16 Easy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated October 23, 2019
Lennart Weibull
From a classic green bean casserole to charred cauliflower that you can pair with one of our favorite turkey recipes found in our downloadable turkey tutorial, these vegetable side dishes will complete your Thanksgiving table.
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Lennart Weibull

A Thanksgiving feast is not complete without plenty of vegetable side dishes to fill each guest's plate. With so many appetizers, mains, and pies to prepare before the big day, it's important to make a few easy side dishes for Thanksgiving as well. Here, we're sharing 15 simple vegetable side dish recipes that are sure to please your family and friends.

Of course, classic mashed potatoes count as an easy side dish, but want something even simpler and a little bit more surprising? Try these Dairy-Free Smashed Potatoes—baby red potatoes are cooked in water, then smashed with stock (use homemade turkey stock for plenty of savory flavor) and an aromatic garlic and rosemary-infused olive oil. Their texture is unexpected and the flavor will certainly draw your guests in for seconds. Rutabaga-Sweet Potato Mash with Garlic and Sage, pictured here, also fits the bill; scoop after scoop of this delicious, sweet vegetable side dish will brightens up everyone's plate with its vibrant orange color.

Another way to dress up cauliflower is in this indulgent, crunchy gratin. Who wouldn't love digging into this roasted vegetable covered in a rich cream sauce and topped with toasted breadcrumbs and plenty of Parmesan cheese? We also have two delicious, easy green bean recipes. First, a classic—Green Bean Casserole. It's creamy, comforting, and a from-scratch version of what Grandma perfected. Looking for something lighter? Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes is just the dish; the beans become tender when cooked low and slow with canned tomatoes, sweet onions, and vegetable stock. Bonus: It's vegan!

Stock up on carrots, cabbage, and other in-season produce. This Thanksgiving, it's all about easy vegetable side dish recipes.

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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

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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.

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Shredded Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette

Marcus Nilsson
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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 carb-heavy feast.

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Honey-Glazed Carrots

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

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Green Bean Casserole

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

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Cauliflower Gratin

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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.

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Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes

Aya Brackett
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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.

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Roasted Broccoli with Seeds and Feta

Yuki Sugiura
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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.

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Kale-Sesame Salad

Bryan Gardner
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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.

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Charred Cauliflower with Clementines and Olives

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

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Spiced Lemony Brussels Sprouts

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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.

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Roasted Carrots with Oat Dukkah

Sidney Bensimon
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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.

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Sweet-Potato-and-Cauliflower Mash

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

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Sautéed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic

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

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Lemon-Pepper Green Beans

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

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Dairy-Free Smashed Potatoes

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

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By Kelly Vaughan