20 Killer Side Dishes to Ramp Up Your Thanksgiving

Give your classic stuffing a kick with the addition of chorizo, a spicy sausage that comes in two main varieties: cured and fresh. If you buy it cured, slice it up and sear it before adding the slices; if fresh, you can slip it out of its casing, crumble it, and brown it in a pan before adding. Be sure to include the flavorful oil that renders out, and if you like it extra spicy, also throw in some chopped jalapeños!

Cornbread adds a richness, sweetness, and overall flavor to stuffing that plain old white bread can’t compare with, and oysters (either fresh or canned) are a popular addition thanks to their briny, savory flavor. When paired up, the end result just might be the best stuffing you’ll ever taste!

Colcannon is a popular Irish dish that puts a green spin on classic mashed potatoes. It’s super-simple, and is usually just made with four ingredients: potatoes, butter, milk, and kale or other greens. Leeks and chives are also common additions.

Not only are these a great side dish and alternative (or addition) to mashed potatoes, they’re also a great way to use up mashed potato leftovers! To make mashed potato croquettes, all you need to do is ball them up, roll them in eggs and breadcrumbs, and deep dry them until golden brown and delicious. Add in some cheddar for extra luxuriousness, and serve with sour cream dip.

For a little variety, kick up the standard roasted potatoes with the addition of other root vegetables, squash, and even pumpkin. Smart options include turnips, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, and carrots. Add in some red onion, chopped garlic, and herbs including thyme and rosemary for a savory gourmet side.

There are countless ways to kick up old-school mac and cheese, but if you’re looking for a taste of true luxury, add in some crabmeat! Many seafood shops and supermarkets with seafood counters sell lump crabmeat that can easily be incorporated into your favorite recipe for an upscale touch.

Potato gratin, a luxurious casserole of thinly-sliced potatoes layered with cheese and plenty of cream, is a classic Thanksgiving side dish. But for a change of pace, replace the potatoes with celeriac, also called celery root. Celeriac has a unique flavor that’s nutty with a hint of celery, and it’s less starchy than potato.

If you’re looking for a lighter, lower-carb alternative to mashed potatoes, consider cauliflower! This versatile vegetable is absolutely delicious when pureed with plenty of cream and butter. Add in some shredded cheddar for a cheesy delight!

You’ve never encountered Brussels sprouts like these! To turn them into chips, peel off as many of the leaves as you can, toss them with olive oil, and roast them up until golden brown and crispy. Serve them with aïoli or some other dipping sauce if you like.

Few side dishes are sadder than pallid steamed or boiled Brussels sprouts. Thankfully, whipping up crispy Brussels sprouts is super-easy, and they pair perfectly with bacon! Just trim off the stems and peel off the tough outer leaves, slice them down the middle, toss them with oil and seasonings, and roast them cut-side-down in a hot oven until the bottoms are golden brown. Toss in some crispy bacon lardons and serve!

Onions have a sharp flavor when raw, but when slowly cooked they develop a mellow sweetness that’s insanely delicious. To make this perfect side, slice open an onion and scoop out the core, and stuff the inside with Italian sausage and anything else you may have in your fridge, like roasted mushrooms, spinach, and cheese. Then roast them up until the onions are soft and melty and the sausage is cooked through!

Roasted plain ol’ orange carrots are well and good, but nowadays more and more supermarkets are stocking carrots in a rainbow of colors including purple, yellow, and red. Roast them with some garlic and herbs, and wait for the compliments to roll in!

You probably know and love creamed spinach, but have you ever had creamed Swiss chard? Swiss chard is a leafy green that has a mild and sweet flavor and colorful stems. It can be cooked up just like spinach!

Galettes, or open-face tarts with a folded-up crust, are super-easy to make. For the perfect Thanksgiving tart, start with a raw crust and layer in thinly sliced butternut squash along with caramelized onions, herbs, and a nutty cheese like Manchego. Then just fold up the crust and bake!

Kale makes for a perfect salad green, and it’s hearty enough to stand up to a wide variety of flavorful accompaniments. For a perfect Thanksgiving side salad, remove the spine from kale, squeeze it thoroughly to tenderize it, and toss it with dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and a vinaigrette of your choosing.

Delicata squash has a sweet flavor that’s reminiscent of pumpkin, and thanks to its thin skin it doesn’t need to be peeled. Just slice it into half-inch thick half moons, toss with maple syrup and herbs, and roast until soft!

Why settle for canned cranberry sauce when you can make a cranberry apple relish that’s ten times better? Just cook down fresh cranberries and diced sweet red apples with some orange juice and sugar until jammy, and voila!

Button mushrooms have their place and time, but nowadays nearly every supermarket also carries a wide variety of wild mushrooms like hen-of-the-woods, chanterelles, and ceps. Exotic and with a nutty flavor and meaty texture, they taste amazing when sauteed with butter, garlic, white wine, and herbs including rosemary, thyme, sage, and marjoram.

Risotto is always a popular side dish, and one thing that makes it so special is that it’s so incredibly versatile. For a perfect Thanksgiving-flavored risotto, mix in some canned pumpkin purée (or roasted diced pumpkin or squash) along with plenty of parmesan cheese and a pinch of nutmeg. Add a little egg to the leftovers and turn them into croquettes!

Why settle for overcooked green beans when you can turn them into an addictively delicious salad with feta? Blanch the green beans for only a couple minutes until tender but still crisp, toss them with a lemony vinaigrette, and add in chunks of feta for a simple and healthy side.

Pomegranate seeds make for a sweet and crunchy salad addition, and they serve as a perfect counterpoint to sharp and creamy goat cheese. Toss them both with some baby arugula and a lemon-herb vinaigrette and you’ve got a salad that we bet you’ll find yourself whipping up on weeknights as well.

Cornbread is a beloved Thanksgiving side, but by turning it into muffins each guest gets his or her own serving. Give it a slightly spicy kick by adding some chopped jalapeños — and a handful of shredded cheddar never hurts! These are absolutely perfect when smeared with butter.

Just like cornbread, biscuits are a warm and comforting Thanksgiving side. To give them an autumnal flavor, whip up your favorite buttermilk biscuit recipe but add in herbs including thyme, parsley, and savory. Leftovers make for a great breakfast, but we have a feeling there won’t be any left!