These 17 Vegetable Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving Are Fresh, Easy, and Delicious (2024)

18 Vegetable-Based Recipes to Lighten Up Your Thanksgiving Menu

Easy Creamed Spinach

A traditional Thanksgiving side dish, creamed spinach will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. But you don't always need to make the sauce from scratch; our version uses cream cheese as a clever (and delicious) shortcut.

Sweet Potato and Sage Tian

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes are smothered in sage-infused cream and baked to perfection, resulting in a satisfying side. It's also a spectacular-looking dish, one that's worthy of the center of the table.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

A simple, no-fuss Brussels sprouts recipe is what you need to complete your Thanksgiving table. Olive oil, lemon juice, plus salt and pepper (of course) are all that's needed to dress up one of our favorite fall vegetables.

Shredded Cabbage Slaw With Ginger Vinaigrette

We eat with our eyes first, which means that this gorgeous slaw is going to go fast. Toss together bright red and green cabbage and julienned carrots for a colorful, crisp addition to your feast.

Honey-Glazed Carrots

If you have some leftover turkey stock after making your gravy and stuffing, use it in place of water in this recipe. Carrots are flavored with honey, butter, and red wine vinegar—we're certain you won't hear the words "none for me, thanks."

Green Bean Casserole

A Thanksgiving side dish made generation after generation, this recipe for green bean casserole is a classic done right. We've skipped the canned mushroom soup and made our own cream sauce instead—it tastes so much better, and the little bit of extra effort is truly worth it.

Cauliflower Gratin

This is hands-down the most heavenly version of cauliflower ever. Combine the florets with heavy cream, flour, and lots and lots of grated Parmesan cheese, then bake until bubbling. The finishing touch? A crispy combination of more Parmesan, breadcrumbs, and butter.

Braised Green Beans With Tomatoes

Here's a way to enjoy three vegetables—green beans, tomatoes, and onions—in one juicy dish. It's a healthy, welcome departure from other roasted or mashed vegetables that are sure to make an appearance on the dining room table.

Roasted Broccoli With Seeds and Feta

Before you go ahead and steam broccoli, check out this fresh recipe. Roasted broccoli with feta, seeds, and spices come together as a side that can even moonlight as a meatless main.

Kale Sesame Salad

Dress up blanched kale leaves with Asian-inspired flavors such as soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, and sesame seeds. The best part is that this salad comes together in just 10 minutes.

Charred Cauliflower With Clementines and Olives

Do you love cauliflower but want to find a way to make it look more glamorous? Garnish the roasted veggie with some color from clementine segments and dark purple kalamata olives, then arrange it all on one giant platter.

Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

This recipe for Brussels sprouts is low-maintenance, which is just one of the reasons why we love it (it's also delicious). Simply pop the sprouts in the oven on a baking sheet to roast for 20 minutes and finish with lemon juice and zest.

Roasted Carrots With Oat Dukkah

Here's a happy medium that offers the crunch of raw carrots with the tender, sweet bite of roasted ones. Top a variety of rainbow carrots with dukkah made from pistachios, rolled oats, sesame seeds, fennel seeds, and other spices.

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Mash

A classic sweet potato mash is so good on its own that there's no need to mess with it much. The only new addition here is cauliflower, which adds a bit more texture.

Sautéed Broccoli Rabe With Garlic

A fan favorite, this easy preparation of broccoli rabe is a fabulous vegetable side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Be sure to double or triple the batch, depending on how many guests you'll be hosting this year.

Lemon Pepper Green Beans

Simple doesn't have to mean boring. These bright, fragrant green beans are accompanied by a fresh mint yogurt sauce that can be whirred in a food processor just before serving or up to one day in advance.

Dairy-Free Smashed Potatoes

Cook baby red potatoes, garlic, and rosemary together for an easy side dish that's a delicious change from mashed potatoes, then smash with turkey or chicken stock and herbs. Use vegetable broth if you want to make these completely vegan-friendly.