Best Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes (Over 50 Recipes!)
Find all the Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dish recipes you could ever need from classic sides to make ahead dishes to salads, soups, perfectly roasted vegetables, and even some surprises to make for the best Thanksgiving menu.
Everyone thinks about the turkey, but I am here for the veggie side dishes. In fact, I would happily fill my plate with all the tasty holiday vegetables. From roasted fall vegetables to classic casseroles, there is nothing better than Thanksgiving side dishes.
I love creating new recipes for my family, especially at Thanksgiving! When it comes to feeding a large extended family, the more side dishes you can cook, the better!
In this guide, I'll share all of my favorite side dishes - from the really creative to the classic ones that you've probably tried before.
Browse this list and start putting together the menu for your big meal.
Easy Roasted Vegetables
First, let's look at some recipes that everyone is used to seeing at Thanksgiving - delicious roasted veggies. These classic veggie sides make an appearance on almost every holiday table and are easy to make.
Did you know you can prep roasted vegetables in advance? Just take them out a few minutes early so that they will finish the day off. You don't want to lose that delicious roasted veggie crunch.
Roasted Whole Butternut Squash
This easy roasted whole butternut squash comes out perfectly tender with delicious browned edges without any complicated prep work.
Roasted Cauliflower
This easy Roasted Cauliflower is made with just three simple ingredients and it will be some of the best cauliflower you've ever had. Nutty, crispy on the edges, and perfectly cooked.
Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted Acorn Squash is wholesome, savory, and beyond delicious. Made with squash, butter, brown sugar, and a few simple spices, this mouth-watering dish is insanely easy to make and oh-so-satisfying!
Roasted Parsnips
These Easy Roasted parsnips made with just 5 ingredients come out crispy and full of natural sweetness! This vegetable side dish will soon be a family favorite.
Roasted Mushrooms
These Easy Roasted Mushrooms are made with baby bella coated in a flavorful combination of butter, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. This tasty side dish comes together in under 30 minutes and pairs beautifully with any dish!
Easy Roasted Beets
The best easy roasted beets with honey, balsamic vinegar, and shallots. Delicious as a side dish, in a salad, or for an appetizer with goat cheese.
Easy Roasted Potatoes
These Easy Roasted Potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal, ready in just 25 minutes with only 3 ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Crispy on the outside, tender on the outside, and crazy delicious every time.
Roasted Green Beans
Roasted green beans transform a standard green bean into something amazingly delicious. They get brown and crispy. No more boring canned or steamed green beans here.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Ready to make the most delicious crispy potatoes? These Oven Roasted Fingerling Potatoes are the answer! Easy to prep, versatile, and perfectly tender in just 30 minutes.
Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
These four ingredient Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots that come out browned and caramelized are some of the best carrots you will ever eat. If you aren't roasting carrots, it's time to start!
Crispy Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
The most delicious Crispy Balsamic Brussel Sprouts taste like your favorite restaurant sprouts but are healthy and easy to make at home. An easy weeknight side dish and a holiday staple.
Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash is a simple side dish that screams fall with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg! It's easy to throw together and fits right in at holiday gatherings or any night you want a little extra autumn flavor!
Thanksgiving Classics: Mashed Potatoes, Casseroles, and More
There are certain dishes that are on almost every Thanksgiving dinner! Find spins on classic recipes like mashed potatoes, creamed corn, butternut squash, classic Thanksgiving casseroles, and more.
Sauteed Vegetable Side Dishes
If you need to free up oven space, make your vegetable side dishes on the stove instead! These sauteed vegetable recipes have all the classic flavors including garlic, butter, fresh herbs, and more.
Quickly elevate any of these sauteed vegetable recipes for the holidays by adding cranberries, fresh thyme, bacon, maple syrup, or a touch of cream.
Best Sauteed Carrots
The best sauteed carrots with honey, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and butter. Easy enough for a weeknight but special enough for any holiday table.
Sauteed Leeks
These sauteed leeks transform the humble leek into a super delicious vegetable side dish. Ready in just 15 minutes with only a few ingredients, these leeks deserve a spot at the table.
Garlic Sautéed Spinach
The best garlic sauteed spinach with crispy garlic, fresh lemon juice, and some seriously delicious spinach. This side dish is easy and packed with flavor.
Sauteed Broccoli
Delicious sauteed broccoli with garlic and lemon that comes out perfectly tender-crisp every time. No more mushy broccoli, this side dish is easy and some of the best broccoli you'll ever eat.
Best Sauteed Peas
The most delicious Sauteed Peas with garlic, butter, shallots, and Parmesan cheese. This ten minute side dish goes great with any main course.
Easy Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic Butter
The best Sauteed Mushrooms with fresh garlic, butter, and thyme make a quick and easy side dish that's ready in just 10 minutes. The best way to cook mushrooms at home.
Sauteed Cauliflower
Sauteed Cauliflower with garlic, lemon, parsley, and Parmesan cheese is ready in less than 15 minutes for a star side dish that tastes amazing.
Sautéed Zucchini with Garlic
Sautéed Zucchini with Garlic that's ready in under ten minutes and comes out with the perfect tender crisp zucchini every time!
Sauteed Kale
This easy sauteed kale is the quickest and easiest way to prepare kale. It comes out tender with tons of garlic flavor and without any bitterness. Plus it only takes 10 minutes.
10 Minute Garlic Green Beans
Garlic Green Beans that are ready in just 10 minutes and cooked stovetop. They seriously couldn't be easier to make and have so much flavor.
Thanksgiving Salads You’ll Love
Another very popular side dish to serve on Thanksgiving is a salad or two. Salads will feed a huge crowd and they are pretty easy to throw together. Try one, or all, of these salads.
Need something to make ahead of time? Choose a hearty option like kale salad, brussel sprout salad, or a chopped vegetable salad.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with apples, and goat cheese all tossed in a Dijon honey vinaigrette is the perfect side dish for any meal. It's also great for the holidays.
Easy Arugula Salad
This easy Arugula Salad is packed with goat cheese, walnuts, red onions, and a delicious lemon balsamic vinaigrette. It makes a delicious side dish or meal with chicken or shrimp.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
This Roasted Squash Salad is made with tender butternut squash, arugula, almonds, feta cheese, and a zesty vinaigrette. Loaded with the most irresistible flavors of the season, this butternut squash salad recipe is the perfect addition to your weekly rotation.
Wild Rice Salad
The best Wild Rice Salad with acorn squash, cranberries, fresh arugula, and a delicious lemon tahini vinaigrette. This salad is packed with fall flavors and is perfect for holiday meals.
Easy Spring Mix Salad
Easy Spring Mix Salad is a quick and easy way to enjoy your favorite veggies. Coated in a homemade creamy balsamic dressing, this vibrant salad is bound to become a new staple in your kitchen.
Grilled Plum Salad with Goat Cheese
This Grilled Plum Salad with Goat Cheese is packed with peppery arugula. thinly sliced red onion, basil, sweet and smoky grilled plums, and an amazing homemade lemon vinaigrette.
Spinach Salad with Creamy Balsamic
This delicious Spinach Salad couldn't be more delicious with sweer apples, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts all tossed in an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
This beet salad with goat cheese recipe features beets, crunchy pears, walnuts, goat cheese, and arugula tossed in a simple Dijon honey vinaigrette. It’s fresh, flavorful, and super easy to make. It’s the ultimate salad!
Celery Salad
In the world of salads, Celery Salad often flies under the radar, but we're here to change that! Crisp chunks of celery are tossed with fresh herbs and homemade vinaigrette, resulting in a light, zesty, and refreshing dish.
Wild Rice Salad
The best Wild Rice Salad with acorn squash, cranberries, fresh arugula, and a delicious lemon tahini vinaigrette. This salad is packed with fall flavors and is perfect for holiday meals.
Broccoli Salad (Made with Greek Yogurt!)
This easy Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad with fresh broccoli florets, crispy bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds in a creamy Greek yogurt dressing has all the flavor of the classic summer salad, just lightened up!
Edamame Salad
This Edamame Salad is fresh, nutritious, and bursting with flavor. It's made with a blend of crunchy vegetables (that stand up to summer heat!), creamy peanut butter dressing, and lots of fresh herbs. Serve this versatile salad as a side dish, a light lunch, or a full meal with your favorite protein on top.
Creative Side Dishes To Serve At Your Thanksgiving Dinner
Sometimes, you want something extra special and unique for Thanksgiving! These side dishes are something you won't find on every table.
Slow Cooker Roasted Corn Chowder
This easy Crockpot Corn Chowder made with roasted corn, red peppers, and a hint of spice from poblano peppers is perfect for a chilly night.
Grilled Butternut Squash
Grilled Butternut Squash coated with cinnamon, chili powder, salt, and pepper is easy to make and packed with flavor. Trust me, grilled sweet butternut squash is a must-have.
Blackened Corn
Blackened Corn is the ultimate side dish to liven up your next weeknight dinner or backyard barbecue. All you need is fresh corn, melted butter, blackening seasoning, and a piping hot skillet to bring it all together.
Roasted Vegetable Couscous
Roasted Vegetable Couscous and white beans is a wholesome and delicious dish packed with fresh veggies, herbs, and flavor. This nutritious vegan-friendly dish makes the ultimate side dish or main course for any occasion. Bonus: It’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Creamed Kale
Creamed Kale is a delicious and healthy side dish made with fresh kale, parmesan cheese, milk, butter, and cream cheese. Not only is it loaded with essential nutrients, but this 20-minute dish is full of mouth-watering flavor that the whole family will love.
Crispy Baked Zucchini
The best Crispy Baked Zucchini rounds with Parmesan cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, garlic, and spices. Never mushy, ready in 15 minutes, so much flavor!
Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts that are roasted until crispy and brown and then tossed with the most amazing 3 ingredient sauce are a side dish that will have everyone eating their veggies.
Roasted Bok Choy
This roasted bok choy is the perfect Asian side dish with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of heat. Ready in just 10 minutes, it's a dish you will make again and again.
Creamy Turnip Soup
This creamy Turnip Soup is surprisingly delicious made with turnips, potatoes, sweet onions, garlic, and herbs.
Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin
This Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin packed with a combination of Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses with garlic, onion, and fresh herbs is absolutely delicious and surprisingly healthy,
Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes Everyone Loves
When it comes to Thanksgiving, it's important to keep everyone's individual tastes in mind. That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the healthiness of the side dishes that you make. You just have to use whole ingredients and fresh vegetables. You'll be surprised at how much better everything tastes when you use the freshest ingredients and don't take shortcuts.
I hope you were able to find a few new recipes to try from this list. Remake a classic recipe (like green bean casserole) into a healthier version. I bet everyone will love it even more than the original!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most common questions about making veggie sides for Thanksgiving.
What are the best side dishes to make in advance?
Generally speaking, dishes like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetable casseroles, and soups are bets to make ahead of time since they reheat well.
You can also make roasted vegetables and sauteed vegetables in advance, just make sure to cook until tender-crisp so they don't get soggy when you reheat them. Always let them cool completely before serving.
Should I use fresh vegetables to make Thanksgiving side dishes?
Fresh vegetables will almost always taste better than canned vegetables and frozen vegetables. They have more texture, flavor, and taste. The only exception to this is out-of-season vegetables, like corn, which may taste better frozen.