16 Easy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving

Complete your holiday spread with these tasty options.

Rutabaga–Sweet Potato Mash with Garlic and Sage
Photo:

Lennart Weibull

A Thanksgiving feast is not complete without an array of vegetable dishes to round out each guest's plate. We like to serve a selection of colorful, tasty sides along with the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. There are the classics with fresh spins and recipes for other seasonal vegetables. We’ve also included a couple of crunchy refreshing salads, too, that help balance the richness of the meal. Whatever you choose, we guarantee these Thanksgiving veggie side dishes will be a total hit!

01 of 16

Easy Creamed Spinach

easy creamed spinach in red serving bowl

Diana Chistruga

A traditional Thanksgiving side dish, creamed spinach will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. But you don't always need to make the sauce from scratch; our version uses cream cheese as a clever (and delicious) shortcut.

02 of 16

Autumn Tian

beets-d111453-0009.jpg
Chris Court

Thinly sliced autumnal veggies are seasoned and baked to perfection, resulting in a satisfying side. It's also a spectacular-looking dish, one that's worthy of the center of the table.

03 of 16

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

med105046_1109_thx_brussels_sprout.jpg

A simple, no-fuss Brussels sprouts recipe is what you need to complete your Thanksgiving table. Olive oil, lemon juice, plus salt and pepper (of course) are all that's needed to dress up one of our favorite fall vegetables.

04 of 16

Shredded Cabbage Slaw With Ginger Vinaigrette

shredded cabbage with ginger vinaigrette topped with sesame seeds
Marcus Nilsson

We eat with our eyes first, which means that this gorgeous slaw is going to go fast. Toss together bright red and green cabbage and julienned carrots for a colorful, crisp addition to your feast.

05 of 16

Honey-Glazed Carrots

med104169_1108_glazed_carr.jpg

If you have some leftover turkey stock after making your gravy and stuffing, use it in place of water in this recipe. Carrots are flavored with honey, butter, and red wine vinegar—we're certain you won't hear the words "none for me, thanks."

06 of 16

Green Bean Casserole

med105046_1109_thx_greenbean_casserole.jpg

A Thanksgiving side dish made generation after generation, this recipe for green bean casserole is a classic done right. We've skipped the canned mushroom soup and made our own cream sauce instead—it tastes so much better, and the little bit of extra effort is truly worth it.

07 of 16

Cauliflower Gratin

Cauliflower Gratin

This is hands-down the most heavenly version of cauliflower ever. Combine the florets with heavy cream, flour, and lots and lots of grated Parmesan cheese, then bake until bubbling. The finishing touch? A crispy combination of more Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and butter.

08 of 16

Braised Green Beans

braised green beans

Here's a way to enjoy green beans in a simple, tasty dish. It's a healthy, welcome departure from other roasted or mashed vegetables that are sure to make an appearance on the dining room table.

09 of 16

Kale-and-Apple Salad

kale salad with apples

Con Poulos

Sweet and tart with crunch for days, the thinly sliced apples in this healthy salad have what it takes to stand up to the bold flavors of fresh kale. The best part is that this salad comes together in just minutes.

10 of 16

Cauliflower-and-Mushroom Roast

roasted-cauliflower-and-mushrooms-065-master-d113081.jpg
Bryan Gardner

Do you love cauliflower but want to find a way to make it look more glamorous? We like to think of this recipe as a deconstructed, healthier grilled cheese. Cauliflower stands in as the base while the bread serves as a crunchy garnish.

11 of 16

Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

med106155_1110_sid_brussels_sprouts.jpg

This recipe for Brussels sprouts is low-maintenance, which is just one of the reasons why we love it (it's also delicious). Simply pop the sprouts in the oven on a baking sheet to roast for 20 minutes and finish with lemon juice and zest.

12 of 16

Roasted Carrots With Oat Dukkah

oat dukkah roasted carrots
Sidney Bensimon

Here's a happy medium that offers the crunch of raw carrots with the tender, sweet bite of roasted ones. Top a variety of rainbow carrots with dukkah made from pistachios, rolled oats, sesame seeds, fennel seeds, and other spices.

13 of 16

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Mash

sweet potato cauliflower mash
Louise Hagger

A classic sweet potato mash is so good on its own that there's no need to mess with it much. The only new addition here is cauliflower, which adds a bit more texture.

14 of 16

Broccolini With Pepperoncini

sprouting broccoli with peperoncini served with lemon wedges
Paola + Murray

A fan favorite, this easy preparation of broccolini is a fabulous vegetable side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Be sure to double or triple the batch, depending on how many guests you'll be hosting this year.

15 of 16

Lemon-Pepper Green Beans

lemon pepper green beans
Louise Hagger

Simple doesn't have to mean boring. These bright, fragrant green beans are accompanied by a fresh mint yogurt sauce that can be whirred in a food processor just before serving or up to one day in advance.

16 of 16

Smashed Potatoes

Smashed Potatoes

An easy side dish that's a delicious change from mashed potatoes. Here, multicolored potatoes are flattened, seasoned, and roasted until crisp. Top with sour cream and chives when serving.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles