When you look around your Thanksgiving table, the usual suspects are likely in sight: the buttery mashed potatoes, tangy cranberry sauce, from-generation-to-generation stuffing. If your family's go-to menu is going from "traditional" to "monotonous," perhaps it's high time to try  new seasonal side dishes that will reinvigorate your spread for years to come. Unexpected yet comforting, these newcomers are bound to become family favorites.

Long and vibrant, market-fresh  Steamed Carrots with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette (pictured above) may be simple, but they sure make a statement on the table. Steaming the carrots whole keeps them crunchy, while tossing them in vinaigrette while still warm helps them absorb all of the flavor.

If you're adding a side dish on top of your regular menu, make sure it's a recipe that won't add much work in return. While your turkey rests, slide quick-cooking  Roasted Cauliflower with Herb-Caper Sauce into the oven to roast. As for the make-ahead sauce, it's already been sitting in the fridge for a few hours, just waiting to be served.

In some families, the most-comforting food of all, mac and cheese, has a non-negotiable spot on the Thanksgiving roster each year. Switch it up this year with  Cheesy Barley Gratin, a no-pasta alternative that's just as decadent.

If you're putting a salad next to butter-laced side dish competition, you better make it a good one. Freshen things up with a fall-inspired  Kale and Persimmon Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette bearing the perfect balance of sweet persimmons, acidic pickled shallots and creamy Gorgonzola.

Get more on these holiday-changing newcomers, and check out everything Food Network has to offer for the best Thanksgiving yet.