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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 Mashed Potatoes GF
- Healthy Mashed Cauliflower GF
- Sourdough Stuffing V
- Wild Rice Stuffing GF, V
- Butternut Squash Quinoa Stuffing GF, V
- Healthy Cranberry Sauce 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.
- 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
- Roasted Butternut 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!
- 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
- Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette GF
- 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.
- Butternut Squash Soup GF, V
- Vegan Curried Pumpkin Soup GF, V
- Sweet Potato Soup GF, V
- Carrot Parsnip Soup GF
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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- 21 Healthy Casseroles
- 15 Healthy Thanksgiving Desserts
- The BEST Healthy Pumpkin Recipes
Be sure to check out all of the healthy Thanksgiving recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy Thanksgiving Sides
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- ⅓ cup toasted nuts, chopped (I used walnuts)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
Dressing
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Fried Shallots
- ¼ cup olive oil, or avocado oil
- 1 cup sliced shallots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Add nuts to a small baking sheet and place in the heated oven for about 10 minutes to toast, until they are golden and fragrant. You can toast nuts whole and chop after toasting or toast chopped nuts. If your nuts are already chopped it will take less time for them to toast. This step is optional but recommended.
- Blanch the green beans by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes, until tender, but still have a slight crunch. Drain and add to an ice bath to stop the cooking process.
- In a large bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, minced shallots, dijon mustard, sea salt and pepper.
- Add blanched green beans, nuts and dried cranberries into the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- While salad is chilling, make fried shallots by slicing shallots into thin rings with a knife or mandoline. Add shallots and oil to a frying pan. Turn heat to medium-high and saute shallots for about 5-7 minutes. Turn the heat to medium-low and continue cooking for 3-5 more minutes or until shallots are golden and crispy. Keep an eye on them as they can burn quickly! Transfer the fried shallots to a plate or pan lined with paper towels or a clean dishcloth to soak up the extra oil. Let cool completely.
- Once you’re ready to serve, mix your salad together (the dressing will go to the bottom after sitting) and top it with the fried shallots right before serving.
Notes
- Storage: This salad can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just wait to add the fried shallots until right before serving to keep them crispy. Store the shallots separately in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Make ahead tip: You can blanch the green beans and mix the salad with dressing a day in advance. The flavor gets even better as it sits.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
