Home Better Living Recipes15 Fun and Festive Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

15 Fun and Festive Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

by Kaylin Kaupish

Whether you’re hosting dinner and want to add something new, or you’re invited to a celebration and want to bring a side dish that gets all the guests talking, we’ve got you covered. Our collection of unique recipes – some from celebrities like Ina Garten, host of Barefoot Contessa – will liven up your Thanksgiving table! Try them out and share some of your special recipes with us.

grid view
slide view

list view
slide view

grid view
list view

1. Trisha Yearwood's Broccoli Casserole

Country music star Trisha Yearwood got this broccoli casserole recipe from an old family friend. This easy and delicious dish—it only takes 30 minutes to bake and uses just a few ingredients—is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Read Trisha’s heartwarming story about her first holiday meal with Garth Brooks' family.

2. Squash Stuffed with Rice Medley

This recipe for squash stuffed with rice medley packs a nutritional punch. Squash strengthens the immune system and is an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, folate, iron and magnesium. Be sure to snap a picture of this beautiful side dish before you dig in!

Sam Sifton's Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Yogurt Sauce (photo by Kevin Eans)

3. Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Yogurt Sauce

New York Times food editor Sam Sifton shares his honey-roasted sweet potatoes with yogurt sauce recipe. The crispy sweet potatoes mix perfectly with the fresh and zesty yogurt sauce. A delicious take on a holiday classic.

See Sam’s five ways to celebrate the joy of Christmas—even from afar.

4. Winter Red Salad

A winter red salad will lend a delicious dash of color to your table. With red cabbage, radicchio, red onion, and radishes, this vibrant side dish is a treat for the eyes and the taste buds.

Scott McCown's Jambalaya (photo by Angie Mosier Placemat Productions)

5. Jambalaya

Bring a little Cajun flavor to your Thanksgiving dinner table with this easy jambalaya recipe. Have it with smoked sausage and beef or substitute other meats like chicken or crab.

Lacey Chabert and Sweet Potato Casserole (Getty Images)

6. Lacey Chabert’s Sweet Potato Casserole

Actress Lacey Chabert got this simple and delicious sweet potato casserole recipe from her great-grandmother. With brown sugar and chopped pecans, this side dish will add a touch of sweetness to your plate.

Lacey, the star of multiple Hallmark holiday movies, can help you find the spirit of the season.

Orange-Almond Salad with Sweet Serrano-Lime Dressing (photo by Angie Mosier)

7. Orange-Almond Salad with Sweet Serrano-Lime Dressing

Add a light and zesty dish to your table with an orange-almond salad with sweet serrano-lime dressing. This recipe comes from acclaimed chef Eddie Hernandez, whose contemporary take on Southern cuisine is enlivened by the flavors of Mexico.

8. Roasted Carrot and Sweet Potato Tzimmes

Try this recipe for roasted carrot and sweet potato tzimmes, a perfect comfort food for vegetarians and vegetable lovers. (Tzimmes are a traditional Jewish dish made with sweet root vegetables.) With carrots, shallots, and oranges, this is a colorful dish that will brighten up your table.

Katie Jacob's Sausage Cheese Balls (photo by Amy Cherry)

9. Katie Jacob’s Sausage Cheese Balls

Want something simple for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning? Here's a sure-to-please recipe for sausage cheese balls from Nashville stylist Katie Jacobs that you can make in advance. Just pop them in the oven early in the morning; they’ll be ready to eat in about 20 minutes.

Katie Jacobs preferred formal meals, but her kids wanted a pajama-clad celebration. Could they compromise?

Ina Garten's Roasted Broccolini and Cheddar (photo by Quentin Bacon)

10. Ina Garten's Roasted Broccolini and Cheddar

From the Barefoot Contessa herself comes her recipe for roasted broccolini and cheddar. It may look simple, but your guests will be sure to love the pairing of sweet, tender broccolini with a sharp cheddar cheese.

Enjoy other holiday comfort dishes with chef Ina Garten.

Crispy Black Bean Cakes (photo by Dan MacMedan)

11. Crispy Black Bean Cakes

This crispy black bean cakes recipe is a healthy vegetarian dish that you can top with cabbage slaw, avocados and limes. It will be such a hit with the whole family, they won't even miss the meat!

12. Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling

No one does hearty and flavorful fare better than the Pennsylvania Dutch. Try this traditional recipe from Reading, Pennsylvania, for potato filling—basically a mouthwatering combination of mashed potatoes and stuffing!

Joy of Cooking Brussels Sprouts (photo by Randy Boverman)

13. Joy of Cooking Sprouts

John Becker, the great-grandson of the original author of the classic American cookbook Joy of Cooking is carrying on the family tradition with this easy brussels sprouts recipe. With only four ingredients and just 20 minutes of cooking time, this garlicky side dish is big on flavor, without all the elbow grease.

Learn how John adapted America’s most beloved cookbook for the modern chef.

14. Vegetable Gratin

Get three amazing recipes for vegetable gratin; one with mixed root vegetables, one with potatoes and beets, and another with cauliflower and leek. Creamy and satisfying, this could be the best way to eat your veggies this winter.

15. Squash Casserole

Casseroles are a cornerstone of many Thanksgiving meals. Try this fun spin on the traditional recipe with this squash casserole. It’s the perfect hearty side dish to a day filled with comfort food.