Thanksgiving is first and foremost about being grateful. But the highlight is the Thanksgiving meals with its roast turkey, side dishes, pumpkin desserts, etc. Yet some times, it is nice to try something different. I’ve gathered 15 Thanksgiving side dishes that will help you mix things up this holiday season.
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Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
The traditional Thanksgiving table in my house featured mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce (from a can with the ridges), cornbread stuffing, fruit salad, and a green salad with ranch dressing.
My husband grew up the same way – a set menu every year. That’s until I started cooking. Now I like to change things up and try new things. These recipes are some of my family’s favorite unconventional Thanksgiving side dish recipes and those of fellow bloggers that I’ve tried and my family loves.
Try them for yourself and you may find some new favorites too! Also check out these free Thanksgiving e-cookbooks. They are free to download and filled with more recipe ideas.
Use Fall Flavors for Non Traditional Dishes
Certain fall flavors are traditional because those specific fruits and vegetables are in season. Side dishes featuring in season ingredients are more affordable to make. Try new twists on Thanksgiving classics such as turning a mashed potatoes recipe into a hearty potato soup.
Candied pecans taste great in a green salad or use them in a trail mix. There are lots of ways to take the fall classics and turn them into non traditional Thanksgiving side dishes.
Thanksgiving SIde Dish Recipes
Start new holiday traditions with these new takes on classic Thanksgiving side dishes.
Add a bit of spice to your holiday side dishes. This untraditional dressing recipe combines sourdough bread, chorizo sausage, chopped dates, Manchego cheese, and fresh herbs. Together is a real crowd-pleaser that is easy to make. Click the link for a step by step video tutorial.
Here's another stuffing recipe using sourdough bread. This version is sweet and savory with chopped pears and dried cranberries, plus nearly a pound of bacon. It's perfect for turkey, chicken, pork, as well as a morning casserole alongside fried eggs.
Butternut squash is tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette and roasted before being added to whole grain farro and almonds for a terrific hot side dish/salad. This side is hearty and a great way to add squash to the meal.
Because you can never go wrong with bacon! This will soon replace your traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole.
Dress up fresh asparagus spears with puff pastry, cream cheese, and parmesan with this recipe from Simplify Live Love. You can even sneak a little thinly sliced prosciutto too for an added treat.
Replacing the brown sugar and marshmallow-topped yams on the holiday table is this apple and sweet potato bake. Sweetened with honey this side dish has just the right amount of sweetness without making your teeth hurt.
I love sheet pan roasted anything! This roasted root vegetable recipe is a sheet pan recipe for makes cooking potatoes easy. It combines baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, and rutabagas, then adds a bit of fresh rosemary for a winning Thanksgiving side dish that is also healthy.
If given a choice between mashed potatoes and gravy or my mother's potato salad, everyone (and I do mean everyone) chooses the potato salad. It's a combination of potatoes, hard boiled eggs, bread and butter pickles, and diced apple. You get bites of sweet with a mayo/mustard potato salad.
This isn't your traditional cranberry sauce, but it's SO MUCH BETTER! The Hungry Belgian has been making this popular spiced cranberry with port dish for more than ten years. It's a real crowd pleaser.
This cranberry chutney is my version of a cranberry sauce. Loaded with nuts, orange, raisins, and spices, it adds great flavor to turkey, chicken, pork, and cheese. I'll serve it at dinner and also atop baked brie for an appetizer. So good!
Brussel sprouts are great roasted or shaved raw in a salad. The later is what this recipe is and it's a deliciously healthy side dish for any holiday meal. This version combines sprouts, pomegranate seeds, apple, and fig with a orange tahini dressing.
I love this raw salad and it's one of the ways I used to get my kids to eat raw broccoli when they were younger. This salad has raisins, dried cranberries, diced apples, and sunflower seeds. Together it's a tasty salad that compliments turkey, chicken, and getting even better the next day as leftovers.
The previous broccoli salad was sweet. This one is more grown-up and zesty with black olives, chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a fresh herb vinaigrette dressing. Great for anyone on a special diet as there is no sugar or grain.
There's a lot of crunch in this raw salad with celery, apples, and walnuts. Combined with fresh herbs, raisins, and a bit of Feta cheese, it's a recipe packed with flavor. Plus it's a great use for all that extra celery.
Part appetizer, part side dish - this pumpkin cheesecake dip is what we serve for a sweet treat at holiday meals. Instead of fruit salad with marshmallows and yogurt, the kids ask for this instead, Served with apple slices or gingersnaps for dessert. It's a sweet treat I can say yes to every time.
For more holiday and favorite party recipes, try these:
- Maple Glazed Turkey and Whiskey Gravy
- Beer Can Chicken with Coffee Brown Sugar Rub
- Torchy’s Queso Dip
- German Beer & Cheddar Cheese Fondue Recipe
- Create an Amazing Cheese Platter for Less with ALDI
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These Thanksgiving recipes all look mouthwatering! I’m trying not to lick my screen!
It’s so great to see a roundup of healthful side dishes that look and sound amazing. No one could argue against any of this deliciousness. Fantastic.
I love cooking with real foods. They always taste so much better. All these recipes look perfectly wonderful. I can’t wait until Thanksgiving.
Love the idea of mixing up Thanksgiving sides! I’m curious if your family had a hard time adjusting to the new recipes at first. Any favorites from the 15 you gathered?