11 Best Thanksgiving Vegetable Recipes

Move over turkey -- on Thanksgiving, the side dishes always steal the show. From creamy Brussels Sprouts Gratin to Potatoes au Gratin, these easy and elegant vegetable recipes will be the talk of the table.

1. Brussels Sprouts Gratin



This creamy gratin is perfect for the holidays because it can be made ahead of time. It's easy too -- unlike most vegetable gratins, which are made with a Béchamel sauce, this one is made more simply (and decadently) with heavy cream. GET THE RECIPE

2. Quinoa Pilaf with Shiitake Mushrooms, Carrots & Pecans



Whenever I'm hosting Thanksgiving dinner, I like to offer some vegetarian and gluten-free side dishes. This one is both, plus it can be made ahead. GET THE RECIPE

3. Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Walnuts, Parmesan and Lemon-Mustard Dressing



Made with toasted walnuts, chunks of Parmesan and a lemony Dijon dressing, this kale and Brussels sprouts salad tastes like a healthful, crunchy Caesar. Even your meat and potato lovers will enjoy it! GET THE RECIPE

4. Potatoes au Gratin



This classic dish involves layering thinly sliced potatoes with heavy cream (a lot of it!) and grated cheese in a gratin dish, and then baking it until the cream reduces and blankets the potatoes in a rich, creamy sauce. I'd say the dish is worthy of a special occasion -- it is -- but the truth is that eating it is a special occasion in and of itself. GET THE RECIPE

5. Carrot Slaw with Cranberries, Toasted Walnuts & Citrus Vinaigrette



Dried cranberries and toasted walnuts make this carrot slaw perfect for fall and a colorful addition to your Thanksgiving feast. Plus, it's delicious with turkey sandwiches the next day. GET THE RECIPE

6. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans & Maple Syrup



Golden roasted Brussels sprouts with smoky bacon, toasted pecans and maple syrup -- this dish will become a firm family favorite. Honestly, it's hard to resist eating the entire pan right out of the oven! GET THE RECIPE

7. Gingered Carrot Souffle



This is one of those seductively sweet, orange-hued side dishes that often appear around the holidays. Technically, it's not really a soufflé, but rather a baked purée of carrots, butter, brown sugar, and eggs that has a fluffy and delicate soufflé-like texture. It's along the same lines as a Sweet Potato Casserole -- that is to say, not quite dessert but almost sweet enough to be. GET THE RECIPE

8. Roasted Green Beans with Garlic, Pine Nuts, Lemon & Parmesan



Tender and caramelized roasted green beans, mellowed chunks of garlic, lemon-infused olive oil, crunchy pine nuts and nutty Parmesan -- this dish is a crowd-pleaser and easy to do ahead of time. GET THE RECIPE

9. Mesclun Salad with Goat Cheese, Maple-Glazed Pecans & Maple Dijon Vinaigrette



This salad is perfect for entertaining -- the glazed pecans and goat cheese dress it up, and the vinaigrette is one of those salty-sweet-tangy flavor combinations that everyone loves. GET THE RECIPE

10. Roasted Carrots with Thyme



Always a favorite, these carrots are roasted in a high temperature oven until caramelized and tender-crisp -- a cooking method that intensifies their flavor and brings out their natural sweetness. GET THE RECIPE

11. Parmesan Smashed Potatoes



This is a rustic version of mashed potatoes. To make it, you simply boil a few pounds of baby red potatoes, smash them with a dinner fork, and then mix them with butter and Parmesan. So easy...and everyone loves it. GET THE RECIPE

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