5 Easy Side Dishes to Bring to Thanksgiving

This post is inspired by my BFF. You all know her & love her... Ms. Patrice Mahoney (Hey girl!). Her and I were discussing the need for easy recipes for those bringing food to a holiday party. It's a lot of work to sort through recipes and decide what to bring. Will guests like it? Will it be a big hit or barely touched? Can you make enough? How many ingredients does it require?

All valid questions, and I hope this post will have the answers you seek!

I am compiling some of my favorite quick and easy recipes from the internet and some of my favorite bloggers that I follow for this one! From desserts to decadence, these Side Dishes will make you the absolute star of any holiday party show. These can be whipped up for any of the countless parties ahead in the coming months, but for this, I focused specifically on Thanksgiving. Or maybe you're headed to a Friendsgiving.

Oh Friendsgiving. Does anyone else feel overwhelmed by this? I hosted one a few years back and it was amazing. I think, in theory, it's such a great concept. While Turkey Day is the special for families, Friendsgiving gives us the opportunity to share a meal and all our love with our closest friends. You know, the chosen family. The people we actively decide to surround ourselves with, the ones who know your heart and would do anything to protect it. The ones we laugh with, party with, cry with, and even fight with. I love the concept of a dedicated day to celebrating this kind of love. BUT: I have one problem with it. We wait all year for that special Thanksgiving meal that warms us to the core and forces us into stretchy pants after being fed. With all the Friendsgivings that exist today, that meal can be had two/three/four times before that special Thursday in November. Kinda defeats the magic of it. I am hoping that in the coming years we can shift that culture a bit. Host a Friendsgiving that's Mexican food themed. Or how about a Pasta party! That way we can keep our Thanksgiving meal sacred while still celebrating the holiday with friends?

In any case, there is a desperate need to have easy, go-to options in an everyday chef's repertoire (WOAH- had to look up how to spell that one). Check out the five options below that are sure to make your life easier and be a success at any party!

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Easy Side Dish #1: Delish's Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

(linked in title)

Brussels Sprouts made a comeback a few years ago and have. not. left. As a kid, the thought of them would make me feel ill. Who would eat those, and why do they smell so weird?? Well, we all grow up eventually. And I jumped on that train to Brussels real quick. Anyone with me?

Recipe Highlights:

• Simple Recipe

• Healthy (LP Wellness Rating of 7)

• Video Tutorial through the link

What LP Would Suggest:

• To make it even easier, you can buy Balsamic Dressing as a replacement for the homemade version in this recipe. Save yourself the time and energy there unless you feel up to the task!

Easy Side Dish #2: Yellow Bliss Road's Goat Cheese & Marinara Dip

I know you guys love this one. And if you've yet to have it, OMG! Go to the store right now and start making this. Is there anything better than a warm cheese dip? No, no there isn't.

Recipe Highlights:

• Simple Recipe

• Flavor Explosion (LP Wellness Rating of 3)

• Perfect for Any Holiday

• Step by Step Pictures through the link

What LP Would Suggest:

• The recipe calls for Fresh Basil to garnish as a topping, but if you can't find it (and sometimes it can be pricey) this will taste great without it. Maybe I'm a #BasilHater, but I think it can be overpowering anyway.

• The recipe also calls for Crispy Bread or Crackers, but sometimes I prefer softer bread. Grab a Baguette and slice it. It'll go great with this. If you want to be an overachiever, you can also incorporate Fresh Garlic here too (Do I have your attention now?). My Mom taught me this one. Get your Bread a little warm, take a clove of Garlic and gently rub it on the slices for a taste of Heaven.

Easy Side Dish #3: Allrecipes' Mouth-Watering Stuffed Mushrooms

This is a favorite of mine. So easy and something we don't have at enough parties in my opinion. I feel like a lot of people in my life shy away from Mushrooms, and I want to believe it's because they haven't tried Stuffed Mushrooms yet. Who has had them and come to the realization that they are FRICKIN' AWESOME? I definitely got hooked after having a few of these bad boys.

Recipe Highlights:

• Simple Recipe

• Flavor Explosion (LP Wellness Rating of 5)

• Video Tutorial though the link

What LP Would Suggest:

• If you want to add a little crunch to each bite, grab a container of Breadcrumbs from the store and sprinkle on top before baking. YUM!

• I permanently keep a container of Minced Garlic in my fridge. There is a time and a place (see Goat Cheese Marinara Recipe above) for Fresh Garlic. In most of the recipes I share, Minced Garlic is just fine and so much easier.

Easy Side Dish #4: My Name is Snickerdoodle's Caramel Apple Nacho Bar

Just looking at it, I'm drooling. I did something similar for my Halloween party, but just used a tub of Caramel Dip and mini plates of crushed candy to hand dip in. This recipe calls out the brand Torani which has a Dessert Sauce Pack of Three (Caramel, Chocolate and White Chocolate) for drizzling over your Dessert Nachos. Sounds like much less of a mess. Sign me up!

Recipe Highlights:

• Simple Recipe

• Customizable for Guests

• Sweet and Savory (LP Wellness Rating of 5)

• No Cooking Required

What LP Would Suggest:

• Make this as simple as possible. The recipe has a HUGE list of topping options. I recommend sticking to 4-6 which will make it easy on you yet still versatile for guests.

• The recipe calls for an Apple Slicer to cut and various ways to keep the Apples fresh, but if it were me, I would simply slice the apples right before serving. It can be done very quick and will save you the headache of trying to preserve them.

Easy Side Dish #5: Flourishing Foodie's Apple Pecan and Cheddar Salad

It's time to move on from the classic dinner salad. I know it feels like the last thing you want to bring is a saaallladddd because there's a lot of delicious options at these parties and who wants to eat the salad, right? Having salad is CRUCIAL! I know my plate could use some freshness at thee gatherings, and this recipe will do the trick in terms of freshness but still packs in the flavor.

Recipe Highlights:

• Simple Recipe

• Healthy and Tasty (LP Wellness Rating of 8)

• No Cooking Required

What LP Would Suggest:

• Shallots can easily be subbed for Red Onion if that's easier and will still taste amazing.

• Browse your local grocery in their "Fancy Cheese" section to find the right Cheddar. This is really going to elevate the salad by bringing that bold Cheddar flavor to the forefront.

• Again, a store-bought Balsamic Dressing will work just fine if you're pressed for time. I would seriously suggest trying this dressing however (I mean Maple Balsamic and only 5 ingredients!). Go for it!

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Well, there you have it! Five simple holiday dishes that will wow the guests at any party. Let me know which are your favorites and what else you'd like to see! Send me a note below!

xo--

LP