58 Healthy Thanksgiving Sides for a Celebration Full of Veggies
These healthy Thanksgiving side dishes feature all your favorites.
Thanksgiving turkey recipes may get all the glory, but we know the real heroes of your holiday dinner table — healthy Thanksgiving sides. They add variety, flavor and yes, some good 'ol greens all while rounding out the meal with something fresh and delicious. While buttery potato recipes and best-ever Thanksgiving desserts will always have a place on our plate, it doesn't hurt to get creative with crisp green beans, sweet roasted root veggies and more colorful, nutritious side dishes. Trust us, once you try extra-crispy Brussels sprouts or spicy roasted carrots, you'll look forward to your Thanksgiving veggies year after year. Believe it!
Spice-Roasted Carrots
Spice up this traditional holiday side with paprika and nutmeg.
Colcannon
Add some greens to your mashed potatoes to make them healthier for the holidays!
Best-Ever Vegan Gravy
While there's still a decent amount of (vegan!) butter in this gravy, it's lighter than the typical turkey drippings recipe.
Roasted Cranberry Sauce
Lower the amount of sugar in this classic side for a slightly tangier take.
Creamy Roasted Squash Puree
Turn roasted squash into a sweet and smooth puree by simply blending in a food processor.
Roasted Sweet & Sour Brussels Sprouts
Load up on these crispy sprouts and you'll forget all about the gravy.
Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans
Get double the veggies in one epic side dish, topped with melted chile-garlic butter.
Get the recipe for Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans »
RELATED: 21 Green Bean Recipes For Thanksgiving That Will Make These Veggies the Life of the Party
Spicy Acorn Squash with Feta
Add a kick to simple roasted squash with paprika and a pinch of cayenne.
Rosemary-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Skip the marshmallow-topped casserole and opt for this equally sweet and creamy side instead.
Get the recipe for Rosemary-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes »
RELATED: 40 Best Sweet Potato Recipes That Are Perfect for Any Fall Occasion
Thyme and Shallot Roasted Butternut Squash
Serve halved butternut squash for the prettiest, holiday-ready presentation.
Get the recipe for Thyme and Shallot Roasted Butternut Squash »
Glazed Green Beans
The sweet-sour glaze on these fresh green beans makes 'em irresistible.
Raw Cranberry Relish
Pulse cranberries in a food processor for a texture and flavor unlike any other sauce.
Coriander-Maple Glazed Carrots
Rainbow carrots and a squeeze of fresh lime juice make this sweet and spicy salad extra bright.
Vegan Caesar Salad
Skip the grilled veggies and chickpeas for an easy, vegan side dish that goes with everything.
Get the recipe for Vegan Caesar Salad »
RELATED: 30 Easy Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes To Fill You up on the Holiday
White Bean and Broccolini Salad
Serve this bright and tangy side to balance out all those buttery mashed potatoes.
Roasted Asparagus Salad With Feta Vinaigrette
Creamy, salty feta cheese brings just enough ish to this healthy-ish side.
Get the recipe for Roasted Asparagus Salad With Feta Vinaigrette »
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Made with fresh green beans and mushrooms instead of canned, this recipe packs a nutritional punch.
Vegetable Torte
You'll find butternut squash, kale, potatoes, onion and tomatoes in this layered, cheesy stunner.
Get the recipe for Vegetable Torte »
RELATED: 30 Best Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes That Go Way Beyond Just Tofurkey
Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash With Cranberries and Feta
Acorn squash makes the perfect vessel for a quinoa-veggie salad — you can take bites of the sweet, nutty squash as you dig in.
Get the recipe for Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash with Cranberries and Feta »
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tahini Vinaigrette
Baby kale tossed with roasted butternut squash and drizzled with tahini vinaigrette is just as delicious for dinner as it is for lunch the next day.
Get the recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Tahini Vinaigrette »
RELATED: 20 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes to Savor the Holiday's Best Flavors
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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