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Home » All Recipes & Inspiration » 15 Lovely Thanksgiving Side Dishes

15 Lovely Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Published: Oct 31, 2022 by Genevieve Morrison · This post may contain affiliate links

These Thanksgiving sides are hearty, savory, sweet, autumn-spiced, both traditional and original! So much color, so much flavor, so much fun and so easy to make! Your whole family will delight in these lovely recipes this year.

A colorful salad with a title that says "15 Lovely Thanksgiving Side Dishes."

Time to dust off your root vegetables, hearty greens, cranberries and favorite Thanksgiving playlist! These recipes were designed to impress the pickiest of family members and leave little leftovers.

Most importantly, almost all of these recipes can be made a whole day ahead, so all you have to do is whip them up, cover them, and pop them in the oven the next day. Help yourself to some of my favorite, loveliest Thanksgiving sides!

1. Homemade Thanksgiving Stuffing with Anjou Pear and Mushroom

A plate of stuffing with a victorian-style fork on a black table with a lave table cloth and a few sprinkles of thyme.
Homemade Thanksgiving Stuffing with Anjou Pear and Mushroom
This traditional homemade bread stuffing recipe is moist and crunchy, flavorful and packed with earthy herbs and spices. The very best stuffing for turkey, duck, chicken or Cornish game hen!
See the Recipe
A plate of stuffing with a victorian-style fork on a black table with a lave table cloth and a few sprinkles of thyme.

2. Pumpkin Rice with Fall Vegetables

A bowl of pumpkin rice with fall vegetables on a table with dry flowers.
Pumpkin Rice with Fall Vegetables
This creamy pumpkin rice recipe includes roasted cauliflower, sautéed zucchini and red onion. Made with wild rice, canned pumpkin puree and a little parmesan to make it creamy, this exquisite Fall side dish will impress every guest at Thanksgiving or the Halloween dinner party! 
See the Recipe
A centered bowl of pumpkin rice with fall vegetables on a table with dry flowers.

3. Stuffed Mushrooms with Risotto and Swiss Chard

2 risotto-stuffed portobello mushrooms on a plate, garnished with a little fresh parmesan.
Stuffed Mushrooms with Risotto and Swiss Chard
These incredible stuffed mushrooms are packed with creamy parmesan risotto, sautéed Swiss chard, shallots and garlic. A perfect recipe for an elegant dinner party, or casual dinner for 2!
See the Recipe
2 risotto-stuffed portobello mushrooms on a plate, garnished with a little fresh parmesan.

4. Buttery, Sautéed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic & Red Onion

A plate of sautéed broccoli rabe on a lace tablecloth, beside 2 small bowls of garnish, with salad tongs.
Buttery, Sautéed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic & Red Onion
This buttery, sautéed broccoli rabe with garlic and red onion is such a simple, impressive vegetarian side dish!
See the Recipe
A plate of sautéed broccoli rabe on a lace tablecloth, beside 2 small bowls of garnish.

5. Spiced Cabernet Cranberry Sauce

A bowl of cranberry sauce on a stone slate, surrounded by a few fresh cranberries, and a spoon of sauce.
Spiced Cabernet Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce is an absolutely perfect complement for Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas goose! It’s bright, complex, so simple to prepare and such an elegant alternative to jiggly, canned cranberry sauce.
See the Recipe
A bowl of cranberry sauce on a stone slate, surrounded by a few fresh cranberries, and a spoon of sauce.

6. Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Cheddar & Parmesan

A bowl of roasted cauliflower.
Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Cheddar & Parmesan
Roasted cauliflower with crispy, sharp white cheddar and freshly grated parmesan is one of my favorite side dishes for cozy, Autumn dinner parties and Thanksgiving! 
See the Recipe
A bowl of roasted cauliflower.

7. Thanksgiving Salad with Beet, Pear and Apple Cider Vinaigrette

A salad with colorful vegetables, pears, berries and nuts on a lace table cloth with plates and forks in the background.
Thanksgiving Salad with Beet, Pear and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This roasted beet and pear salad is a perfectly seasonal and colorful salad recipe for Thanksgiving! 
See the Recipe
A beet and pear salad on a plate, on a lace table cloth.

8. Baked Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Herbed Goat Cheese

A bowl of baked mashed potatoes on a table with a lace tablecloth.
Baked Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Herbed Goat Cheese
These roasted garlic mashed potatoes are baked to perfection! Heavenly soft and fluffy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside – this extra special potato side-dish will deliciously complete a cozy dinner party spread, or be one of the tastiest stars of your Thanksgiving or Christmas menus! 
See the Recipe
A bowl of baked mashed potatoes on a table with a lace tablecloth.

9. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Cranberries and Pecans

A bowl of Brussels sprouts, bacon, cranberries and pecans.
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Cranberries and Pecans
These Brussels sprouts with bacon, cranberries and smoked, candied pecans are the ultimate Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish! They’re baked in bacon fat till crispy, then mixed with cranberries and candied pecans, spiced with smoked paprika and cayenne pepper! 
See the Recipe
A bowl of Brussels sprouts, bacon, cranberries and pecans.

10. Stuffed Acorn Squash with Farro and Mushrooms

4 acorn squash on a wooden plate in front of dry flowers on a table.
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Farro and Mushrooms
This stuffed acorn squash with farro, mushrooms, kale and red onion is an exquisite fall side dish that looks beautiful and tastes so exciting!
See the Recipe
4 stuffed acorn squash garnished with a flower and thyme on a wooden plate.

11. Farro with Pesto and Zucchini

A decorative silver bowl with pesto farro and mixed vegetables on a table beside dry flowers..
Farro with Pesto and Zucchini
This pearled farro with homemade pesto, sautéd zucchini, sweet corn and shallots is a side dish that can be served with almost any meal! It’s a garden-fresh recipe that’s so easy to make, it tastes divine and easily feeds a crowd!
See the Recipe
A silver bowl full of pesto farro with assorted vegetables.

12. French Green Beans with Shallots and Sesame Ginger Sauce

French green beans in a bowl with shallots.
French Green Beans with Shallots and Sesame Ginger Sauce
These blistered French green beans with shallots and sesame ginger sauce make a perfectly elevated Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish! 
See the Recipe
A bowl of french green beans with cooked shallots.

13. Sautéed Swiss Chard with Caramelized Shallots

A plate of Swiss chard on a lace table cloth.
Sautéed Swiss Chard with Caramelized Shallots
This delicious sautéed Swiss chard recipe is buttery, garlicky and with balsamic caramelized shallots, it makes for a perfectly fancy dinner party side dish or an elegant way to add more healthy winter greens to your diet.
See the Recipe
A plate of Swiss chard on a lace table cloth.

14. Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto with Caramelized Onions

2 bowls of pumpkin risotto, garnished with sage leaves, on a lace table cloth with 3 small pumpkins in the background.
Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto with Caramelized Onions
This pumpkin risotto with balsamic caramelized onions is a creamy, delicately autumn-spiced masterpiece! The easiest, and tastiest autumn side dish for Thanksgiving or any decadent autumn dinner party!
See the Recipe
A bowl of pumpkin risotto, garnished with 2 sage leaves, on a lace table cloth beside another bowl and small pumpkin.

15. A Colorful Thanksgiving Crudités 

A flower box crudités on a table in front of a pumpkin full of flowers.

For more inspiration, subscribe to my newsletter, follow me on Instagram, on Pinterest, tiktok and Facebook! And if you ever make any of my tasty drinks or treats, take a picture and tag me. I want to see!

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Christmas Wreath Salad with Candied Pecans »
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My name is Genevieve, and I'm just trying to be a little fancier today than I was yesterday. Sharing recipes for the creative host or hostess that are simple, elegant and colorful too!

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