Celebration-Worthy Side Dishes
Pappa’s Pear Stuffing [1]
You can serve this hearty, fruit-studded dressing with roasted or grilled pork, poultry or ham. The recipe comes from the historic Story Inn in Nashville, Indiana.
Cinnamon Carrots with Maple Thyme Butter [5]
These sweet oven-roasted carrots are a perfect complement to a holiday menu, but they're easy enough to be a weeknight side. The recipe comes from Big Cedar Loge in Ridgedale, Missouri.
Cranberry-Apple Sweet Potatoes [9]
Mix pantry ingredients -- canned apple pie filling, canned sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, apricot preserves, orange marmalade and chopped pecans -- for a quick-and-easy side dish with a crunchy nut topping.
Browned Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Feta [13]
Give Brussels sprouts a fresh taste with this colorful side dish. The trick to preserving the vegetables' mild flavor is to avoid overcooking.
Spiced Pumpkin Bisque [17]
The Inn at Irish Hollow in Galena, Illinois, serves this creamy, curried soup throughout the fall and winter. You can make your own crème fraiche for the garnish, or use purchased crème fraiche or sour cream.
Wilted Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing [21]
This recipe, from Cheli's Chili Bar in Dearborn, Michigan, dresses up a classic side-dish wilted salad. "I really enjoyed the addition of fresh mushrooms and hard-boiled eggs," notes a reviewer on our website. "I could easily make a meal of this."
Mix-and-Match Bread Dressing [25]
Whether you're looking to tweak your favorite dressing or create a new tradition, this method meets the challenge. Start with the basic recipe, then try one of the blends shown at left or craft your own custom dressing.
--Top right: Whole wheat bread anchors a mix of sweet potato, celery, almonds, apricots and sage.
--Left: Wild rice stands in for bread in this dressing studded with button mushrooms, celery, bacon, pecans, golden raisins and thyme.
--Bottom right: Sourdough bread cubes blend with cooked bulk Italian sausage, celery, dried cranberries, pine nuts and rosemary.
Fruit Brunch Medley [29]
Honey and lime add snap to this fruit bowl with Granny Smith and Delicious apples, red and green grapes, kiwi and dried tart cherries. Serve it at brunch or as a meal accompaniment.
Fruit Brunch Medley [30]
Veggie-Cheese Chowder [33]
This easy soup combines colorful veggies -- corn, chopped green or red sweet pepper and sliced celery -- with cream and three types of cheese products for a pretty, flavorful dish.
Roasted Root Vegetables [37]
Parsnips, turnips, potatoes, carrots and onions are drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sage for fresh, sweet flavor. "I found this when it was first published and it has been part of every Thanksgiving since!" writes one of our website readers. "A lovely new tradition! The only dish I've ever taken that people ask me for the recipe."
Cranberry-Pear Chutney [41]
This delicious sweet-and-sour relish sparkles with the flavor of fresh cranberries and Asian pears. Make it up to five days ahead of your holiday meal.
Lemony Green Beans [45]
Update the traditional green bean casserole with this recipe, ready in just 20 minutes. Sauteed garlic, shallots and lemon peel pack a flavor punch.
Lemony Green Beans [46]
Make-Ahead Pumpkin Cornbread [49]
Masa harina, a fine corn flour, gives this bread light texture and corn flavor. Store in refrigerator up to 2 days before your meal, then reheat just before serving.
Harvest Salad with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette [53]
Walnut oil adds a nutty flavor to vinaigrette on this colorful salad from Clabber Girl Bake Shop in Terre Haute, Indiana. Add cooked chicken (or your bumper crop of leftover turkey) for a quick main dish.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes [57]
Quivey's Grove in Madison, Wisconsin, whips up this version of mashed potatoes that matches plenty of dairy richness with garlic, Parmesan, black pepper and green onion.
Chicken Artichoke Brie Soup [61]
Bits of spinach and artichoke color this creamy chicken soup, perfect for a first course at dinner or alongside a sandwich for a holiday lunch.
Sausage-Wild Rice Casserole [65]
Pork sausage and wild rice blend with onion, mushrooms and water chestnuts in an easy-to-make casserole. Add 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken or turkey to make it a main dish.
Champagne-Poached Pear Salad [69]
Dried cranberries and toasted walnuts accent this elegant fruit salad from Courtright's Restaurant in Willow Springs, Illinois. Finish the plate with Brie coated with bread crumbs.
Cranberry-Orange Relish [73]
Cranberry-Orange Relish, from chef Richard Fisher of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota, goes well with meats such as turkey and pork.
Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Pecans [77]
Toasted pecans and melty marshmallows top whipped sweet potatoes in this classic holiday side dish.
Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey-Rum Dressing [81]
Mint, lime juice, rum and honey bathe the fruit in fresh flavors. Serve it as a holiday side dish or an easy fruit for brunch or breakfast.
Orange-Glazed Baby Carrots [85]
Need a side dish in a hurry? Just melt together butter and orange marmalade, and toss with tender steamed carrots to create this super-easy side.
Butternut Squash and Apple Salad [89]
Sweet squash and apple pair with sharp Gorgonzola and tangy dressing in this autumn salad from Black Star Farm in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The dressing calls for verjus, a tart pressed grape juice. You can order verjust online or find it as specialty stores, but wine vinegar makes a good substitute.
Cranberry Cashew Salad [93]
Sliced apples, roasted cashews and dried fruit combine with mango chutney, spinach leaves and curry for an exotic, fresh-tasting salad. The recipe comes from the New Albany (Ohio) Cooking with Friends community cookbook.
Gingered Pumpkin Soup [97]
Maple syrup adds sweetness to Gingered Pumpkin Soup, which makes a creamy side dish or appetizer.
Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad [101]
Apples, dried cranberries and grapes meet crunchy celery and wheat berries in this festive holiday salad tossed with apple-cinnamon dressing.
Cheesy Broccoli Bake [105]
Packaged chopped broccoli and cheese spread combine in this classic, creamy side dish.
Cheesy Broccoli Bake [106]
Gourmet Onions [109]
Sprinkle sauteed onions with Parmesan cheese for a festive touch.
Gourmet Onions [110]
Persimmon, Blood Orange and Pomegranate Salad [113]
A colorful burst of fresh flavor is worth the time it takes to peel and section or slice fruit for this holiday salad. If you're in a rush, use 2 to 3 cups jarred, drained, sectioned citrus fruit in place of the four oranges.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes [117]
This rich side dish earns compliments at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. Because potatoes darken once sliced, prepare this dish right before you plan to bake it.
Autumn Fruit Salsa [121]
Here's a refreshing holiday salsa from Mackinnon's Restaurant and Gourmet Catering in Northville, Michigan. Serve the pear and veggie mixture with blue corn chips.
Autumn Fruit Salsa [122]
Chipotle Smashed Potatoes [125]
This rich side dish casserole, perfect for entertaining, has both yellow and sweet potatoes as well as cream cheese, butter, sour cream, bacon and canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.
Chipotle Smashed Potatoes [126]
Costa Rican Hearts of Palm Salad [129]
Mix avocado, papaya and olives with hearts of palm for an exotic, colorful salad. Hearts of palm look like white asparagus without the tips and taste like artichoke.
Butternut Squash Bake [133]
This creamy squash casserole calls for mascarpone — a mild, soft, butter-like cheese— as well as Parmesan. You can substitute softened cream cheese for the mascarpone if you prefer. Time-saver: Look for pre-cut squash in your supermarket. (You can also bake the squash in your oven first to make it easier to peel and cut.)
Butternut Squash Bake [134]
Continue for more great Midwest Living holiday recipes [137]
24 Inspiring Ideas for Holiday Main Dishes [138]
30 Best Holiday Dessert Recipes [139]
Celebrate with 28 Holiday Party Recipes [140]
25 Festive Brunch Recipes [141]
19 Scrumptious Holiday Breakfast Breads [142]
32 Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure [143]
Delectable Christmas Candies & Treats [144]
22 Favorite Holiday Pies [145]