Pass the Veggies! 9 Fresh Ideas for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday where pretty much everyone has a favorite dish they expect to see on the table. Some families have been making the same stuffing recipe for generations, and we wouldn’t dare suggest tampering with a beloved Thanksgiving tradition. But there’s always room for something new, especially when fresh vegetables are involved.
A little creativity can give your Thanksgiving menu some welcome variety, and our ready-to-use vegetables and salad kits can save you quite a bit of prep work along the way. So, we’ve gathered nine Thanksgiving dishes that are worth making room for, including innovative salads and some comforting holiday favorites with a twist.
Roasted Veggie & Holiday Grazing Board
There’s always that agonizing stretch before Thanksgiving dinner when everyone’s hungry, but the turkey isn’t quite ready. But that’s where a holiday grazing board comes in handy! This is an easy way to give everyone something to enjoy while the finishing touches come together in the kitchen.
Start with our Vegetable Medley blend, roasted with olive oil and sage until golden brown. Arrange the warm veggies alongside our Vegetable Tray with Ranch Dip (or your tray of choice), then fill out the board with your favorite cheeses, crackers, grapes, and fresh orange slices. Pack in the veggies before the carbs show up!
Roasted Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Soup
Okay, so soup might not be the first thing on your Thanksgiving menu, but hear us out. This creamy, savory soup combines two of our favorite vegetables in a surprisingly elegant first course that’s perfect for kicking off the feast.
Start by roasting our Halved Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower Florets to develop their rich, caramelized flavors. Then, blend them with sautéed shallots, garlic, bone broth, and heavy cream until everything is silky smooth. Save a few of those roasted veggies for garnish, and you’ve got a soup that looks right at home on your fanciest holiday dinnerware.
Sunflower Crunch Salad with Roasted Delicata Squash
Delicata squash is one of fall’s underrated vegetables, and if you’ve never tried it in a salad, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to start.
Simply roast slices of delicata squash until they’re tender and lightly caramelized, then serve them over our Sunflower Crunch Chopped Salad Kit. The kit’s fresh greens, smoky bacon, sunflower seeds, and sweet onion dressing serve as a tasty foundation for the squash’s naturally sweet, nutty flavor.
And here’s a little bonus: delicata squash has an edible skin, so there’s no peeling required!
Prosciutto and apples might sound like the makings of a fancy appetizer board, but they have other plans this Thanksgiving.
Our Honey Balsamic Salad Kit provides the fresh greens, toppings, and dressing, while thinly sliced apples offer up a sweet, juicy bite to balance out the tangy flavors. Finish it all with delicate ribbons of salty prosciutto, and you’ve got an exciting salad that still feels right at home among the other holiday classics on the table. It’s ready in just 10 minutes, too, which is especially welcome when you’re already juggling a dozen other things in the kitchen.
Apple Feta Salad with Cinnamon-Roasted Chickpeas & Persimmons
Apples get plenty of attention in Thanksgiving desserts, but they deserve a chance to show off a different side. Specifically, the savory side.
Our Apple Feta Salad Kit starts things off with fresh spinach and spring mix, honey-frosted almonds, cinnamon puffed apples, and creamy feta. To make things even more festive, roast some chickpeas with cinnamon (trust us here), maple syrup, and a little smoked paprika. Finish with slices of sweet Fuyu persimmon for a beautiful fall salad that tastes every bit as good as it looks.
And if you’ve never tried persimmons before (and always walk past them in the produce aisle and think, “What are those weird-looking tomatoes?”), this is your official invitation. You may very well have a new favorite fall fruit on your hands.
Butternut squash is already a Thanksgiving favorite, so why not give it a starring role in a salad?
Roasted squash takes on a wonderfully sweet, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the hearty greens in our beloved Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit. Toss in creamy avocado and roasted pistachios, then finish everything with the kit’s cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and poppyseed dressing.
The combination of warm squash and cool, fresh greens is a particularly nice change of pace alongside traditional Thanksgiving dishes. And, if you’re like us, you might even find yourself making this one well after the holiday decorations have come down.
If there’s one thing Thanksgiving cooks can agree on, it’s that oven space is precious and must be protected at all costs. Fortunately, our Spicy Maple Brussels Sprouts Air Fry Kit has other plans.
These already-cut Brussels sprouts cook up tender on the inside with lightly charred, crispy edges in just 10 minutes in the air fryer. Once they’re ready, toss them with the included maple sauce, which has a perfect balance of sweetness and savory flavor with a little bit of heat from cayenne pepper. They’re a perfect match for turkey and mashed potatoes, and you won’t have to negotiate with the casserole dishes for oven space.
For more vegetable inspiration, check out our favorite vegetable side dishes for the holidays.
Grilled Chicken & Sweet Kale Salad Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato casserole will always have its devoted fans, but we think there’s room for another way to serve this Thanksgiving staple.
These baked sweet potatoes are filled with juicy grilled chicken, our fresh Sweet Kale Chopped Salad, and plenty of bacon. The chicken gets brushed with the salad kit’s creamy poppyseed dressing, and a quick homemade warm bacon vinaigrette gives the greens an extra savory touch. This hearty dish could easily serve as the main event for a smaller Thanksgiving gathering or a casual Friendsgiving celebration.
And speaking of Friendsgiving, we’ve got even more recipe inspiration for celebrating with friends.
So, let’s talk about the day after Thanksgiving. You’ve enjoyed the feast, survived the cleanup, and now you’re staring at enough leftover turkey to feed everyone all over again. Sounds like the perfect time for a sandwich, right?
Our Thanksgiving Leftover Everything Rolls give your leftovers a delicious second act. Start with buttery, toasted brioche rolls, spread on some cranberry sauce, and pile on the leftover turkey. Then comes our Everything Chopped Salad Kit loaded with fresh veggies, mini bagel toasts, and an irresistible Everything bagel seasoning.
The whole thing takes just 15 minutes, which is about all the cooking we’re interested in doing the day after Thanksgiving. Besides, isn’t enjoying the leftovers half the fun?
Fresh Ideas for a Happy Thanksgiving
Of course, there’s no need to retire your family’s favorite Thanksgiving dishes to make room for a few new ones. With fresh vegetables and some handy shortcuts from Taylor Farms, you can spend a little less time prepping and a little more time enjoying the holiday.
Still working on the menu? Take a look at our festive Thanksgiving side dish ideas or our Holiday Survival Kit for more ways to make holiday cooking easier.
And before you head out for your Thanksgiving groceries, use our handy product finder to locate your favorite Taylor Farms products nearby.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Taylor Farms!
