The leaves are falling; the air is crisp and cool, and that all means Thanksgiving is right around the corner! By far one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving has always meant delicious food and time with family and friends. Since I enjoy cooking, it’s always fun to try one new recipe or two because I don’t want to get stuck in a rut of having to make the same dishes over and over again. There are classics of course, like dressing (stuffing for others), homemade cranberry sauce, turkey, and some type of butter bean. And as a gardener, I love to use what may be growing in my garden or can be found at the local Farmer’s Market. What could be better than fresh vegetable side dishes for Thanksgiving? Nothing!
Vegetable Thanksgiving Side Dishes
To come up with the best vegetable Thanksgiving side dishes for you to try out this year, I called upon other food bloggers who create amazing content. And did they deliver! I specifically wanted side dish recipes from vegetables that are in season during the fall. Fresh food is always a win whether you’re growing it yourself or buying it somewhere else. Fall favorites would be kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (in some areas), brussels sprouts, collards, and all salad greens. (Want to grow a fall garden that’s low maintenance? Check out my post!) Now, onto the recipes!
New Takes on Classic Side Dishes
These first few sides, have their roots in classic Thanksgiving side dishes… think green bean casserole. But these revamped recipes are anything but boring!
Better Than Your Mama’s Green Bean Casserole: Ally, the content creator at Crave the Good, says, “This green bean casserole, made with fresh garden beans and a homemade mushroom gravy is incredibly delicious. Sorry mom, your recipe has been bumped!” (Cast iron skillets are a classic and reliable cooking tool. Find one here.)
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans– This Roasted Parmesan Green Beans recipe is a healthy & flavorful side dish! Made with only six ingredients in 30 minutes! And Laura at Joy, Food, Sunshine shows you just how easy it is to whip up for Thanksgiving! (Need a classic white platter like her’s? Here’s a 3-platter set for less than $30!)
Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Prosciutto Gwynn at Swirls of Flavor shared this stunner of a recipe. No bland brussels sprouts at the Thanksgiving table. Smashed Brussels Sprouts With Crispy Prosciutto will be your new go-to side dish recipe for special occasions and holidays! Smashed sprouts are roasted with two cheeses and then topped with crispy prosciutto for the ultimate side dish recipe!
Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Pecans it all sounds fantastic! Vegan roasted maple cinnamon butternut squash! Loaded with cranberries and pecans. The perfect holiday side dish for your Thanksgiving table from Tricia at Rhubarbarians! (A white baking dish with handles is a timeless piece for your kitchen, check out the great price on this one.)
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts– Even the pickiest brussels sprouts hater may change their mind for the crispy and sweet taste of these roasted gems. With fresh maple syrup and walnuts to add crunch this recipe is a favorite at our house.
Salad Side Dishes
While having a salad as a side may seem… boring. The truth is there are so many delicious salad toppings out there, one should never be bored with a good crunchy salad full of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and cheese. Even my kids love a good salad!
Fall Harvest Salad This irresistibly delicious Fall Harvest Salad with Apples and Sweet Potatoes is as pretty as a picture and tastes as good as it looks! Full of roasted sweet potatoes, juicy sliced apples, and crunchy roasted pecans, this healthy salad will remind you of a cool crisp Fall day! Courtesy of Sharon at Grits and Pinecones!
Roasted Pear, Walnut, and Cranberry Salad from Kelly at Tasting Page. This healthy and beautiful kale salad includes roasted pears for a natural sweetness and walnuts for a great crunch.
Spinach and Pomegranate Salad– Fresh spinach greens, bright and sweet pomegranate, and fresh oranges are the perfect cool weather combination to adorn your Thanksgiving table.
New Thanksgiving Classics
I’ve never considered vegetables like cauliflower or carrots at Thanksgiving before, but the rise in popularity, especially of cauliflower, has me rethinking things. Easy Roasted Cauliflower is something I serve weekly at our house. It’s quick, delicious, and everyone loves it. Here are a few more recipes that are perfect for Thanksgiving and have a bit more pizzaz than just roasting veggies.
Spicy Cauliflower with Figs– Shashi at Savory Spin takes cauliflower to a whole. new. level. with her delicious recipe. Cardamom pods, whole cloves, onions, ginger, and garlic go into making this Spicy Cauliflower with Figs an invitingly aromatic dish to add to your Thanksgiving/Holiday table!
Carrot Souffle– At first, I wasn’t sure about a souffle made with carrots, but considering their natural sweetness, it really does make sense! If you’re looking for a stunning dish to serve this holiday season, look no further than this carrot souffle. Carrot souffle has a light and airy texture that almost melts in your mouth and is a family favorite for Pamela at Brooklyn Farm Girl.
From all of these Thanksgiving side dish recipes, I hope you find something new to grace your table this year. You never know when you might find a new family favorite! I’d love to know what kind of side dishes are most common at your Thanksgiving table. Feel free to comment below and let me know! Have a great week!