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!
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!
Of course, you can really jazz up your sweet potatoes and make them more family-friendly by mashing them! 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.
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!
It can’t be Thanksgiving without Cranberry Sauce, and in our house, you’ll always find Cole Slaw on our holiday menu.
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:
- How to Dry Brine a Turkey
- Original Pumpkin Crunch Cake
- Holiday Pie Recipes
- Amethyst Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake
- Turkey Leftover Recipes
Thanksgiving Recipes
Ingredients
Cranberry Sauce
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp 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 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- olive oil
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Apple Butter
- 6 large sweet potatoes
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 4 tbsp butter
- sea salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional
Apple Beet Compote
- 3 red beets
- 3 golden beets
- 1 fennel bulb
- 2 large apples
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp 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 tbsp of butter and 2 tbsp of brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Saute apples for 5 minutes just to soften them up some, set aside.
- In another saute pan add one tbsp of butter and 2 tbsp 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.
Latricia says
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
Terri says
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.
Monica Y says
My sister in law and I will be hosting Thanksgiving, so I am going to follow some of your recipes, all looks delicious
Amy H says
Oh, These are some great ideas for Thanksgiving Sides! I cant wait to try the roasted sweet potato and apples
Heather DiNuzzo says
The sides are everything. I mostly look forward to stuffing and cranberry sauce every thanksgiving. So good!
Agnes says
Coleslaw my old-time favorite side dish! I can use some of your recipes and work on it for the coming holidays.
Ruth I says
These are delicious side dish ideas! Cole Slaw and mashed potatoes are the favorites here!
Swathi says
These thanksgiving recipes looks delicious love those mashed sweet potatoes and apple beets compote. Perfect turkey. Everything makes thanksgiving dinner memorable one for sure.
Chris Hoov says
Great recipes, thanks for sharing..! These are definitely worth trying. Now I know what to make for Thanksgiving.
Ice Cream n Sticky Fingers says
It has been so long since I’ve cooked a Thanksgiving meal. I’m not sure what I am cooking yet but I don’t want to make too much food. I’ll have to show my kids this list and figure out which ones that I should make. The sweet potatoes sound delicious.
Lynndee says
All your side dishes look delicious. My SIL always prepares a bunch of delicious side dishes on Thanksgiving too. Can’t wait to pig out. LOL.
Amber Myers says
What great ideas. I know my family will like these sweet potatoes. They can be a nice twist from the regular yams we have.
Theresa says
I know turkey tends to be the star of the show, but as a vegetarian, for me it’s all about the side dishes. You have some amazing recipes posted here that I could definitely sink my teeth into!
cait says
oh goodness these are all amazing dishes that we always have with thanksgiving. im a huge fan of sweet potatoes
Jane kennedy says
Yum to all! Always a pleasure to see ur column! Happy Thanksgiving!
Lorayne D'Antonio says
Hi Chef Dennis. This is a great post for anyone looking to switch up their Thanksgiving feast. I also love the way you set up the recipes and directions. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Your friend @lorishandmadetreats 😊
Chef Dennis Littley says
thank you Lorayne!
Betty Ann Quirino @Mango_Queen says
Delicious, as always! Happy Thanksgiving, Chef Dennis!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you Betty Ann, Happy Thanksgiving!
JC Marc says
I am making your Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples recipe this year!!! I am, of course, going to have to do a test run (or two) in the next couple of weeks. I prepare an incredibly large Thanksgiving spread for my family, serving 4 types of sweet potatoes and I am adding these to the menu. I am also going to add a couple of cole slaws to the table. Would have never thought about cole slaw. Great idea. I do 5 different cranberries, and missed yours. Can’t wait for your version. Thank you so much for sharing such a festive meal. Happy Thanksgiving, Chef Dennis!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I know you’ll find them to be delicious, its the onions that really take it over the top with the contrast of flavors! It sounds like you’re going to have one amazing table and I look forward to hearing about your Thanksgiving!
Chef Dennis Littley says
I can’t believe I forgot to add the Cranberry Sauce recipe….. I just put it in JC, hope you get to try it!
JC Marc says
Thank you! I’m adding cardamom and cherries. Happy Thanksgiving to you, my favorite Chef Dennis.
anna says
those mashed sweet potatoes look wonderful! it’s not often i find a recipe sure to please everyone in my household, from adults down to 7 month olds. this one ought to do it!
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thank you Anna! Not being a big fan of Sweets I always try to find new ways to serve them!