10 Emergency Thanksgiving Sides You Can Throw Together in Minutes
No matter if you've been cooking all day and just happened to forget one last side dish or you are only responsible for bringing one dish along to a friend's Thanksgiving that slipped your mind, these easy Thanksgiving sides can be prepared in a pinch, so when the guests arrive, they'll be fully impressed with your side-dish game. Everyone will leave completely stuffed (in a good way). These recipes are for sides that feature fewer than 10 ingredients each, which means they won't be time-consuming and you can easily pull them together. You might even want to throw some of these into your regular rotation post-Thanksgiving dinner.
Here is our list of 10 quick and easy Thanksgiving sides that can be on your table in less than 15 minutes.
Parmesan-roasted broccoli
You're only 15 minutes and four ingredients away from this perfectly roasted, cheesy side dish. If anything will make you eat your veggies, it's this.
Get our recipe for Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli.
Garlic-lemon spinach
Even though there's nothing better than eating all the mashed potatoes and gravy, it's also nice to add a little something green to your plate. This mix will make you never want to eat spinach any other way again, and you can have it on the table in less than 8 minutes.
Get our recipe for Garlic-Lemon Spinach.
Asparagus with fried egg and prosciutto
For a dreamy, creamy side, you'll impress every holiday guest with this asparagus dish. It looks much more complicated than it is, and the egg gives the veggie a savory twist to make it really pop.
Get our recipe for Asparagus With Fried Egg and Prosciutto.
Mixed greens salad with pumpkin vinaigrette
Salads are sometimes only seen as appetizers, but there's no reason this salad can't be the perfect companion for your turkey dinner as a side. The combo of basic mixed greens and a pumpkin vinaigrette with a kick makes it feel ideal for your Thanksgiving dinner as a prelude to the pumpkin pie.
Get our recipe for Mixed Greens Salad With Pumpkin Vinaigrette.
Caprese tomato tower
This side dish is one that will give your Thanksgiving dinner an Italian flair, and all you need are tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Just stack 'em up and you're good to go on this side dish in under 10 minutes.
Get our recipe for Caprese Tomato Tower.
Ham and broccoli soup
If you're looking for a warming side to go with your turkey, there's nothing better than this thick and creamy ham and broccoli soup. It's so much better than any soup you'd get from a can, and it's perfect for a hearty side you can have for lunch the next day.
Get our recipe for Ham and Broccoli Soup.
Pan-roasted mushrooms
Besides the ingredients you should always have in the kitchen like olive oil, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper, you only need mushrooms to make this dish. There's just something about soft and buttery mushrooms that make them the perfect dinner side for any occasion even after Thanksgiving has ended.
Get our recipe for Pan-Roasted Mushrooms.
Mozzarella spiedini
If you loved the idea of the Caprese tomato tower, but want to take it to the next level, this recipe takes those same few ingredients of tomatoes and mozzarella, but adds in a baguette and throws it all on some heat. Skewered on rosemary branches, these side treats are going to be gone faster than they took to make.
Get our recipe for Mozzarella Spiedini.
Fig, prosciutto, and goat cheese salad
This is a side dish with absolutely no cooking required. That's right, once again all you need is that big mixing bowl and you're good to go. Your guests won't believe how quickly you threw this salad together, especially with such dynamic flavors.
Get our recipe for Fig, Prosciutto, and Goat Cheese Salad.
Sweet potato toasts
These little toasts put a fun spin on easy Thanksgiving sides, plus you can make them in the microwave. We're in. With three different topping choices, you can decide which variation will go with your meal the best, though we suggest the Almond-Cherry Topping as a Thanksgiving winner. Plus, you'll think of them like an introduction to the sweet potato pie you'll have next!
Get our recipe for Sweet Potato Toasts.
