients together in a food processor or blender, and you've got a perfect, shareable appetizer.
2. Spicy Pumpkin Soup
One of the several healthy potluck recipes, this spicy pumpkin soup recipe consists of fall flavors. Double or triple this effortless slow cooker soup to serve a crowd. The soup is creamy and full of comforting flavor with a warming, spicy kick.
3. Sweet Potatoes With Apple Butter
These simple, creamy sweet potatoes are a healthier (and maybe even tastier) alternative to traditional sweet potatoes. Mashed with lots of cinnamon-y apple butter, these autumn-flavored sweet potatoes are the perfect addition to your holiday table.
4. Chicken Sausage and Herb Stuffing
The holidays aren't the same without the stuffing. That's why you need this recipe. This healthier stuffing recipe is packed with fresh herbs, flavorful chicken sausage, and chunks of French baguette. Sounds dreamy.
5. Roasted Carrots With Ginger
Double this unbelievably quick recipe for roasted carrots. With a hint of cilantro and ginger, they're a fun twist on a traditional veggie side. Not to mention, the colors make for a pretty Instagram-worthy picture.
6. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes With Parmesan and Herbs
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving must-have. This healthier version is super creamy thanks to Greek yogurt and a dash of Parmesan cheese. Fresh herbs add the perfect hint of fall flavor.
7. Easy Butternut Squash Bowls
These hearty, soul-warming butternut squash "bowls" are the perfect vegetarian dish. They contain loads of healthy greens and quinoa, plus the sweet fall flavors of cranberry and orange. You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this mouthwatering dish.
8. Cranberry Pecan Quinoa Salad
This sweet and savory quinoa salad is a yummy, protein-packed side dish. With chewy cranberries, crunchy pecans, and honey-orange dressing, it's a fall party on a plate.
9. Easy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Good news: You can make these super simple rolls in a muffin tin. Packed with healthy whole grains, these rolls are the perfect, comforting addition to a hearty Thanksgiving meal.
10. Roasted String Beans
These simple roasted string beans are extra-crispy and satisfying. Plus, they're a great, healthy complement to the richer dishes in your holiday spread.
11. Thanksgiving Slaw
This crunchy, refreshing slaw is packed with autumn flavors and ingredients, like cranberries, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. It's a uniquely refreshing side dish that everyone will love.
12. Maple Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is a holiday necessity. This citrusy, maple- and cinnamon-flavored version is just the right amount of tart and sweet.
13. Simple Caramelized Apple Tarts
Double this recipe to make these adorable, fancy-looking apple tarts. Buttery puff pastry and rich apples come together to make a total holiday win.
14. Healthy Pumpkin Pie With Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust
Pumpkin is the ultimate fall flavor, and no Thanksgiving meal is complete without at least one pumpkin dessert. This lightened-up version of pumpkin pie is just as creamy and indulgent as the original.
15. No-Bake Healthy Salted Caramel Date Truffles
These easy dark chocolate truffles are packed with healthy ingredients like dates and nut butter. With a sprinkle of sea salt on top, these sweet and salty truffles are a festive finish to a holiday meal.
With all these healthy potluck recipes, you might not even need a turkey. But if you can’t imagine the holidays without one, no stress: roasting a turkey is easier than you think. In either case, these healthy potluck recipes are sure to deliver an impressive feast that everyone will love.