20 healthy holiday side dishes, perfect for sharing with friends and family who either have food intolerances or restrictions, or simply enjoy eating clean!

20 Healthy Holiday Side Dishes for a nutritious feast | TheRoastedRoot.net #glutenfree #vegan #vegetarian #paleo #primal

With Thanksgiving coming up next week, and Christmas around the corner as well, I thought we could pause the recipes and focus some attention on fresh and funky Thanksgiving side dishes. If you’re hosting or contributing to a Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) feast this year, youย may have a few dietary restrictions to cater to. This is where I hope to be of some help! I’ve rounded up my favorite holiday side dishes from this site and have noted which of them are paleo, vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free. This way, you can whip up healthful, nutrient-dense dishes for your friends and family and not have to worry about anyone going hungry.

This roundup is perfect for eaters who…

  • are gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and/or paleo
  • enjoy eating clean
  • are looking to prepareย straight-forward, easy, simple recipes to save time and money
  • are trying to avoid having to wear yoga pants the rest of the winter on account of the holidays

Questions on any of these recipes, on cooking allergy-free dishes, and/or on why wide-leg pants still haven’t made a comeback? Hit me up!

Healthy Holiday Side Dishes

Pan-Fried Bacon Green Beans with Pomegranate Seeds gluten-free, paleoA super quick and easy side dish to assemble, requiring only a few ingredients. Easy to scale up or down depending on the amount of mouths you’re feeding.

Pan-Fried Bacon Green Beans with Pomegranate Seeds - a healthful, festive side dish perfect for holiday gatherings | TheRoastedRoot.net #glutenfree #vegetables #thanksgiving

Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soupgluten-free, paleo, can easily be made veganA great make-ahead option for an appetizer or side dish to tide over guests before the main feast.

Crock Pot Butternut Squash Apple Soup - dairy-free, gluten-free, and healthy | TheRoastedRoot.net #recipe #dinner #fall

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables vegan, paleo, gluten-free – A squeaky clean, supercharged superfood side dish, packed with nutrients to round out a meal, while still lending carbs for a healthy comfort food.

Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables - a superfood nutritious side dish that requires very little effort to make! | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #recipe #sidedish #rootvegetables #vegan

Maple Cinnamon-Glazed Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Baconpaleo, gluten-free, can easily be made veganA crowd-pleaser including sweet and salty flavors, along with soft and crunchy textures.

Cinnamon-Maple Sauteed Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #sidedish #paleo #holiday

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserolevegetarian, paleo, gluten-freeNot your momma’s sweet potato casserole! A delicious, carb-laiden treat of a side dish that happens to be vegetarian, paleo, and gluten-free. A super filling side!

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole - sugar-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, healthy, and paleo | TheRoastedRoot.net #thanksgiving #sidedish #vegetarian #healthy

Cranberry Kale Salad with Roasted Pecans and Feta gluten-free, vegetariana mega crunchy, nutrient-dense side dish packed with flavor and texture – the perfect seasonal salad for the holidays.

Cranberry Kale Salad with Roasted Pecans and Feta | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #superfood #recipe #vegetarian

Wild Rice Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Pears, and Pecans gluten-free, veganA healthful, filling, and flavor-infused stuffing recipe.

Wild Rice Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Pears, Pecans, and Dried Cranberries #healthy #thanksgiving #recipe #sidedish

Creamy Kabocha Squash Mash gluten-free, vegan, paleoA nutritious alternative to mashed potatoes, and a sweet and savory delight!

Mashed Kabocha Squash with honey - a simple and healthful side dish recipe for the holidays #healthy #paleo

Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Risotto with Prosciutto gluten-freecarby, boozy, comforting, absolutely delicious – a marvelous side dish for filling up your guests.

Creamy Bourbon-Spiked Pumpkin Risotto with Prosciutto and Goat Cheese - a tasty gluten-free, dairy-free recipe for holiday gatherings | TheRoastedRoot.net

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes gluten-free, vegetarian, can easily be made paleo The balsamic glaze, feta cheese, and pecans bring this dish together with tons of flavor – clean, simple, healthful, and vibrant.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes with Pecans, Feta, and Balsamic Reduction | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #vegetarian

Indian-Spiced Lentil and Quinoa Stuffingvegan, vegetarian, almost paleoA completely unique take on “stuffing” – a nutrient-dense side dish with parsnips, golden raisins, pine nuts, and Indian spices for a super light alternative to stuffing.

Indian-Spiced Lentil and Quinoa Stuffing | TheRoastedRoot.net @PacificFoods #glutenfree #healthy #holiday #sidedish

Gluten-Free Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffinsgluten-freeBecause no Thanksgiving feast is complete without lumps of delicious cheesy carbs!

Gluten-Free Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #recipe @bobsredmill

My Go-To Balsamic Roasted Vegetables gluten-free, paleo, vegana timeless classic in my household – a flavorful vegetable side dish with plenty of room for adaptation, perfect for serving a lot of guests.

Balsamic Roasted Vegetables | TheRoastedRoot.net #healthy #sidedish #vegetarian #vegan #paleo

 

Sweet Potato Rounds with Herbed Ricotta and Walnutsgluten-free, vegetarianย You won’t believe the fresh and unique flavor and texture experience with these bites of bliss! This unique and festive dish can double as an appetizer or side.

Sweet Potato Rounds with Herbed Goat Cheese, Roasted Walnuts, Cranberries, and Honey | TheRoastedRoot.net an easy and healthy appetizer! #recipe #glutenfree #healthy #holiday

Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes)gluten-free a classic take on mashed potatoes – indulgent, carby, laiden with yum!

Colcannon (a.k.a. Irish Mashed Potatoes with Kale) - a delicious side dish for St. Patrick's Day! | theroastedroot.net

Honey-Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Beetsgluten-free, vegetarian, can easily be made paleovitamin and mineral-packed, this healthful dish is a great go-to for healthy eater gatherings.

Honey-Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Beets with Blue Cheese and Walnuts #sidedish #recipe

Maple-Bourbon Mashed Sweet Potatoesgluten-free, vegetariana mega carb-load with sweet, buttery, boozed out flavor. Perfect for those who love sweet potatoes and are looking for a unique twist.

Maple Bourbon Mashed Potatoes | a.k.a. the best mashed sweet potatoes ever! #thanksgiving #sidedish #healthy #recipe

Citrusy Brown Rice with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate gluten-free, vegetarian, can easily be made veganThe perfect rice side dish for small gatherings – lots of texture, flavor, and room for adaptation.

Brown Rice with Butternut Squash, Pomegranate Seeds, and Goat Cheese with Citrus Dressing

Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes gluten-free, vegan a brilliant go-to potato dish for keeping guests satiated. Easy to make, and only a few ingredients required.

Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Beets gluten-free, vegan, paleoRelatively quick to prepare, and a hugely nutritious dish perfect for healthy eaters and those with numerous dietary restrictions.

Maple Roasted Butternut Squash and Beets

Brussels Sprouts Chopped Salad with Pears, Gorgonzola, and Bacon Vinaigrettealmost paleo, gluten-freeThe perfect salad for those who don’t like salad.

Brussel Sprout Chopped Salad with bacon, pears, candied pecans, blue cheese, and maple-bacon vinaigrette

Cheers to a memorable, healthful, and delicious holiday season!

xo

Julia Mueller
Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a recipe developer, cookbook author, and founder of The Roasted Root. She has authored three bestselling cookbooks, – Paleo Power Powers, Delicious Probiotic Drinks, and The Quintessential Kale Cookbook. Her recipes have been featured in several national publications such as BuzzFeed, Self, Tasty, Country Living, Brit.co, etc.

Read More

Need Help With Dinner?

View More Dinner Ideas

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.