Top-5 “Must-Try” Thanksgiving Side Dishes by sophieb | Nov 18, 2021 | Community Education We’re counting down our Top-5 Thanksgiving sides – And you’ve got to try #1! It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without all your favorite side dishes! Turkey may get top billing, but Thanksgiving side dishes are just as important as the holiday bird. Feast your eyes on our collection of the Top 5 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side Dishes for your HOA, featuring the best sides for your holiday dinner. From essential vegetable side dishes to easy make ahead side dishes, this go-to list has the most festive fare for your Thanksgiving meal. #5 Best Bacon Sprouts Most people either love or hate brussel sprouts, but we bet you can change any negative opinion with these magnificent Best Bacon Sprouts! Tender and savory, this is one Thanksgiving vegetable side that’ll make sprout-lovers out of your gang.While these tasty sprouts may resemble tiny cabbage heads, they’ve got a unique flavor that’s all their own! And we think our Best Bacon Sprouts taste even better than the rest, because they’re cooked in all your favorite seasonings and finished off with crunchy, yummy, bacon bits! What You’ll Need: 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts (or one 14-ounce bag frozen, thawed), cut in half 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup chicken broth 1/4 cup bacon bits What To Do: Place Brussels sprouts in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until fork-tender; drain. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil; brown spouts with onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add chicken broth and bacon bits and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until liquid is reduced. #4 Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits Who can resist the smell of homemade biscuits? These all-important staples are a must at Thanksgiving dinner, especially when paired with turkey and gravy. Our light and fluffy Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits melt in your mouth, just like Grandma’s biscuits always did! What You’ll Need: 4 cups self-rising flour, plus more for rolling out 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 3/4 cup vegetable shortening 2 cups buttermilk What To Do: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and sugar; mix well. Using a fork or pastry cutter, cut shortening into flour mixture until crumbly. Add buttermilk and stir just until a soft dough forms. Lightly flour a flat surface; using a rolling pin, roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch biscuit or cookie cutter, cut into round biscuits and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until light golden. Serve warm, or remove to a wire rack to cool completely. *Note- Serve these with a pat of butter on top for the perfect addition to breakfast… or any meal, for that matter! #3 Creamy Corn for a Crowd For an easy crowd-pleasin’ Thanksgiving side dish, our Creamy Corn for a Crowd is a breeze to make and feeds ten! Your slow cooker does all the work for you and the result is a creamy delight. Garnish with bacon bits for a holiday-worthy side dish!This Creamy Corn for a Crowd is a breeze to make and is definitely included among our favorite slow cooker potluck recipes! Don’t be surprised that the cream cheese still retains its block shape after 4 hours of cooking… it’s very soft and blends easily when stirred.What You’ll Need: 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen whole kernel corn 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup water 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese 1/2 cup butter What To Do: Place corn in a 4- to 5- quart slow cooker. Sprinkle corn with salt and sugar; drizzle with water. Place cream cheese and butter on top of corn mixture (do not stir). Cover and cook on LOW setting 4 hours. Stir well before serving.*Note – Garnish with bacon bits for an extra punch of Southern yumminess! #2 Baked Cranberry Sauce If you’ve never made your own homemade cranberry sauce, you are really missing out. Besides being easy to make, with each spoonful, you’ll experience a burst of flavor that is second to none. Ditch the can — try this easy recipe for homemade cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving! What You’ll Need: 4 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons water What To Do: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients in a 1-1/2-quart casserole dish. Cover and bake 50 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries pop. Let cool slightly then cover and chill until ready to serve.*Note – One 12-ounce bag of cranberries measures about 3 cups. #1 The Ultimate Holiday Stuffing This easy recipe for Holiday Stuffing is our number one must-have Thanksgiving side dish! Here’s the secret combo: Using a stuffing mix along with some of our own fresh ingredients makes the perfect pairing with your holiday bird. And if there’s any leftovers, this stuffing reheats well the next day! What You’ll Need: 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium-sized onion, chopped 1/4 pound mushrooms, chopped 1/3 cup (2 ounces) slivered blanched almonds 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 3/4 cups chicken broth 1 (8-ounce) package seasoned stuffing cubes What To Do: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 1-quart baking dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; add onion, mushrooms, almonds, cranberries, salt, and ginger, and saute 6 to 8 minutes, or until onions and mushrooms are tender. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add stuffing cubes; mix well and place in prepared baking dish. Cover and bake 30 minutes, until center is firm.*Note: You can substitute stuffing cubes with your favorite salad croutons if you’re in a pinch! Now that you’ve checked out our Top-5 dishes, we challenge you to take this holiday to heart…Share one of your favorite holiday recipes with someone this season! Experience the Joy of Thankfulness that comes from Giving! From everyone at Ardent Residential, we hope that you and your family have the best Thanksgiving yet! ——————————————————————————————————— Check Out All Of Our Community-Focused Articles – VISIT OUR MAIN BLOG PAGEBe The First To See Articles Like This – Scroll Down To Follow Us or Sign Up For Our Newsletter! _______