ALT-1 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
The best Thanksgiving side dishes compliment the main entrée. Whether the Thanksgiving table is set with a succulent turkey, the unique turducken (a combination of turkey, duck and chicken) or even a vegetarian tofurkey (tofu-turkey), the side dishes should be just as flavorful and memorable as the main course.
The five best Thanksgiving side dishes are five of the most traditional foods typically found on a Thanksgiving table. These five dishes are familiar, comforting and flavorful. They can also be versatile, served in tasty variations to suit regional and cultural tastes.
Stuffing or Dressing
Thanksgiving without stuffing is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly. It is edible but just not complete. Whether it is referred to as stuffing or dressing, the traditional side dish typically features chunked bread, celery, onions, butter and poultry seasoning. Simple, tasty and easy enough for even the most inexperience cook. Many families have their own secret recipes for their favorite stuffing, adding different spices, binding ingredients or even multiple bread types.
Stuffing is one of the best side dishes because it is the most versatile, able to transform into an exciting compliment to the main course. Cooks can choose variations like corn bread stuffing, apple/sausage dressing or even a hearty roasted chestnut stuffing. Check outHelium.comorAllRecipes.comfor some great Thanksgiving stuffing recipes.
Sweet Potatoes or Yams
Often in the United States, the soft variety of sweet potato is referred to as a yam. However, the sweet potato and yam do differ. The yam has more starch and tends to be drier, which is why the soft variety of sweet potatoes is often found as a starring side dish on the Thanksgiving table. Sweet potatoes can be served mashed, baked, glazed or in a creamy casserole topped with roasted pecans.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Comfort food at its best, mashed potatoes and gravy is a palette-pleaser. Creamy, lumpy or infused with fresh garlic, mashed potatoes are the perfect receiver for a generous serving of rich gravy made fresh from the Thanksgiving turkey drippings. A Thanksgiving table will look incomplete without a brimming gravy boat and a bowl of mashed or whipped potatoes.
Green Bean Casserole
The Campbell’s® Kitchen originalrecipefor green bean casserole was introduced in 1955. According to FoodReference.com, about 20 million servings are dished out each year. A side dish that is simple to prepare, the basic green bean casserole has only five main ingredients including milk, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, French friend onions and a hint of soy sauce. Fresh, frozen or canned green beans can be used and a fat-free or reduced fat cream of mushroom soup is equally tasty. Cheese-lovers may wish to omit the soy sauce and add one cup of cheddar cheese to the casserole.
Cranberry Sauce
Jellied, whole berries, canned, fresh or in a Jell-O-mold, a side of cranberry sauce adds festive color to the Thanksgiving table. Some families swear by the jellied canned variety or grandma’s cranberry gelatin salad featuring sweet pineapple. For a cranberry sauce with a bit of a twist, try Alton Brown’s Cranberry Saucerecipefound at the Food Network website. It is a delectable side dish created with fresh cranberries plus a hint of orange and honey.
Honorable mentions for the best Thanksgiving side dishes must go to the southern favorite of Baked Macaroni and Cheese and any version of American flour biscuits or fresh baked dinner rolls.
When choosing the side dishes for a Thanksgiving feast, consider the top five choices but remember that any dish gracing your table will be a success when the cook is confident and has fun with the meal.
