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    Home » ROUNDUPS

    6 Easy Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

    Modified: Feb 4, 2025 by Susan Pridmore · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Thanksgiving dinner is hard enough without having complicated sides to make too. Easy side dishes for Thanksgiving are key to making the dinner way less stressful.

    These are all vegetarian, and can either be made ahead or only need 15 minutes (or less!) of prep. And they're all big on flavor!

    Updated September 20, 2022

    Creamed spinach, cranberry sauce, carrots, and roasted potatoes with text overlay.

    This roundup of easy side dishes for Thanksgiving consists of 6 of my favorites that I make over and over. They include a carrots recipe that was published on Food Network when I did some work with them a few years ago. And don't miss my Boozy Cranberry Sauce that was published in Parade Magazine!

    There's no fancy ingredients, and take little prep time. Or, if they take a little more trouble, they can be completely made ahead of time, and simply warmed up in time for your big feast!

    #1. Maple Candied Carrots with Currants

    VEGAN     GLUTEN-FREE     < 5 INGREDIENTS     15-MINUTE PREP

    Get the recipe - Maple Candied Carrots with Currants

    Roasted carrot strips glazed with butter and maple syrup, and tossed with currants.

    #2. Spiralized Sweet Potatoes and Apples in Citrus Butter

    EASILY MADE VEGAN     READY IN 30 MINUTES     MAKE AHEAD     

    Get the recipe here - Spiralized Sweet Potatoes and Apples in Citrus Butter

    Spiralized sweet potatoes and apples glazed with butter and topped with chives.

    #3. Easy Buttermilk Cornbread

    15 MINUTE PREP     MAKE AHEAD     

    Get the recipe here - Easy Buttermilk Cornbread

    A loaf of cornbread with two slices on the side.

    #4. Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

    GLUTEN-FREE      READY IN 15 MINUTES

    Get the recipe here - Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

    Fingerling potatoes roasted in the air fryer, sprinkled with fresh rosemary.

    #5. Boozy Cranberry Sauce with Pears and Raisins

    VEGAN     GLUTEN-FREE     MAKE AHEAD     15-MINUTE PREP

    Get the recipe here - Boozy Cranberry Sauce with pears and Raisins

    Cranberry sauce cooked with pears, Raisins and Pear Brandy.

    #6. Spinach Madeline

    MAKE AHEAD

    Get the recipe here - Spinach Madeline

    Creamed spinach topped with gooey cheese in a large dish.

    If you try any of these easy side dishes, I’d love to hear about it. And if you’re on Instagram, snap a photo and post it there. Just don’t forget to tag me @wimpyvegetarian!!

    « Spicy Delicata Squash Salad with Kale
    7-Day Vegetarian Meal Plan + Tips For Omnivores: # 15 »

    About Susan Pridmore

    Susan Pridmore is an award-winning cookbook author and the owner of The Wimpy Vegetarian. She has been featured in Huffington Post, Healthline, BuzzFeed, and has written for and developed recipes for The Food Network and Parade Magazine. She is professionally trained and focuses on easy vegetarian recipes for busy lives, bread-baking, and tips for new vegetarians. Susan lives in the mountains in Lake Tahoe with her husband and mini-labradoodle.

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    Susan at The Wimpy Vegetarian

    about the author:

    Susan Pridmore

    Hi there! I'm an award-winning cookbook author, culinary school graduate, professional photographer and recipe developer. My cookbook Simply Vegetarian was named #1 best cookbook for new vegetarians, and I want to make it easier for you to cook fabulous vegetarian meals. Come join me in the kitchen!

    More about me →

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