With Thanksgiving in just 48 hours, I wanted to share two super easy last-minute recipes in case you’re in a pinch. Every Thanksgiving menu usually has some sort of sweet potato and green bean as an option. In our family, we typically do a sweet potato pie. Not the dessert kind, the side dish kind. It’s full of sugar and uses canned yams. It’s DELICIOUS. But for a more healthy-ish take on this classic side, I’m sharing the simplest roasted sweet potatoes. The thing that really makes the dish stand out is the presentation. Oh and the delicious pecan and walnut syrup you can serve alongside.
The second is a classic you can make all year round. Simple sauteed green beans with garlic. We never had green bean casserole growing up. I actually don’t think I’ve ever had it, period. On our Thanksgiving table though, there’s always some sort of fresh vegetable. Nothing coated in canned cream of mushroom soup here. We’ve always been into simply sauteed or steamed veggies. It’s a nice compliment to all the other heavy dishes this holiday brings.
Easy Side Dishes For Thanksgiving
Roasted Sweet Potato With Pecan And Walnut Syrup Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs of sweet potatoes, peeled
- 4 tbsp of butter, melted
- salt & pepper
- 2 cups of maple syrup
- 1/2 cup of pecans and or walnuts (or both)
- 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
METHOD
For The Sweet Potatoes
Peel all of your potatoes and cut them into 1-inch discs.
Melt your butter
Place your potatoes on a baking sheet, not touching, and coat them in the butter.
Roast at 400 for 20 minutes on one side, then flip for another 20. Keep an eye on them. If your oven is too hot these will just burn and be gross.
For The Syrup
Add maple syrup, nuts and cinnamon to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. You just want this to get warmed up and get all the flavors together.
Serve the potatoes lined up nicely and top with the syrup.
Simple Garlic Green Beans With Lemon and Parmesan Cheese
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs of green beans, trimmed
- 2 tbsp of olive oil
- 1 tbsp of chopped garlic
- salt & pepper
- 2 lemons
- parmesan cheese
METHOD
In a large frying pan, heat your olive oil over medium heat and then add your garlic. Add your green beans, salt and pepper. Once cooked through (I like mine still with a bite to it so this happens quickly!) remove from the pan and arrange on your dish. Top with a few shavings of parmesan cheese and sliced lemons. You can squeeze another lemon on top as well.
Photos by Hannah Michelle
