40 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Make Ahead for an Effortless Holiday By Ally Sorrells Ally Sorrells Ally Sorrells is a former EatingWell editorial fellow who loves to write about health and nutrition news in publications such as Food & Wine, Real Simple and U.S. News and World Report. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 21, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD Victoria Seaver is a registered dietitian and Editorial Director for EatingWell.com. She completed her undergraduate degree in nutrition, dietetics and food science and her master's degree and dietetic internship at the University of Vermont. Victoria has been a part of the EatingWell.com team since 2015. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Cut down on Thanksgiving Day craziness and free up space in your oven by making some dishes ahead of time. From our Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe to Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, all of these classic Thanksgiving side dishes come with tips to prep them ahead of time. A quick reheat is all they'll need before making their way to your dinner table. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 40 Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe View Recipe Save Diana Chistruga Thanksgiving isn't complete without a homemade sweet potato casserole. We like to sprinkle chopped pecans on top along with the marshmallows for a bit of texture. 02 of 40 Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad View Recipe Save Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Broccoli salad is usually drowning in a creamy, often very sweet, dressing and studded with 1/2 pound crumbled bacon, making it more about the creamy dressing and bacon than about the actual broccoli. Ours uses a combination of canola mayonnaise and Greek yogurt to keep the calories in check. We opt for center-cut bacon (a bit less of it) and swap the usual raisins for lower-sugar dried cranberries to pack a subtle punch of tart. The best part of this salad? The longer it sits, the better it gets. 03 of 40 Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes View Recipe Save These mashed potatoes can be served right away or made up to two days in advance, making your Thanksgiving or any other meal as easy as can be! 04 of 40 Honeynut Squash Casserole with Sage Marshmallow Topping View Recipe Save This honeynut squash recipe is bound to satisfy anyone at your Thanksgiving table. Once only available to chefs, honeynut squash (think: super-sweet butternuts) are now sold at farmers' markets and some grocery stores in the fall. 05 of 40 Honey-Glazed Roasted Delicata Squash View Recipe Save Tangy cider vinegar, sweet honey, crunchy pine nuts and fresh mint come together to make an amazing glaze in this healthy roasted winter squash recipe. If you use delicata, the whole squash—including the gorgeous skin—is edible. 06 of 40 Greens-&-Gruyère Mini Quiches View Recipe Save This mini quiche recipe uses classic Provençal flavors--garlic, oil-cured olives, anchovies, caramelized onions--to season these very-green egg cups. They keep well, perfect for breakfast on the fly, but the flavors are sophisticated enough to serve for brunch. If you frequently make mini quiches, consider investing in silicone mini muffin tins; they make popping these out a dream! 07 of 40 Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios View Recipe Save Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup! 08 of 40 Balsamic-Parmesan Sautéed Spinach View Recipe Save Tender spinach with a hint of garlic, Parmesan cheese and sweet balsamic vinegar makes a quick and flavorful side dish. The sturdy leaves of mature spinach hold up best during cooking. 09 of 40 Kale Salad with Cranberries View Recipe Save This easy holiday salad gets its flavor from a sweet citrus dressing that's infused into the kale by massaging the greens and the dressing together with your hands. We like a mix of kale for this recipe, but any type of kale will work. 10 of 40 Smothered Cabbage with Ham View Recipe Save Use up your leftover ham in this comforting one-pot dish made with cabbage and potatoes. The simple flavors get brightened at the end with a splash of cider vinegar. Serve alongside roast chicken or pork. 11 of 40 Creamy Cremini Mushroom Soup View Recipe Save Reduced-fat sour cream and low-fat milk make this soup creamy without all the fat. The pudgy brown mushrooms called cremini are generally firmer and richer-tasting than common white mushrooms. 12 of 40 Cauliflower Casserole with Mixed-Seed Crust View Recipe Save The cheesy-seedy crust that tops this healthy cauliflower casserole recipe evokes everything bagels. Serve on Thanksgiving as an easy make-ahead side dish. 13 of 40 Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole View Recipe Save This lightened-up take on the classic Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole is spiked with crushed pineapple and toasted pecans. We top it with an airy, slightly sweet meringue. You can pipe the meringue to make it look fancy or simply spread it neatly with a rubber spatula. 14 of 40 Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad View Recipe Save This roasted vegetable and fruit salad gets infused with flavor from quinoa that's cooked with fresh ginger, garlic and a hit of turmeric. An easy make-ahead twist for your Thanksgiving spread! 15 of 40 No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole View Recipe Save 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. 16 of 40 The Best Homemade Cranberry Sauce View Recipe Save This is our go-to recipe for homemade cranberry sauce. It's simple (just five ingredients!), is lightly sweet without being too sugary and has just the right amount of zesty flavor from orange peel. Plus, it's so easy—it goes from stove to table in just 20 minutes! 17 of 40 Easy Mashed Sweet Potatoes View Recipe Save This quick mashed potato recipe has just 5 ingredients and is Thanksgiving-ready in 20 minutes. Using sweet potatoes for this classic side dish adds color to your plate along with a little sweetness and a boost of Vitamin A. 18 of 40 Vegan Green Bean Casserole View Recipe Save Now everyone can enjoy classic Thanksgiving favorites, like this dairy-free green bean casserole. We make a homemade vegan cream of mushroom soup using almond milk for the creamy base that's combined with fresh green beans. Top it off with classic french-fried onions (we have a vegan recipe for that, too!) for a side dish everyone will devour. 19 of 40 Vegan Scalloped Potatoes View Recipe Save These scalloped potatoes are surprisingly rich and creamy even though they're made with no dairy (milk, butter or cheese)—vegan comfort food at its best. We use almond milk, herbs and spices to make a flavorful sauce and finish the dish with a crunchy almond topping. This makes a satisfying side dish if you're cooking for dairy-free or vegan diets. 20 of 40 Roasted Brussels Sprout & Butternut Squash Salad View Recipe Save Serve this hearty and healthy fall salad with roasted pork tenderloin, chicken or salmon, or with your Thanksgiving meal. All of the vegetables are roasted on the same pan, so this recipe is easy to prep, and it tastes great warm or at room temperature so it's perfect for holiday buffet tables and potlucks. Cranberries add a sweet-tart edge, while the maple-tahini dressing provides depth. 21 of 40 Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes with Spinach View Recipe Save Classic scalloped potatoes get a burst of color, heartier texture and a healthy update with the addition of chopped spinach. The greens in this side dish also create a nice contrast to the creamy, velvety potatoes. 22 of 40 Hasselbacks Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows View Recipe Save These hasselback sweet potatoes are like mini marshmallow-topped sweet potato casseroles drizzled with sage-infused butter. The hasselback technique, slicing the potato but leaving it whole, makes for a tender potato with a crispy top—the best of both worlds. 23 of 40 No-Sugar-Added Cranberry Sauce View Recipe Save Most cranberry sauce recipes add tons of sugar to mask the tart taste of the cranberries. In this simple cranberry sauce, we lighten things up by skipping the sugar and opting for a healthier combination of dates and apple cider which adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the cranberry flavor. 24 of 40 Easy Scalloped Potatoes View Recipe Save In this easy scalloped potatoes recipe, sliced potatoes are roasted in the oven before being mixed with a simple, creamy stovetop sauce and sprinkled with Cheddar cheese. A few minutes under the broiler turns the dish golden and crispy. 25 of 40 Mashed Celeriac with Herbs View Recipe Save Celeriac is a delicious low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. Pureeing the steamed celeriac in a food processor ensures a smooth, light and fluffy texture. 26 of 40 Kale-Butternut Squash Gratin View Recipe Save 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. 27 of 40 Chicken & Stuffing Casserole View Recipe Save Stuffing is not just for Thanksgiving with this easy chicken and stuffing casserole. There are plenty of veggies in this, making this a healthy casserole you can feel good about serving year-round. 28 of 40 Balsamic Roasted Cabbage View Recipe Save These roasted cabbage wedges with honey and balsamic vinegar make an attractive and healthy side dish that's also very easy to prepare. You can use red or green cabbage--or make a double batch with one of each for a pretty presentation. 29 of 40 Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes View Recipe Save Will Dickey These garlic mashed red potatoes use the cooking liquid to impart a rich garlic flavor. The starch from the potatoes helps make these mashed potatoes creamy without having to use milk or heavy cream. 30 of 40 Apple-Cranberry Stuffing View Recipe Save Make this stuffing with an apple variety that holds its shape rather than turns to sauce during the cooking process, so there will be tender bites of fruit throughout. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith or Pink Lady are all easy-to-find options. 31 of 40 Herb-Roasted Root Vegetables View Recipe Save Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and celery root make up a colorful roasted vegetable medley. If you can't find celery root (also called celeriac) you can swap in another root vegetable such as carrots, parsnips, or turnips. 32 of 40 Apple & Cheddar Side Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette View Recipe Save This salad is easy and festive--the perfect healthy addition to your holiday table. The no-sugar-added dressing blends well with the sweet notes of apple and sharp Cheddar cheese, and crunchy pecans round out the dish. 33 of 40 Mashed Potatoes & Turnips with Leeks View Recipe Save Ali Redmond Classic mashed potatoes get a healthy twist when you add turnips, a cruciferous vegetable that's rich in vitamin C. Turnips provide a touch of sweetness, while a savory leek topping completes this simple, easy side dish. 34 of 40 Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate View Recipe Save This gorgeous warm salad with nutty roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet-tart pomegranate seeds and creamy goat cheese is perfect for any winter meal--from a weeknight dinner to Christmas dinner or any other holiday celebration. The recipe is easily doubled if you are entertaining a crowd: just be sure to spread the sprouts out (use 2 pans if necessary) so they roast instead of steaming. 35 of 40 Melting Sweet Potatoes with Maple Butter View Recipe Save As the name implies, these sweet potatoes melt right in your mouth. After browning in a hot oven, thick slices of sweet potato simmer in broth and soak up the flavors of maple syrup and lemon. This simple dish is great alongside roasted chicken or pork and makes a great Thanksgiving side dish. 36 of 40 Broccoli Casserole View Recipe Save The lightened-up luscious sauce elevates this easy casserole recipe over standard broccoli and cheese side dishes. 37 of 40 Melting Beets with Goat Cheese View Recipe Save Photography / Jacob Fox, Styling / Sammy Mila Roasting the beets with broth makes them crispy on the outside, yet tender on the inside. Crumbled goat cheese tops these melt-in-your-mouth beets for an easy side dish. 38 of 40 Green Beans with Parmesan-Garlic Breadcrumbs View Recipe Save In this easy green bean recipe, browning the butter before tossing it with the breadcrumbs produces a nice nutty flavor. Serve this green bean dish as a healthy alternative to green bean casserole or as an easy side with steak, chicken or fish. 39 of 40 Brown Butter & Sage Acorn Squash View Recipe Save Greg DuPree We like acorn squash because its skin is tender enough to eat (which saves you the hassle of peeling), but any winter squash will work for this nutty, maple-drizzled side. 40 of 40 Slow-Cooker Mushroom Soup with Sherry View Recipe Save This comforting and creamy slow-cooker soup is loaded with earthy, umami flavor from the mushrooms and soy sauce. Puréeing only some of the slow-cooker mushroom soup gives the dish complex texture and eye appeal. Garnish with additional black pepper and chopped fresh thyme, if desired. 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