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Sides are the best part of Thanksgiving, obvi.

12 Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes That Will Make Your Turkey Jealous

best Thanksgiving side dishes

Turkey is important and everything, but many would argue side dishes are actually the best part of Thanksgiving. Finger foods and appetizers, creamy casseroles, and breads galore — if it can be served with gravy, it's going on our table. After all, how often is it that you get to eat dinner along with five or more other items? Embrace the bounty of the season with these sides that modernize classic dishes. Make a few or all — we're not here to judge!


Honey Hazelnut Baked Brie: A cheeseball may be the app of choice for many families, but you can class it up with a melted honey hazelnut baked brie, fresh from the oven. A dab of cranberry sauce on top and you're good to go.
Cheddar, Chive, and Jalapeño Cornmeal Biscuits: We like to stack our holiday table with as many carbs as possible, and these cornmeal biscuits definitely deserve a spot. Rather than just do plain biscuits, spice it up! The bits of jalapeño will awaken your tastebuds as you go in for a second plate.

Keto 3-Cheese Brussels Sprouts Casserole: Instead of baking up a Brussels sprouts casserole, make it a stovetop, one-pot dish... that also happens to be keto. All that means for you is that there's lots and lots of cheese.

Buttery Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole: The whole table can get lit with this spiked version of the casserole. A bracing splash of fiery bourbon does the job.

Paleo Thanksgiving Stuffing: You don't need bread to make an exquisite stuffing. Instead, load your pan with celeriac, mushrooms, walnuts, and chestnuts, along with the classic aromatics.

Gnocchi Mac + Cheese: Get a little fancy by making your classic mac and cheese recipe with potato-based gnocchi instead of elbow macaroni. After all, you're celebrating Thanksgiving, and potatoes are sort of mandatory.

Whole30 Mashed Potatoes: Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving without a mashed potato and gravy volcano on your plate. Even if you're following Whole30 you still can indulge, thanks to this healthier version of the classic.

Paleo-Friendly Green Bean Casserole: Enjoy the flavor and creamy texture you love with this paleo green bean casserole. It calls for a homemade cream of cauliflower and mushroom soup and plenty of bacon.
Fall Quinoa Salad: "Salad" may be a stretch here, but we promise this is one you'll actually want to grab a spoonful of. The blend of tender red quinoa mixed with herbs, dried cranberries, and nuts is a fresh counterpart to heavier holiday fare. Don't forget the tart yet sweet pomegranate dressing — try it in Thanksgiving leftovers sandwiches too.

Whole30/Paleo/Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole: Sweet potato casserole has long been maligned for its over-enthusiastic use of marshmallows, but this Whole30 and paleo version gives you the flavors you love without all that refined white sugar.

Keto/Vegan/Whole30 Cauliflower Mash: If you want to fool some people, don't serve mashed potatoes. Instead, go for cauliflower purée, which is elevated to holiday dinner status when roasted garlic and fresh herbs are added to the mix. This recipe is also keto, vegan, and Whole30, so everyone at the table can have some.

Pumpkin Sage Bacon Mashed Potatoes: White mashed potatoes, take a seat. This year, pumpkin mashed potatoes, enriched with sage and bacon, are going to be the star of your meal.

For more Thanksgiving inspiration, follow us on Pinterest.

This article has been updated from a previous post.

(Photos via Brit + Co)

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