Healthy Eating

The 30 Healthiest Store-Bought Thanksgiving Dishes

Save yourself time in the kitchen with these delicious & nutritious Thanksgiving options!

By: Lexy Parsons

Between holiday gift shopping, a jam-packed social calendar, and visits from extended family, there’s lots to think about and little time to get it all done. And let’s not forget about the pressures that come with holiday cooking — especially if you’re hosting! It’s no wonder so many of us feel stressed and anxious! 

While you may not be able to alleviate all holiday stress, why not make life a little easier by giving yourself some help in the kitchen? By calling on healthy store-bought Thanksgiving dishes, you’ll save valuable time, stress, and energy. 

Plus, there are so many good-for-you options that can help you cater to a variety of different dietary preferences and stay on track with your fitness goals — it’s a no-brainer! No matter if you’re in charge of cooking a few holiday sides or responsible for the main meal, these ready-made holiday dishes will be a lifesaver. 

Ahead, healthy and easy store-bought Thanksgiving foods you need on your plate. From appetizers to main meals to dessert options, we’ve got all your needs (and cravings) covered.

RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Making The Best Thanksgiving Pies You’ve Ever Had

Healthier Store-Bought Thanksgiving Appetizers

Kite Hill Butternut Squash Ravioli

Pasta lovers, this one’s for you. This fall-inspired pasta dish makes the perfect healthy appetizer that will satisfy your comfort food cravings and beyond. Made with an almond milk ricotta alternative and egg-free pasta, it caters to a variety of diets and meal plans. No prepping, no cooking, no messy cleanup. Simply heat and serve!

Crown Prince Natural Smoked Oysters

Simple, nutritious, delicious. These olive oil-marinated smoked Oysters come ready to enjoy as a healthy app or snack and will be loved by all. Enjoy with crackers or serve cocktail style! Some other tasty store-bought seafood starters include shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon.

Cucina & Amore Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Every Thanksgiving menu needs a healthy holiday bruschetta, and we’ve got just the one! Easy to dress up and simple to prepare, this tomato bruschetta will save you time without skimping on taste. It’s free from gluten, sulfites, and added sugar and full of flavorful ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, basil, walnuts, and pine nuts. Serve it up on your favorite toasted bread, add it to your charcuterie board, or spread it on crackers and roasted veggies.

Kettle & Fire Butternut Squash Bone Broth Soup

No time to make your own soup? Serve up this protein-packed gut-friendly Kettle & Fire Butternut Squash soup! Made with wholesome, organic ingredients like chicken bone broth, butternut squash, carrots, celery, and turmeric, it’s the perfect nutritious and delicious starter or side that will be loved by all. 

Pacific Foods Organic Cumin Carrot Oat Milk Soup

Made with a creamy oat milk and cashew base, nutritious veggies like carrots and onions, and a blend of spices, this pre-made comforting soup will save you time and stress in the kitchen. It’s fully plant-based, deliciously creamy, and the perfect appetizer or starter dish for guests.

Rao’s Homemade Italian Wedding Soup

This Italian-style soup is slow simmered to perfection with ingredients like chicken broth, meatballs, and real veggies. It’s free from artificial flavors and preservatives, and tastes so delicious that you’d never guess it comes from a jar!

Simple Thanksgiving Store-Bought Sides

Strong Roots Root Veggies Fries

These carrot, parsnip, and red beetroot Strong Roots fries will make a vibrant and delicious superfood side dish at your Thanksgiving holiday or gathering. They’re packed with antioxidants, fully plant-based, and free from gluten. Toss them in the air fryer for a crispy crunch, or blend them into creamy root veggie mash. 

Banza Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese

If baked Mac & Cheese is a must-have Thanksgiving menu item, no need to cook from scratch! Simply grab a box of Banza and try making it with this better-for-you chickpea pasta alternative. With 25 grams of protein, 13 grams of fiber, and half the net carbs of traditional pasta, it’s a much healthier alternative to traditional calorie-dense recipes. Enjoy it as a simple side, healthy app, or serve it as part of the main meal!

Cascadian Farm Veggie Stuffing Alternative

Thanksgiving stuffing just got a healthy (and flavorful) upgrade. Unlike traditional stuffing (packed with calories and saturated fat), this Cascadian Farm Organic Hearty Blend is made with farro, broccoli, carrots, and chickpeas for a filling and flavorful alternative. It’s full of dietary fiber, rich in protein, and free from gluten! Serve with turkey or with tofu, or enjoy on its own.

Miss Jones Keto, Paleo, & Gluten-Free Cornbread

Love cornbread but don’t love the way it makes you feel? Give this keto and paleo-friendly alternative a try. It’s gluten-free and made with a two-ingredient almond and coconut flour blend, making it a much healthier alternative to traditional Thanksgiving cornbread recipes. Simply stir in eggs, non-dairy milk, and oil, then pop it in the oven. Tastes like homemade without all the prep work!

Roasted Veggies

From roasted root veggie blends to fire-roasted corn to pre-cooked mixed greens, there are endless store-bought veggie blends to choose from that will save you time and stress. How you flavor your menu is up to you! Head to the freezer or prepared foods section of your closest grocery store to find what’s local. Use your veggies of choice in stuffings, soups, mashed potatoes, and more! Add extra herbs or spices, flavor it with sauces or marinades, or simply heat and serve.

Thanksgiving Sauces & Condiments

Primal Kitchen Bone Broth Gravy

This creamy, dreamy bone broth gravy makes any dish taste like Thanksgiving. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and tastes homemade. Made with turkey, bone broth, coconut cream, and a variety of wholesome spices. Drizzle it on everything without guilt!

Canned Pumpkin

Save yourself the prep work, roasting, and cleaning — grab a can (or two or three) of pumpkin puree instead! From soups to pasta to baked goods, there are so many ways to use pumpkin puree, beyond pie. Just make sure you’re grabbing unsweetened pumpkin puree (different from canned pumpkin pie!).

Stonewall Kitchen Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Unfortunately, high fructose corn syrup can still be found in many store-bought foods – including some store-bought cranberry sauces. If a healthy homemade sauce isn’t happening this year, don’t worry, you’ve got options! This store-bought blend is made with real cranberries, oranges, organic cane sugar, and wholesome spices. Though still high in sugar, it’s a much healthier alternative to processed and refined items!

Kite Hill Almond Milk Soft Spreadable Cheese

Spread it over gluten-free crackers, stuff it into peppers, or add it to your charcuterie board with fresh veggies. Made with almond milk, this soft, spreadable cheese is dairy-free for holiday snacking made nutritious and delicious. Find other dairy-free spreads like Whipped Ricotta, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, or Cream Cheese.

Cinnamon Applesauce

Looking for an alternative to cranberry sauce? This unsweetened applesauce is made with just two ingredients: organic apples and organic cinnamon. It tastes delicious on Thanksgiving turkey and mashed potatoes, can be used in holiday baked goods, or even served on top of yogurt or holiday desserts!

Rao’s Homemade Bolognese Sauce

Perfect for a quick-and-easy lasagna or holiday pasta dish that comes from a jar but tastes homemade. Prepared in small batches and made with wholesome ingredients like ground beef, Italian tomatoes, and veggies, this keto-friendly pasta sauce will save you time and stress.

Olive Tapenade

Want to eat your way to longevity? A star ingredient in the Mediterranean diet is none other than olive oil — made from polyphenol-rich olives. Serve this spread with crackers, fresh or roasted veggies, over salad or on post-holiday turkey sandwiches, or mixed into any dish.

Healthy Thanksgiving Main Dishes

Pre-Cooked Thanksgiving Turkey

Short on time, space, or energy? Do yourself a favor and pick up a fully cooked and ready-to-eat Thanksgiving turkey! Not only will it save you 8 hours of *valuable* cooking time, but it will also free up your kitchen and oven, so you have space for other yummy dishes. And because you have to heat it up before serving, you’ll still get that fresh-out-of-the-oven home-cooked feel! Order from your local health food market, healthy grocery stores like Whole Foods, or online from stores like William Sonoma

Good Catch Plant-Based Crab Cakes & Seafood Burgers

Considering a seafood-centric Thanksgiving? Serve it up, vegan-style. Made with a six-legume blend of peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans, and navy beans, these plant-based seafood options make the perfect protein-packed main meal. Serve as a simple side dish, or dress it up for the main meal! 

Rao’s Meat Lasagna Meal

Looking for a Thanksgiving turkey alternative? Try an Italian-inspired feast instead! Made with Italian tomatoes, ricotta cheese, wholesome pasta, and a beef meat sauce, this premade dish makes healthy holiday eating simple. Serve with a side salad, roasted veggies, or a serving of turkey.

Rotisserie Chicken

Want to save time and money without sacrificing the main dish? Skip the turkey and grab an organic pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods. Full of protein and easy to dress up or down, this turkey alternative makes for a simple and satisfying holiday meal.

Blakes Organic Frozen Shepherd’s Pie

Having a small Thanksgiving? This frozen shepherd’s pie dish could help you get dinner on the table with ease. Made with organic corn, organic mashed potatoes, and antibiotic-free beef, it’s the perfect dish when you need something simple and quick. Comforting and satisfying without  being too heavy or tasting like a frozen meal.

Eat Meati Crispy Cutlet Mushroom

Looking for a hearty main dish for plant-based eaters? These crispy cutlets are made from mushrooms! Not only are they delicious, but they also contain 18 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and no soy or gluten.

Desserts

Van Leeuwen Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Oat Milk Ice Cream

Made with a creamy oat milk base and other seasonal ingredients like pumpkin puree, apples, and cinnamon, this dairy-free frozen dessert will make serving up dessert simple and delicious. Not only is it full of real ingredients, but it’s also vegan-friendly and full of holiday flavor.

Yam Good Paleo Muffins

Made with ingredients like yams, eggs, dates, apples, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, and a blend of warming spices, these paleo-friendly and gluten-free muffins will be a fan-favorite. Perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast or dessert! Just 160 calories and 5 grams of protein per muffin!

Raised Gluten Free Dutch Apple Pie

The sweetest way to savor apple season without the prep work or stress of baking. This lightened-up store-bought apple pie is vegan, gluten-free, and will be loved by all. Warm it up and serve with your favorite toppings like dairy-free ice cream, coconut whip, or full-fat yogurt!

Cosmic Bliss Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Because what’s pie without ice cream?! This coconut milk-based ice cream is dairy-free, naturally sweetened, and made with five wholesome ingredients. Serve it with pie, your favorite Thanksgiving dessert, or alone by the spoonful!

So Delicious Dairy-Free Coconut Whipped Cream

Let’s face it, adding whipped cream to your plate is a tasty way to take any Thanksgiving dish to the next level. That said, traditional whipped cream is loaded with sugar and empty calories. The good news? There are tons of healthy options, including this dairy-free plant-based dessert! Made with coconut milk and coconut oil and just 30 calories per serving.  

Cappello’s Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

No need to stress about Thanksgiving dessert when you could slice, bake, and serve this pre-made paleo and vegan-friendly cookie dough! Simply made with almond and arrowroot flour and sweetened with maple syrup. And considering they’re vegan, you could even enjoy the unbaked dough — yum!

Keep It Simple & Stress-Free With a Store-Bought Thanksgiving Menu

Whether you’re traveling, have limited (or no) access to a kitchen, or are simply short on time, energy, or resources, opting for pre-cooked Thanksgiving dishes can be a major lifesaver. Not only will you reduce unnecessary holiday stress, but you’ll also have more time for family, friends, and some much-needed self-care! 

Use this store-bought Thanksgiving list to inspire your healthy holiday menu! And maybe you mix and match — grab some store-bought dishes that are more time-consuming, and make a few healthy homemade recipes from scratch! There’s no right or wrong way to feast and celebrate — just know you have options.