30 Gluten-Free Side Dishes For Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you can never have enough recipes to make this memorable holiday even more extraordinary. Discover these Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Side Dishes that will elevate your dinner gatherings to a new level of deliciousness.

yam and sweet potato mash top view

FESTIVE SIDE DISHES FOR RESTRICTED DIETS

We all know that after you’ve prepared the turkey or ham, the side dishes truly set the tone for a festive Thanksgiving feast. These Gluten-Free side dishes include beloved classics and wholesome options for those following a restricted diet. The recipes are tailored to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten, carbs, dairy, or for those following a plant-based lifestyle.

Whether you’re searching for an additional gluten-free side dish to complete your Thanksgiving spread or seeking fresh additions, these recipes will inspire you to explore new flavors this Thanksgiving season.

 

30 GLUTEN FREE SIDE DISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

brussel sprout vegetarian salad with cranberries in a bowl

Shredded Brussel Sprouts and Cranberries Salad

Shredded brussel sprouts, napa cabbage, red onion, sweet cranberries, orange slices, fetta cheese and toasted almonds dressed in lightly sweetened tangy orange dressing with a hint of nutmeg. This Thanksgiving salad is always a big hit!

 

roasted maple ginger carrots

Maple Roasted Ginger Carrots

Just imagine, tender young carrots roasted in a tasty maple ginger sauce to perfection. This carrot side dish is not your typical recipe. The tasty sauce is made with maple syrup, olive oil, Tamari sauce, fresh ginger and rice vinegar, enhancing the sweetness of the carrots.

green beans with maple bacon and ginger

Green Beans with Maple Bacon & Ginger

Green beans are a must side for Holiday table. Tender crisp, glazed with a Tamari ginger sauce, and the bacon is sweetened with maple syrup. For added flavour, I paired the beans with young green onions and sesame seeds. This healthy side dish is prepared simply, and cooked under 10 minute

 

potato, acorn, mash

Sweet Potato And Acorn Squash Mash

If you are looking for a more nutritious option of mashed potatoes, try this gourmet sweet potato and acorn squash mash recipe. This naturally gluten-free side dish is super simple to prepare and can be made a day in advance.

 

warm bean salad side

Instant Pot Warm White Bean Salad

The tender white beans are accented with veggies, and a freshly made light vinaigrette is a satisfying dish for those following a plant-based diet. And you can make it in advance, which is helpful when a lot is happening in the kitchen.

beet and carrot salad topped with feta in a salad bowl

Beet And Carrot Salad With Feta Cheese

tender sweet beets and carrots, a mild taste of green onions, the saltiness of feta cheese, cracked black pepper, and a mellow tartness of the complex balsamic vinegar that ties everything together. This is a wicket vibrant root vegetable salad to spruce up any festive meal. Or try our Classic Beet Salad with a Light Vinaigrette.

 

Roasted Brussel sprouts

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Shallots

The Brussel Sprouts are crispy on the outside, with flavourful caramelized shallots, thyme and a hint of cracked pepper. This Holiday side dish has so much flavour, with only a handful of ingredients. And this side is loved even by the pickiest eaters.

 

potato gratin, gluten free side dish

Cheesy Leek Potato Gratin for Holidays

The potatoes are layered with leeks and Gruyere cheese and slowly baked in a creamy sauce mildly flavoured with garlic and herbs. This French version of scalloped potatoes…creamy, rich and a perfect make-ahead dish for company is another insanely delicious side dish.

cranberries, port, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter

Classic Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a must side to your holiday feast! Nothing beats a homemade cranberry sauce. This traditional dish is made with fresh cranberries slowly simmered in tasty juice until they burst, creating a sweet thick cranberry sauce. 

 

spinach souffle

Gluten-Free Spinach Soufflé

This Gluten-Free Spinach Soufflé is cheesy fluffy…The best! This is a gourmet cheesy, savoury soufflé with spinach throughout lightly flavoured with garlic and nutmeg. This Holiday recipe is a very special side dish to add to the festivities.

 

fall warm white bean rice salad in a bowl

Roasted Pepper White Bean Rice Salad

This plant-based Roasted Pepper White Bean Rice Salad boasts vibrant colors and robust flavors, making it an absolute feast for any holiday occasion.

fauxtatoes

Garlic Mashed Fauxtatoes – Low Carb Side for the Holidays

Mashed potatoes without the potatoes 🙂 Silky smooth, fluffy, lightly flavoured with garlic and super creamy without adding cream. What I love about this festive side dish, it is nutritious, satisfying and irresistibly tasty and low-carb.

turnip carrot mash

Creamy Turnip and Carrot Mash – Vegan Side for the Holidays

This creamy turnip and carrot mash is vegan, dairy-free, paleo and keto friendly, making it a favourite side to any entree. Why to have just a turnip or a carrot side when you can combine the two into creamy mouthwatering mash side that will go well with any main.

 

collard greens, side dish

Hearty Cabbage with Collard Greens

This Hearty Cabbage with Collard Greens dish will brighten up any meal. This nutritious vegan Holiday side is made with cabbage, young leaves of collard greens, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and for added flavour caraway seeds. The veggies are cooked briefly, keeping the cabbage and collard greens tender with a little firmness. So TASTY!!

 

smashed potatoes

Smashed Crispy Potatoes with Garlic Herb Lemon Butter & Parmesan Cheese

Tired of mashed potatoes? Try this simple to make, garlic herb lemon butter smashed potatoes. The splash of fresh lemon juice adds a little tartness balancing the saltiness and herbs to perfection. To make them even more mouthwatering, I topped the potatoes with Parmesan cheese making them extra crispy.

Holiday apple butternut squash stuffing in a skillet

Gluten-Free Apple Butternut Squash Stuffing for the Holidays.

A nutritious gluten-free stuffing with apples and butternut squash. This heavenly stuffing is moist with a crispy, tasty topping. The apples, butternut squash, homemade gluten-free seasoned croutons, spices, herbs, stock and a little butter, make this stuffing unforgettable.

 

butternut squash with roasted pistachios and pomegranate

A Festive Side for Holidays – Butternut Squash With Roasted Pistachios And Pomegranate

Tender roasted sweet squash, warm onion and sage sauce, salty and sweet roasted pistachios and healthy pomegranate seeds. With so much complex flavour and exciting textures this butternut squash dish is heavenly. A vegan side dish to add to your Holiday table.

 

vegan scalloped potatoes

Vegan Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes

Extra creamy, cheesy, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free and so much healthier than traditional scalloped potatoes. But most importantly they are perfectly cooked and so tasty! This scalloped potato side dish will make everyone happy, especially those that follow a pant-based diet. Or try our Gourmet Easy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe for your next Holiday table.

 

 

brussel sprouts side dish

Thanksgiving Brussel Sprouts Side

Another version of Brussel sprouts. In this recipe, the Brussel sprouts are lightly caramelized, and the cranberries and apples add a slight tart flavour complimenting the little green cabbages. To add an earthy flavour and another texture, I added walnuts—a great finish for this festive dish.

 

gluten-free soft rolls

As Per Our Readers the Best Gluten Free Pull-Apart Soft Rolls

If you have gravy, you must have rolls as a side to soak up the gravy! The best part, these gluten free soft rolls taste just like real ones made with gluten.

 

potato, German, salad

Vegan German Potato Salad

There are many variations of German potato salad. From hot to cold, with added bacon, mustard, mayo or pickles or a light vegan version such as this recipe. This German potato salad is a wonderful addition to Holiday dinners, because it will keep for hours without being refrigerated. Or, try our famous hearty Texas-Style Potato Salad.

sweet potato and yam mash

Yam And Sweet Potato Mash With Coconut Milk Side

This Gourmet. vegan side dish is a nutritious, creamy replacement for mashed potatoes. The yams and sweet potatoes are seasoned with fresh garlic, cumin and fresh lime juice. To make this mash extra creamy, I added coconut milk. I must admit this is my favourite side dish for the Holidays.

CUCUMBER SALAD IN A BOWL

German Cucumber Salad

You can never have enough make ahead salads for the Holidays. This fresh salad has just a few ingredients – cucumbers, onions, garlic, spices and a vinegar-based creamy dressing. It’s light and refreshing, and super easy to make! 

roasted fennel and carrots

Roasted Fennel With Carrots Side For the Holdays

In this Roasted Fennel with Carrots vegan dish, the vegetables are lightly caramelized bringing out their delicate flavour. Easy to whip up and so darn delicious! And, as per our readers, voted the best side dish. Or, try another easy side dish the Simply Roasted Sweet Potato.

baked popovers in a muffin pan

Gluten Free Parmesan Popovers With Sage

If you are making roast beef for this Holiday, try the light, airy with crisp, golden-brown exterior popovers. This recipe’s aromatic flavors of sage with parmesan cheese, a hint of garlic, and the delicate and hollow center make them perfect for filling with gravy. Or try our Classic Gluten-Free Popover Easy Recipe.
vegan gravy in a gravy boat

Gluten Free Gravy Without Drippings

This gravy is made with simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Plus, it comes together in just a few minutes, so it’s perfect for those busy holiday dinners. 

 

Let’s Connect!

 

Meet Kristina. Passionate about creating delicious, innovative gluten free recipes, and author of two gluten free cookbooks, “Entertaining The Gluten Free Way” and “Small Bites The Gluten Free Way”.

 

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Many thanks!

Kristina x

 

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