11 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Steal the Spotlight

A lotta work goes into cooking a stellar bird (although our Simple Dry-Brined Turkey Breast with Sage is surprisingly simple). But we do ave a confession: We really have goo-goo eyes for Thanksgiving side dishes. These “Nourish”ing sides may be supporting players, but they'll steal the spotlight from Mr. Turkey. And that should make you feel just fine about helping yourself to seconds.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Thyme

roasted-delicata-squash

This side dish is deceptively simple (and downright gorgeous), yet the copious amount of thyme give it a nuanced depth of flavor that makes it a stunner for the Thanksgiving table.

 


 

Caramelized Turnips with Miso Butter

caramelized-turnips-miso-butter

This recipe turns humble turnips into wowza wowza. Caramelization creates a flavorful coating and tender insides, while the miso butter brings a lovely richness.

 


 

Orange-Marinated Beets

If you've got a spiralizer, break it out for this stunning — yet simple — dish. Whether you choose red or gold beets, the spiraly lengths of gem-colored veggies makes a gorgeous presentation, and the orange marinade brings a bright, festive flavor.

 


 

Susie's Breadcrumb Stuffing

breadcrumb-stuffing-thanksgiving-side-dishes

Make this stuffing a day or two ahead, spoon it into a baking dish, cover and refrigerate. Then on T-Day, spoon some pan drippings from the turkey over the stuffing and pop it into the oven to bake while the bird rests.

 


 

Sweet Potato Puree with Honey and Crispy Shallots

sweet-potato-puree-thanksgiving-side-dishes

No Thanksgiving side dishes are complete with the sweet potatoes. Traditional sweet potato casserole grows up this marshmallow-free puree sweetened with just a touch of honey.

 


 

Grandma Friese's Whole Cranberries

grandma-frieses-whole-cranberries-thanksgiving-side-dishes

In our world, cranberry sauce does not come from a can. Our six-ingredient version uses fresh, seasonal cranberries paired with port wine for a boozy kick.

 


 

Swiss Chard with Orange & Almonds

This hearty cool-weather salad works as a side dish — and as a vegetarian-friendly holiday main dish.

 


 

Crispy Mustard-Coated Brussels Sprouts 

This was the Brussels sprouts recipe that won my daughter over. A slightly piquant mustard glaze brings loads of flavor, while a finish with crispy breadcrumbs brings crunch.

 


 

Roasted Butternut Squash with Shallots

roasted-butternut-squash_horizontal-small

This is one of my go-to weeknight dishes … but it's so good — and so stunning — that it transitions beautifully to the Thanksgiving table.

 


 

Spiced Quinoa

This Spiced Quinoa checks all the boxes — it's got a beautiful golden hue that will brighten your holiday table, it's the perfect backdrop to the main and other sides (not too boring, not too over the top), and it's gluten-free.

 


 

Oven-Steamed Beets with Cumin and Coriander

These beets are always a showstopper. Gem-colored cubes dressed with a vinaigrette flavored with warm spices … they love to steal the show.

Share The Love!

NOURISH-EVOLUTION-recipe-download-img

Lorem ipsum dolor

Consectetur Adipiscing Elit, Sed Do Eiusmod Tempor Incididunt Ut Labore Et Dolore Magna Aliqua.

Picture of Hey there ... I'm Lia Huber

Hey there ... I'm Lia Huber

My mission is to inspire and equip you to live a richer life through real food by becoming a more competent, confident home cook.


I’m the author of Nourished: A Memoir of Food, Faith, and Enduring Love, founder and CEO of Nourish Evolution, and the creator of Cook the Seasons, Home Cooking School, and the Real Food Reset, and I empower intentional women to cook in a way that brings them (and their families) joy, health, and ease.

Making the shift from processed food to real food doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an evolution that occurs over time, with effort, intention, and belief. And it will change the course of your life. Are you ready to take the first step? I’m so glad you’re here … and I’m honored to be with you on the journey to becoming nourished!

How to Plan, Prep, and Cook Easy (Nourishing) Weeknight Meals

3 steps to making simple, nourishing meals possible night after night so you spend less, enjoy more, and have time and energy to live a richer, more delicious life!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

This Holiday Season, Get Over the Guilt

Between Thanksgiving and Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I’m starting to feel gorged in every way. It happens every year for me right as November slides into December; I start to feel almost panicked about the cookies and treats and roasts ahead for the holidays. I start to feel a sense of gloom that I’m going to roll into the new year ten pounds heavier than I was at Halloween, which doesn’t feel so merry to me. Here’s how I’ve learned to make the holidays both happy AND healthy.

Read More

Privacy Policy

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Proin vel ullamcorper nisl. Praesent tincidunt nibh sit amet sagittis porttitor. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Maecenas euismod ullamcorper libero, quis sollicitudin metus ullamcorper et. Curabitur elementum tincidunt fringilla. Vestibulum a ligula vitae dui rutrum consectetur non nec quam. Aliquam gravida ornare erat, sit amet lobortis massa sagittis pellentesque. Sed dapibus sed est nec blandit. Curabitur tellus felis, porttitor et odio nec, elementum aliquam sem. Nam ut dui enim. Nullam ac ornare odio. Nullam pulvinar purus porttitor dolor gravida lobortis.

Ut pulvinar pulvinar neque ut euismod. In tempor placerat risus, ut tempus eros congue vel. Ut venenatis ultricies magna, porta hendrerit dolor posuere ut. In sit amet tempor ante, eget lacinia ipsum. Nunc in condimentum ex. Sed sit amet urna ultrices, euismod urna vitae, sollicitudin orci. Quisque non justo convallis, scelerisque nulla sit amet, tincidunt augue.