Impress Your Guests This Thanksgiving With These Side Dishes
While the main dishes are important – side dishes serve a purpose all their own. Consequently – the most delicious time of the year – can pose as problematic when it comes to deciding what new foods to prepare for Friendsgiving – or even your own. Fortunately, these 10 Thanksgiving side dishes will impress your guests in no time, so you won’t have to feel uncertain about what to make – or bring.
1. Fried Mashed Potato Balls.
If you are a fried food – and/or cheese lover – then you may want to consider these fried mashed potato balls. Each carries a spherical shape – much like Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights – serving as the perfect Thanksgiving side dish for those of all ages. Fortunately, mashed potatoes and cheese aren’t the only ingredients incorporated into this dish – but bacon, chives, garlic powder, salt and pepper, egg, and panko bread crumbs. In turn, this recipe can be made with ease by the whole family – including younger children – as each ball is rolled by hand.
2. Mississippi Sin Dip.
As many of us may know, any nice quality, sit-down restaurant serves bread; and in doing so, that first warm bite always proves itself to be mouth-watering. In turn, this crafty bread dish allows you to have that same experience – right from the comfort of your own table. Not only that, but it’ll knock out two birds with one stone this Thanksgiving; as the dip is easily accessible at the loaf’s center – for you to sink each piece of bread into. While most recipes include sour cream, cream cheese, sharp cheddar, chopped ham, 1 loaf of french bread, and 1 tbsp of hot sauce – you can easily modify it to make it your own if you choose to do so.
3. Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing.
Chorizo – also known as a spicy Spanish pork sausage – proves to be delicious in a number of dishes. So why not use it this Thanksgiving to balance out all the turkey you’ll be scarfing down? Not only does it serve as a good source of protein, but even better in this beautifully delicious chorizo cornbread stuffing recipe. The best part about this is that it’s not only festive in appearance – but flavorful in taste – as it includes chorizo, garlic cloves, onion, celery, carrots, cilantro leaves, jalapeno cornbread, and salt and pepper.
4. Sweet Potato Poutine.
The original sweet potato poutine is savory enough as is – being topped with delicious delicacies such as cheese curds and gravy. However, this sweet spin-off proves to be the perfect dish for those with a sweet tooth – as it substitutes the original toppings for soft-baked apples and marshmallow fluff. When pairing these – with the sweet potato fries underneath – it serves as a tasty combination.
5. Pistachio Salad With A Twist.
Pistachio salad has served as a delicious go-to for a number of people growing up. But this pistachio salad with a twist might just prove to be a new family favorite this Thanksgiving season. In fact, it includes a number of other ingredients besides pistachios that are not only festive and decorative – but healthy for you and the whole family. Some of the nutritious ingredients included in this are; romaine lettuce, sweet apples, pears, cucumbers, red bell peppers, red onions, roasted and salted pepitas, and feta cheese – which gives you a fresh blast of flavor both salty and sweet.
6. Bourbon and Honey Glazed Carrots.
Glazed and good oftentimes go in the same sentence when it comes to food. But finding a creative way to glaze vegetables always serves as a must – especially when it’s used in a Thanksgiving side dish. Fortunately, if you aren’t a big carrot fan, you’ll find that alcohol – and honey – adds a flavor kick to anything. The best part about this recipe is that all you need is large carrots, olive oil, bourbon, lemon, raw honey, rosemary, salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.
7. Spinach and Gruyère Potato Casserole
If you love spinach dip, potatoes, or both then you may want to consider this delicious casserole bake. In fact, this serves as a good alternative for those who don’t care for a large number of vegetables. This includes red potatoes, olive oil, eggs, half and half, shredded Gruyère cheese, chopped fresh basil, chopped fresh parsley, garlic cloves, fresh spinach, and more.
8. Parmesan-Herb Angel Biscuits
For all fellow parmesan addicts out there, this delicious parmesan-herb angel biscuits recipe – serves as the perfect side dish. It includes a wide array of ingredients – such as thyme, rosemary, and buttermilk – making for a tasty treat before dinner, during dinner, and even after. This can be substituted as an appetizer as well – by keeping hunger pangs at bay for you and others – while still in the process of waiting on the turkey.
9. Bacon Green Bean Bundles
This dish serves as a pig in a blanket – but in a different way. For those who don’t like eating green beans by themselves, this may prove to be a new solution. Fortunately, this recipe is easy to make and includes; green beans, melted butter, garlic salt or powder, bacon, brown sugar, pepper. You can choose to add chopped parsley, but it is not required.
10. Butternut and Chard Pasta Bake
Veggies are delicious, and so are noodles – but when you put the two together for this Thanksgiving side dish, your taste buds will thank you. This recipe includes bow tie pasta, fat-free ricotta cheese, eggs, dried thyme, salt, butternut squash, ground nutmeg, chopped shallots, chopped swiss chard, olive oil, panko bread crumbs, fresh parsley, and garlic powder. This serves as a unique pasta bake – that’s not only flavorful – but filling for the whole family.
Which of these 10 delicious side dishes will you be preparing this Thanksgiving? Be sure to share – and let us know – in the comments below!
Featured Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/dinner-food-girl-meal-eating-2330482/
Whitney is a senior at Missouri State University - majoring in English/Creative Writing and minoring in Journalism. In her free time she enjoys freelance writing - and creating content for her blog. She writes to encourage/uplift others - and hopes to one day have her own magazine column.