50 Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
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From fall salads and roasted vegetables to lightened up classics like stuffing and mashed potatoes here are 50+ 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.
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!
- Healthy Cranberry Sauce GF, V
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes GF
- Healthy Mashed Cauliflower GF
- Sourdough Stuffing V
- Wild Rice Stuffing GF, V
- Butternut Squash Quinoa Stuffing GF, V
- Cauliflower Gratin
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes GF
- Easy Creamed Corn GF
- Healthy Green Bean Casserole GF, V
- Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole GF, V
- Classic Sweet Potato Casserole GF
- Vegan Cornbread V
- Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins DF
- Vegan Mac and Cheese V
- Healthy Baked Mac and Cheese
- Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese GF
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese V
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.
- Roasted Butternut Squash GF, V
- Green Beans Almondine GF, V
- Apple Cider Vinegar Brussels Sprouts GF, V
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk GF, DF
- Roasted Broccoli GF, V
- Roasted Root Vegetables GF, V
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts V
- Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts GF, V
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes GF, V
- Cinnamon Maple Roasted Kabocha Squash GF, V
- Roasted Acorn Squash GF, V
- Roasted Delicata Squash GF, V
- Easy Roasted Carrots GF, V
- Sautéed Beet Greens with Roasted Beets GF, V
- Easy Roasted Beets GF, V
- Roasted Cauliflower GF, V
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!
- Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette GF
- Roasted Butternut Squash Salad GF, V
- Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad GF
- Fig Salad with Arugula & Goat Cheese GF
- Harvest Fall Salad
- Fall Quinoa Spinach Salad GF, V
- Broccoli Cranberry Salad GF
- Vegan Broccoli Salad GF, V
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad GF
- Green Bean Salad GF, V
- Ambrosia Salad GF
- Healthy Watergate Salad GF
- Waldorf Salad GF
- Sweet Potato Salad GF, V
- Roasted Vegetable Salad GF, V
- Raw Collard Greens Salad GF, V
Soups
Want to serve a cozy soup during your Thanksgiving meal? These fall-inspired soups are sure to satisfy.
- Carrot Parsnip Soup GF
- Butternut Squash Soup GF, V
- Vegan Curried Pumpkin Soup GF, V
- Sweet Potato Soup GF, V
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.
- Air Fryer Broccoli GF, V
- Air Fryer Cauliflower GF, V
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts GF, V
More Collections You Might Enjoy
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Be sure to check out all of the healthy Thanksgiving recipes on EBF!
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!