What Goes with Turkey: Amazing Side Dish Ideas

Turkey is usually the star of the show when it comes to holiday dinners. But let’s be honest, the side dishes are just as important. Not only do they add flavor, texture and color to your meal, but they also provide a great opportunity to showcase your culinary skills. So, what goes with turkey? Here are some amazing side dish ideas that will complement your bird perfectly.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables are a classic side dish that pairs well with turkey. They’re easy to make, healthy and delicious. Simply chop up your favorite veggies, toss them with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast them in the oven until they’re tender and caramelized. Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes are especially delicious roasted. You can also throw in some Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or broccoli for extra color and flavor.

Recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 2 lbs. mixed root vegetables (such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and turnips), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with the olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and caramelized, stirring occasionally.

Cranberry Sauce

No turkey dinner is complete without cranberry sauce. It’s sweet, tangy, and pairs perfectly with turkey. You can make it from scratch using fresh or frozen cranberries, or you can buy it pre-made at the store. Either way, it’s a must-have side dish.

Recipe: Homemade Cranberry Sauce

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 12 oz. fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, and water.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened.
  4. Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Stuffing

Stuffing is an essential side dish for any turkey dinner. It’s savory, comforting, and can be made with a variety of ingredients. You can use traditional bread crumbs, cornbread, or even rice as your base. You can add in herbs, spices, sausage, apples, nuts, and more to customize your stuffing to your liking. Just be sure to bake it separately from your turkey so it cooks through and gets crispy on top.

Recipe: Savory Sausage Stuffing

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1 lb. Italian sausage
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2-3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1 tsp. dried sage
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Add the onion, celery, and garlic to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the bread crumbs, thyme, sage, salt, and black pepper.
  5. Pour the chicken broth over the bread mixture and stir until it’s evenly moistened.
  6. Transfer the stuffing to a 9×13 inch baking dish and drizzle the melted butter over the top.
  7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the stuffing is golden brown and crispy on top.

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish that everyone loves. They’re creamy, buttery, and the perfect complement to any savory meal. You can make them with milk, cream, butter, or sour cream, depending on your preference. You can also add in garlic, chives, or cheese for extra flavor.

Recipe: Classic Mashed Potatoes

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  1. Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
  2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, or until they’re tender.
  3. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.
  4. Add the milk, butter, salt, and black pepper to the pot and mash the potatoes with a potato masher or electric mixer until they’re smooth and creamy.

Green Beans

Green beans are a simple and healthy side dish that pairs well with turkey. You can steam them, sauté them, or roast them with some garlic and lemon for extra flavor. You can also top them with slivered almonds or crispy onions for some crunch.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Green Beans

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1 lb. green beans, trimmed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss the green beans with the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
  3. Spread the green beans in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the green beans are tender and lightly browned, stirring once or twice during baking.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious side dish that pairs well with turkey. You can bake, boil, or roast them, and then mash them or serve them sliced for some variety. You can also add in some cinnamon, nutmeg, or brown sugar for a sweet twist.

Recipe: Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 3 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place them on a baking sheet.
  3. Bake the sweet potatoes for 45-60 minutes, or until they’re tender all the way through.
  4. Let the sweet potatoes cool for a few minutes, then slice them in half lengthwise.
  5. Scoop out the flesh of the sweet potatoes into a large bowl.
  6. Add the butter, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the bowl and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or electric mixer until they’re smooth and creamy.
  7. Spoon the sweet potato mixture back into the sweet potato skins and smooth out the tops with a fork.
  8. Bake the sweet potatoes for another 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and crispy.

Cornbread

Cornbread is a classic southern side dish that pairs well with turkey. It’s sweet, savory, and has a great texture. You can make it from scratch using cornmeal, flour, milk, and eggs, or you can buy a mix at the store. You can also fold in some jalapeños or cheddar cheese for extra flavor.

Recipe: Sweet Cornbread

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  5. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and pour the batter into the dish.
  6. Bake the cornbread for 20-25 minutes, or until it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Gravy

No turkey dinner is complete without gravy. It’s the perfect finishing touch to your meal, and it adds flavor and moisture to your turkey and side dishes. You can make it using the drippings from your turkey pan, or you can use pre-made gravy from the store. Either way, it’s a must-have side dish.

Recipe: Homemade Turkey Gravy

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1/4 cup turkey drippings
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups turkey or chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. After you remove the turkey from the oven, skim off the fat that rises to the top of the pan drippings.
  2. Place the roasting pan on the stovetop over medium heat.
  3. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes, or until the flour is lightly browned and fragrant.
  4. Slowly pour in the turkey or chicken broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
  5. Cook the gravy, whisking constantly, for 5-7 minutes, or until it’s thickened to your liking.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are an underrated side dish that pairs well with turkey. When roasted, they become crispy, caramelized, and delicious. You can toss them with some bacon, balsamic vinegar, or maple syrup for added flavor.

Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 3 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss the Brussels sprouts with the olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
  3. Spread the Brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the Brussels sprouts are tender and lightly browned, stirring once or twice during baking.

Candied Yams

Candied yams are a sweet and satisfying side dish that pairs well with turkey. They’re made by baking yams or sweet potatoes with a combination of butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows on top. The result is a gooey, caramelized dish that’s sure to please your guests.

Recipe: Candied Yams

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 3 large yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Arrange the sliced yams or sweet potatoes in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the saucepan and stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  5. Pour the butter mixture over the yams or sweet potatoes and toss to coat.
  6. Arrange the marshmallows on top of the yams or sweet potatoes.
  7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the yams or sweet potatoes are tender and the marshmallows are golden brown and crispy on top.

Roasted Carrots

Roasted carrots are a simple and easy side dish that pairs well with turkey. They’re sweet, earthy, and slightly crunchy. You can toss them with some honey, ginger, or thyme for added flavor.

Recipe: Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots

This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients: Instructions:
  • 1 lb. carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Toss

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