It’s Official: These Are the Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes.
Thanksgiving has a reputation for endless pickling techniques, divisive side dishes, and contentious relatives. It’s no surprise that hosting can be stressful. If you don’t have the “Right Stuffing” , that is. This series is all about the Thanksgiving meal, and will help you create dishes that will show up on your table year after year, even if it doesn’t help you cope with the in-laws.
The Thanksgiving turkey may be the star, but for many people, it’s the sides that are king. Side dishes are a way to provide variety, generosity, and maybe get a vegetable on your plate. While I stand by the classics, I think where our best Thanksgiving side dish recipes shine is because they got a little out of hand. This year, prepare a couple of unusual side dishes. Here’s a roundup of our top Thanksgiving side dishes.
Pommes Aligo
Mashed potatoes with cheese are one thing; pommes aligot is something completely different. This mashed potato dish is closer to potato-flavored cheese and is a must-have for cheese lovers at your table. The first half of making pommes aligot is the same as standard mashed potatoes: peel and boil the potatoes until soft. Then put them through a meat grinder until they are very smooth. The second half is a bit of an arm workout, but that’s when butter, cream and a few handfuls of cheese are added. Spoon onto a plate and enjoy.
Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is nostalgic and, to say the least, controversial. If you’ve eliminated canned beans and condensed soup casserole from your repertoire, may I suggest making a much improved, creamier, crunchier version from scratch? With fresh green beans, umami mushroom sauce, and classic French fried onions, it’s back and better than ever. Try this vegan version of a classic dish .
Galam blee pad nam pbla
While Thanksgiving isn’t traditional, galam bpli pad nam bpla is a popular and easy Thai dish that’s sure to win fans at your table. Composed of cabbage, garlic, fish sauce and butter, this plate is a flavorful dish for even the tightest of holiday budgets. Crispy, umami-coated kale is the perfect vegetable foil for turkey. Get the recipe here .
Stuffed Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole often stops at marshmallows, which are a bit overkill in the sweet and soft category. Let’s treat sweet potatoes more like starchy russet potatoes: with a variety of toppings to achieve contrasting flavors and textures. This rich sweet potato casserole features crispy bacon, crunchy, salty pecans and a little spice.
Ambrosia Salad
I’m not here to tell you what “normal” is. I’m here to inspire your palate, and it can look a lot like the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. You can make a sweet Thanksgiving side dish with a can of crushed pineapple, cherry pie filling and Cool Whip. Yes you can. Place some ambrosia on a plate between the turkey and Brussels sprouts and let the joy wash over you.
Instant cookie filling
You might be somewhere between Stove Top and homemade sourdough bread filling. For you, I would suggest a killer instant cookie filling . It’s simple, buttery, crispy on top and custardy on the inside. Sure, you can use homemade cookies, but fast food cookies are better because they’re bad. Rather, these dry, dusty cookies are much better at absorbing the moisture you add to the mixture. And your cookies are not dry or dusty, right?
Timpano
Honestly, Timpano is a contender for Thanksgiving turkey, and I’m here for it. Layers of cheese, herbs, chunks of meat and tomato sauce are wrapped in a huge sheet of pasta to create this fantastic dish. The only reason I include it in the side dish category is because I think it should be cooked even if there is turkey on the table. Plus, it’s the kind of side dish you make as a family. There is no better way to show love to your family than by making a tympanum together. (Before a chaotic dinner with Aunt Sheila where you might just tear each other apart). Read the full recipe here.
Sweet Potatoes with Swiss Meringue
Silky sweet potato casserole is topped with toppings. Instead of throwing bagged marshmallows on top, why not up your game with some Swiss meringue this year. It’s a fluffy, tender filling and decidedly less sweet than a bunch of marshmallows. This prevents the sweet tuber puree from crossing the line of cloying. In addition to moving from a baby filling to something a little fancier, Swiss meringue is crisped in the oven, toasted and browned to create a crunchy filling that would make marshmallows jealous. Find the method here .
Campari cranberry sauce
From scratch cranberry sauce is ripe for innovation. Using just a few ingredients—sugar, water, and cranberries—you’ll be happy with it, but you might want to add a few tweaks. A little complicated. A bit of a devil-may-care attitude. Let’s visit the bar cart. Campari cranberry sauce is just what you need. The berries are sour and the sauce is sweet, herbaceous and bitter. Finally, you have a taste that removes all the salt and fat from the rest of the food.
Brussels sprouts stalk
Brussels sprout skeptics, put aside your anger and take a look at the bold, flavorful, never mushy stem of Brussels sprouts . Its presentation is worthy of a main course at vegan feasts and a side dish for any Thanksgiving. These sprouts are unexpected and a treat for anyone who loves cruciferous vegetables: they’re tossed in a vinaigrette, sautéed, and layered for even more flavor. Many of the Lifehacker team have already added this beauty to our tables. Join us, okay?