Last updated on November 17th, 2016
Need a little inspiration for Thanksgiving dinner? Here are links to 16 delicious side-dishes that have appeared on my own holiday table over the years. Most are easy to make, some are gluten-free, and all are guaranteed to please!
Pommes Anna with Chives (GF). Cooked briefly on the stove top and finished off in a hot oven, this French classic has a crisp, potato-chip-like exterior, and a soft and creamy interior. It’s beautiful to serve and unfathomably delicious to eat. Here’s the recipe.
Herbed Cottage Cheese Biscuits. These are perfectly perfumed and absolutely scrumptious. Don’t make me beg you to try them! The recipe.
A Green, Yellow, and Red Veggie Tian (GF). A tian is a shallow, earthenware baking dish of French origin. The word also refers to the contents of the dish. You can have a tian of lamb. Or a tian of pig. In France, the pig-version is known as “A Tian of Kevin Lee Jacobs.” The recipe.
Rustic Bacon & Leek Tart. Sure, this makes a terrific winter-time main course. But it’s wonderful too as a Thanksgiving side! The recipe.
Kevin’s Carrot-Ginger-Orange Soup. This is a delicious, fragrant, and gluten-free brew. I could sip it every day for the rest of my life. Make it for Thanksgiving, and everyone will think you’re a genius. The recipe.
Cecina. I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that at least one person at your Thanksgiving party will be unable to eat wheat. Why not surprise them with this gluten-free Tuscan flat bread? The recipe.
Bacon and Sausage Stuffing Balls (GF). You can never have too many of these for Thanksgiving. They’re addicting! The recipe.
Timbale of Broccoli (GF). Even broccoli-haters will love this side. It’s light, airy, and scented with nutmeg. Yum! The recipe.
Spinach, Fennel, & White Bean Gratin. Three ingredients, a crunchy topping, and a heavenly taste. The recipe.
Mushroom, Spinach, & Rosemary Tart. If the Pate Brisee crust doesn’t get you, the scented filling surely will! The recipe.
Homemade Spaetzle with Butter & Herbs. Why settle for mashed potatoes when you can have these exquisite dumplings instead? The recipe.
Apple Salad with Pumpkin Bread Croutons. Apples. Onions. Goat cheese. Cranberries. There’s nothing about this salad that isn’t wonderful. It’s dressed with orange-ginger vinaigrette. The recipe.
Blender Corn and Herb Soufflé (GF). This soufflé is a breeze to make. Just toss the ingredients into a blender, and whir them into a puree. Then divide the puree between four ramekins, sprinkle the tops with fresh herbs, and bake until puffed and golden. The recipe.
Quinoa “Stuffing” with Leeks and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (GF). I made this for a dinner party recently, and everybody loved it. For an extra-festive version, sub the tomatoes for dried cranberries. The recipe.
Hominy au Gratin. Creamy, comforting, and the perfect accompaniment for a Thanksgiving turkey. The recipe.
Caramelized Butternut Squash Soup (GF). I’m serving this as the first course for Thanksgiving this year. It’s a perfumed potion of caramelized squash, smokey bacon, and savory thyme. The recipe.
Anything in the above list sound tempting to you? You can let me know by leaving a comment. Meanwhile, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Tammy says
OMG, Kevin, my mouth is watering just looking and reading at these! I’m going to make several of them for Thanksgiving…and my guests will thank you for sure.
Suzin says
Hey Kevin, I’m just re visiting cottage cheese and have made you’re cottage cheese pancakes which were delishush! So I’m going for the herbed biscuits next. My fam jam are huge soupers snd I know they will love the carrot ginger soup!! Thanx for such interesting sides that will tickle and make my tastebuds smile!
Lillian says
Having your email pop into my inbox is one of the most favourite parts of my week 🙂 Thank you!
Cynthia says
I’ll definitely be using some of those recipes! I loved reading your step-by-step on the parm/parsley bread… you put great care into your words. And let me know if you’d like the recipe for my favorite (and everyone else’s) side of Bourbon Sweet Potatoes.
Irma says
Kevin … you are so much fun and inspiring. Of course the recipes and their presentation are as devine as your writing is delightful. Thank you for your contribution.
Joan L Higgins says
All of these recipes look delish! I use apples in all my salads, a real taste bud treat. Your blog is like a visit from angles!
Maraya says
I’m going to make at least half of these!
About the butternut squash soup: Can I simply add the squash and all the chicken stock to the bacon mixture in the pot, and then use an immersion blender?
Fran says
Kevin, these looks wonderful. Love the reference to lumpy in your Parmesan bread recipe. Your emails always make me smile. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Paula M. says
I think the link for the caramelized butternut squash soup is bad. Just sayin’! I’ll check it out on your website. Thanks for the inspiration, Kevin.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Maraya – Probably you can puree all of the butternut squash soup ingredients right in the pot. I never do, because I’m afraid the immersion blender won’t puree the bacon very well. But I could be wrong!
Hi Paula – The Butternut Squash Soup link seems to be working, on my computer anyway. Here’s another link for you: Caramelized Butternut Squash Soup.
Judy says
Like usual Kevin a wonderful array of yummy. One could get fat just reading the dish delish. Happy Thanksgiving,
Maraya says
Hmmmmm…Carmelized butternut squash soup with bacon bits! How bad can that be? 😉
Thanks, Kevin!
Laura says
I made your Mom’s pumpkin bread and also her Sweet and Sour meatballs! Both recipes were outstanding. I can’t wait to try your Bacon and Sausage Stuffing Balls. We’re having a family brunch after Thanksgiving, and I’m going to serve them as a new addition. Bet they will be delicious along side the rest of our family favorites. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Linda McCaughey says
i forwarded this wonderful post to sme of my most deserving friends! here’s what one had to say:
Dang! What an array of mouth-watering pictures! The one recipe I checked out was for carrot-ginger-orange soup. Good grief! If I make ANY of those dishes I’ll think I’ve died and gone to heaven.
Gale says
As a vegetarian, ALL our Thanksgiving dishes are “sides”, and some of yours will definitely be on our menu this year. Thank you for the inspiring deliciousness! I also sincerely appreciate your garden ideas. We’ve recently moved to Munich, which has a similar climate (though not as cold!), and this former Texan is grateful to learn about cold climate gardening from your gorgeous blog!
brenda treants says
Kevin Lee, here it is 3:45 in the afternoon in beautiful North Carolina. (Except for the smoke from our Mountain fires of course.) Having read these delicious recipes and looked at these pictures, now I am hungry and dinner is not for three or four hours ! Curses again my Northern friend—you can put a lust in the mind of this old Southern gal for some of your good eats !!! We will be traveling over Thanksgiving this year, but your “sides” will make it onto our table between now and the end of the year. Do you, the Silver Fox, and any guest you may have over Thanksgiving up proud with your delights of delicious food !!! Sincerely Bj
brenda treants says
YES.
Sandra says
Kevin: I’m drooling. We have already had our Thanksgiving in Canada, but your recipes are precious and can’t wait to try many of them. You are inspiring — and for that we are “thankful.” We have been trying for a year now to go “vegan” and are likely at the 75-80% mark with eating whole grains and plant based foods. Its a challenge but feeling so much better is the huge reward. Your recipes are especially helpful. Thanks!
Sarah says
I wish my family was adventurous for something new at the holidays. But no. It’s the ole cornbread stuffing and deviled egg bit here. I WILL try some of these out on ourselves here at home though. They all sound marvelous. Thank you.
Goldie D says
You sexy sides (dishes) make it hard to choose. I am sharing with my daughter and her husband, a former restaurant owner/chef. We are learning gluten free choices. Thank you for your humor and deicious inspirations! Happy thanksgiving to you and your lucky guests.
Mark C. says
I have to say, some of those dishes look awesome and I’m not easily impressed. Going to try them all. Thanks!