Thanksgiving is filled with food, food, food, and more food, making the holiday the ideal time to try a new recipe. Sure, you've got traditional Thanksgiving recipes that are never to be messed with (Mom's pumpkin pie, for instance). But every now and then, we love the idea of pushing tradition aside and trying something unexpected. Sides are a great way to do that, because, let's be real, sometimes the boring old mashed potatoes could use an upgrade. From exciting salads to creamy soups and so much more, these recipes will be so good, they might make you forget about the turkey altogether! Ahead, take a look at the best out-of-the-box side-dish ideas to make your Thanksgiving one to remember.
Scalloped potatoes are a classic, and this recipe incorporates pumpkins, which makes it that much better. With every bite, you'll get notes of sweet pumpkin puree, creamy cheddar cheese, and warm potatoes.
You've heard of twice-baked potatoes, but have you heard of twice-baked acorn squash? These cute little cups are filled with all the best flavors of the season along with creamy maple butter and crunchy pecans. Yum!
Take stuffing to a place it has never been before with this red-hot recipe. Featuring oysters and kimchi, it's exactly what your meal needs if you're ready to break out of the traditional stuffing norm.
You can never have enough corn (especially on the Thanksgiving table!), and this recipe will prove why. With sweet corn, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar, and more, it's effortlessly rich, hearty, and wonderous.
If you have a slow cooker, this will be your new favorite recipe in no time. Blue cheese lends a sharp, pungent tang to the naturally sweet potatoes, and the thyme gives a fresh, earthy flavor to this tasty recipe.
If we didn't have you at "goat cheese" and "mashed potatoes," get this: these rich and velvety spuds are made with just a few staple ingredients and can be prepped up to three days ahead of time. Also, it's an Ina Garten recipe. So, enough said.
Give the classic casserole a makeover with this buttery and bourbon-y recipe. Rich bacon pecans are layered on top of hearty potatoes, meaning your taste buds will get the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Cream, fresh herbs, garlic, and crème fraîche work together to make these the best mashed potatoes of all time. Feel free to add as much gravy as you please.
11Brussels Sprout, Beluga Lentil, and Cranberry Holiday Salad
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Fresh, light, and bright, this holiday salad will be a gift to your taste buds. Kale, brussels sprouts, and glossy black beluga lentils provide its wholesome base, while dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and clusters of clementine wedges are a festive nod to the season.
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This cheesy casserole is completed by a dash of garlic, hint of lemon, and fresh parsley that lighten up the flavors of the rich sourdough breadcrumbs soaked in butter, eggs, and milk. Feel free to pick your cheese choice depending on what you're in the mood for.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Rich in flavor yet light on the butter and cream, curried pumpkin soup is an easy seasonal starter or side dish that can be stored in the fridge and reheated when you need it. This particular pumpkin soup has an Indian twist with the addition of ginger, curry powder, and coconut milk; however, it is not overwhelmingly spicy or palate burning.
Wild rice might not be quite as popular a stuffing base as cubes of a crusty boule or tender cornbread, but don't discount it quite yet. Made with wild rice, brown rice, mushrooms, and just enough butter and olive oil to make it crave-worthy, it's a worthy contender for your holiday table this year.
This dish looks like something you'd see at a restaurant, but it will be the easiest thing you make all month. Carrots are left whole, drizzled with a fragrant and simple mixture of butter and cinnamon, and baked until perfectly tender. They're sure to disappear — even at the kids' table.
Want a gussied-up version of green bean casserole with zero extra work? Try this creamy and crunchy version, which adds indulgent texture and flavor with bacon, half and half, cheddar cheese, and fried onions. It's one-pan recipes like these that will save your Thanksgiving.
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These wholesome, cinnamony cornbread biscuits satisfy a savory craving for pumpkin before dessert even makes it to the table. They're also perfect for mini Thanksgiving sandwiches the next day (on the off chance that there are any leftovers!).
The tangy taste of the balsamic dressing mixed with the hearty flavors of veggies makes these roasted Brussels sprouts a tasty treat. We suggest moving your main course over for these.
Normal mashed potatoes are always good, but change things up with these smashed 'taters. They are crispy and smooth at the same time, which is why they will be everyone's favorite dish after just one bite.
A few hours in the slow cooker brings out unbelievable depth of flavor from rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and, of course, juicy sausage in this make-ahead stuffing. While it hangs out in the slow cooker and makes your kitchen smell dreamy, you can prepare the rest of your feast in bliss.
You've seen — and may love — sweet potato casseroles with marshmallow topping. But give this deliciously easy, irresistibly crumbly, buttery and brown sugary pecan topping a chance, and your Thanksgiving just might change for the better. After all, it's basically a primer for the pie course.
When most people think of butternut squash, they think of a cozy, Autumn night. . . but not anymore! This salad is light, bright, and great for any time of year.
Everyone loves garlic bread, and it's even better when it's festive and easy to eat! This pull-apart wreath is prefect for sharing and for avoiding a crumbly mess.
With fresh mint, parsley, dried cranberries, and feta, this butternut tabbouleh pairs flavors that have never been paired before. Open your tastebuds up to a whole new world thanks to this side dish.
Full of cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream, this Pimento Cheese Creamed Spinach couldn't get any richer. The flavors will balance any meaty entrée perfectly.
With nutty Gruyère cheese and sweet caramelized onions, these cheesy potatoes will change the way you see potatoes forever. Top it off with some fancy herbs and watch as this side dish steals the show.
If you're in the mood for French fries, but don't want to suffer from the calories, cook up these baked asparagus fries as a healthy side dish instead. Not only are they tasty, they are also really easy to make.
Swap out the potatoes for some healthy healthy cauliflower in this mouthwatering recipe. It will perfectly complement any meal thanks to its rich, cheesy flavor.
Savory, comforting, and craveably carb-heavy, stuffing (or dressing, if you'd prefer) is divine in its many permutations, but none are as flat-out adorable as these stuffing muffins. Not sold on the cute factor? No matter; stuffing muffins are also preportioned, are easier to serve, have more of those delectable crispy edges, and if — and that's a big if — you have leftovers, they're easy to pop in the freezer to keep fresh for days down the line.
This salad's sweet and tangy apple cider dressing balances out the contrasting flavors of sweet apples, pears, and candied pecans with savory bacon and feta cheese. Just a few minutes of easy chopping yields a healthy side that anyone will love.
54Blistered Green Beans With Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions
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Caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, a splash of sherry vinegar, and a toasted almond topping give unexpected flavor and texture to these simple blistered green beans. Make these for an easy, dairy-free green you can feel good about eating.