Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
Updated Sep 01, 2026
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From fall salads and roasted vegetables to lightened up classics like stuffing and mashed potatoes here are 30+ easy and healthy Thanksgiving sides to add to your holiday menu!
When it comes to Thanksgiving I’m all about the side dishes! I know many people are all about the turkey or pie, but for me side dishes is where it’s at. And not just any ol’ side dish… I love healthy Thanksgiving sides.
Think caramelized roasted vegetables, flavor-packed fall salads and lightened up classics like green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole (my personal fave!), mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Yup, that’s right. Healthy Thanksgiving side dishes don’t have to be boring or just a plate of plain vegetables. You can absolutely enjoy your favorite holiday flavors with better-for-you ingredients that still taste amazing.
Table of Contents
How to Plan a Healthy Thanksgiving Menu
When I’m planning our Thanksgiving menu, I like to think about balance. There are always a few classic comfort foods on the table, but I also make sure to include some lighter veggie-forward dishes and at least one fresh salad.
Here’s the general flow I follow when building our spread:
- Something starchy: Think mashed potatoes, stuffing, or sweet potato casserole.
- A couple veggie sides: Roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, or green beans are always a hit.
- A fresh salad: This helps balance out the richness of other dishes. My green bean salad is always a hit! (find the full recipe in the recipe card below).
- A cozy classic: Green bean casserole or mac and cheese brings that nostalgic holiday comfort.
- A light appetizer: Just enough to keep everyone happy before dinner, without spoiling the meal.
Whether you’re hosting or just bringing a dish to share, this list has something for every table and every kind of eater. Let’s dive in!
Appetizers
All good Thanksgiving meals start with a few tasty hors d’oeuvres. These light bites will keep everyone from getting ravenous before the main event.
1
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
These sweet and savory goat cheese stuffed dates topped with roasted pecans and fresh thyme are a quick and easy appetizer that everyone will love.
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2
Sweet Potato Bites
Easy sweet potato bites made with roasted sweet potato rounds topped with whipped ricotta, pecans, pomegranate and honey. A festive, nutrient-packed appetizer that’s perfect for the holidays.
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3
Thanksgiving Veggie Tray
Need a healthy app to snack on before your Thanksgiving feast? Make a Thanksgiving themed turkey veggie tray. It's super easy to whip up, healthy and so cute!
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4
Fresh Cranberry Salsa
Fresh cranberries, jalapeño, cilantro, orange and lime come together in this bright, slightly spicy salsa. Serve it with tortilla chips or spoon it over cream cheese for an easy holiday appetizer.
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Lightened up Classics
From healthy green bean casserole to cauliflower gratin and wild rice stuffing these are some of my favorite lightened up classic side dishes to add to your Thanksgiving menu!
5
Maple-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberries simmer with maple syrup and orange juice for an easy sweet-tart cranberry sauce that’s ready in 20 minutes.
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6
Mashed Cauliflower
Swap potatoes for cauliflower with this healthy mashed cauliflower recipe! It's the perfect side dish and comes together quickly with only 6 ingredients. It's just as creamy and delicious as mashed potatoes, but has half the calories and one-third of the carbs.
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7
Sourdough Stuffing
Easy sourdough stuffing recipe made with fresh herbs, vegetables, and golden sourdough bread cubes. A flavorful vegan side dish for Thanksgiving or any holiday gathering.
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8
Cauliflower Gratin
This cauliflower gratin bakes tender florets in a rich cheese sauce with a crisp topping. A vegetarian, low-carb side that works for weeknights or holidays.
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9
Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe
These mashed sweet potatoes are super creamy and easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients. It's the perfect side dish for fall dinners or the holiday meals.
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10
Easy Homemade Creamed Corn
Sweet corn simmered with butter, garlic, onion, and milk into a rich, creamy side dish. It takes one skillet and about 20 minutes, and unlike the canned version there is no added sugar.
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11
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
Fresh sweet potatoes, coconut milk and maple syrup make a creamy filling for this vegan and gluten-free casserole, finished with a golden oat and pecan crumble.
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12
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Fresh green beans, a creamy mushroom cashew sauce and homemade crispy baked onions make this healthy green bean casserole a delicious dairy-free Thanksgiving side.
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13
Wild Rice Stuffing
This wild rice stuffing is packed with butternut squash, dried cherries and fresh herbs. It's a delicious gluten-free and vegan alternative to traditional stuffing and is the perfect addition to your holiday table.
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14
Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese
This baked mac and cheese is made lighter with a combo of almond milk and vegetable broth and almond meal instead of breadcrumbs. It's creamy, cheesy, comforting and sure to become a new family favorite!
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15
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
These pumpkin cornbread muffins are slightly sweet and moist from the pumpkin! They're the perfect side to a big bowl of cozy soup or chili. Dairy-free, egg-free, refined sugar free and made with whole grains.
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Roasted Vegetables
Roasted veggies are always a hit. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for adding color to your holiday table.
16
Roasted Butternut Squash
Here’s the best way to cut and roast butternut squash. Roasted butternut squash makes a great side dish on it’s own, but can also be used in other recipes!
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17
Almond Green Beans
This recipe for green beans almondine combines tender crisp green beans with caramelized shallots, toasted almonds and fresh parsley. It's a delicious side dish simple enough for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough for a holiday meal!
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18
Apple Cider Vinegar Brussels Sprouts
These apple cider vinegar brussels sprouts are the perfect side dish for just about any occasion. You'll love the savory, sweet apple cider vinegar sauce that the sprouts are roasted in!
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19
Cinnamon Maple Roasted Kabocha Squash
This cinnamon maple roasted kabocha squash is the perfect sweet side dish for fall and super easy to whip up. Kabocha squash wedges are tossed with olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt and roasted to caramelized perfection.
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20
Roasted Cauliflower
Make roasted cauliflower that's tender, golden-brown and perfectly seasoned every time! It's super easy, flavorful and works as a side dish with just about any main entree.
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21
Sautéed Beet Greens with Roasted Beets
Never waste beet greens again! Sautéed beet greens combine with sweet roasted beets for a simple and nutritious side dish.
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22
Roasted Delicata Squash
This roasted delicata squash is so easy and results in delicious squash that’s soft and sweet. The best part? The skin of the delicata squash softens right up so there’s no peeling involved!
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Salads
I personally love having something green on the table during our Thanksgiving feast and all of these salads are family-approved. I make the brussels sprout and kale salad every year!
23
Beet Salad
An easy beet salad with arugula, pecans, gorgonzola cheese and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. It's perfect as a side salad or topped with protein for a meal sized salad.
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24
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
This roasted butternut squash salad is loaded with kale, cranberries, walnuts and a tangy balsamic dressing. Naturally vegan, hearty and perfect for fall or holiday meals.
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25
Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
This kale and Brussels sprout salad is filled with shredded kale and sprouts, cranberries, marinated onions, almonds and pecorino cheese. It's simple, fresh, and sure to be a family favorite!
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26
Harvest Fall Salad
This cozy fall salad combines baby kale, roasted kabocha squash, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and feta all tossed in a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing.
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27
Ambrosia Fruit Salad
This ambrosia salad recipe is a creamy fruit salad made with pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, coconut, and cherries. It’s quick to mix together, naturally gluten free, and perfect for holidays or potlucks.
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28
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
This sweet potato salad is a tasty side dish featuring roasted sweet potatoes, creamy avocado chunks, chopped spinach, red onion and dried cranberries. It's the perfect side for parties, potlucks and holiday dinners.
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29
Healthy Watergate Salad with Greek Yogurt
A lighter take on classic Watergate salad made with Greek yogurt, coconut whip and pistachios for a creamy, fluffy and nostalgic dessert.
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Soups
Want to serve a cozy soup during your Thanksgiving meal? These fall-inspired soups are sure to satisfy.
30
Carrot Parsnip Soup
This carrot parsnip soup is creamy, flavorful and has a good amount of protein thanks to the quinoa! It's such a satisfying and delicious vegetarian soup.
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31
Butternut Squash Soup
This butternut squash soup is super creamy and easy to make! It combines butternut squash with coconut milk, carrots, fresh ginger and sage for a delicious and comforting fall meal.
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32
Pumpkin Curry Soup
A creamy pumpkin curry soup made with coconut milk, pumpkin purée and white beans. It has the richest texture and tastes even better the next day.
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33
Sweet Potato Soup
Vegan sweet potato soup made with coconut milk and spices for a velvety smooth, dairy-free broth. Cozy, nourishing, and so simple to make in one pot.
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Air Fryer Recipes
If you have an air fryer and want to save some oven space here are a few air fryer recipes that would make for easy Thanksgiving side dishes.
34
Air Fryer Asparagus
Make perfectly crispy and tender air fryer asparagus in under 10 minutes with this easy recipe! It’s a quick, healthy side dish that pairs well with just about any meal.
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35
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Make an air fryer baked potato in less time than it takes to bake in the oven. With a crispy, salted skin and soft, fluffy center it's a delicious and easy side for any meal.
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36
Air Fryer Broccoli
Make air fryer broccoli in just 10 minutes! It's crispy, flavorful and perfect for busy weeknights when you're looking to make a healthy side dish.
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37
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
These air fryer Brussels sprouts turn out golden, crispy, and full of flavor. They make an easy, healthy side dish that pairs perfectly with almost any meal and take less than 15 minutes to make.
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Yes please!! I’m always looking for Thanksgiving sides to add that feel, like, festive somehow? The Harvest Fall Salad and roasted delicata squash look amazing!