The turkey is the main centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, but the side dishes that accompany it can make that dinner go from just so-so to wonderfully fabulous. Easy Thanksgiving side dishes are great when cooking a large meal.
Preparing a Thanksgiving feast for the whole family is hard work and time consuming; the turkey alone is a big cooking task. So, having a couple of great side dishes that are quick to make and taste delicious will help make the Holiday dinner a big hit.
Garlic and Parsley Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes can be made up to a day ahead of the Holiday and they are full of flavor. This recipe serves 16, but it can be adjusted easily by halving the ingredients to serve 8.
Ingredients:
- 6 pounds russet or Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 Teaspoons of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons of dried parsley flakes
- 1 1/3 cups of milk
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Place the potatoes in 8-quart saucepan filled with water and put on stove. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover pan and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Drain potatoes and return to saucepan on low heat.
- Add the salt, pepper, parsley flakes and garlic powder. Mash with a potato masher or whisk gradually adding the milk and then the butter. Sprinkle the cheese and continue mashing until smooth.
Green Beans with Walnuts
This is a healthy and easy recipe that goes well with everything. It will serve 12 peopl; again the ingredients can be halved or doubled to accommodate number of guests.
Ingredients:
- 3 15-ounce cans of green beans (low sodium is ok)
- 3 14-ounce cans of stewed tomatoes
- Dash of parsley flakes, old bay and Herbes de Provence
- 1/2 cup crumbled walnuts
Directions:
- Cook the green beans and tomatoes in large saucepan over medium heat, until they are thoroughly heated. Season with the parsley flakes, old bay and herbs then mix in well.
- Stir in the walnuts just before serving.
Corn Pudding
This is a great side dish for the Holidays and perfect for Thanksgiving. This recipe is very easy to make and will come out like the favorite everyone grew up on. It will serve about 12 people.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 can drained whole kernel corn
- 2 cans creamed corn
- 1/3 cup melted butter (1/2 stick)
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon minced onions
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish and set aside.
- Lightly beat the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Add the sugar and melted butter and mix well. Add the regular corn and the creamed corn; mix it all well until blended.
- Add the cornstarch, salt, ground mustard and the minced onion. Stir it in and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the pre-greased pan and bake for about one hour, until the top is a little browned.
Two Cheese Macaroni
Mac & cheese is always a good side dish no matter what the occasion. Try this homemade version for tasty cheesy pasta dish that every guest will love. Serves about 12 people.
Ingredients:
- 1 box elbow pasta
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces shredded low fat Cheddar cheese
- 5 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Cook pasta according to directions on package and drain. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl toss pasta, salt and olive oil together. Stir in the Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, but leave about a tablespoon of each cheese aside. Pour in the milk and mix it well.
- Transfer pasta into a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Let stand about 5 minutes before being served.
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