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    Home » Side dishes

    The Veggie Sides That Always Finish First at Thanksgiving at My House

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated November 26, 2025 · Published November 14, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    These six veggie sides are the stars of our Thanksgiving table, always disappearing first. From classic favorites to unique twists, they bring color and flavor that everyone loves. Whether it's creamy, crunchy, or savory, these dishes make the holiday meal complete.

    Roasted Beet & Fennel Salad

    Beet & fennel salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This beetroot and feta salad is quick to prepare, taking only about 15 minutes of your time. It's a warm dish filled with earthy beets, creamy feta cheese, crunchy fennel, and toasted pine nuts. This salad is perfect for any time of the year and is sure to please even those who aren't usually fans of salads.

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    Arugula Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

    Arugula salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salad combines sweet, salty, and tangy flavors that go well with any main dish, and it's perfect for balancing a heavier meal like a turkey dinner. Perfect for Thanksgiving, this dish is sure to be a favorite among family and friends.

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    Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic

    Brussel sprouts.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Frozen brussels sprouts can be transformed into a delicious side dish with just a little effort and only 16 minutes in the air fryer. Tossed in a honey balsamic vinaigrette and a hint of cayenne pepper, they come out beautifully roasted and caramelized. This dish is a great addition to any Thanksgiving table, bringing a tasty and colorful element to the meal.

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    Air Fryer Bell Peppers

    Air fryer bell peppers.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Air Fryer Bell Peppers are a quick and tasty side dish that can be ready in under 10 minutes. Seasoned with garlic and thyme, they bring a wonderful flavor that everyone will enjoy. These peppers are sure to be a hit at your Thanksgiving table!

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    Garlic Roasted Broccoli

    Garlic roasted brococli.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Broccoli is a staple side dish that everyone loves at Thanksgiving. It's simple to prepare and goes well with just about anything. This garoc loaded version is so good, you'll find yourself wanting to serve broccoli at every meal.

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    Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

    brussel sprouts with bacon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Brussels sprouts are a quick and tasty side dish that can be ready in just 20 minutes. This version has a great mix of salty, crunchy, and sweet flavors, with a nice tang from balsamic vinegar. It's always a hit at Thanksgiving, even among those that say they really don't like brussels sprouts!

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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