Get creative this holiday season by trying out these unique recipes.
For the holidays, it’s tempting to cook up the classics like creamy mashed potatoes or buttery cornbread, but why not serve something unique and delicious on your table this year? We’ve rounded up Thanksgiving side dishes guaranteed to steal the show at your next spread. These recipes mix in savory cheeses like tangy cheddar, Appenzeller, and smoky gouda and will provide you and your guests with comforting bites.
Jalapeño Cheddar Rolls via No Recipes
Try scattering grated cheddar and pickled jalapeños into your dough this holiday season. The result? A savory, spicy, flaky roll to eat alongside roasted brussels sprouts or tender turkey.
Jackie Botto via culture
Fig and Apple Salad With Shaved Goat Gouda from culture
If you typically lean towards lighter holiday sides, add this salad to your spread. It combines crisp apples, sweet figs, creamy aged goat gouda, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
Erin Lynch via Plates and Pairings
Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese from Plates and Pairings
Mac and cheese is a must-have on every holiday spread. It’s creamy and nostalgic of cozy bites savored while spending quality time with loved ones. This recipe promises a decadent bake mixing evaporated milk, sharp cheddar, nutty parmesan, and sweet pumpkin for the ultimate seasonal dish to dig into this fall.
Chef Josh Berry and Maggie Knowles via culture
Roasted Grape, Gorgonzola, and Rosemary Focaccia from culture
After you complete the fun part of the focaccia-making process—dimpling the dough—toss on some roasted grapes, piquant gorgonzola, and floral rosemary on top. That way, your guests can have delicious bread on their plates to sop up any leftover sauce from the turkey.
MacKenzie Smith via Grilled Cheese Social
Southern Potato Salad from Grilled Cheese Social
If you love creamy bites of chilled potato salad during the holidays, consider saving this recipe. It packs pimiento cheese—or caviar of the south—crisp bacon and fragrant scallions. Make this side dish the day before; that way, you can sit back and relax and only have to worry about serving.
Jenny Bravo via culture
Roasted Sunchokes With Bagna Càuda and Melted Appenzeller from culture
This northwestern Italian dish combines sunchokes with garlic and anchovies for a flavorful holiday side. Finish it off with thin slices of Appenzeller—a Swiss cow’s milk cheese—for some cheesy goodness.
Erin Lynch via Plates and Pairings
Duchess Potatoes from Plates and Pairings
Make these duchess potatoes for a beautiful and elegant-looking side dish to add to your guest’s plate. It tastes just as delicious as it looks, thanks to the creamy cheddar mixed into the starch.
Jenny Bravo via culture
Clothbound Cheddar and Dill Biscuits from culture
These biscuits are flaky, savory, and the perfect handhelds for your gathering. They’re filled with cheddar cheese and will provide your loved ones with warm and comforting bites this season.
MacKenzie Smith via Grilled Cheese Social
Kale Butternut Squash Salad from Grilled Cheese Social
This salad shines a light on seasonal ingredients like kale and butternut squash. The recipe calls for tangy feta crumbles to give the greens extra flavor. It’s the perfect side dish for when your guests need a palate cleanser after loading up on all that mac and cheese.
Chef Josh Berry and Maggie Knowles via culture
Creamy Au Gratin With Gorgonzola and Root Veggies from culture
This Au Gratin is a show stopper for many reasons: it makes a beautiful centerpiece thanks to the elegantly laid root vegetables, and it’s creamy and delicious thanks to the savory gorgonzola. Pro tip: use colorful ingredients like purple sweet potatoes and white parsnips so that this dish looks extra vibrant.
Related:
- 5 Cheesy Desserts Perfect for Thanksgiving
- 30 of Our Best Cheesy Recipes for the Holidays
- 9 Dairy-Filled Desserts to Cool Down Your Labor Day Weekend
Ashia Aubourg
Ashia Aubourg is culture's former Assistant Digital Editor. She received her BA in Food Studies and Policy Studies from Syracuse University, where she researched components that make up equitable food systems. She previously held print and digital roles at Food & Wine, Cuisine Noir, America's Test Kitchen, and others, where her writing unearthed underrepresented narratives within food, travel, and culture. Before starting her writing career, she held food policy and social impact roles across various nonprofits and companies.
