Easy Thanksgiving Vegetables Side Dishes
There’s no doubt these 20+ easy Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes will elevate your holiday menu to delicious new heights. You already have an idea for the main course, but what about the sides? So get some inspiration from this tasty list of veggie side dishes.
Here’s the thing: we all know what we want as the centerpiece, whether a golden roasted bird or a glossy ham. But when it comes to the vegetable sides, it’s harder to choose.
So I’ve put together a list of vegetable side dishes we’ve made through the years for friends and family with great success. From colorful carrots to creamy mashed potatoes, these veggies will make your special dinner more memorable! Indeed, I’m sure you’ll find inspiration for your menu.
Popular Vegetable Sides for Thanksgiving
The traditional veggie sides include green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole. But Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and roasted root vegetables are also popular. The nice thing about the sides is the flexibility to adapt to your family’s preferences.
What Makes a Soul-Food Thanksgiving Dinner
Turkey or ham (or both if you have a large gathering), cornbread dressing, homemade gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, and sweet potato pie are must-haves. Green beans and potatoes or green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and corn pudding also have their place.
Filling Potato Sides
1. Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are traditional because they’re easy to make and feed a crowd. This recipe uses red potatoes with the skin, along with extra garlic, perfect for special occasions.
2. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
If you believe the best mashed potatoes are creamy, then these are for you. Cream cheese adds body and a richer mouthfeel to the traditional side of mashed potatoes. The roasted garlic also brings the whole thing together.
3. Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
Take advantage of having the oven going with these roasted veggies. Creole seasonings and fresh parsley make these potatoes unique, for a lovely complement to any hearty meal.
4. Fondant Potatoes
This elegant recipe puts on a show at Thanksgiving. Toss them with garlic and rosemary, and pan-frying them delivers an easy, yet savory side dish.
5. Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
Potatoes and carrots were meant for each other, and they make a super easy side dish. All you have to do is toss them with butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and Italian seasonings and roast. Combining them gives you a colorful side dish with exciting herbal scents.
6. Scalloped Potatoes
Tender potato slices smothered in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It steals the spotlight at Thanksgiving. And it’s also a great make-ahead! Parmesan cheese and a pinch of nutmeg really make this dish something memorable! And you can customize it with crispy bits of ham.
Thanksgiving Corn Side Dishes
7. Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob not only adds color to the table, but it’s also deliciously sweet and juicy. A touch of Creole seasoning makes these beautiful ears of corn one of the easiest and most popular sides. Count on at least two for each guest.
8. Scalloped Corn
This bubbly corn casserole ticks all the right boxes; it’s beautiful, colorful, and delicious. Oh, and it’s ready in less than an hour. To make this beauty, all you need are corn kernels, cheddar, butter, and a whole bunch of Ritz crackers! This one is as fun as it sounds.
9. Southern Fried Corn
Soul food at its best, this crispy and attractively sweet side dish is a Southern classic. It goes well with turkey, ham, and even seafood dinners. Corn, bacon, butter, onion, and garlic are the base ingredients here, and Creole seasonings with pepper flakes make this fried corn super fun! You only need nine pantry staple ingredients to make this snazzy side.
Carrot Recipes
10. Honey-Glazed Carrots
Aren’t carrots one of the prettiest Thanksgiving side dishes you’ve ever seen? And they’re as tender and sweet as they look. Buttery and sweetened with just a hint of honey, this is the only way you’ll want to make carrots this year. These beauties are all about roasting them at high temperatures, then smothering them in a seasoned butter glaze.
11. Pineapple Ginger Glazed Carrots
Now, for a sweeter side dish, this tropical twist on a Thanksgiving classic is something else. However, I love making these all year-round. And the refreshing taste of ginger gives this side dish an exotic vibe.
Other Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes
12. Candied Sweet Potato or Yams
Candied yams or sweet potatoes are a must-have on the Thanksgiving table. You’re gonna need some sweetness to balance that roasted bird and other buttery Thanksgiving sides. Sweet potatoes caramelize nicely, and they’re outstanding when flavored with holiday spices. Even better, this Southern specialty is ready in about an hour.
13. Sweet Potato Casserole
Loading mashed sweet potatoes with pecans and marshmallows delivers a decadent casserole that can double as a dessert.
14. Southern Collard Greens
Now, on to the healthier side of sides. These dark leafy greens flavored with smoky ham and bacon are a must-have at any soul-food Thanksgiving celebration.
15. Roasted Acorn Squash
Whether you have acorn squash, butternut, or pumpkin, this easy recipe for roasting will be tasty. Did you know you can eat the peel of a butternut? Thanks, Jamie Oliver.
16. Easy Coleslaw
Coleslaw is fresh and light, the perfect side dish to balance any hearty meal. Besides, it’s super easy. Just use your food processor to shred green and purple cabbage, then throw in a few grated carrots. It’s the dressing, though, that makes it out of this world. Use both mayo and sour cream for the best results.
17. Broccoli Salad
This easy salad recipe lightens up the heartiest Thanksgiving meal. Indeed, bacon, broccoli, a few grapes, cranberries, onion, and sunflower seeds add color, texture, and flavor to this pretty vegetable side dish. Use your favorite dressing, but I like mine sweet and creamy.
18. Green Bean Casserole
Learn how to make a mean green bean casserole from scratch, even the cream of mushroom sauce. This over-the-top version of everyone’s favorite green bean casserole has it all. It’s creamy, savory, and rewards your senses with every forkful.
19. Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
Green beans are fantastic, and a Thanksgiving classic. And bacon makes everything better. Even though they look fancy, they’re easy to make. All you need are green beans, thick bacon, and a few spices to give these already tasty bundles some personality.
20. Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
These cute little mini cabbages sauteed in butter and garlic add adorability to your meal. A splash of red wine vinegar adds the final touch, and that’s it!
Bonus Recipes
21. Pea Salad
Some vegetable side dishes are incredibly comforting. For me, that’s pea salad. Creamy and tangy, this salad adds freshness to your holiday menu. Peas, bacon, cheddar, and red onion. That’s it. A creamy sour cream- and mayo-based dressing gives body and richness to the composition.
22. Creamed Spinach
A classic side for the holidays that comes together in less than no time, especially if you take a shortcut and use frozen spinach. The kiddos won’t complain at all.
23. Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus
Toss asparagus in olive oil, add a little salt and pepper, and you’re good to go. But when you add Parmesan cheese, you get an umami-rich finger food that is hard to beat.
24. Sauteed Mushrooms
These meaty, juicy umami bombs have more flavor than you think, especially when tossed with a few special seasonings. Season white mushrooms (or baby Bellas) with Creole spices, onion, thyme, Worcestershire, and chopped parsley leaves for out-of-this-world delicious.
