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Home Side Dishes

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides

By: Nicole 2 Comments
Posted: 11/10/17 Updated: 11/18/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These 20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides take your classics and knock them out of the park with elegant twists. They’re the perfect way to take your Thanksgiving menu from boring to the most memorable meal you’ll have all year.

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Pumpkin Cheddar Gratin
Creamy Pumpkin Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes – Cooking for Keeps

These cheesy scalloped potatoes are creamy and full of subtle pumpkin flavor. They’re the perfect addition to traditional mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving!

Roasted Pumpkin with Chili Yogurt

Roasted Pumpkin with Chili Yogurt – Drizzle and Dip

This roasted pumpkin wedges look SO good! I love that slightly spicy chili yogurt and all the texture from the pumpkin seeds. 

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Roasted Brown Butter Acorn Squash with Pomegranates

Brown Butter Roasted Acorn Squash

I love that you don’t have to peel the skin of an acorn squash and can eat it, no problem. This sweet squash is paired with lots of brown butter, sweet pomegranate seeds, and lots of acorn squash seeds for great texture. Plus, it’s a showstopper! 

Loaded Baked Mashed Potatoes with Cheese

These cheesy potatoes taste JUST like a loaded baked potato, but in mashed potato form. They’re topped with a DELICIOUS garlicky bacon breadcrumb and baked. So good! 

Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Dates
Pan-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Dates and Halloumi – Half Baked Harvest 

I love the addition of crispy halloumi cheese and dates here. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and salty! 
20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Creamed Spinach with Chive Drop Biscuits

Creamed Spinach with Chive Drop Biscuits – Cooking for Keeps

Ahhh I could east this Creamed Spinach Gratin every day for the rest of eternity and be totally happy. This version of creamed spinach is packed with hearty spinach, nutty parmesan, and gooey fontina cheese. The spinach gratin is baked with super easy chive drop biscuits and ready to be served! 

Hedgehog Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Hedgehog Roasted Rosemary Potatoes – Sprinkles and Sprouts 

I don’t need to tell you much about these, just look at those crispy edges! I can only imagine how delicious and soft the inside is. 

Gruyere and Cranberry Biscuits
Gruyere Cranberry and Sage Buttermilk Biscuits – Cooking for Keeps

Skip the fluffy rolls and serve these easy buttermilk biscuits instead. They have all the flavors of fall – cranberry and sage – packed in one tiny little package. Plus, there’s lots of shredded gruyere cheese, which already makes them a winner in my book. 

Maple Harissa Sweet Potato Gratin

Maple Harissa Sweet Potato Gratin : Snixy Kitchen

How stunning is the sweet potato gratin?! I love the way it’s arrange so the bottom of the potatoes is nice and soft and the tops are super crispy. 

Roasted Carrots with Pistachio Orange Butter

Roasted Carrots with Pistachio Butter : Cooking for Keeps

These are not your average carrots! These carrots are roasted in the oven and then tossed with a super easy pistachio butter. They’re heavenly.

Blue Cheese Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes : Foodie Crush 

Blue cheese + buttermilk + mashed potatoes. Sign me up! Love this spin on traditional mashed potatoes! 

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Brown Butter Green Beans with Pesto

Brown Butter Pesto Green Beans: Cooking for Keeps

Not only are these green beans perfect for Thanksgiving, they’re perfect pretty much any time of year. The green beans are sautéed in brown butter and then coated in a quick pesto. 

Roasted Carrots with Farro and Chickpeas

Roasted Carrots with Farro and Chickpeas: Cookie & Kate

The ultimate veggie side dish! I love all the colors and texture happening in these Roasted Carrots with Farro and Chickpeas. Hearty and delicious! 

Wild Rice & Delicata Squash
Wild Rice & Delicata Squash with Brown Butter Vinaigrette : Cooking for Keeps

This is such a fun, healthy alternative to stuffing! Packed with nutty wild rice and sweet delicata squash, and then tossed in a warm brown butter vinaigrette. Heaven! 

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Brussels Sprout Salad with Pears, Candied Pancetta and Blue Cheese

Chopped Brussels Sprout Salad with Candied Pancetta, Pears and Blue Cheese: Cooking for Keeps

The ultimate Thanksgiving Day salad. I would love to start my meal with this sweet, savory, salad that’s full of texture! 

Mashed Cauliflower and Butternut Squash

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower and Butternut Squash: Cooking for Keeps

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower and Butternut Squash is a healthy alternative to mashed potatoes you can feel great about eating. A little drizzle of brown butter makes them feel extra luxurious. 

Individual Pumpkin Gratins

Pumpkin and Potato Gratins: Cooking for Keeps

These individual pumpkin gratins are perfect for smaller gatherings. They’re packed with thinly sliced potatoes, a creamy pumpkin béchamel and lots of shredded gruyere cheese. 

20 Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Sides: Four Ingredient Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
Four Ingredient Brie and Brown Sugar Hasselback Sweet Potatoes : Cooking for Keeps

Pretty sure there’s nothing better in this world than brie + brown sugar + sweet potatoes. This combination is out-of-this world delicious. 

Pumpkin Biscuits
Pumpkin Biscuits with Cinnamon Sugar Brown Butter : Cooking for Keeps

Fluffy, sweet, and so delicious! 

Cheesy Garlic Scalloped Potatoes
Cheesy Garlic Herb Scalloped Potatoes: The Cookie Rookie

Ummm these garlicky scalloped potatoes look INSANELY Delicious. Goodness. 

Mini Sweet Potato Gratins
Mini Sweet Potato Gratins : Cooking for Keeps

Last, but not least, these adorable mini sweet potato gratins. I love this individual take on the sweet potato casserole. A little goes a long way!

Meet Nicole

Welcome! My lifelong passion for delicious food and cooking has evolved over time into an equal love of showing you an elevated meal can be easy, approachable and most importantly, tasty. Dive in and find something perfect for you and your family!

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  1. Tricia Hedman says

    Posted on 11/10/17 at 4:51 pm

    Thank you!!!

    Reply
  2. Hawk says

    Posted on 11/12/17 at 12:21 am

    Roasted Acorn Squash links to Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes

    Reply

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Welcome! My lifelong passion for delicious food and cooking has evolved into an equal love of showing you easy elevated meals can be approachable and most importantly, tasty.

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