Thanksgiving is arguably the best food holiday because the entire day—plus the leftovers-laden week after—revolves around a rich, hearty, homemade meal. As much as we love roasted turkey drowning in gravy, macaroni and cheese, fresh-baked biscuits, pumpkin pie, and all the whipped cream; we can use a little something that’s light-ish in the mix. That’s where these healthy Thanksgiving side dishes come in.
We compiled light recipes that are decidedly healthy but special enough to provide balance to your Thanksgiving table. From loaded sweet potatoes topped with kale to spaghetti squash Parmesan to shaved Brussels sprouts on flatbread, you’ll find delicious, nutritious recipes your holiday guests will love and appreciate.
Squash and Lentil Salad
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This healthy and hearty side salad is the ideal companion to Thanksgiving mains. To make it, you’ll start by roasting squash and onions and tossing them with a homemade sweet date sauce and fiber-packed lentils. The result is a perfect sweet-savory combination of fresh fall produce.
Layered Potatoes With Garlic Herb Butter
Victor Protasio
Believe it or not: Nutritious potatoes, like Yukon Golds and sweet potatoes, have their place on a healthy Thanksgiving dinner table. And while this recipe takes some time to assemble and bake, it is deceptively simple. Skip the heavy cream and cheese in other Thanksgiving tater recipes—all you need are potatoes, unsalted butter, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing
Greg Dupree
With butternut squash in the mix, your must-have Thanksgiving side gets a healthy upgrade. Looking to go meatless? Swap out the sausage for sliced mushrooms and the chicken broth for vegetable broth for a vegetarian option.
Shaved Apple Fennel Salad
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
Thinly slices apples, celery, and fennel mix with a maple-shallot vinaigrette for a punchy and crunchy salad that will certainly satisfy alongside heartier Thanksgiving dishes. You’ll want to choose at least two varieties of apples, one sweet and one tart, for layers of flavor. Fast, easy, and flavorful, this recipe has it all.
Broccolini With Lemon and Smoked Almonds
Victor Protasio
While already uber flavorful from being sauteed with shallots and garlic, a mixture of almonds, parsley, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper takes this simple vegetable side dish to the next level. And who says this mixture is reserved for only broccolini? Try using it on other veggies, like asparagus or green beans.
Green Bean and Celery Salad
Greg Dupree
In just 45 minutes, you can put together this veggie-packed side salad that everyone will love. This refreshing medley featuring French green beans, apples, and celery has a zing to it that will have you going for another spoonful.
Double Cranberry and Apple Sauce
Greg Dupree
No Thanksgiving table is complete without cranberry sauce, and why buy the can if you can make it homemade and healthier in just 30 minutes? If that’s too much time to devote to cranberry sauce on the day of Thanksgiving, don’t fret: You can make it up to a week in advance.
Make-Ahead Holiday Salad
Greg DuPree
When an ordinary mixed-greens salad just won’t do, like on Thanksgiving Day, go to this fresh, vibrant salad instead. Make it a day ahead to get your side out of the way before the big day; just hold the hazelnuts and croutons until right before serving so they don’t lose their crunch. Pomegranate arils might just be our favorite party, as they bring delicious juicy bursts of fruity flavor to every other bite.
Roasted Eggplant with Miso and Sesame Seeds
Antonis Achilleos
This recipe may have you wondering why eggplant isn’t on everyone’s Thanksgiving Day table. Prep the slices ahead of time and then just pop them in the oven 20 minutes before serving. The finishing touch is a brush with a sweet-savory-spicy miso paste and then a quick broil until golden brown with a deliciously melted center.
Every-Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego
This colorful fruit-packed salad is a welcome way to round out an otherwise rich Thanksgiving meal. Tart blood oranges, bitter grapefruit, and sweet navel oranges come together in this gorgeous dish that’s perfect for celebrating in-season citrus. They’re tossed in an original orange dressing made of shallots, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard and then topped with whole almonds and shaved Manchego cheese.
Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette
Gentl & Hyers
When a traditional green bean casserole doesn’t fit in with your Thanksgiving menu, try this lighter, healthier rendition that doesn’t require a can of condensed soup. Fresh green beans are dressed in a warm, mustard-vinegar dressing that lends a tang to every bite. Add crispy bacon pieces to finish this delicious, fresh, savory side.
Roasted Carrot Salad
Greg Dupree
Bring some color to your Thanksgiving table this year with this vibrant roasted carrot salad. Rainbow carrots are roasted alongside shallots, thyme sprigs, and crushed red pepper, which become a delicious medley of flavors. You can serve this dish warm or at room temperature, which makes it perfect for Thanksgiving when you have enough things to worry about staying warm.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Grapes and Feta
Greg Dupree
The problem with this easy-to-make side is that its presentation is likely to steal the show from the main course you labored so hard over. A whole cauliflower in the center roasts with planks of feta and red grapes orbiting around it. A drizzle of chopped shallots and a shower of oregano provide a dramatic finish.
Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs
Greg DuPree
A cross between a salad and a starchy side, this dish features couscous, but any hearty grain—like wild rice or barley—works. Savory herbs pair with sweet corn kernels and caramelized yellow onion for this make-ahead Thanksgiving dish that can be served cold or at room temperature.
Spinach-and-Artichoke Quinoa Casserole
Antonis Achilleos
If you’re a fan of ordering a creamy spinach-and-artichoke dip when eating out, you’ll love how this recipe converts that popular appetizer into a healthy side dish worthy of a holiday feast. Yes, it’s healthy: Its creaminess comes from a blend of cashew butter and non-dairy milk, making it vegan, too!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta
Anna Williams
Cubes of rich pancetta and lemon zest give roasted Brussels sprouts a holiday makeover in this savory side. While often compared to bacon, pancetta—an Italian pork belly product—is lower in fat and calories, making it a slightly healthier choice.
Grilled Honeynut Squash Salad
Christopher Testani
For an innovative, healthful, colorful side, you can hardly do better than this grilled honeynut squash salad. After a quick char on the grill, squash and cabbage are tossed with radicchio and a zippy miso-and-spicy brown mustard dressing. It’s then topped with crunchy pepitas and mint. The combination of flavors makes for an unforgettably flavorful side salad.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Heami Lee
This dish might just be the one to turn Brussels sprouts-haters to the other side. When shaved thinly, Brussels sprouts bring a satisfying crunchy texture that you just can’t get with typical salad greens. Ingredients like dried cranberries, chopped pecans, radicchio, and an apple cider vinegar dressing bring a festive, fall flair to the salad.
Maple-Roasted Vegetables
Maple is an ascending flavor trend, and we’re here for it, especially when paired with savory foods like roasted vegetables. For this easy-to-make upgrade to a healthy traditional Thanksgiving side, simply toss cauliflower and carrots (or squash, sweet potatoes, or even green beans) with an olive oil and maple syrup mixture, and roast until veggies are caramelized and tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Loaded Sweet Potatoes With Coconut and Kale
These loaded sweet potatoes aren’t your average spuds. The filling is mashed up with grapefruit juice, butter, and allspice and then stuffed back into the skins. Piled on top is kale cooked in a rich, curried, coconut sauce and toasted coconut. It’s bound to be your family’s new holiday tradition.
Crispy Roasted Mushrooms
Danny Kim
Healthy and versatile, mushrooms go with just about any main dish you can think of. Using a mix of whatever mushrooms are in season, this recipe turns them out crispy and luscious after just 30 minutes in the oven.