52 Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides That Will Steal the Show

From sweet corn and creamy winter squash to green bean casserole and roasted root vegetables, these holiday sides are guaranteed to impress.

August 29, 2022

By: Food Network Kitchen

Related To:

Photo By: Chantell Quernemoen

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Ryan Dausch

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Marcus Nilsson ©Marcus Nilsson

Photo By: Alison Miksch

Photo By: RYAN DAUSCH

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Chantell Quernemoen

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Kate Mathis

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: RYAN DAUSCH

©Food stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

©Kana Okada 2010

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Photo By: Kang Kim

Photo By: Armando Rafael

©Food: Jaime Kimm

Photo By: David Malosh

©Food Stylist: Simon Andrews

Photo By: David Malosh

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

©David Goldman 2009

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

A Bounty of Flavor

Everyone knows that, when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, the sides make the meal (sorry, turkey!). Whether you choose corn, a classic green bean casserole or your family’s favorite potato dish, veggie sides add so much color — and flavor — to your holiday table. And, as much as we love every part of the feast, we always find ourselves craving more sides once Turkey Day is over. That’s why we try to include as many as our table will allow, starting with these delicious options. You’ll find a little something for everyone in this roundup but we would be remiss not to recommend Molly’s creamed corn. She gives it a simple, smoky upgrade by charring the corn kernels in a cast-iron skillet. It’s an easy tweak that makes an already crowd-pleasing dish utterly irresistible.

Get the Recipe: Charred Creamed Corn

Barefoot Contessa's Sauteed Carrots

Ina makes a 15-minute side dish sure to please. Sweet carrots go perfectly with a little butter and chopped fresh dill.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Carrots

Haricots Verts With Rosemary

These herbed, lemon-scented green beans are delicious at room temperature so they can be made a little ahead.

Get the Recipe: Haricots Verts with Rosemary

Roasted Acorn Squash and Portobello Mushroom Salad with Radicchio, Apples and Pumpkin Seeds

This salad makes use of all of your favorite fall ingredients: roasted squash and mushrooms, tart apples and pumpkin seeds.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Acorn Squash and Portobello Mushroom Salad with Radicchio, Apples and Pumpkin Seeds

Root Vegetable Mash

Make the most of your seasonal produce by mashing celery and parsnip with russet potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Root Vegetable Mash

Baked Acorn Squash

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best — like this acorn squash, mashed with brown sugar, butter, salt and pepper.

Get the Recipe: Baked Acorn Squash

Creamed Spinach Casserole

Frozen chopped spinach makes Trisha’s crowd-pleasing casserole a breeze to prepare.

Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach Casserole

Lemon-Maple Squash

Maple syrup and lemon juice add surprising, sweet flavor to roasted butternut squash.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Maple Squash

Alton's Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

A classic made modern and fresh, Alton ditches the traditional cream of mushroom soup and canned green beans, instead using real mushrooms, half-and-half and fresh green beans.

Get the Recipe: Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

With a table full of turkey, veggies, and stuffing, it’s nice to know there’s something a little bit sweet to enjoy alongside! Ree's hasselback potatoes are flavored with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, making them the prefect complement to your holiday feast.

Get the Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Root Vegetable Gratin

Inspired by a recipe for parsnip gratin, Valerie’s easy side dish is creamy, cheesy and full of seasonal veggies. She recommends using a mandoline to ensure every piece is evenly sliced.

Get the Recipe: Root Vegetable Gratin

Roasted Carrots and Beets with Pecan Pesto

With purple beets, orange carrots and a beautiful green pesto, this easy side dish will be the showstopper of your Thanksgiving table (sorry, turkey).

Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrots and Beets with Pecan Pesto

Tyler's Green Beans With Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Sweet caramelized onions and crunchy almonds are Tyler's secret ingredients in this standout green bean side dish.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Anne's Spice-Roasted Cauliflower and Jerusalem Artichokes

Anne Burrell roasts cauliflower and Jerusalem artichokes in cumin and cayenne for an exotic, spicy touch.

Get the Recipe: Spice-Roasted Cauliflower and Jerusalem Artichokes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan and Breadcrumbs

Molly pan-fries her brussels sprouts until browned and crisp, then tops the dish with a squeeze of lemon, crunchy breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan and Breadcrumbs

Ellie's Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots

Ellie Krieger substitutes fat, but not flavor, in her take on this creamy side. A topping of crispy shallots and Parmesan cheese provide a crunch factor as well.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots

Ina Garten's Caramelized Butternut Squash

Roasting the squash with brown sugar and butter in the oven creates a toasted, caramelized flavor.

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Butternut Squash

Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

No one can say no to broccoli when it’s nestled in a creamy cheese sauce — and topped with crushed butter crackers!

Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

Alton's Basic Brussels Sprouts

These are the easiest Brussels sprouts you can make, and can be on the table in only 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Basic Brussels Sprouts

Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms

This quick and easy, four-ingredient green bean dish can be on your table in 25 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms

Braised Chard with Dried Cranberries

Dress up Swiss chard with cranberries with a hint of nutmeg. Simple, yet delicious.

Get the Recipe: Braised Chard with Dried Cranberries

Classic Candied Yams

With just the right amount of sugar and spice, these sweet potatoes are cooked on the stovetop until they are tender, freeing up valuable oven space at your holiday meal.

Get the Recipe: Classic Candied Yams

Roasted Cauliflower with Dates and Pine Nuts

It's time to see cauliflower in a whole new light. Pairing the florets with dates and pine nuts brings out a welcome natural sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower With Dates and Pine Nuts

Easy Corn Pudding

Bake up a few simple ingredients for a comforting, crowd-pleasing casserole.

Get the Recipe: Corn Pudding

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

How do you get Brussels sprouts doubters to try Brussels sprouts? Try mixing them into a cheesy, irresistible casserole.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Gratin

Sandra's Haricots Verts With Shaved Parmesan

Sandra Lee's uses a surprising kitchen appliance to make this green bean dish: the microwave. She steams pre-cut French green beans, then coats them in lemony sour cream and tops with freshly shaved Parmesan.

Get the Recipe: Haricots Verts With Shaved Parmesan

The Barefoot Contessa's Spinach Gratin

Ina recommends using frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach for an easier-to-assemble gratin that will even have the kids eating their vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Spinach Gratin

Giada's Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts

Giada roasts the veggies of fall by simply tossing them in olive oil and herbs.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts

Grandma Moore's Creamed Corn

There are only two ingredients in this recipe: fresh corn and bacon. They come together beautifully as the starchy corn cooks up into a creamy mixture and the bacon on top adds crispy, salty bites of goodness.

Get the Recipe: Grandma Moore's Creamed Corn

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasting Brussels sprouts at a high heat creates lots of sweet, caramelized goodness.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tangerine-Rosemary Vinaigrette

Marcella Valladolid’s salad combines fruity flavors, rosemary and squash for a fresh way to enjoy a fall side.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tangerine-Rosemary Vinaigrette

Creamy Brussels Sprouts

Add garlic, shallot, cayenne and nutmeg to these Brussels sprouts to make them irresistible — and unlike any others you've had before.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Brussels Sprouts

Garlic Green Beans

Toasted garlic and pecans add flavor and crunch to these simple green beans.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Green Beans

Alton Brown's Creamed Corn Cornbread

For a special Thanksgiving treat pass around Alton's cornbread fresh and warm, straight out of the oven. Or, let the cornbread sit a day or two and use it to make the best cornbread stuffing ever.

Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn Cornbread

Giada's Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta

Giada adds an Italian twist to Brussels sprouts, cooking them with pancetta.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Green Bean and Mushroom Salad

Toss crisp-tender green beans and thinly sliced mushrooms with a lemony vinaigrette for a fresh take on that classic Thanksgiving casserole. Top the salad with toasted walnuts for added texture.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean and Mushroom Salad

Alton's Broccoli Casserole

The secret to Alton's flavorful broccoli casserole? Ramen noodles, and the seasoning packet.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash

Ina’s five-star recipe is as simple as it is sweet. She incorporates all the flavors of fall by roasting hollowed-out squash with butter and maple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash

The Neelys' Hearty Winter Green Saute

The Neelys' cook leafy greens down with garlic, onion and chicken broth for a flavorful, hearty side.

Get the Recipe: Hearty Winter Greens Saute

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Trisha’s secret to great green bean casserole? A homemade mushroom cream sauce, which replaces the canned soup that’s typically used.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Iron Chef Symon's Fried Brussels Sprouts

Iron Chef Michael Symon knows a thing or two about creating new flavors. He gives Brussels sprouts a twist here by pan-frying them with capers and walnuts, then tossing with a honey-serrano vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Fried Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts and Capers

The Neelys' Green Beans and Bacon

Toasted pecans and bacon add texture and flavor to the Neelys' take on green beans.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans and Bacon

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Salty, crispy bacon makes everything better, especially these Brussels sprouts served warm as a holiday side dish.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Glazed Carrots and Turnips

The silky glaze comes together when the carrots and turnips are simmered in water, sugar and butter until it all reduces down.

Get the Recipe: Glazed Carrots and Turnips

Alton's Not Your Mama's Green Bean Casserole

Set aside the canned beans, cream soup and packaged onions this year. Follow Alton's lead to make a fresh green bean casserole, with a homemade mushroom cream sauce topped with crunchy breaded and toasted onions.

Get the Recipe: Not Your Mama's Green Bean Casserole

Rachael's Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

After you cook your bacon, add the brussels sprouts to the same pan. All that salty goodness of the bacon drippings will infuse into your veggies and create an incredible flavor.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Rachael's Easy Orange Scented Green Beans

Follow Rachael's lead to whip up a company-worthy, eight-minute veggie with a flavorful citrus punch.

Get the Recipe: Orange Scented Green Beans

Brussels Sprout Gratin

Nutty Gruyere cheese makes the perfect topping for these easy, five-ingredient Brussels sprouts.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprout Gratin

Aida Mollenkamp's Quick-Braised Greens With Bacon and Sweet Onions

Aida Mollenkamp boils her collard greens in water for just a few minutes before introducing them to the frying pan, ensuring that the sturdy greens come out nice and tender.

Get the Recipe: Quick-Braised Greens with Bacon and Sweet Onions

Green Bean Casserole

Add elegance to the classic green bean casserole recipe by tossing beans in a brandy and red wine sauce before topping with crunchy onions.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Maple-Glazed Parsnips

Olive oil is often used as a building block for cooking, but in this recipe extra virgin olive oil isn’t just a background ingredient. The fruity flavor of olive oil pairs well with earthy parsnips and sweet-tart dried cranberries while also giving a shiny coating.

Get the Recipe: Maple-Glazed Parsnips

Braised Turnip Greens

Bitter greens like turnips are rich in flavor, and the smoky turkey wings in this recipe take them to the next level. Create your own stock from the smoked turkey to double down on flavor of the finished wings.

Get the Recipe: Braised Turnip Greens

Thanksgiving

52 Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides That Will Steal the Show

Related To:

A Bounty of Flavor

Barefoot Contessa's Sauteed Carrots

Haricots Verts With Rosemary

Roasted Acorn Squash and Portobello Mushroom Salad with Radicchio, Apples and Pumpkin Seeds

Root Vegetable Mash

Baked Acorn Squash

Creamed Spinach Casserole

Lemon-Maple Squash

Alton's Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Root Vegetable Gratin

Roasted Carrots and Beets with Pecan Pesto

Tyler's Green Beans With Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Anne's Spice-Roasted Cauliflower and Jerusalem Artichokes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon, Parmesan and Breadcrumbs

Ellie's Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots

Ina Garten's Caramelized Butternut Squash

Broccoli and Cheese Casserole

Alton's Basic Brussels Sprouts

Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms

Braised Chard with Dried Cranberries

Classic Candied Yams

Roasted Cauliflower with Dates and Pine Nuts

Easy Corn Pudding

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

Sandra's Haricots Verts With Shaved Parmesan

The Barefoot Contessa's Spinach Gratin

Giada's Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts

Grandma Moore's Creamed Corn

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tangerine-Rosemary Vinaigrette

Creamy Brussels Sprouts

Garlic Green Beans

Alton Brown's Creamed Corn Cornbread

Giada's Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta

Green Bean and Mushroom Salad

Alton's Broccoli Casserole

Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash

The Neelys' Hearty Winter Green Saute

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Iron Chef Symon's Fried Brussels Sprouts

The Neelys' Green Beans and Bacon

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Glazed Carrots and Turnips

Alton's Not Your Mama's Green Bean Casserole

Rachael's Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Rachael's Easy Orange Scented Green Beans

Brussels Sprout Gratin

Aida Mollenkamp's Quick-Braised Greens With Bacon and Sweet Onions

Green Bean Casserole

Maple-Glazed Parsnips

Braised Turnip Greens

More from:

Related Pages