Ask Chef Dennis

  • Recipe Index
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Sides

Thanksgiving Recipes- Side dishes for your holiday table

Published: Nov 8, 2019 · Modified: Nov 22, 2020 by Chef Dennis Littley

122
SHARES
Facebook122PinterestFlipboard
Jump to Recipe

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays…..well except for the ones I’ve worked. It’s a day to see family and friends, a time to come together and give thanks for all the blessings you have in your life. And I’m very happy to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes with you today.

When preparing our Thanksgiving Day Feast, I’m pretty traditional in the fare that I serve Lisa and our guests. Although I can be pretty creative, Thanksgiving is not the time I try to come up with new dishes.

For us, it’s the basics. Turkey & Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Green Beans and Cranberry  Sauce. We don’t usually eat Sweet Potatoes, but this year I will be trying out one of the recipes I’ve shared today my Roasted Sweet Potato-Apple creation.

Of course, they’ll be a few pies for dessert, a traditional Pumpkin Pie with fresh whipped cream, pecan pie and my favorite Apple-Cranberry with a streusel topping.

Below you’ll find two of my Sweet Potato recipes, Roasted Beet Compote, Cole Slaw, and Cranberry Sauce to help you with your Holiday table. The first is really delicious and healthy, my  Roasted Sweet Potato-Apple with onions……it’s yummy!

Roasted Sweet Potato and Apples, Thanksgiving recipes


 

Of course, you can really jazz up your sweet potatoes  and make them more family-friendly by mashing! And adding a few of your own touches will really liven up the flavors. In this version, I added apple butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.

Mashed Apple Butter Sweet Potatoes , Thanksgiving Recipes

One of our family’s favorite vegetables are beets and making them in this delicious compote with apples and walnuts will get even the finicky eaters to try this flavorful combination!

apple beet compote, Thanksgiving recipes

It can’t be Thanksgiving without Cranberry Sauce, and in our house, you’ll always find Cole Slaw on our holiday menu.

Thanksgiving Side dishes, Cole Slaw and Cranberry Sauce

Have a Great Holiday, no matter what you serve and remember to count your blessing and be thankful for all you have in your life.

If you’re looking for more delicious Thanksgiving recipes try these:

  • Potato Bread Stuffing 
  • How to Dry Brine a Turkey
  • Original Pumpkin Crunch Cake
  • Holiday Pie Recipes
mashed apple butter sweet potatoes, Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving Recipes

Chef Dennis Littley
It’s easy to make delicious side dishes for Thanksgiving or any time of the year.  You’ll love these easy to make recipes that will have your guests asking for seconds!
4.73 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour hr
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
Course side dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cranberry Sauce

  • 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest

Cole Slaw

  • 1 head of cabbage – cored and sliced very thinly
  • ½ small carrot grated
  • ½ cups mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples

  • 4 large sweet potatoes – peeled and sliced
  • 3 large apples – peeled and sliced
  • 1 small onion – large chop
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • Black Pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • olive oil

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Apple Butter

  • 6 large sweet potatoes
  • ½ cup apple butter
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • sea salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon optional

Apple Beet Compote

  • 3 red beets
  • 3 golden beets
  • 1 fennel bulb
  • 2 large apples
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Cranberry Sauce

  • place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, allow to continue a slow boil for 5 minutes
  • reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes, the sauce will thicken
  • allow to cool for about 20 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.
  • Cranberry sauce will become jellied when fully chilled.

Cole Slaw

  • Mix mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl, blend the ingredients completely. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes so sugar fully dissolves, then remix the ingredients
  • Mix together cabbage and grated carrot, then add in coleslaw dressing and mix well to make sure the mixture is thoroughly coated.
  • Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Coleslaw needs to sit at least 4 hours before eating, and its best to make it the day before.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples

  • Peel and cut sweet potatoes into medium-sized chunks, coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper add onion chunks and place on a cookie sheet in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes before adding apples.
  • Peel and cut apples into medium-sized chunks, coat with brown sugar and cinnamon and place on a cookie sheet with sweet potatoes after they have cooked 15 minutes and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
  • remove from oven and mix both together, place on a serving platter and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Apple Butter

  • Peel and cut sweet potatoes into medium-sized chunks.
  • Place sweet potatoes in boiling salted water and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender
  • drain potatoes well and in a mixing bowl add the potatoes and butter and whip until butter is melted.
  • Add in apple butter, salt, and cinnamon and whip until fully incorporated
  • place in a serving bowl and serve immediately or keep warm in 200-degree oven until ready to serve

Apple Beet Compote

  • preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • clean and peel beets then cut into small chunks
  • mix each color separately with olive oil, sea salt and pepper, and place into roasting pan.
  • cut fennel bulb into the same size pieces and coat with olive oil, salt and pepper, then place in roasting pan with beets.
  • Place the roasting pan into the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until beets are soft*
  • While beets are roasting, peel and cut the apples into bite-size pieces and place them in a saute pan with 2 tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoon of brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  • Saute apples for 5 minutes just to soften them up some, set aside.
  • In another saute pan add one tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoon of brown sugar and mix well.
  • Add the walnuts and over medium heat.  coat the walnuts with the brown sugar mixture* tossing to get them completely coated.
  • remove the walnuts from the pan and place them on parchment or a plate to allow the sugar to set.
  • When the beets are done, gently mix your compote together and serve warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 262mgPotassium: 638mgFiber: 7gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 11810IUVitamin C: 31.6mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 1.4mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.73 from 11 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Latricia says

    November 11, 2019 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love sweet potatoes but have never had them with apple butter. I want to try to make this. Thanks for these suggestions. I am always looking for new dishes to serve and mix our menu up a little

    Reply
  2. Terri says

    November 11, 2019 at 1:53 am

    I haven’t heard of Cole slaw as a side dish at Thanksgiving yet I can see the allure. My family loves it! I just made cranberry sauce this weekend and I included dried cranberries for the first time. They are a little sweeter and add a little bit of social flavor to the sauce.

    Reply
  3. Monica Y says

    November 10, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    My sister in law and I will be hosting Thanksgiving, so I am going to follow some of your recipes, all looks delicious

    Reply
  4. Amy H says

    November 10, 2019 at 7:55 pm

    Oh, These are some great ideas for Thanksgiving Sides! I cant wait to try the roasted sweet potato and apples

    Reply
« Older Comments


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

More about me →

Fan Favorites

  • overhead view of barbecued half racks of baby back ribs on a white platter
    Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
  • sliced meatloaf with the rest of meatloaf on a white platter
    Classic Meatloaf Recipe with Zesty Glaze
  • shredded cabbage mixed with coleslaw dressing in a glass bowl.
    Easy Homemade Coleslaw Recipe
  • Banana bread sliced on a cutting board.
    Banana Bread Recipe
  • chicken parm with pasta on a white plate
    Chicken Parmesan Recipe
  • seasoned crispy chicken legs on a foil wrapped tray
    Baked Chicken Legs

Featured In

Collage showing where Ask Chef Dennis has been featured.

Footer

↑ back to top

INFO

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

SUBSCRIBE

Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-quality recipes!

CONTACT

  • About
  • Contact

© 2009-2025 · Ask Chef Dennis · 30 N. Gould Street, STE 7204, Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801

Proud Member of:
Mediavine Publisher Network

Let's Get Social

Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.