Over the past few years, I’ve noticed more people realizing the truth about Thanksgiving – it’s all about the sides!!! I used to get a lot of questions about how I handle Thanksgiving as someone who doesn’t eat meat, but the truth is, it’s pretty easy. All the best sides don’t have meat in them anyway! I’m seriously obsessed with Thanksgiving food, and once November hits I find myself constantly dreaming about that meal and the delicious week of leftovers that follows. My perfect Thanksgiving meal includes several types of potatoes, warm dinner rolls, cranberry sauce (the canned kind, obviously), and lots of veggie-heavy but flavorful sides. Ahead, I’m sharing ten of my tried and true Thanksgiving recipes that I absolutely love!
Baked Brie Bites from Well Plated by Erin
These baked brie bites have been a Thanksgiving staple in our household for several years now! The tangy cranberry sauce, creamy brie, and touch of rosemary make this the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer. As an added bonus, it’s super easy to make. I always like making these in the morning so I have something to snack on while I do the rest of my cooking. They’re also great either hot or cold when they’re leftover. I love snacking on these throughout the week after Thanksgiving!
Green Bean Casserole from French’s
Green bean casserole is forever my favorite Thanksgiving food! This is one of the few times where I strongly believe that the good old-fashioned kind featuring canned foods is better than homemade every time. This recipe just tastes like Thanksgiving to me. It’s incredibly easy to put together and it’s just as delicious leftover!
Fluffy Mashed Potatoes from Whisk It Real Gud
You can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving. I’ve used this recipe the past couple of years and it’s a crowd pleaser. The key to this recipe is the sour cream – it makes the potatoes extra fluffy and and really enhances the flavors. I typically substitute almond milk for the regular milk and you’d never know. So fluffy, creamy, and delicious!
Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash from Inspired Taste
There’s something about butternut squash that screams fall to me, so I always find myself craving it around Thanksgiving. A lot of the sides I make tend to be on the saltier side, so sometimes I like to balance them out with a sweeter squash or sweet potato dish. This cinnamon roasted butternut squash is one of my favorites – it has the perfect hint of sweetness without feeling too much like dessert. If you’re a fan of butternut squash, I promise you won’t be disappointed by this one!
Roasted Delicata Squash from The Simple Veganista
In my opinion, delicata squash is one of the most underrated vegetables of all time. When cooked properly, it’s so tender and full of flavor, and I love that the skin gives it some extra texture so you don’t have to peel it before cooking. This recipe is simple and easy. It’s probably one of my favorite veggie recipes ever. I find that I don’t even need the dipping sauce – just a little salt, pepper, and oil is all it needs!
Garlic Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes from Cafe Delites
When it comes to potatoes, I don’t discriminate – I love every kind! I typically like to serve a potato dish and a sweet potato dish on Thanksgiving. These garlic butter smashed sweet potatoes are perfect for Thanksgiving. They’re a little more effort than I’d normally put into a side dish, but Thanksgiving is the day that sides shine! Sweet potatoes are already delicious on their own, but roasting them for a nice long time and adding garlic butter takes them to the next level.
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes from Pinch of Yum
I discovered this mashed potato recipe from Pinch of Yum a couple of years ago, and it’s been a staple in our household ever since. Technically this recipe is paired with her incredible chimichurri mushrooms recipe, but I’ve made these potatoes on their own plenty of times and they’re always a hit. The goat cheese makes them both creamy and tangy and they’re just incredibly delicious. Everyone will be going back for seconds of these!
Broccoli Cheese Casserole from Campbell’s
As you can probably guess from my favorite green bean casserole recipe, when it comes to Thanksgiving, I’m all about the classics. Last year I added broccoli casserole to our Thanksgiving menu for the first time and it instantly became a Thanksgiving staple. The secret to the best broccoli casserole is to cut the floret into really small pieces – it allows the broccoli to become more tender and gives you more of the creamy filling in each bite!
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting from Frugal Living NW
Unpopular opinion: pie ais an overrated dessert. I’ve never been a pie person, and after years of trying to force myself to enjoy apple pie on Thanksgiving, I finally decided to start making cookies to contribute to our yearly Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve been making these cookies for Thanksgiving dessert for about a decade now, and they’re still my most requested recipe. They’re incredibly soft and both salty and sweet, and the cinnamon cream cheese frosting is to die for. These are the perfect way to top off your Thanksgiving meal!
Holiday Cranberry Cocktail (recipe below)
I’m not typically a big cocktail person, but there’s one cocktail that I absolutely love making around the holidays. It was inspired by my love of Trader Joe’s sparkling cranberry juice, which is a Thanksgiving staple in my family. This cocktail couldn’t be simpler or more delicious! The sparkling cranberry juice makes it perfect for the holidays. I’m including the recipe below. Hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 part sparkling cranberry juice
- 1 part champagne
- 1 lime wedge
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Instructions:
- Add cranberry juice and champagne to a cocktail glass. Squeeze lime into the glass and stir well. Top with a sprig of fresh rosemary and enjoy!
