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21 Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides That Are Just as Important as the Turkey

And they might just steal the show!

Headshot of Kara ZaubermanBy Kara Zauberman
thanksgiving vegetable sides
Caitlin Bensel

It's always the turkey that seems to get all the attention on Thanksgiving. But this year, it's all about the Thanksgiving sides—and we're not just talking about any accompanying side dishes, we're talking about the Thanksgiving vegetable sides! From Brussels sprouts and sweet potato recipes to butternut squash and green beans—there's a vegetable on this list that your family will love. In fact, you'll probably want to pick and choose a few different dishes to add to your Thanksgiving dinner menu this year. Look for fresh recipes like shaved Brussels sprout salad and cozy casseroles, like cauliflower gratin. Or go for something on the sweeter side with candied sweet potatoes covered in a maple bourbon glaze.

When you're planning a menu of Thanksgiving vegetable side dishes, we've got plenty of seasonal fall produce to choose from. You'll feel perfectly autumnal with Ree Drummond's roasted vegetables with pecan crumble, and you'll definitely want to make a trip to the farmers' market for the butternut squash and kale casserole. Of course, we've also got tons of variations on potato recipes, too! Think: creamy mashed potatoes, crash hot potatoes, or scalloped potatoes that are made in a slow cooker. No matter which vegetable recipe you choose, these sides are sure to get a second scoop from guests sitting at your Thanksgiving table.

1

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

thanksgiving vegetable sides maple bacon brussels sprouts
Will Dickey

Even veggie skeptics will love this side dish for its sweet and smoky flavor. If your family also likes a bit of spice, you can add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper.

Get the Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe.

SHOP SKILLETS

2

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

thanksgiving vegetable sides twice baked sweet potatoes
Caitlin Bensel

Each one of these sweet potatoes is twice-baked and topped with a crunchy crumble. They're almost like mini sweet potato casseroles that you don't have to share!

Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.

3

Air Fryer Green Beans

thanksgiving vegetable sides air fryer green beans
Caitlin Bensel

This might just be the easiest side dish you make all holiday season! It only takes 15 minutes for get the green beans perfectly tender and crisp.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

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4

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

thanksgiving vegetable sides shaved brussels sprouts salad
Caitlin Bensel

Once you try raw, shaved Brussels sprouts, you'll never look back! They're crisp and refreshing just like a slaw. Plus, they're perfectly seasonal with dried cranberries and toasted almonds.

Get the Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.

5

Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes

thanksgiving vegetable sides crock pot scalloped potatoes
Caitlin Bensel

Looking for an alternative to mashed potatoes? These scalloped potatoes are just as creamy and delicious! And making them in a slow cooker will save you space on the stovetop.

Get the Crock-Pot Scalloped Potatoes recipe.

SHOP SLOW COOKERS

6

Butternut Squash Casserole

thanksgiving vegetable sides butternut squash casserole
Will Dickey

This casserole is loaded with not one but two fall veggies: butternut squash and kale. There's also cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon, too!

Get the Butternut Squash Casserole recipe.

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7

Candied Sweet Potatoes

thanksgiving vegetable sides candied sweet potatoes
Caitlin Bensel

It's always a good idea to have something sweet on your holiday table! The maple-bourbon glaze on these sweet potatoes is the perfect touch.

Get the Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe.

8

Cauliflower Steak

thanksgiving vegetable sides cauliflower steaks
Caitlin Bensel

These thick-cut slabs of cauliflower are so impressive, they can practically double as a main course. They'd even be perfect for a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.

Get the Cauliflower Steak recipe.

9

Cajun Green Bean Casserole

thanksgiving vegetable sides cajun green bean casserole
David Malosh

For a fun twist on a classic vegetable side dish, Ree likes to spice things up with this cajun green bean casserole. Not only does the Cajun seasoning add a kick, but it's also made with your favorite hot sauce!

Get Ree's Cajun Green Bean Casserole recipe.

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10

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

thanksgiving vegetable sides creamy mashed potatoes
Hector Sanchez

For the Drummond family, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without creamy mashed potatoes. Luckily, you can actually make this recipe ahead of time!

Get Ree's Creamy Mashed Potatoes recipe.

SHOP POTATO MASHERS

11

Beautiful Brussels Sprouts

thanksgiving vegetable sides beautiful brussels sprouts
Ralph Smith

Take Ree's word of advice: A platter of roasted veggies will "make any table prettier!" Here, she uses Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, red onion, and pomegranate seeds for a touch of sweetness.

Get Ree's Beautiful Brussels Sprouts recipe.

12

Spinach Casserole

thanksgiving vegetable sides spinach casserole
Caitlin Bensel

This casserole recipe makes it easy to add something green to the table. But don't worry, there's still plenty of cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs to make it comforting!

Get the Spinach Casserole recipe.

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13

Crash Hot Potatoes

thanksgiving vegetable sides crash hot potatoes
Ralph Smith

There's a reason why this is one of Ree's most popular side dishes of all time—they’re crispy, cheesy, perfect potatoes! Making them (and smashing them) is just part of the fun.

Get Ree's Crash Hot Potatoes recipe.

14

Cauliflower Gratin

thanksgiving vegetable sides cauliflower gratin
Ralph Smith

Looking for ways to get your family to eat their veggies? Make it a gratin! It sounds fancy, but it's basically just cauliflower in a creamy, cheesy sauce.

Get the Cauliflower Gratin recipe.

15

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow

thanksgiving vegetable sides sweet potato casserole with marshmallow
Will Dickey

This traditional dish is practically required at any Thanksgiving table. But families are often divided between the marshmallow vs streusel topping. Bonus: this dish has both!

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallow recipe.

SHOP CASSEROLE DISHES

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16

Maple-Glazed Carrots

thanksgiving vegetable sides maple glazed carrots
Ryan Liebe

A simple mixture of salted butter, maple syrup, fresh thyme, and coriander gives these roasted carrots a ton of flavor. You'll want to make them on Thanksgiving and beyond.

Get Ree's Maple-Glazed Carrots recipe.

17

Corn Soufflé

thanksgiving vegetable sides corn souffle
Caitlin Bensel

This recipe uses a combination of fresh yellow corn kernels and canned cream corn so you know it'll be loaded with sweet corn flavor. We love the addition of jalapeño peppers to give this side a little kick.

Get the Corn Soufflé recipe.

18

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

thanksgiving vegetable sides twice baked potato casserole
Hector Sanchez

This recipe will make you fall in love with potatoes all over again (not that we ever fell out of love!). Just like twice-baked potatoes, the casserole dish is loaded with cheese, bacon, and sour cream.

Get the Twice-Baked Potato Casserole recipe.

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19

Brussels Sprouts Casserole

thanksgiving vegetable sides brussels sprouts casserole
Hector Sanchez

We love Brussels sprouts every which way, but they're especially delicious when paired with cheese and bacon. Here, you'll use Monterey jack cheese and sharp cheddar cheese, plus a panko topping that's extra-crisp.

Get the Brussels Sprouts Casserole recipe.

20

Roasted Vegetables with Pecan Crumble

thanksgiving vegetable sides roasted vegetables with pecan crumble
Ralph Smith

You can't go wrong with roasted vegetables! Look for a variety of fall produce, like sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots, to use for this dish.

Get Ree's Roasted Vegetables with Pecan Crumble recipe.

SHOP PLATTERS

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