Must-Have Thanksgiving Sides
easy, healthy family favorites
Every family has them—the unchangeable, must-have dishes that everyone looks forward to and expects on the holiday table. Here are a few side dishes that have become tradition for my family on Thanksgiving. They are easy to make, better for you versions of classics that I bet will become your holiday must-haves too. Wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving! Enjoy!
Green Bean Casserole
Photo by Quentin Bacon
This fresh-ingredient version of the classic casserole is easy to make and the taste payoff is big—the snap of steamed beans, lots of meaty mushrooms, fresh garlic and thyme, and real Parmesan—all topped with crispy onion or shallots. (The one short cut I find really worth it to use store-bought fried onion or shallot, but I have included instructions for making those from scratch too, if you’d like.)  Once you try it this way, you’ll never go back. Â
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Apple and Sunflower Seeds
Photo by Goran Kosanovic for The Washington Post
With crisp chunks of fresh apple, a nutty crunch of sunflower seeds, and a honey-mustard vinaigrette dressing, this recipe levels up basic roasted Brussels sprouts, easily, for a healthful side dish that yields a multitude of pleasure.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
This comforting, easy-to-make sweet potato casserole is one you definitely want on your table at Thanksgiving. It is creamy and delicately sweet, with real sweet potato flavor shining through, and a crunchy topping of pecans. It’s better-for-you too, with no cream at all and a fraction of the added sugar of the typical recipe. It’s a family favorite in my home, and I think it will be for you too.Â