For me, it’s really no contest: Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday of the year. I think it’s because – other than enjoying delicious food with my loved ones and taking a moment to show some gratitude – there’s little to do. There’s no pressure of gift giving or even that much decorating required.
I put together a collection of delicious and healthy recipes to complete a Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve also included the special diets that each one fits into, in case you have someone at your holiday table with specific dietary needs.
Easy Stuffing Recipe
This homemade stuffing recipe has been Molly’s favorite Thanksgiving side dish since the first time she tasted it. It’s inspired by the classic stuffing recipe she grew up eating at her Grandma Dee’s house, and it’s just so far superior to store-bought options. For this recipe, any type of bread will work. I’ve even tried this recipe with cornbread to make cornbread stuffing and it worked perfectly.
Gluten Free Option | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
I love this garlic mashed potato recipe! It comes together in one pot on the stovetop and results in savory, fluffy, garlicky mashed potatoes that have the perfect smooth texture. And the fresh chives I sprinkle on top add so much flavor. My Thanksgiving meal would not be complete without these perfect mashed potatoes. And I never skip the homemade turkey gravy to drizzle on top.
Dairy Free Option | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Last year I brought this cranberry sauce to a friendsgiving and I had everyone asking me for the recipe. My friends didn’t even know it was made with less sugar (much less sugar) than store-bought or other recipes. It’s quick and easy to make, combining fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little honey for a perfectly sweet side dish that’s tastier than any canned variety.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Roasted Butternut Squash
This simple method for roasting butternut squash in the oven turns out delicious and slightly caramelized butternut squash pieces. A tasty and nutritious veggie side dish, Stacie always serves it to round out her Thanksgiving meal.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Roasted Green Beans
Don’t get me wrong, I love green bean casserole but I also love the simplicity of these roasted green beans. They’re easy to make, light, and the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving meal. To elevate this simple recipe, I top the green beans with crisp, chopped bacon, shaved Parmesan cheese, or toasted almonds.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This simple side dish is a nutritious and delicious pairing for all types of meals, especially Thanksgiving. When she serves them, Stacie loves knowing that sweet potatoes give her meals a nutrient boost, as they are a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Apple Slaw
This apple slaw recipe is sweet, tangy, and deliciously crisp. Molly designed it to be fresh and tangy. Slice apples and cabbage get tossed in a simple vinaigrette made of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup. It’s quick to prepare and is the perfect simple side dish for Thanksgiving or any fall meal.
Egg Free | Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Dinner rolls are great and all, but these sweet potato biscuits will steal the show. Jess created this recipe, which was inspired by her popular homemade biscuit recipe, and they turned out so good. I’m looking forward to adding these to my Thanksgiving menu this year.
Egg Free | Gluten Free Option | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Kale Caesar Salad
One of my proudest food moments as a Mom and a Dietitian was when I discovered that all three of my children LOVE caesar salad. My version is a simple, delicious, and more nutritious version of a store-bought caesar salad kit, and I think it’s the perfect complement to a Thanksgiving dinner.
Gluten Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Homemade Cornbread Muffins
I tend to rotate between cornbread stuffing and cornbread muffins for my Thanksgiving menu, depending on what else I’m serving. I love when it’s a “muffin year” because I can make these traditional cornbread muffins ahead of time. I might even dress them up with some chives to make them fancier or serve them with simple honey butter.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free Option | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
Growing up in the Midwest, Stacie always had this side dish casserole on her Thanksgiving table. It’s popular in other regions, too, including the South and Southwest. Stacie ditched the overly sweet marshmallow topping in favor of this crunchy maple-cranberry-candied pecan topping with crispy bacon, too.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegetarian | Whole30
Honey-Sage Roasted Root Vegetables
Jess gave root vegetables, including carrots, beets, and parsnips, a nutritious glow-up thanks to the addition of her buttery, sweet, and herbaceous glaze. This recipe makes one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes to make your holiday menu shine.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Grain Free | Dairy Free | Vegan | Paleo | Whole30
Roasted Carrots
Roasted carrots are a simple yet delicious Thanksgiving side dish. The carrots are roasted to perfection and I like to toss them in a little melted butter then drizzle them with honey and garnish with fresh chopped sage or thyme. The combination is simple and heavenly.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Feta and Balsamic
For me, it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner without a Brussels sprouts recipe on the table. I love these “little cabbages” because they taste so good when roasted and caramelized. The balsamic, feta, and bacon in this recipe only complements their flavor even more. In fact, when my Thanksgiving plate is all full, this is always the first bite I go for.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegetarian
Roasted Baby Potatoes
When I want to go the easy route, I like to make these roasted baby baked potatoes whether I’m making them to go along with an easy weeknight meal or adding them to my Thanksgiving menu. For this simple recipe, just simply toss in avocado or olive oil, add some seasonings, and pop them into the oven. Easy to make and so tasty.
Harvest Salad with Quinoa
Ever since I discovered how much I love the addition of cooked quinoa to a veggie salad, I’ve been telling everyone about it. This is the perfect salad to add to a Thanksgiving menu because it’s stunning, colorful, and filled with delicious ingredients like pomegranate seeds, roasted butternut squash, citrus vinaigrette, and toasted pecans. Every bite comes with a mix of sweet, salty, and savory notes. Wild rice also makes a very tasty addition to this salad.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Vegetarian
Parmesan Herb Roasted Acorn Squash
Jessica developed this recipe more than five years ago, and it has been one of our most popular recipes on the site ever since then. If you thought that acorn squash could only be made with butter and brown sugar, she’s here to tell you otherwise. The herb- and cheese-crusted squash makes for one of the most unexpectedly delicious Thanksgiving side dishes that everyone tends to love.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Bake
Ana loves this unlikely combination of ingredients because it truly tastes so good together! The thin slices of apple and sweet potato complement each other so nicely. She also really appreciate how quickly this side dish comes together, so it’s always one of the first ones she can check off her list on Thanksgiving morning.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan
Butternut Squash and Apple Hash with Sausage
When Molly serves this protein-rich side dish, everyone first comments on how vibrant and beautiful the colors are. The dark green of the kale and the orange of the butternut squash just look like a natural fall scene. But the real oohs and ahhs come when her guests dig into this herbaceous sweet and savory veggie mix that includes apple and ground sausage.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Whole30
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
I created this recipe using shredded hash browns and precooked ham. So it’s a super simple and fast method to make a delicious main-dish casserole for your table or a loaded cheesy scalloped potato side dish. There’s no need to peel, slice, and layer potatoes when you use frozen shredded hash browns.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Fall Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables
When Stacie developed this fall salad recipe, she had Thanksgiving on her mind. It turned out to be a total show stopper! This lentil salad has so many flavorful layers and textures that she never has leftovers when she serves it for her family – only an empty bowl.
Egg Free | Gluten free | Grain Free | Vegetarian
Cranberry Jalapeño Dip
Made with whipped cottage cheese, whole cranberries, fresh jalapeños, honey, bacon, and green onions, this easy holiday appetizer is sweet, savory, and tangy. It’s always a hit at parties and will be the perfect dip addition to any Thanksgiving table.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Grain Free
Cauliflower Stuffing
Ana makes this stuffing for her Thanksgiving meal every year. Not only does it fit her dietary requirements of needing to be dairy free and gluten free, but it is absolutely bursting with so many textures and savory flavors. Her aunt, who eats grain free, also loves that she can look forward to this stuffing year after year without having to worry about what’s in it.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Sweet Potato “Unstuffing”
Molly raves about this non-bread stuffing. She loves that she can serve it to guests who avoid gluten and grains. She also loves that it’s loaded with veggies and other flavor makers, including dried cherries, pecans, and diced apples. Finally, this veggie and herb stuffing smells so good and fills her kitchen with Thanksgiving smells.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Quinoa Salad
If I only want to make one or two side dishes for Thanksgiving, this is always the first one I choose. It has a little bit of everything that I love about fall flavors. Last year I made it with cooked wild rice in place of the quinoa and pomegranate arils in place of the dried cranberries. It was the first thing to disappear!
Dairy Free Option | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Vegetarian
Sweet Kale Salad
The stand-out star of this salad is the shredded Brussels sprouts. Stacie loves to serve this super flavorful Thanksgiving salad because it includes all of her favorite things: goat cheese, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. When she makes the poppyseed dressing ahead of time, this salad comes together so quickly, too!
Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Asparagus Casserole With Cracker Breadcrumbs
Molly loves au gratin veggie dishes, so she and Stacie collaborated to create this cheesy asparagus casserole that has become such a good addition to Thanksgiving season. Top the asparagus in cream sauce with Swiss cheese and crumbled crackers (or substitute Gruyere cheese and French fried onions for a slightly fancier version).
Egg Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Apples
Molly says this broccoli-cauliflower salad makes an appearance at almost every special event she hosts, from baptisms to birthday parties to holidays. The fresh produce gets tossed in a simple creamy lemon vinaigrette and topped with roughly chopped almonds and dried cranberries.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free Option | Vegetarian
Crispy Roasted Potatoes
Ana tends to use this potato recipe for her Thanksgiving menu more than any other one. If you love the texture of oven roasted potatoes, then you will love this recipe that results in crispy potatoes on the outside but tender fluffy insides. Keep it dairy free by using olive oil instead of the melted butter or ghee.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegetarian | Whole30
Creamy Mayo-Free Broccoli Salad
Jess can’t eat eggs because of a dietary allergy, so she created a mayo-free broccoli salad that has become one of her family’s favorite additions to Thanksgiving. She developed it with an easy yogurt dressing plus fresh broccoli florets, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon. It’s familiar, but she swears it’s even better than the version you remember.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Warm Kale Salad With Bacon
Jess grew up having warm greens on her Thanksgiving table, like cooked collard greens and warm spinach. This recipe is her nod to that nostalgic favorite, but she dressed it up with diced sweet potatoes (or yams) and tossed it all in a warm lime dressing with crispy bacon.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Whole30
Dairy-free Mac and Cheese
If your Thanksgiving table always has macaroni and cheese, give this dairy-free mac and cheese a try. Jess developed a super creamy and innovative dairy-free cheese sauce using butternut squash, cauliflower, garlic, and onion. This plant-based version is so delicious that it might just become your new go-to.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Vegan
Garlic Roasted Radishes
Stacie wanted to add a hearty veggie to her Thanksgiving menu that wasn’t potatoes. She started experimenting with roasting radishes on a sheet pan, and what she discovered was a completely delicious veggie side dish that has now become a favorite holiday addition to menus across America. If you haven’t tried this savory radish dish, then this is your year.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Vegan | Whole30
My favorite part of my favorite holiday meal is most definitely the Thanksgiving sides. Every year I look forward to serving my tried-and-true, traditional Thanksgiving side dishes like green bean casserole, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course, mashed potatoes and gravy. And I also like adding a couple new favorite sides for Thanksgiving to my menu. This year I’m adding parmesan acorn squash and honey sage roasted vegetables.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will depend on the number of people served. For a smaller group of less than 8, I would recommend 3-4 options. For a large group, I like to plan around 5-6 side dishes. For example, on my menu I have mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, harvest quinoa salad, and sweet potato biscuits.
There are many tasks that can be completed ahead of time when preparing a Thanksgiving dinner. For example, I like to precut all of the vegetables that recipes call for, make sauces and dressings, measure spices and seasonings, cut bread cubes for stuffing, bake sweet potatoes or potatoes for mashing. Mashed potatoes can be made up to 3 days in advance, toast any nuts if a recipe calls for them, and pre-make dinner rolls or biscuits and freeze them, then reheat them in the oven before serving.
All of the recipes in this round up are made with real food ingredients and with health in mind.
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