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The anticipation of the holiday season and a hearty Thanksgiving meal fills the air with excitement.
While roast turkey may take center stage, the accompanying side dishes complete the feast.
Among these, Apple Side Dishes for Thanksgiving have become a delightful tradition and a great addition that adds a little sweetness to the celebration.
From apple pie to apple butter to applesauce, it’s clear that this is a versatile fruit. The apple also has many health benefits.
To get the most nutrients from apples, eat them raw. Chop them up and put them in a salad, or slice them and spread with peanut butter for more flavor variety.
- Portable – Apples are a highly portable snack. They do not bruise as easily as bananas, making them ideal to carry to the office or school for lunch.
- Flavorful – There are so many varieties of apples that you’re sure to find several you like. There are unusual varieties like Cinnamon Spice and Zuccalmaglio’s Reinette and more common varieties like McIntosh and Golden Delicious.
- Full of Fiber – Apples contain fiber, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Contain Antioxidants – Apples, particularly their skins, also contain large amounts of antioxidants, which can boost your immune system.
- Vitamin C – There is plenty of ascorbic acid in apples (vitamin C). Ascorbic acid maintains the integrity of blood vessels, aids cognitive function, and plays a critical role in producing energy and combating free radicals.
Apple Side Dish Recipes
That being said, here are some of my favorite and the best Thanksgiving Side Dishes for the main dish you can make with apples:
4 Ingredient Cranberry Relish Recipe – From An Off-Grid Life
Create an exquisite no-cook Cranberry Relish this holiday! Use fresh or frozen Cranberries, apples, oranges, and sugar to make a delicious no-cook Cranberry Relish that won’t require cooking!
This no-cook Cranberry Relish recipe is ideal when you don’t feel like spending too much time in the kitchen.
Air Fryer Apples (So Quick, Easy, And Flavorful!) – From Texanerin Baking
These Air Fryer Apples make an easy yet delectable fall treat! It’s like sauteed apples but made in an air fryer.
Lightly sweetened with maple syrup and vanilla for flavoring and cinnamon for spicing, they can be ready in no time and are suitable for dairy-free, paleo, and vegan diets alike!
Apples might not be the most exciting side dish or dessert at Thanksgiving, but I’m always delighted when they appear on my table. While sauteed apples can be tasty treats, sometimes I find their sugary coating too much for my liking.
Apple Butternut Bisque – From Garlic and Zest
This easy butternut squash soup recipe features a silky-smooth texture with the delicate sweetness of apples and apple brandy! Make this starter or light meal complete by pairing it with some salad!
This velvety apple butternut squash bisque will become one of your go-to meals all year.
With earthy flavors of butternut squash blended in with tart apples, fresh aromatics, cream, and a splash of apple brandy – you will become an avid supporter of butternut squash soup!
This rich and decadent dish will convert even those skeptical of its goodness!
Apple Cabbage Slaw with White Beans and Cider Vinaigrette by Fannetastic Food
White Bean Apple Cabbage Slaw is an irresistibly refreshing take on classic cabbage slaw! Perfect as both an appetizer and light lunch.
Apple cabbage slaw is an easy, perfect make-ahead side dish! Try this refreshing apple version with olive oil instead for something deliciously fresh and vibrant for your Thanksgiving table!
Skillet Fried Apples by Flavor Mosaic
Skillet Fried Apples is a copycat Cracker Barrel recipe made with sliced apples with cinnamon for a classic Southern side dish.
These apples are delicious, make a perfect Thanksgiving side dish, and are about to become a new favorite!
You can make something truly delicious with a few ingredients and a skillet!
Apple Sweet Potato Bake From All Nutritious
Apple Sweet Potato Bake is an indulgent side dish perfect for serving alongside any main course meal. Spiced, sweet, and satisfyingly filling, this vegan and gluten-free treat also boasts plenty of nutritional goodness!
Apple Sweet Potato Bake can help! It is packed full of the sweet flavors of apples and sweet potatoes and makes an irresistibly delicious dessert dish!
Walnuts add an irresistibly crunchy element, while cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger will warm you right up!
Arugula Salad with Apples and Quinoa from Vanilla Bean Cuisine
This Arugula Salad with Apples features arugula, apples, quinoa, cheddar cheese, candied pepitas, and honey-mustard dressing – perfect for lunch!
Are you searching for your new fall salad? I have just the solution for you. Inspired by all the apples I saw at my farmers’ market, this dish celebrates its sweet flavor while providing plenty of nutritious vegetables such as peppery arugula and peppery quinoa as the main course.
Add sharp cheddar cheese for some added flair and candied pepitas that don’t take long to prepare and can add serious personality. Finally, finish it with honey-mustard dressing, and you will wish fall would last forever.
Cranberry Apple Coleslaw from Far From Normal
Cranberry Apple Coleslaw is an irresistibly delicious take on classic coleslaw!
Combining sweet apples and tart cranberries with green cabbage, carrots, and homemade coleslaw dressing creates a tasty side dish!
This creamy coleslaw makes an excellent side salad for any weeknight dinner or holiday menu!
A wonderful variation on classic coleslaw with its addition of fall flavors such as tart apples and cranberries!
Make Ahead Apple Poppyseed Salad by Health Beet
Apple Almond Poppyseed Salad With Chicken can be easily prepared ahead of time to be enjoyed at any time! Simply enjoy!
It is a perfect salad for a potluck, party, or Thanksgiving dinner!
Easy Sheet Pan Brussels Sprouts with Sausage and Honey From The Virtual Caterer
Easy Sheet Pan Brussels Sprouts with Sausage and Honey are easy to prepare in only one pan! You will roast Brussels sprouts with chorizo, apples, and honey here!
Brussels sprouts can make a delicious side dish! Slice in a half roast on a sheet pan with sausage (I used chorizo), apples, and sage before finishing them off with blue cheese and honey for the ultimate finish – they’re savory, spicy, sweet, and super fresh all at the same time.
Apple Cinnamon White Cake From Flavor Mosaic
Try this quick and simple Apple Cinnamon White Cake made with white whole wheat flour, chopped apples, cinnamon, and milk!
Apples and cinnamon go hand in hand perfectly, creating the ideal flavor duo for delicious winter desserts such as apple pie.
But these two ingredients also combine beautifully when making a cake! The ingredients are also reminiscent of an apple fritter but in a moist, tender crumb cake!
Hard Apple Cider Mac by Life As A Strawberry
Simple hard apple cider mac and cheese with creamy white cheddar sauce and delectable crispy bacon is the ultimate autumn comfort food! Enjoy it today!
At its heart, macaroni and cheese comes in two main styles. French-leaning versions rely on bechamel sauce (made by simmering flour-and-butter base with lots of milk); southern mac and cheese typically includes eggs or evaporated milk for additional creaminess and often features various cheeses and seasonings in its creamy sauce.
Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce – by Flavor Mosaic
Homemade Applesauce – A slow cooker recipe made with a blend of sweet and tart fresh apples, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice for an irresistibly delicious side dish or dessert topping!
Homemade applesauce is simple and straightforward with just a few essential ingredients. Perfect for an enjoyable fall brunch or as a side to Thanksgiving dinner.
Kale Apple Slaw by The Fibro Fog
This Kale Apple Slaw combines traditional slaw ingredients with sweet apples and greens for an irresistibly healthy summer salad, perfect as an appetizer at BBQs, picnics, or main meals.
The perfect side dish that is so easy to make with its honey ginger dressing this kale apple slaw is vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, and low histamine!
This Kale Slaw with Apples is bright and fresh, featuring traditional red cabbage, white cabbage, carrot, and leafy greens with sweet apples for an interesting combination. Perfect as an easy side dish that complements many main courses!
Kale Chickpea Salad with Candied Pecans By Served From Scratch
This Kale Chickpea Salad with Candied Pecans is an exceptionally flavorful, light, and bright vinaigrette salad – the ideal addition to your fall or holiday table!
Have you ever experienced raw kale salad and thought, “Ehhh it’s too bitter,” but then failed to massage the leaves? Massaging some oil (fat) onto each leaf can quickly reduce bitterness while making the leaves tender and more enjoyable to eat!
How long should you massage for? You’ll know once tenderness and oil coating, all the leaves are evident you’ll know your time was well-spent massaging is complete, and you can taste and see an instant difference when tasting raw kale salad!
Parsnip and Apple Soup From Dana’s Table
Creamy parsnip and apple soup is an irresistibly comforting autumn delight! Enjoy sweet apples and earthy parsnips for delicious fall flavors in under an hour.
This creamy and warming soup recipe is the perfect autumn and winter comfort food. As parsnips and apples come into season during the autumn harvest season, this soup is the perfect way to commemorate their harvest season.
Pickled Chayote Salad with Apples and Radishes from Yummy Addition
This colorful and flavorful Chayote Salad brings together an exciting combination of crispy apple, tender chayote, pickled onions, salty feta, and more! Enjoy this delectable dish today!
If you haven’t experienced the delights of chayote squash yet, this refreshing salad is a wonderful introduction. My family enjoys its soft yet firm bite, combined with crunchy pickled onions and sweet apples.
Pumpernickel, Apple, and Sausage Stuffing by Life As A Strawberry
Add a bit of variety to your Thanksgiving festivities with this green apple and sausage stuffing, complete with pumpkin bread and pumpernickel!
This homemade stuffing recipe combines Italian sausage, fresh green apple slices, and pumpernickel bread into an earthy side dish reminiscent of autumn flavors.
Don’t limit this dressing recipe to Thanksgiving: use it to stuff butternut squashes, sweet potatoes, or as part of a main course when roasting chicken!
Sheet Pan Apple Bacon Brussels Sprouts From Mitten Girl
Bacon, apples, and apple cider vinegar combine to make delicious Brussels sprouts you crave as an appetizer or Thanksgiving side! Enjoy them for lunch, dinner, or as an afternoon snack!
This tasty side dish comes together quickly with your oven doing most of the hard work!
These mouthwatering Brussels sprouts will become one of your staple fall vegetables year-round!
Thanksgiving Kale Salad by Gypsyplate
You will adore this fall salad! A perfect green oasis amid meaty and buttery holiday dishes!
Not only is this eye-pleasing, but its ingredients also feature your favorite holiday flavors such as creamy, nutty roasted butternut squash, festive cranberries, and sweet maple syrup; but that’s not all: add crunchy tart apples, salty goat cheese, chickpeas, and sunflower seeds, and you will have a fall salad that everyone is sure to adore!
The Best Stuffing Without Celery by Joy To The Food
This delectable stuffing without celery is packed with succulent apples, flavorful sausage, and comforting holiday spices! Enjoy!
I may be in the minority regarding my taste in foods, but stuffing is my go-to dish for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas brunch.
Crispbread on top with soft bread underneath topped off by spicy sausage and served alongside cranberry sauce, is exactly what I look forward to each year – but one ingredient I don’t enjoy? Celery.
Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad by Flavor Mosaic
Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad includes spinach and salad greens, with Green Apples, Dried Cranberries, Walnuts, and Gorgonzola Cheese.
This healthy green salad incorporates all the deliciousness of the cheese, cranberries, and walnuts but avoids the heavier ingredients.
Summary
For Thanksgiving side dishes, Apple Side Dishes are a delicious addition to traditional Thanksgiving dishes, such as Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, and Cornbread Stuffing.
Whether you explore new recipes or old recipes like Green Bean Casserole with apples or stick with classics like Traditional Apple Pie and other Thanksgiving apple desserts, the versatility of apples in the holiday kitchen is undeniable.
These delicious recipes add a burst of flavor and a touch of sweetness to your Thanksgiving meal and provide a refreshing twist on tradition.
As you gather with loved ones to celebrate this special day, consider incorporating these Honeycrisp apples-inspired creations into your Thanksgiving feast, and may your holiday be filled with joy, gratitude, and the delicious flavors of the season.
Even if you decide to change turkey for pork for Thanksgiving, the above apple side dishes for pork will be just as delicious!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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