17 Easy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes You'll Want to Serve at Thanksgiving

Complete your Thanksgiving spread with these delicious vegetable side dishes.

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, fresh Thanksgiving sides along with the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. There are the classics, like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole—and we have fresh spins on those—but we also have recipes for other seasonal vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes. We’ve included a couple of crunchy refreshing salads, too, that help balance the richness of the meal.

01 of 17

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 17

Sweet Potato and Sage Tian

sweet-potato-and- sage tian served in a white dish
Paola + Murray

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes are smothered in sage-infused cream 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 17

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

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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 17

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 17

Honey-Glazed Carrots

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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 17

Green Bean Casserole

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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 17

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 17

Braised Green Beans With Tomatoes

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Aya Brackett

Here's a way to enjoy three vegetables—green beans, tomatoes, and onions—in one juicy 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 17

Roasted Broccoli With Seeds and Feta

Roasted Broccoli with Seeds and Feta recipe
Yuki Sugiura

Before you go ahead and steam broccoli, check out this fresh recipe. Roasted broccoli with feta, seeds, and spices come together as a side that can even moonlight as a meatless main.

10 of 17

Kale Sesame Salad

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Bryan Gardner

Dress up blanched kale leaves with Asian-inspired flavors such as soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, and sesame seeds. The best part is that this salad comes together in just 10 minutes.

11 of 17

Charred Cauliflower With Clementines and Olives

roasted cauliflower and citrus dish
Marcus Nilsson

Do you love cauliflower but want to find a way to make it look more glamorous? Garnish the roasted veggie with some color from clementine segments and dark purple kalamata olives, then arrange it all on one giant platter.

12 of 17

Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

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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.

13 of 17

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.

14 of 17

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.

15 of 17

Sautéed Broccoli Rabe With Garlic

simply sauteed broccoli rabe healthy sidedish on blue table
Justin Walker

A fan favorite, this easy preparation of broccoli rabe 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.

16 of 17

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.

17 of 17

Dairy-Free Smashed Potatoes

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Cook baby red potatoes, garlic, and rosemary together for an easy side dish that's a delicious change from mashed potatoes, then smash with turkey or chicken stock and herbs. Use vegetable broth if you want to make these completely vegan-friendly.

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