Make Thanksgiving easier this year by making one of these tasty sides that come together in just three steps or less. From classic holiday dishes like our Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole to elevated bites like our Balsamic Roasted Cabbage Steaks, these side dishes are sure to impress whoever you’re sharing this year’s meal with.
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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Onions
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
Fresh herbs, onion and sautéed bacon flavor this easy Brussels sprouts recipe. This savory dish is delicious in the fall and winter months when Brussels sprouts are in season.
Sautéed Butternut Squash
Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth
Sautéeing butternut squash in olive oil quickly yields perfectly cooked results and slighly caramelizes the squash for extra flavor. This recipe makes a delicious vegetable side dish to pair with roasted meats.
Sweet Potato Home Fries with Cranberry-Hazelnut Crumble
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
These home fries are made with sweet potatoes, which are rich in fiber as well as vitamin A, a nutrient which can help support a healthy immune system. Actor Anthony Anderson likes sprinkling a cranberry-hazelnut crumble on top for an easy but delicious upgrade.
Garlic-Parmesan Melting Potatoes
Crispy, buttery, cheesy, garlicky potatoes—what else could you ask for? Serve these melt-in-your-mouth potatoes alongside steak, pork chops, chicken or fish. If you have leftovers, throw them into a breakfast scramble the next morning.
Roasted Broccoli Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
The vibrant colors and flavors in this crowd-pleasing roasted broccoli salad make it a must-have side dish for the holidays. For a twist, you can easily swap out the dried cranberries for raisins, chopped dried apricots or even pomegranate seeds to suit your taste or the season.
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole
Diana Chistruga
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a homemade sweet potato casserole. We like to sprinkle chopped pecans on top along with the marshmallows for a bit of texture.
Balsamic Roasted Cabbage Steaks
Photographer: Ali Redmond
These balsamic roasted cabbage steaks are a flavorful and simple dish where thick slices of cabbage are brushed with olive oil and seasonings and roasted until tender and caramelized, then finished with a coating of balsamic vinegar. The roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the cabbage, while the balsamic vinegar adds a tangy richness. Serve them as a side dish alongside your favorite main. Roast any extra cabbage you may have separately, or refrigerate it and save it for another use.
Spice-Roasted Sweet Potatoes over Garlicky Yogurt
Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Sally McKay, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
These spice-roasted sweet potatoes over garlicky yogurt is the recipe you need right now for the perfect blend of warmth, flavor and comfort. The sweet potatoes, caramelized to perfection with a mix of aromatic spices, are served over a tangy yogurt base that adds a cool, creamy contrast. This simple yet sophisticated recipe will elevate your weeknight dinner or impress at your next gathering.
Fall Chopped Salad with Spinach, Butternut Squash, Apples & Cheddar
Who says spinach salads are only for spring? Use autumn’s tender crop of fresh spinach and other seasonal vegetables to make this fall salad with roasted butternut squash, apples, cheddar and pecans. This colorful and healthy salad would be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’re cooking for a crowd–say for Thanksgiving dinner.
Cheesy Corn Casserole
This cheesy corn casserole is surprisingly light and fluffy, thanks to eggs and a whirl in the blender. The sweet corn batter and salty Cheddar cheese make this casserole pleasing to kids and adults alike.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Department: Eating Well, Brand: Eating Well Digital, Source Type: Staff, Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley
Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef’s knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese.
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sonia Bozzo
In this healthy side dish recipe, sweet potatoes are tossed with maple syrup, butter and lemon juice and roasted until tender and golden brown. The delicious glaze that forms on these maple-roasted sweet potatoes transforms this ultra-simple dish into something sublime.
Dining and Cooking