50 Best Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides That Will Brighten Up Your Spread
Green beans and roasted squash are sure to steal the show!
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Holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy sure are merry, but they're not the most colorful. Luckily, there are plenty of bright Thanksgiving vegetable sides to balance out all that beige! Sweet potato recipes, green beans, and butternut squash bring the perfect pop of color and taste to any Thanksgiving menu. Plus, they're proof that tasty Thanksgiving sides and healthy Thanksgiving recipes aren't mutually exclusive. Even the pickiest eaters will be satisfied with dishes like smashed Brussels sprouts and stuffed mushrooms!
When you're planning a menu of Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes, there are plenty of seasonal fall produce to choose from. You'll feel perfectly autumnal with Ree Drummond's roasted vegetables with pecan crumble, and you'll definitely want to make a trip to the farmers' market for the butternut squash and kale casserole. Of course, there are also tons of variations on potato recipes, too! Think: creamy mashed potatoes, crash hot potatoes, or scalloped potatoes that are made in a slow cooker. No matter which vegetable side dish you choose, these sides are sure to get a second scoop from guests sitting at your Thanksgiving table.
Green Bean Casserole
You can't go wrong with a classic green bean casserole on Thanksgiving! Ree's twist on the comforting casserole features bacon, cheese, and a crispy panko crust instead of the usual fried onion topping.
Get Ree's Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Roasted Carrots with Honey Herb Butter
For a sweet and savory side that isn't sweet potato casserole, try your hand at these tender roasted carrots. They're coated in homemade honey herb butter and even more fresh herbs for a side dish that's equal parts comforting and refreshing.
Green Beans Almondine
Switch it up from your usual green beans with this nutty, lemony dish! It's full of fresh flavor thanks to green beans, lemon, shallots, garlic, and crunchy toasted almonds.
Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.
Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon
If green beans aren't your thing, but you still want a creamy casserole to pair with your turkey, look no further than this veggie-packed side dish! It's chock full of cauliflower, broccoli, and, best of all, bacon.
Get Ree's Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon recipe.
Smashed Brussels Sprouts
These are Brussels sprouts like you've never seen them before! They're boiled, flattened, and coated in a panko-parmesan mixture before being baked until crisp. Serve them up with a creamy lemon sauce and dip away!
Get the Smashed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Cabbage Salad
This cooling cabbage salad will be a welcome source of crunch on your plate. It's so easy to make: just toss together purple cabbage, nutty toasted pecans, tart green apples, and peppery arugula in a bright, tangy vinaigrette.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
French Onion Potatoes au Gratin
Mashed potatoes aren't the only starch that deserves a spot in your spread! With many melt-in-your-mouth layers of potatoes, caramelized onions, and cheese, this side dish may just steal the show.
Get Ree's French Onion Potatoes au Gratin recipe.
Roasted Asparagus
The best way to balance out the big names on your Thanksgiving menu? With a simple and bright dish like Ree's roasted asparagus! It's ready in just 15 minutes and oh-so-crispy.
Get Ree's Roasted Asparagus recipe.
Quinoa and Mushroom Stuffed Acorn Squash
Acorn squash makes the most adorable edible bowl! Fill them with a mixture of quinoa, parsley, parmesan, almonds, and mushrooms for the ultimate taste of fall.
Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole
Get your cruciferous vegetable fix in with this cheesy, crispy casserole! It's loaded with both broccoli and cauliflower as well as cheese. The buttery bread crumbs take this dish over the top!
Get Ree's Broccoli-Cauliflower Casserole recipe.
Garlic Green Beans
In just 15 minutes, you can add this mean green side to your menu! In this recipe, green beans are blanched and then enhanced with olive oil, garlic, and salt.
Get the Garlic Green Beans recipe.
Mushroom Gravy
You won't miss the meat in this savory gravy! The woody, umami flavor of the mushrooms works together with fresh herbs and spices to create the perfect accompaniment to your mains.
Get the Mushroom Gravy recipe.
Thanksgiving Salad
If the name isn't enough to convince you to add this to your Thanksgiving menu, let the ingredients! This refreshing salad is filled with crisp lettuce, tart pickled apples, creamy blue cheese, and smoked almonds. It's sure to brighten up your table!
Get the Thanksgiving Salad recipe.
Roasted Cauliflower
Keep things simple with this easy roasted cauliflower! Finish it off with a dash of fresh parsley and shaved parmesan cheese for good measure.
Get the Roasted Cauliflower recipe.
Collard Green Salad
Switch it up from classic Southern collard greens and make this salad instead! The collard greens are massaged with buttermilk dressing, red wine vinegar, and salt and then topped with crispy fried onions, crunchy peanuts, and marinated black-eyed peas.
Get the Collard Green Salad recipe.
Crispy Brie Stuffed Mushrooms
If this recipe tells us anything, it's that mushrooms were practically made for being stuffed and baked to crispy perfection in the oven! These are filled with melted brie and herby bread crumbs and make the perfect holiday side dish.
Get the Crispy Brie Stuffed Mushroom recipe.
Candied Carrots
Roasted carrots make a great holiday side dish, but why not take it to the next level with a bit of brown sugar and parsley? These candied carrots are sweet, savory, and ready in 20 minutes.
Get the Candied Carrots recipe.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction and Walnuts
There are so many ways to prepare Brussels sprouts, but Ree's take might just be the crunchiest! The crispiness of the roasted Brussels sprouts is compounded by baked walnuts, and the whole dish is tied together with a tangy balsamic reduction.
Get Ree's Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction and Walnuts recipe.
Upside-Down Puff Pastry Radish Tarts
These picture-perfect puff pastry tarts are way easier to make than they look! They're so colorful and flavorful, thanks to thinly sliced radishes and creamy gournay-style cheese.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
If you're looking to switch up your typical potato mash, try making them with sweet potatoes instead. They're lightly sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup, and still just as buttery and smooth.
Get the Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe.
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