We know you’re here because you agree: Thanksgiving side dishes are the best part of the meal! If you’re like us, then every year, you look forward to serving your tried-and-true Thanksgiving side dish recipes, as well as a few new ones to add to the mix.
When you’re on the search for fresh, healthy, and (most-of-all) delicious recipes to add to your Thanksgiving menu, look no further than these top-rated healthy Thanksgiving sides from The Real Food Dietitians. This collection of delicious and healthy Thanksgiving recipes includes salads, potatoes, veggies, stuffing, and more, each of which will make one of the most wonderful Thanksgiving side dishes to add to your table this year.
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes You’ll Love To Make
Every Thanksgiving table needs something fresh, something roasted, something sweet, and something savory. We’ve assembled our best healthy Thanksgiving side dishes, including fresh salads, roasted veggies, and lots of potato options. Want to skip the decision making, then check out our Done-For-You Thanksgiving Menu featuring everything you need: recipes, grocery list, prep timeline, and even printable menu cards. Prefer to select your Thanksgiving sides a la carte? Then just scroll down through the drool-worthy choices.
Real-Food Holiday Side Dishes
This collection of 20 Thanksgiving side dishes makes it easy to choose exactly what you want to add to your table this year. All of these recipes:
- are made from whole, real foods
- include simple directions and photographs
- are gluten free
- many are also dairy free, egg free, grain free, vegetarian, vegan, Paleo, and/or Whole30 … or can be easily modified to fit those requirements
- are made in portion sizes that are easily shareable
- are made from delicious, easy-to-find, in-season ingredients
Thanksgiving Side Dishes Everyone Will Love
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic
These perfectly roasted Brussels with bacon will be the talk of your Thanksgiving table. The combination of perfectly roasted garlic Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinegar, crisp bacon, tart cranberries, toasted pecans, and melty feta cheese makes for one of the best Thanksgiving side dishes.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegetarian
Honey-Sage Roasted Root Vegetables
Humble root vegetables, including as carrots, beets, and parsnips, get a nutritious glow-up thanks to the addition to a buttery, sweet, and herbaceous glaze. This recipe makes one of the best, most beautiful, and delicious simply healthy Thanksgiving sides to make your holiday menu shine.
Egg Free | Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Harvest Salad with Quinoa and Butternut Squash
This gorgeous quinoa and veggie salad is a Thanksgiving side that will impress everyone at your table. It’s full of flavor, hearty, and every bite comes with a mix of sweet, salty, and savory notes.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Vegetarian
Savory Herb Roasted Acorn Squash with Parmesan
If you thought that acorn squash could only be made with butter and brown sugar, we’re here to tell you otherwise. Here, crusted thin slices of squash get crusted with herbs and cheese for one of the most unexpectedly delicious Thanksgiving side dishes that everyone is going to love.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Think mashed potatoes, only better. In these soft and creamy mashed sweet potatoes, maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness. A perfect complement to turkey, pork, chicken, and more.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan
Creamy Mayo-Free Broccoli Salad
This fresh remake of an old family favorite salad is one that everyone will love to see on your Thanksgiving side dishes menu. Made with an easy yogurt dressing, fresh broccoli florets, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon, it’s even better than you remember.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free
Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
When it comes to sweet potato casserole, ditch the overly sweet marshmallow topping in favor of this crunchy maple-cranberry-pecan topping with crispy bacon, too! It’s creamy, crunchy, savory, and sweet.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegetarian | Whole30
Sweet Potato “Unstuffing” (Made without Bread)
You won’t get any of the “stuffed” feeling, but you will get all of the flavor when you add this delicious sweet potato-based “unstuffing” as one of your Thanksgiving side dishes. Perfect for guests who love the flavor of stuffing, but need to avoid gluten or grains. It’s loaded with a variety of veggies, plus dried cherries, apples, pecans, and fresh herbs.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Slow Cooker Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Ranch
Cook perfectly fluffy mashed potatoes in your slow cooker, keeping your stovetop free and filling your home with amazing smells. These mashers are truly loaded (with garlic, bacon, chives, Cheddar, and ranch) for a classic Thanksgiving side dish with an elevated feel.
Gluten Free | Grain Free| Nut Free | Paleo | Vegetarian
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Tender quinoa, perfectly roasted Brussels sprouts, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and shaved Parmesan cheese are tossed in a delicious citrus-thyme vinaigrette, making this a delightful salad addition to your healthy Thanksgiving side dishes. It can be served warm or cold.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Vegetarian
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Serve the creamy and crispy sweet pan smashed potatoes as an appetizer or side dish at your Thanksgiving feast. With a crunchy, crackled surface, these flattened potatoes pair perfectly with a bright herb-garlic oil.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Broccoli Casserole
A simple and fast method to make a delicious main-dish casserole for your table or a loaded cheesy scalloped potatoes side dish. No need to peel, slice, and layer potatoes when you use frozen shredded hash browns.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free
Healthy Cauliflower Stuffing
Thanksgiving often brings together people with different diet requirements, allergies, preferences, and sensitivities. It can be hard to find Healthy Thanksgiving recipes to please them all – until now. This grain-free, plant-based, veggie-packed stuffing has all the flavor of traditional bread stuffing that everyone can enjoy.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Crispy Garlic Ranch Roasted Potatoes
For a show-stopping Thanksgiving potato side dish, try these crispy, buttery halved and roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs, onion and garlic. Serve them with a side of ranch dressing for dipping or drizzling.
Egg Free | Gluten Free | Nut Free | Paleo | Vegetarian | Whole30
Massaged Kale Salad
Hearty winter veggies, harvest fruits, and crunchy seeds pack a flavorful punch in this Thanksgiving sides recipe. The kale can be massaged up to three days in advance and refrigerated until you’re ready to toss it with the remaining ingredients and serve. The colors and textures in each bite will have you and your guests coming back for seconds.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan | Whole30
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
The best shaved Brussels Sprout Salad you’ll ever eat! Thinly shredded Brussels stand in for lettuce and get adorned with toasted almonds, dried cherries, crisp bacon, and an easy citrus vinaigrette. Perfect as a holiday side dish or as a main-dish salad when paired with cooked chicken.
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Whole30
Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Bake
Made with just six ingredients, this savory-sweet side dish features cinnamon- and maple-flavored sweet potatoes, apples, and pecans. It’s so simple, but always one of the healthy Thanksgiving sides that everyone raves about.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Vegan
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Bacon
This flavorful and fresh salad makes the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving side dishes. It’s made with florets of broccoli and cauliflower, grapes, red onion, sunflower seeds, and an easy dairy-free dressing.
Dairy Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free Paleo | Whole30
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Maple and Bacon
Sweet potatoes, red onions, and bacon get perfectly caramelized when they roast together on a sheet pan. Then add the flavor addition from a simple maple vinaigrette, and even your veggie-snubbing uncle will be asking for more. The next day, pair any leftovers with a fried egg. Delish!
Dairy Free | Egg Free | Gluten Free | Grain Free | Paleo | Nut Free | Vegan
DIY Sweet Kale Salad Kit
Here’s one of our favorite Healthy Thanksgiving recipes inspired by the popular store-bought sweet kale salad kit. It comes together with kale, shredded Brussels sprouts, broccoli slaw, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, and a delicious poppy seed-yogurt dressing.
Gluten Free | Grain Free | Nut Free | Vegetarian
Pin It Now & Make Them Later
For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
Looks delicious. Thank you for the recipes.