54 Yummy Traditional and Non Traditional Thanksgiving Sides
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Thanksgiving is soon approaching and maybe you’ve been selected to host! Or maybe you’re going to someone else’s home for dinner but have been asked to bring a side dish. Whatever your cooking situation is this holiday season, we have you covered. We have curated some of the best tradition and NON traditional thanksgiving sides for you from some of the top food bloggers!
They have provided us with some of their best side dishes for the holidays that are easy to make and sure to impress even the pickiest eaters!
So read on and find the best traditional and non traditional Thanksgiving sides that will have people thinking you worked over a hot stove for hours!
Read on and find the best traditional and non traditional Thanksgiving sides that will have people thinking you worked over a hot stove for hours Click To TweetTraditional and Non Traditional Thanksgiving Sides
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but it can be TOUGH when you are hosting. You are trying to cook about a dozen things at once so that everything is ready at the same time and making sure the turkey doesn’t burn!
So we have reached out to some of our favorite popular food bloggers and asked them to help us out and they SO came through for us! We have 54…yes, FIFTY FOUR, of the best traditional and non traditional Thanksgiving sides for you! These recipes are creative and some are perfect for the vegan or the person on special diets like Keto and Whole30!
So let’s get started because we have a LOT to choose from and they are in no particular order!
And before you leave, be sure to grab your FREE Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal Planning E-Book below as our gift to you to make holiday meal planning a bit easier!
54 Traditional and Non Traditional Thanksgiving Sides
Hot Italian Sausage and Apple Stuffed Squash
Stuffed squash is always perfect for the holiday dinner table. Stuffed with sausage, chickpeas, and apples it makes a great side dish.
Savory Baked Pears with Gorgonzola, Walnuts, and Cranberries
These Savory Baked Pears are packed with cranberries, walnuts, and blue cheese for an elegant and simple Thanksgiving side dish.
Creamy Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto
Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto is a beautiful and fun side dish for Thanksgiving, which also doubles as a main course for vegetarians!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Casserole Stacks
Air fryer sweet potato casserole stacks make a delicious side dish for the holidays. This sliced yam casserole is a breeze to prepare and it tastes so good.
Whole30 Mashed Potatoes
These delicious and creamy whole30 mashed potatoes are made with almond milk and ghee. Choose from two easy cooking methods, microwave or boiling, and make these mashed potatoes with or without skin.
The BEST Creamy Mushroom Risotto
For a relatively simple risotto recipe, it boasts huge flavour. This is also a wonderful Thanksgiving side dish for chicken or turkey, or a standalone dish for vegetarians.
Best Roasted Asparagus
Looking for a quick and easy recipe for the best roasted asparagus? This is the perfect Thanksgiving or Holiday side dish! Great beginner oven baked asparagus recipe with additional ideas and variations.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Fluffy, Creamy, Airy
These roasted garlic mashed potatoes are the creamiest, most decadent mashed potatoes you'll ever eat. My recipe highlights tips and tricks to help you achieve light and fluffy, not thick and gluey, mashed potatoes.
Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts - Easy and Tasty Side
Honey balsamic Brussels sprouts are a favorite side dish. Fresh Brussels sprouts are roasted until golden and tossed with a sticky sweet combination of balsamic vinegar and honey. Perfect for holidays, these sprouts are best when paired with roasted meat, turkey, or even just by themselves.
Lazy Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Stuffing/Dressing Recipe
Cranberry pumpkin seed stuffing (dressing) is an easy and delicious crockpot dish that balances sweet, tart, and savory in each bite. Savory bread cubes mixed with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds makes for a truly unique treat. Special enough for a holiday but easy enough to make anytime!
Lazy Slow Cooker Sweet Corn Spoonbread
Use your crockpot to make this deliciously spoon-able mashup of sweet corn, corn muffin and eggs. Corn spoonbread is the perfect side dish for your holiday table!
Easy, Creamy, and Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Try this easy, creamy, and Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Recipe. Perfect for a Thanksgiving Side Dish or just when you want a really great potato dish. This recipe fits perfectly with any special meal!
Sous Vide Mashed Potatoes
Perfect holiday potato hack!
Free up some stove space and make GREAT potatoes. A super easy and creamy mashed potato recipe, but the best part is that you can cook them right away in the morning and have them ready for your holiday or weeknight dinner.
These are the best homemade Make Ahead Sous Vide Mashed Potatoes.
Extra Baconey Amish Broccoli Salad
You may have noticed we have featured a few here from Benjamin at Ramshackle Pantry and that is because he is not only a favorite of mine, but my husband's too. You will definitely want to check out our post on Sunday Football Apps to see why! So we are big Ramshackle Pantry fans here!
An EXTRA Baconey Amish Broccoli Salad for your next potluck offering, Easter side dish, or just something great. This bacon and cheese vegetable salad is super tasty and just a little different than the traditional side. Give it a try.
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes With Panko Topping
You can't have too many mashed potato recipes for Thanksgiving, can you??
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes are infused with fresh garlic, topped with a buttery panko crumb and baked into a golden crusted creamy casserole. A perfect mashed baked potatoes recipe for the holidays and entertaining. Our baked mashed potato casserole recipe will quickly become a favorite.
Brown Sugar Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Cranberries
Brussels Sprouts are the new "it" vegetable and Brown Sugar Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Cranberries will be your new go-to recipe. Brussels Sprouts, bacon and cranberries are coated in a sweet and tangy brown sugar glaze and roasted to perfection in just 25 minutes. An easy recipe for a vegetable side dish!
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs
This baked mac and cheese is topped with a crunchy, golden brown breadcrumbs and made with gruyere and white cheddar cheese. It's creamy, cheesy, and comforting!
Tried and True Southern Greens
Tried and true southern greens are truly something amazing! Smoked neck bones offer an amazing smoky flavor; and all of the seasonings and spices kick the flavors into a whole different dimension.
Easy and Delicious 20-minute Spinach Parmesan Casserole
You'll love this easy spinach casserole! Baby spinach, parmesan cheese, and cream are topped with panko breadcrumbs and baked until golden brown. The recipe is so easy and delicious! Ready in 20 minutes
Southern Cornbread Dressing
This Southern Cornbread Dressing recipe is so delicious and moist, you don't need to cover it up with gravy! Perfectly seasoned with onions, celery, sage, and poultry seasoning, this holiday classic is a true Southern delight!
Cheddar Corn Biscuits (Flaky & Delicious)
These Cheddar Corn Biscuits are the perfect combination of flaky and soft. Packed with flavor and the sweetness of corn. Plus, they can be made ahead of time & frozen too! Perfect as a Thanksgiving side dish.
Sweet and Spicy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
Sweet and Spicy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes are a delightful holiday side dish. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash are tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce then mixed with cranberries, pecans, bacon, and goat cheese with a balsamic drizzle on top.
Maple Sauteed Green Beans and Carrots with Prosciutto and walnuts
This delightful maple-glazed sauteed green beans and carrots side dish comes together in one skillet and makes the most perfect addition to your Fall table. The Maple adds a lovely hint of sweetness alongside the saltiness of the prosciutto that guarantees everyone will be coming back for seconds.
Simple Roasted Dutch Carrots
These simple roasted dutch carrots may just be the star of your next meal. They come together so easily, require no technical skills, and use easy-to-find simple ingredients. Perfect for a fuss-free Holiday side.
The BEST Creamed Spinach Recipe
This creamed spinach recipe is rich and creamy, making it a favorite comfort food side side for Thanksgiving. It pairs well with turkey, corn, potatoes and other common Thanksgiving dishes.
Corn Casserole
This easy Jiffy corn casserole is a classic comfort food side dish made with Jiffy mix and just 5 other simple ingredients. Everyone will love this quick and easy side dish, as it is so sweet and satisfying that it could even double as dessert!
Root Veggie Mash with Butternut Squash Recipe
This root veggie mash with butternut squash is a simple and easy whole foods dish that will be a hit with the whole family! Use a vegan butter for a plant based version!
Butternut Squash Orzo with Feta and Sage
This delicious and easy-to-make orzo side dish is made with butternut squash, sage and feta cheese.
Roasted Delicata Squash with Walnut Crumble
Roasted, caramelized delicata squash (which doesn't need to be peeled!) with a buttery, brown sugary toasted walnut topping.
Delicious Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apples
These Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apples feature perfectly cooked sweet potatoes, a sweet brown sugar glaze, and tender apples. You’ll delight everyone on Thanksgiving Day with this delicious recipe!
Jiffy Cornbread Stuffing
This recipe features some great time savers -cornbread mix and pre-chopped veggies. Tastes like Southern cornbread dressing in half the time
6 Ingredient Instant Pot Glazed Carrots Recipe
Glazed carrots are a quick and flavorful side dish. 6 ingredients is all this Instant Pot glazed carrots recipe needs.
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows And Pecans
This sweet potato casserole is perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. A classic dish with warming fall flavored spices and topped with delicious pecan streusel and gooey mini marshmallows
Brown Butter Garlic Honey Glazed Carrots
These honey glazed carrots are amazingly quick and easy to make. This is not your ordinary honey glazed carrots recipe. It starts with brown butter and garlic. Prepare for mind-bending flavors.
Baked Mushroom Cheese Dip: So Good!
What’s better than a warm oozy cheesy dip.. nothing, the answer is nothing! This baked mushroom cheese dip is the perfect snack to share while watching a game
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar
Make these tasty Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar in just 25 minutes with 4 simple ingredients. This tasty side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving.
Easy Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Give me more mashed! I love my potatoes so here is another great recipe!
This Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe is an easy way to get creamy restaurant-style mashed potatoes with the fragrant flavor of garlic. Garlic-infused melted butter and sour cream are added to the potatoes for a decadent side dish that is perfect to serve during the holidays.
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
This Homemade Green Bean Casserole, a traditional green bean casserole that is made from scratch with fresh green beans and a creamy homemade mushroom sauce and topped with french fried onions, will be a hit with your family and friends on Thanksgiving.
Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are very similar to Potatoes Au Gratin because they are drenched in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky cream sauce and then covered in more cheese! They make a perfect comfort food side dish for all your holiday dinners!
Bourbon Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
I serve you the recipe for the most amazing bourbon-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon. The Brussels sprouts are crispy and shining because of the delicious sweet glaze. And this is an unbelievably easy recipe to prepare with such a lot of flavor.
Broccoli Gratin with Cranberries
Vegetarian and delicious, this Broccoli Gratin with Cranberries is infused with flavor from sautéed onions, ginger, garlic, sundried tomatoes, and cranberries – making this a tasty lighter dish to serve up for Thanksgiving and the holidays.
Easy Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce is so quick, easy, and delicious that you’ll never go back to the canned stuff again.
The Best Instant Pot Stuffing
You can’t have a turkey and all the fixings without stuffing! Check out this instant pot stuffing recipe, it's a great crowd pleaser.
Praline Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
This easy sweet potato casserole is topped with a buttery pecan and brown sugar streusel making it impossible to resist!
Healthy Broccoli Mashed Potatoes
Easy healthy mashed potatoes recipe loaded with broccoli, mushrooms, garlic and Pecorino Romano cheese.
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Make holidays and even weeknight dinners easy on yourself with these make-ahead mashed potatoes. You can make them up to 2 days in advance.
Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole
This Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole recipe incorporates fresh green beans and a homemade cream-of-mushroom soup that is delicious enough to be eaten on its own.
Try this EASY Bread Stuffing with Sausage recipe for your Thanksgiving Dressing!
Thanksgiving dressing is a classic for the holiday at many houses and this easy Bread and Sausage Stuffing recipe with butter is always a hit at dinner!!
Microwave Spaghetti Squash with Sage-Browned Butter and Toasted Walnuts
With a great microwave technique that cuts down on cooking time, and only 5 simple ingredients (plus those freebies, salt and pepper), this easy side dish recipe is a total snap to pull together – yet surprisingly, satisfyingly delicious! A simple side dish to help make Thanksgiving dinner prep a little less stressful!
Adorable Thanksgiving Salad with Butternut Squash “Turkey”
This “Tom Turkey” Thanksgiving Salad with Butternut Squash is adorable, delicious, and surprisingly easy! It features classic Thanksgiving flavors like roasted butternut squash, goat cheese, cranberries and pecans … all drizzled in an amazing Maple-Balsamic Dressing! Make this showstopper as an edible centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner celebration!
Wild Rice Pilaf With Cranberries and Pine nuts
This Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pine Nuts would go great on your Thanksgiving table. Light and fluffy rice filled with sweet cranberries and pine nuts
Broccoli Cauliflower Bake (vegetable au gratin)
So creamy, cheesy and delicious, this broccoli cauliflower bake is a comforting side dish, perfect for Thanksgiving or any special meal.
Homemade Gravy Without Drippings - Homemade In The Kitchen
Homemade Gravy Without Drippings is an easy from scratch gravy recipe without drippings so you don’t have to wait for the meat to be done. Make it ahead of time to reduce stress for Thanksgiving!
Melting Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Pecan Sauce
Melting sweet potatoes with maple-pecan sauce.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes – It’s Not All About the Bird
We hope you enjoyed this recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes.
While the turkey is typically the star of the show, it’s not all about the bird! Your sides can make or break the meal and with these great recipes, you are sure to make the meal a success!
Be sure to grab your FREE Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal Planning E-Book before you go!