If you’re scrambling for a last-minute side dish, we’ve got you and your Thanksgiving meal covered. From seasonal salads to sautéed veggies, these sides are ready in 20 minutes or less, so there’s no need to stress. Try recipes like our Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Green Bean Caesar Salad to round out your holiday spread.
Love any of these recipes? Join MyRecipes to save, search and organize your EatingWell recipes all in one place. It’s free!
Brussels Sprouts, Kale & Pear Salad
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This crisp and colorful salad celebrates the best of cool-weather produce while delivering plenty of texture and flavor in every bite. Kale and Brussels sprouts are massaged in a tangy apple-cider vinaigrette, while sweet red pear slices and jewel-toned pomegranate arils add juicy pops of freshness. Shaved Parmesan ties it all together with its rich, salty bite. This festive salad is sure to be the star of your holiday dinner.
Garlic-Parmesan Green Beans
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
These garlic-Parmesan green beans are a quick and easy side dish made in just one skillet. They pair beautifully with anything from roasted chicken to grilled steak, baked salmon or stuffed portobello mushrooms. They’re quick enough for weeknight dinners yet impressive enough to serve at a gathering.
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Will Dickey
Fresh and tender sautéed Brussels sprouts have crispy leaves and a tender-crisp center. The sweetness from the caramelized shallots provides a great balancing flavor. Enjoy them with lemon.
Arugula, Beet & Feta salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Peppery arugula and tender, sweet beets are balanced by a simple vinaigrette and briny bits of feta cheese in this salad. Using cooked, peeled beets helps make prep a breeze.
Green Bean Caesar Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee
This green bean Caesar salad is a crisp and flavorful twist on the classic Caesar. Blanched green beans replace the traditional romaine, bringing a fresh snap and vibrant color to the dish. Crispy panko and shaved Parmesan add flavor and texture, making this salad the perfect pairing for grilled or roasted meat, seafood or grain bowls.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
What could be more satisfying than mashed potatoes? In this garlic mashed potato recipe, the potatoes are flavored with poached garlic, thinned with chicken stock and enriched with a small amount of sour cream.
Cabbage Salad with Bacon
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.
This warm salad turns simple ingredients into something delicious. Crisp, smoky bacon adds richness, while its rendered drippings are whisked into an apple-cider vinaigrette for a tangy, savory-sweet dressing that coats the cabbage perfectly. A touch of Dijon and honey makes each bite bright and satisfying.
Simple Sautéed Spinach
Sautéed spinach (or any greens) with garlic and a squeeze of lemon (or vinegar) is a simple formula that lets spinach shine and will never go out of favor.
Quick & Easy Green Beans
Diana Chistruga
Here’s a fast, efficient way to cook green beans (and other vegetables), eliminating the fuss of bringing a large pot of water to a boil or draining the veggies.
Simple Carrot & Cabbage Salad
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
This simple carrot-and-cabbage salad is crisp and refreshing. It’s tossed in a light vinaigrette made with lemon, honey and Dijon mustard, allowing the natural sweetness of the carrots and the crunch of the cabbage to shine.
Balsamic-Parmesan Sautéed Spinach
Tender spinach with a hint of garlic, Parmesan cheese and sweet balsamic vinegar is a quick and flavorful side dish. The sturdy leaves of mature spinach hold up best during cooking.
Caramelized Broccolini & White Beans
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Broccolini takes on a smoky char from the cast-iron pan before it’s combined with white beans and aromatics in this savory side dish. A vibrant parsley and hazelnut sauce finishes the dish with a bright and nutty flavor.
Lemon-Garlic Green Beans
Will Dickey
These tender-crisp lemon-garlic green beans have tons of flavor from shallots, garlic and tangy lemon. It’s a perfect simple green bean side dish that pairs well with everything.
Kale, Quinoa & Apple Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
This kale, quinoa and apple salad is perfect for fall. Fresh apples bring crisp autumn flavor, and the kale breaks down when it’s massaged with the dressing. Nuts, fennel and quinoa add more layers of texture, while blue cheese lends a savory note.
Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dressing
Pure maple syrup adds body and rich flavor to the dressing, providing a perfect counterpoint to the smoked cheese.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Department: Eating Well, Brand: Eating Well Digital, Source Type: Staff, Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley
Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef’s knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese.
