Healthy Recipes Healthy Holiday & Occasion Recipes Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes 20 Veggie Sides You'll Want to Make Every Thanksgiving By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 6, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Your Thanksgiving dinner will be even more delicious when you serve one of these veggie sides. Whether you want classic sweet potato or green bean casserole or opt for a hearty salad or scalloped veggie dish, everything you need is in this collection. Plus, these recipes have four- and five-star ratings, so rest assured that they’re crowd-pleasing, holiday dinner winners. Pair your turkey and stuffing with our Roasted Honeynut Squash or Carrot Casserole for a festive meal that you’ll want to make each year. 01 of 20 Roasted Honeynut Squash Honeynut squash looks just like mini butternut squash, but on the inside, you'll find an even sweeter, deeper orange flesh. This winter squash has only been available at farmers markets and in select grocery stores for a few years. If you see it, grab a few to try! This simple roasting method enhances the natural flavor of the squash with butter and spices. View Recipe 02 of 20 Roasted Garlic-Parmesan Cabbage Ali Redmond Cabbage gets transformed in the oven with garlic, Parmesan and olive oil in this simple vegetable side. This irresistible side dish would make a welcome addition to any meal—try serving it alongside chicken or steak. View Recipe 03 of 20 No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole Instead of loading up this comfort food side with tons of brown sugar and marshmallows, we have turned to sweet spices, vanilla and inherently sweet dried fruit to enhance the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes. A topping of pecans and pepitas replaces traditional marshmallow topping to keep it healthy and add texture and color for a beautiful casserole. View Recipe 04 of 20 Fall Chopped Salad with Spinach, Butternut Squash, Apples & Cheddar Who says spinach salads are only for spring? Use autumn's tender crop of fresh spinach and other seasonal vegetables to make this fall salad with roasted butternut squash, apples, cheddar and pecans. This colorful and healthy salad would be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving menu, but there's no reason to save it for holidays--serve it along with chicken or pork for a healthy weeknight dinner, or turn it into a main course by adding some chickpeas or chopped chicken or turkey. View Recipe 05 of 20 Massaged Kale Salad Here a pungent garlicky dressing is infused into kale by massaging the greens and the dressing together with your hands. Any type of kale will work in this recipe, just remember to remove the tough stems before you start. View Recipe 06 of 20 Garlic Mashed Potatoes What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you're cooking for a crowd--say for Thanksgiving dinner. View Recipe 07 of 20 Carrot Casserole Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Carrot casserole is a great holiday side dish that’s both creamy and savory with just a touch of sweetness from the carrots. Coriander and dry mustard add lovely background flavors to the cream sauce. Microwaving the carrots gives them a jump-start in the cooking process and ensures that they’re cooked through. The carrots should all be sliced thinly so they cook evenly. If you have one, a mandoline can make quick work of the slicing, but a good sharp knife will also do the trick. View Recipe 08 of 20 Sauteed Broccoli & Kale with Toasted Garlic Butter In this easy vegetable side dish, broccoli and kale are drizzled with a butter, garlic and crushed red pepper sauce. Serve this healthy recipe alongside roasted chicken, turkey or ham--or on top of your favorite whole grain, such as quinoa or farro. View Recipe 09 of 20 Spicy Black-Eyed Pea & Collard Green Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster This black-eyed pea and collard green salad recipe can be served warm or at room temperature, either as a side dish or as a vegetarian main course along with rice or crusty bread. Harissa and peri-peri sauce provide gentle heat, and preserved lemon gives it briny tang. View Recipe 10 of 20 Kale-Butternut Squash Gratin This colorful gratin dish livens up any holiday plate. Creamy melted Gruyère is comforting, while a blend of cumin, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper lends a warm, spicy note. View Recipe 11 of 20 Loaded Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon, Cheddar & Chives Imagine a loaded baked potato topped with bacon, Cheddar and chives combined with the creamy goodness of scalloped potatoes, and you have the ultimate comfort food casserole. This scalloped potato recipe is made healthier than original versions by using low-fat milk in place of heavy cream, but it still tastes just as rich and creamy. View Recipe 12 of 20 Anthony Anderson’s Sweet Potato Home Fries with Cranberry-Hazelnut Crumble Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely These home fries are made with sweet potatoes, which are rich in fiber as well as vitamin A, a nutrient which can help support a healthy immune system. Actor Anthony Anderson likes sprinkling a cranberry-hazelnut crumble on top for an easy but delicious upgrade. View Recipe 13 of 20 Balsamic Oven-Roasted Carrots Roasting carrots in the oven brings out their sweetness, which is enhanced further with a tangy balsamic and maple glaze. Serve these balsamic roasted carrots as an easy weeknight side dish. View Recipe 14 of 20 Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions Thanks to fresh green beans, an easy homemade cream sauce and crispy onion topping, this green bean casserole recipe is healthier and more delicious than traditional recipes that use canned soup, beans and onions. Plus, the slow cooker saves you time cooking at the stove. Make sure to use fresh green beans, as frozen green beans will become mushy. View Recipe 15 of 20 Black-Eyed Peas with Slab Bacon Jerrelle Guy In this recipe, black-eyed peas get a wonderful smoky flavor from slab bacon. If you skip it for a vegetarian version, boost the flavor by doubling the garlic, adding a bay leaf, substituting vegetable stock for the water and adding a dash of smoked paprika for a slightly smoky taste. View Recipe 16 of 20 Cheesy Corn Casserole This cheesy corn casserole is surprisingly light and fluffy, thanks to eggs and a whirl in the blender. The sweet corn batter and salty Cheddar cheese make this casserole pleasing to kids and adults alike. View Recipe 17 of 20 Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad Photographer: Stacy K. Allen; Prop stylist: Julia Bayless; Food stylist: Ana Kelley Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef's knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese. View Recipe 18 of 20 Beet Salad Photographer / Victor Protasio, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke This simple beet salad recipe uses just a handful of ingredients to create a delightful side dish. Roasted beets add a sweet, earthy and aromatic flavor that shines in this side salad. View Recipe 19 of 20 Collard Greens Collard greens are meltingly tender when cooked for a long period of time. Smoked turkey in place of bacon adds the traditional smoky taste. View Recipe 20 of 20 Creamed Spinach William Dickey This creamed spinach recipe is loaded with greens and bound together with just enough creamy goodness to make it luscious but not heavy. Serve it alongside just about anything—from holiday roasts and ham to grilled steak or tofu, you really can't go wrong! 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