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Home » Lovely Ideas » 10 Elegant Thanksgiving Side Dishes

10 Elegant Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Published: Nov 5, 2020 · Modified: Mar 1, 2021 by Genevieve Morrison · This post may contain affiliate links

An image of mashed potatoes in a bowl with a title that says "10 Elegant Thanksgiving Side Dishes.”

These 10 elegant Thanksgiving side dishes are rich, bright, colorful, and easy to create! With vegetarian options, as well as vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and low-carb, you’ll have an easy time finding a perfect side dish for every guest!

An image of mashed potatoes in a bowl with a title that says "10 Elegant Thanksgiving Side Dishes.”

These recipes make traditional favorites a little more special, a little more refined, and perfectly elegant. Tailor-made sauces and simple decorative touches spruce up these Thanksgiving standards just so, without adding a lot of time to your preparation!

Help yourself to my favorite, elegant Thanksgiving sides!

1. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Smoked Paprika Candied Pecans

A bowl of Brussels sprouts, bacon, cranberries and candied pecans on a table with scattered leaves.
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.

2. Thanksgiving Salad with Beet, Pear & 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Deviled Quail Eggs

A plate of Brussels sprouts salad topped with quail deviled eggs.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Deviled Quail Eggs
This earthy, roasted Brussels sprouts salad includes diced green apple, frisée, shaved almonds, shaved parmesan, a dreamy sesame vinaigrette and simple, deviled quail eggs so precious, your dinner guests will swoon at the sight of them!  
See the Recipe
A plate of Brussels sprouts salad topped with quail deviled eggs.

8. Roasted Curry Butternut Squash Soup

A pumpkin gourd full of soup, garnished with almonds, surrounded by dry flowers and more pumpkin gourds on a black table.
Roasted Curry Butternut Squash Soup
You’ll require a medium size mixing bowl, blender or immersion blender and a pot that can hold at least 2 quarts.
See the Recipe
3 pumpkin gourds, one cut open with soup inside, garnished with shaved almonds, with some autumn flowers on the side.

9. Homemade Bread 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.

10. French Green Beans with Shallots and Sesame Ginger Sauce

A bowl of blistered French green beens and 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.

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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« Thanksgiving Salad with Beet, Pear & Apple Cider Vinaigrette
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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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