Thanksgiving is marked by gratitude, family gatherings and a delicious meal that leaves everyone satisfied and comatose. While the turkey – often considered the crown jewel of this festive celebration – tends to bask in the spotlight, we wait all year for the infamous side dishes.
This year, instead of serving up the sides you return to year after year, consider incorporating a new, creative side. Don’t worry, you don’t have to come up with ideas on your own! We’ve assembled a list of our favorite creative Thanksgiving side dishes that will round out your meal by adding new flavors, textures and colors to the table.
Honestly, these side dishes could even outshine the most perfectly cooked turkey. Now, let’s dive in so you can plan to dig in!
Baked pumpkin goat cheese risotto seamlessly melds the rich, earthy flavor of pumpkin with the tangy undertones of goat cheese. Each bite is a blend of creamy risotto rice combined with the festive taste of pumpkin.
Pacific Foods Low Sodium Organic Vegetable Broth rounds out the dish, infusing garden-fresh flavor into the risotto as it cooks.
View the Full Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Goat Cheese Risotto
While Brussels sprouts are a traditional Thanksgiving side dish, they aren’t one people look forward to all year. To change that, try swapping your old sprouts recipe with our Bourbon-Glazed Brussels sprouts. The perfect balance of savory and sweet, this side dish brings a twist. Spoiler: there’s bacon!
What truly sets this recipe apart from others is the use of Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Stock instead of water. This step infuses more flavor into the dish, ready for the Brussels sprouts to soak up.
View the Full Recipe: Bourbon Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Moving away from the expected potato dishes, this tasty bake highlights cauliflower’s versatility. Covered in a creamy sauce and baked to perfection, a creamy cauliflower bake is the perfect contrast of crunchy and soft.
The secret to this creamy sauce is Pacific Foods Organic Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup, adding the perfect blend of roasted chicken, cream and garlic.
This side dish offers a great alternative to more starchy sides and a taste that will have everyone wanting more.
View the Full Recipe: Creamy Cauliflower Bake
Garlic roasted potatoes with bone broth take a beloved classic and add a satisfying twist. While the roasted potatoes’ golden, crispy exterior provides comfort, Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Bone Broth sets this dish apart. The broth adds a unique depth of flavor, lending a rich, savory taste to the roasted potatoes.
This creative and nostalgic dish will leave your friends and family wanting more.
View the Full Recipe: Garlic Roasted Potatoes with Bone Broth
Unlike traditional mashed potatoes, mashed root vegetables are a vibrant and creative approach to a classic comfort dish. This recipe combines the earthy flavors of yams and parsnips with the creamy taste of butternut squash soup.
Now, we know how hectic Thanksgiving prep is. That’s why instead of chopping, roasting and pureeing butternut squash, we use Pacific Foods Organic Creamy Butternut Squash Soup.
Top your mashed root vegetables with butter or a sprinkle of fresh herbs. This dish is a celebration of nature. It adds both visual appeal and a gourmet touch to Thanksgiving.
View the Full Recipe: Mashed Root Vegetables
If you are looking to mix it up this year, while keeping similar flavor profiles, melting sweet potatoes are for you! Using the flavors of maple syrup and butter, melting potatoes rely on the caramelization of the sweet potato’s natural sugars.
What brings the added richness and depth to this dish is the addition of Pacific Foods Low Sodium Organic Free Range Chicken Broth.
In addition, the warm colors and sweet smell create an inviting environment around the table.
View the Full Recipe: Melting Sweet Potatoes
Carrots don’t often get a lot of love around the Thanksgiving table. To take carrots and create a feast-worthy side dish, you must try our roasted carrots with bone broth and maple. The roasting process brings out the robust, earthy flavors of the carrot.
The savory flavors of Pacific Foods Organic Salted Chicken Bone Broth add flavor complexity, combining sea salt, herbs and vegetables.
For a touch of sweetness, top with just a drizzle of maple. The flavors of this dish will be as warm as the colors on your table.
View the Full Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Bone Broth and Maple
To continue on our list of unique starch dishes, we have smashed potatoes (potatoes fondantes). These delicious potatoes are a simple way to elevate a traditional Thanksgiving side dish into something creative. The whole dish can be made in under 40 minutes and requires just a few ingredients. Taste is not the only thing that sets smashed potatoes apart. Their fragrant smell will draw people to the table and kitchen, while they wait to dig in.
View the Full Recipe: Smashed Potatoes
Stuffing is one of the main side dishes prepared for Thanksgiving dishes. Despite the wide variety of stuffing recipes, people rarely deviate from the traditional recipe. To delight your friends and family this year, try our wild rice, mushroom and leek stuffing. This recipe takes stuffing and creates a vibrant, earthy side dish full of unique textures and flavors.
The heart of the earthy and warm flavor lies in Pacific Foods Organic Mushroom Broth. This vegan broth adds depth to your recipe while keeping it vegetarian-friendly, something that can be hard to find at the Thanksgiving table.
View the Full Recipe: Wild Rice, Mushrooms, and Leek Stuffing
To continue with our creative solutions for stuffing, we have focaccia stuffing with mushrooms and leeks. This spicy and savory stuffing will leave everyone at the table satisfied. The addition of spicy Italian sausage and the use of focaccia bread create a unique flavor profile you won’t find with traditional stuffings.
View the Full Recipe: Focaccia Stuffing with Mushrooms and Leeks
Thanksgiving is a time for shared moments and delicious food. Keeping traditions alive is important, there’s nothing wrong with mixing it up by including a variety of creative Thanksgiving side dishes on your table.
This year, create new traditions by bringing delicious and savory Thanksgiving side dishes. Pacific Foods broths and soups can help elevate your dishes.
Here’s to a Thanksgiving that’s both heartwarming and delicious!