Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, great food! This year, why not try some new recipes to spice up your Thanksgiving feast? We’ll share four easy sides that everyone will love. From mashed potatoes to mac and cheese, we have got you covered! So relax and let us do the cooking this year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Our Favorite Easy Thanksgiving Sides
Looking for something quick and easy to put on the table? These easy Thanksgiving sides should do the trick! We should also mention, the first thing you’ll want to do is start thawing your turkey, take a look at our guide on how to thaw a turkey before you start making the sides.
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, and this buttermilk mashed potatoes recipe is sure to be a hit! Buttermilk adds a lovely tang to the potatoes, while butter and milk give them a rich and creamy texture.
Ingredients:
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 pounds boiling potatoes
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Add potatoes to a large pot of boiling water; add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Boil potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well.
2. Return potatoes to the pot. Add milk and butter; mash with a potato masher until smooth. Stir in buttermilk and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
This homemade cranberry sauce recipe is so much better than the canned stuff! Fresh cranberries are simmered with orange juice, sugar, and cinnamon to create a deliciously tart and sweet sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 12-ounces fresh cranberries (frozen may be substituted)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1. Combine sugar, water, and orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook about 5 minutes.
2. Add cranberries and cinnamon; cook until the cranberries have popped, about 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature before serving.
Easy Turkey Gravy Recipe
This easy turkey gravy recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients, and it is so much better than the store-bought stuff! It takes just 15 minutes to make, and it is the perfect finishing touch to your Thanksgiving feast.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 c turkey drippings
- 1/4 c flour
- 2 c liquid (juices from roasted turkey, broth)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper
1. Pour turkey drippings into a measuring cup; let stand for 5 minutes. Skim off and discard the fat.
2. Place flour in a small saucepan; whisk in turkey drippings until smooth. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
3. Slowly whisk in 2 cups of liquid. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Cook for 1 minute.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
P.S. Gravy can be messy, so if you’re dealing with gravy stains, make sure to check out our guide on how to get rid of Thanksgiving stains !
Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Thanksgiving mac and cheese recipe is the perfect comfort food! It is rich and creamy, with a hint of spice. The best part? It can be made ahead of time and reheated when you are ready to eat.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
- 1/2 c butter
- 1/2 c flour
- 1 1/2 c whole milk
- 2 1/2 c half and half
- 4 c medium sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 c Gruyere cheese
- 1/2 Tbsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 3 quart baking dish.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in milk and half and half. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.
- Add 3 cups of cheddar cheese and 1 1/2 cups of Gruyere cheese. Stir until melted.
- Add salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir until well blended.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and stir until evenly coated.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
And there you have it, 4 easy Thanksgiving side dishes that everyone will love! And remember if you have any worries about your oven being up to the task this year, give our oven repair team a call!
