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If you were worried that adhering to a keto diet would prevent you from feasting on Thanksgiving, fear not. With these low-carb alternatives to the holiday’s must-eats, you can indulge in a full-on decadent meal (turkey, sides and even dessert) while maintaining a state of ketosis. As an added bonus, the recipes we’ve compiled below can all be prepared in an Instant Pot.
Read more: The best Instant Pots of 2019
The sides
Low-carb cranberry sauce
Chowhound
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a side of cranberry sauce, and Life Made Sweeter’s quick and easy recipe is suitable for a keto diet. All it takes is four ingredients (fresh cranberries, powdered monk fruit sweetener, lemon juice and cinnamon) and 5 minutes to prepare this low-carb version of what many consider to be the highlight of the turkey day meal. Get the keto Instant Pot cranberry sauce recipe.
Mashed cauliflower with garlic and chives
High-carb potatoes are a keto no-no, but thankfully, cauliflower is a delicious substitute for the all-important Thanksgiving mash. Loaded with butter, sour cream, parmesan, chives and garlic, this scrumptious side is lighter than its tuber-based brethren but still packs plenty of flavor. Make ahead (it only takes a few minutes to prepare) and store up to three days. Get the mashed cauliflower with garlic and chives recipe.
Keto green bean casserole
Green bean casserole is a retro crowd pleaser that can hold its own among the murderers’ row of Thanksgiving sides. This version earns its keto cred by swapping out traditional carb-heavy ingredients. Onions are sauteed instead of fried, canned soup is replaced by a combo of heavy cream, cream cheese and mushrooms. A layer of bubbly mozzarella cheese adds a final touch to this inevitable crowd pleaser. Get the keto green bean casserole recipe.
Easy keto low-carb Instant Pot garlic creamed spinach
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KETO LOW-CARB CREAMED SPINACH ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So…..you don’t have to always have to dress it up and make it real and hit the steakhouse with bae for this side dish. You can make it at home! It’s super easy to make and even easier to do with an Instant Pot. Don’t have an Instant Pot? I have instructions here: https://www.staysnatched.com/creamed-spinach/(but, seriously…get one!) IP Instructions: https://www.staysnatched.com/instant-pot-creamed-spinach/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Ingredients 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 3-4 garlic cloves, minced 16 oz frozen chopped spinach I prefer to use the frozen spinach that comes in a bag instead of the boxed frozen spinach. 1/2 cup broth I used chicken broth 6 oz cream cheese 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese Instructions Note: I prefer to use frozen chopped spinach that comes in a bag because it isn’t frozen in a block like the frozen spinach that comes in a box. If you use block frozen spinach, I recommend you defrost and drain the water first. If you don’t, the recipe will likely turn out soupy because of the excess water. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You can also use an equal amount of fresh spinach if you wish. The cook time will remain the same. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Place the Instant Pot on the saute function. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Add the olive oil, garlic, and onions to the pot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions become fragrant and translucent. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Add the frozen chopped spinach, cream cheese, chicken broth, and sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to the pot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Cook for 5 minutes on Manual > High-Pressure Cooking. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When the pot indicates it has finished, quick release the steam. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Open the lid and add the parmesan cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has melted. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Serve.
It only takes 15 minutes to pull off this low-carb version of an all-time Thanksgiving classic. Spinach (which in this case is of the chopped, bagged and frozen variety) gets the creamy treatment courtesy of Greek yogurt, parmesan and cream cheese. There’s no doubt that this is a dish that will be gobbled up instantly. Get the easy keto low-carb Instant Pot garlic creamed spinach recipe.
The turkey
Air fryer turkey breast
Deep fried turkeys have become all the rage in recent years, but the process can be cumbersome and a potential fire hazard. Thankfully you can use your Instant Pot to cook up a crispy-skinned, tender-fleshed bird without the mess and worry of setting your property ablaze. Just be sure to purchase an air fryer attachment (you’ll get plenty of use out of it beyond Thanksgiving). No surprise, the Instant Pot can’t handle a full-size turkey, but a four-pound, bone-in, skin-on breast will taste just fine and serve around 10 guests. Best of all, you can complete the evening’s main event in a mere hour. Get the air fryer turkey breast recipe.
No air fryer attachment? Try this Instant Pot turkey breast with garlic butter gravy recipe instead.
Low-carb turkey gravy
Eating turkey sans gravy is like having peanut butter without jelly or watching Rick without Morty — the whole is undeniably greater than the sum of its parts. The good news for the keto faithful is you’ll be able to bathe your bird in delicious repurposed pan drippings without taking a cheat day. The key to this low-carb gravy is using xanthan gum as a thickening agent. It’s a keto cooking essential because unlike flour and cornstarch, the polysaccharide adds zero net carbs. Get the low-carb turkey gravy recipe.
The desserts
Pecan pie cheesecake
Enjoy a sweet end to Thanksgiving without packing in the carbs. Even the nonketo crowd will be pleased with this rich and creamy pecan pie cheesecake which gets an extra dose of nuttiness courtesy of an almond flour crust. And with a little Instant Pot magic, it can be finished in a fraction of the time it takes to prepare an oven-baked cheesecake, though keep in mind that you’ll need a 7-inch springform pan for best results. Get this pecan pie cheesecake recipe.
Crustless pumpkin pie cups
You’ll be screaming “good gourd!” over these servings of pumpkin-y bliss with an added bonus on top. Each cup features the best part of pumpkin pie — the sweet, spiced-up custard filling — and while the crust is left out of the equation, an extra special topping of torched low-carb marshmallow fluff more than makes up for its absence. Get the crustless pumpkin pie cups recipe.