Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can Bring as a Guest

We often dread the thought of having to host the next Thanksgiving or other holiday dinner at your home, but being a guest also has its stresses! This is especially true if you have to bring a side dish. Ideally, you will want to bring a dish that is tasty and that everyone will enjoy, but isn’t too over the top that it will take hours or even days to make and will outshine the other guests’ dishes. You also want something that won’t break the bank or take too long to prepare. That’s exactly what we’re going for in today’s blog. We want you to have a few options for excellent side dishes that are cheap, easy to make, and will still be enjoyed by the other guests without making it look like you’re trying to get the grand prize in a cooking competition. 

Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

This is a fantastic and easy to prepare dish that eats like a pro cooked it while it can be made by anyone of any skill level. You will want to preheat your oven to 425F and grab your trusty sheet pan and line it with foil. Select about 10 of your favorite in-season vegetables. For around Thanksgiving time, we recommend choosing from the following:

• Yellow onions

• Sweet onions

• Red potatoes

• Sweet potatoes

• Carrots

• Brussels sprouts

• (optional) Slice up a length of turkey salami and add them towards the end for a more savory, protein rich choice.

Simply chop up into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and a pinch or two of garlic powder and then toss to get everything coated evenly. Pour mixture onto baking sheet and bake uncovered for about 30 to 40 minutes, until everything has a nice roasted look with just a little hint of black around the edges. 

Stuffing Muffins (A Fun Twist on Traditional Stuffing)

Stuffing muffins give you all the nostalgic flavor of stuffing but in easy-to-serve portions. Use your favorite boxed stuffing mix or make your own. Spoon the stuffing into a greased muffin tin and bake until the tops are golden brown. They hold their shape and stay moist, making them perfect for potluck-style events.

Cornbread with Honey Butter

Cornbread is a classic that not only travels well, but is budget friendly and easy to make. Buy a couple boxes of the boxed cornbread mix from your local grocer and prepare as directed. While it’s baking, use a stand mixer or hand mixer to blend together the ingredients and then pour into a serving dish to bring alongside the baked bread. You can even drizzle a little on top of the loaves as soon as you pull them out of the oven. Here is what you will need:

• 1 cup of butter, softened (salted butter is preferred. If you don’t have any on hand, just add a teaspoon of salt to the mix)

• ⅔ cups of your favorite honey

• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix on low to medium with a hand mixer until well combined. Add cinnamon to taste if desired. Remove from bowl and place in serving dish. 

In Conclusion

We hope that today’s Thanksgiving side dish recipe guide was useful to you. Remember, no matter the time of year, there is always something fun to do around Boise and Meridian. I am happy to help with any questions about home and garden, buying, selling, real estate, and beyond! Give me a call today, I’d love to hear from you.