Turkey is the undisputed face of the thanksgiving feast. However, the meal will not be complete without thanksgiving side dishes.
Some sides may have become constant on a thanksgiving menu.
Today we bring you top 10 thanksgiving sides that are easy to make and add a delightful surprise to the table.
Contents
Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Make ahead
1. Candied Yams
Some already serve this as a thanksgiving side dish.
This is for those new to it, and we promise you and your guests are going to love it. This version has a little kick to it.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- Medium sweet potatoes
- 3 tbsp of butter
- 2 tbsp of bourbon
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ c. Of brown sugar
- ½ c. Of orange juice
- A pinch of nutmeg
- A pinch of kosher salt
Directions:
- Heat your oven to 400 degrees F
- Mix the sugar, cinnamon stick, orange juice, bourbon, nutmeg, and salt over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to boil and reduce to a simmer.
- Keep cooking for 10 minutes, by then it would have thickened slightly. Then remove the cinnamon stick
- Spread some butter over a baking dish, then peel and cut potatoes into slices. Place the potatoes in the dish and pour the syrup over them. Cover with an aluminum foil
- Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 60 minutes while you bast with sauce every 15 minutes
- Let it cool before serving
2. Butternut Squash Casserole
This side is creamy, colorful, and as you can expect, delicious. It’s full of vegetables, which makes it a healthy thanksgiving side dish.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- Butter squash
- Sourdough bread
- Leek
- Celery
- White wine
- Garlic
- Dried cranberry
- Pearl onion
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Vegetable broth
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Dice the butter squash and roast it. While at it, sauté the celery and leek. Stir in the chopped sage and rosemary.
- Use the wine to deglaze the pan then stir in the diced bread and a vegetable broth.
- Put the mixture in a casserole dish and add some more broth.
- Add the roasted butternut squash into the dish along with pearl onions.
- Drizzle some olive oil over it then bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes till it turns golden brown.
3. Roasted Pears
This thanksgiving side dish works perfectly with turkey. It’s easy to make as it doesn’t require many ingredients and it takes just 30 minutes.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 4 bosc pears
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ c. roasted walnuts
- Kosher salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Slice the pears and place on a baking sheet with oil and ¼ tsp of salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Toss the pear slices with the syrup.
- Further roast for 6 minutes till they’re tender and golden brown.
4. Vanilla Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Traditional thanksgiving dishes need a touch of creativity in their sides.
This thanksgiving side dish is the flair you need on your menu.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of sweet potatoes cut into 1-inch wedges
- 1 thinly sliced red chile
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 vanilla bean
- Kosher salt
Directions:
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F
- Toss potatoes, chile, oil, and ½ tsp of salt. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the potatoes
- Put the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender
5. Creamed Spinach
This is a nice thanksgiving vegetable side to treat your guests.
You can whip it up in 15 minutes and it makes for a healthy side.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 pound of spinach
- 2tsp of lemon juice
- 1 chopped shallot
- 1 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with warm water
- ¾ cup of full-fat coconut milk
- ½ tsp of Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp of sea salt
Directions:
- Heat ½ tsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Add the spinach and toss until it wilts.
- Then squeeze out the excess water.
- Wipe the pan and heat 2 tsp of olive oil on medium heat.
- Add the shallot and salt and cook for 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and sauteed spinach.
- Stir in the cornstarch mixture, coconut milk, and mustard.
- Add lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Also Read –
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6. Cheesy Brussels Sprout
We often expect Brussel sprouts on a thanksgiving sides list.
However, this southern thanksgiving side dish will make them smile in anticipation.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 5 slices of bacon
- 3 tbsp of butter
- 2 minces shallots
- 2 pounds of halved Brussel sprouts
- ¾ c. heavy cream ½ c. shredded sharp white cheddar
- ½ c. shredded Gruyere
- ½ tsp of cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cook bacon for 8 minutes in a skillet over medium heat. Line a plate with a paper towel to drain the bacon and dispose of the fat.
- Melt the butter into the skillet over medium heat.
- Add the shallot and Brussel sprouts, then season with salt and cayenne pepper.
- Cook for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Once done, drizzle with the heavy cream and top with cheese and bacon.
- Then bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
7. Herbed Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes were always going to be on a list of thanksgiving side dishes.
Of the many ways to make a mashed potato side, this one will always be a crowd pleaser.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 8 sprigs thyme
- 6 black peppered corns
- 4 pounds of peeled and quartered golden potatoes
- 4 tbsp of unsalted butter
- 2 sprig fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 c. heavy cream
- 1 bay leaf
- Kosher salt
- Freshly grated nutmeg
Directions:
- Put the potatoes in a pot and cover them with water. Bring to boil and add 2 tsp of salt. Reduce the heat and heat for 15 minutes.
- Afterward, drain the water and return the potatoes to the pot.
- Place cream, butter, thyme, peppercorn, parsley, and bay leaf in a saucepan and bring them to boil.
- Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
- Strain the cream mixture into the pot with potatoes.
- Add ¾ tsp of salt and mash to your preferred smoothness. Sprinkle the nutmeg before serving.
8. Simple Lemon Green Beans
This recipe is simple to prepare. However, don’t underestimate it.
It’s healthy, delicious, and a favorite thanksgiving side dish.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of stemmed green beans
- 2 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 grated garlic clove
- Juice of ½ lemon and ½ teaspoon zest
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Boil a pot of salted water with a bowl of ice water on the side.
- Pour the beans into the boiling water and blanch it for 2 minutes.
- Remove the beans and immerse in the cold water for it to cool down.
- Place the beans on a paper towel to dry it up.
- Toss the blanched green beans with olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper.
9. Baked Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes for thanksgiving side dishes do not always have to be mashed.
This baked variant is simple and delicious.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 4 cleaned sweet potatoes
- 4 tbsp of butter
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork
- Bake them for 50 minutes until tender
- After they cool down, split the tops open and top with butter
- Season the potatoes with the salt and pepper, then serve
10. Cranberry-Apricot Compote with Citrus
This is a delicious thanksgiving dish to go with the best thanksgiving dishes.
It’s juicy and tasty, and if you have leftovers, don’t worry, you can preserve it by freezing.
It’ll last for up to two months.
How to prepare:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of fresh cranberries
- ½ c. of dried pieces of apricot
- ½ c. apricot preserves
- 2 naval oranges
- ½ c. sugar
Directions:
- Grate two tsp of zest from 1 orange into a saucepan. The juice both oranges into the saucepan.
- Add cranberries, preserves, apricot, sugar, and simmer for 20 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
- At the end of the time, the cranberries would have burst and the sauce thicken.
- You can serve warm or at room temperature.
Conclusion
We’re pretty sure you’ll find it hard choosing one of our sides recipes. Some of them are Country Living thanksgiving side dishes.
This list is just a tip of the iceberg. There are many more you can try or get creative with. If you can’t choose one, how about trying multiple?
There can never be too many thanksgiving sides.
