Although the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving meal, I find that I spend more time planning the side dishes. There is only so much that you can do with the turkey so I spend a lot of my creativity coming up with exciting and tasty side dishes. I do try to restrain myself a bit though as the Thanksgiving dinner is already really big and it requires a lot of time and effort to make. As a general rule of thumb, I try to go with one green vegetable and one potato or squash side dish and then maybe one or two others and the sky is the limit for the extras! Sometimes it is nice to go with old favourites or maybe a new take on a classic and I like to try at least a few completely new dishes every year.
Italian Sausage, Mushroom and Chestnut Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Pancetta and Porcini Potato Gratin
Roasted Mushrooms in a Browned Butter, Garlic and Thyme Sauce
Brussels Sprouts with Smoked Bacon in a Mustard Cream Topped with a Parmesan Crust
Maple Roasted Carrots in Tahini Sauce with Pomegranate and Pistachios
Cranberry Sauce
Crispy Parmesan Roast Potatoes
Garlic Butter Parmesan Rice
Asiago Roasted Onions
Fondant Potatoes
Muffin Pan Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Gratins
Melting Potatoes
Creamy Asiago Bacon Wrapped Roasted Onions
Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Roasted Carrots
Spinach and Feta Mashed Cauliflower
Mushroom Rice
Creamed Broccoli
Parmesan Garlic Miso Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Maple Dijon Roasted Carrots
Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Double Smoked Bacon
Maple Pecan Melting Sweet Potatoes
Creamed Corn with Roasted Red Peppers and Bacon
Balsamic Soy Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
Crispy Roast Potatoes
Apple and Pomegranate Quinoa and Kale Salad with Feta in a Curried Maple Dijon Dressing
Parmesan Roasted Carrot Fries
Roasted Carrot and Tahini Soup with Pomegranate and Pistachios
Potatoes Romanoff
Crispy Parmesan Roast Cauliflower
Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Quinoa Salad in Balsamic Vinaigrette
Fully Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
Sweet Potato Gratin
Maple Pecan Glazed Carrots
Browned Butter and Sage Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted Cauliflower and Aged White Cheddar Soup
Creamy Garlic and Brie Mushrooms
Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa
Roast Head of Cauliflower in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Potato Skins with Pecan Streusel (aka Individual Sweet Potato Casserole)
Five Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Squash
Green Beans in a Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Traditional Stuffing
Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
Mushroom Risotto
Roasted Green Bean Red Pepper Quinoa Salad
Mashed Cauliflower
Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes topped with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
Potatoes Gratin
Tequila and Lime Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce
Skillet Butter and Garlic Mushrooms and Cauliflower
Roast Broccoli
Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Cranberry Relish
Onion Gratin
Shrimp Bisque
Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Maple Pecan Roasted Acorn Squash
White Cheddar and Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamed Cauliflower (aka Creamy Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower with Bacon)
Roasted Butternut Squash with Caramelized Onions, Gorgonzola and Crispy Fried Sage
Maple Sriracha Roasted Cauliflower
Easy Mashed Potatoes
Slow Cooker Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Chutney
Roasted Apple and Aged White Cheddar Soup
Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted Apple Sauce
More Thanksgiving Recipes
Looking for more thanksgiving recipes? Check out my Thanksgiving Recipes Pinboard!
Oh my! I'm feeling a bit guilty as I haven't given the dinner this much thought. Thanks for sharing as I printed off a few of the 'easier' recipes I think my guests will enjoy – off to shop now!
Thanks for sharing all these wonderful recipes. Even though I'm not celebrating thanksgiving, these will definitely come in handy.
Kevin, I loved this. Especially the from scratch green bean casserole.
Thanks!
I am cruising my blog favs for ideas! Believe it our not, I still do not have my side dish contributions to the family gatherings (this late in the game, I know!). I may just work off the Onion Gratin and brussel sprouts you offered…I know I wouldn't step on any family members' toes with those…THANKS!
So many yummy recipes! thanks for sharing 🙂
The onion gratin looks phenomenal! I'm so glad Thanksgiving Week starts tomorrow…I may have to work the gratin into my feast-filled week.
If you think of it, check out my blog about the "the bone-fide pursuits of a hungry college kid." Thanks!
http://the-tasty-truth.com/
Please let us know when you start taking reservations…
I adore green bean casserole and am excited it's Thanksgiving time again so I can use your recipe. Thanks for thinking to share these.
You are like the Paula Deen of Canada-everything so yoummy and rich. I think I'll try the squash and sage-I,too,love fried sage and it is still thriving outside.
I don't think I've ever seen a yummier line up of Thanksgiving sides. Seriously. It's enough to make you forget there is even a turkey.
Do you make ALL of these or just choose four or five?
Ninja Annie: I normally only make 3-5 depending on how many people I will be serving. It is always hard to choose which one though! 🙂
Too hard to chose…might be easier to make all of them. lol! Forget the turkey and just have sides.
Just started to plan out my Thanksgiving feast, it's just a few weeks away and already added the Onion Gratin, Pancetta and Porcini Potato Gratin and the Brussel Sprouts. Can't wait to taste these..and I know my guest will love them.
This is a beautiful collection of sides. I'm particularly interested in the butternut squash. The onion gratin looks sinfully delicious too.
I'll take one of everything! 😉
This was just the kick in the butt I needed! Awesome roundup
OMG Kevin – can I come over to yours for Thanksgiving?!?!? I am swooning over the porcini potato bake in particular… What a selection!
WOW!! These all look soooo good! Thank you for sharing. Now I have lots of new recipes to try, not all at once though!!
These are all fabulous sides to accompany a turkey, ham and pork loin. We will be with family and friends in Sedona and will need to carry all the seasonings to avoid having to buy them all there. Now to just decide which dishes to prepare!
Such a great roundup! Love that you have some great twists on traditional Thanksgiving ingredients in this list. The onion gratin and broccoli quinoa sound amazing!
Kevin, I started bookmarking individual sides and finally ended up bookmarking your whole post! Incredible flavors, colors, and ingenuity… thank you.
Simply Wow..these dishes are divine.
What a beautiful compilation of gorgeous side dishes – Thanks for posting Kevin!
Raschell
Your sides recipes look great.. something different, yet traditional at the same time. I just had one turkey bone to pick:) It looks like your photos have all been super "enhanced" to make the color more vibrant. However, it makes the food have an orange/brown/red glow. I have noticed this on all your photos, hot dogs, desserts, sandwiches, vegetables, pizza, everything. The recipes are so yummy sounding, I think the photos would look more natural if they were not overly enhanced. Maybe just a notch would be fine. I myself used to click all the way to the last possible enhance notch, thinking it was making them so much better and vibrant, but then realized my photos looked red/orange, and not natural anymore. Lesson learned.
So great for Thanksgiving!! Love!!
These are just incredible, so stunning!
Such a great roundup of Thanksgiving side dishes—so many delicious and easy ideas all in one place!