17 Mouthwatering Holiday Sides for Meat Lovers
To satisfy your cravings for salty bacon, savory sausage, and other rich and delicious meats this season, we've compiled a collection of our most indulgent and meat-filled side dishes to help you create a seriously satisfying holiday spread.
A turkey is often the centerpiece of the holiday meal, but for serious meat lovers, a big bird just might not cut it. To satisfy your cravings for salty bacon, savory sausage, and other rich and delicious meats this season, we've compiled a collection of our most indulgent and meat-filled side dishes to help you create a seriously satisfying holiday spread.For a more traditional (and less meaty) take on your favorite holiday sides, take a peek at these classic casseroles.
Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Mustard
This chunky mashed-potato dish is packed with tangy mustard, fresh herbs, and thick-cut bacon.
Lemon Cream Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Sage
Get your nutrients the fun way during Thanksgiving dinner. Bacon and a lemon cream sauce make these veggies irresistible.
Cajun Mac and Cheese
The addition of kielbasa sausage makes mac and cheese a hearty dish that's ready in under an hour.
Recipe: Cajun Mac and Cheese
Aarón Sánchez's Chorizo and Corn Bread Stuffing
Stray from the usual Thanksgiving stuffing and try this Latin-inspired recipe from chef Aarón Sánchez.
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Sausage
Crisped, succulent Italian sausage adds loads of flavor to this reinvented version of a holiday staple.
Loaded Sweet-Potato Skins
Substituting sweet potatoes for white adds vitamins to the classic bar food offering, but these skins are still topped with the requisite sour cream and crumbled bacon.
Recipe: Loaded Sweet-Potato Skins
Kohlrabi and Ham Gratin
If you haven't tried kohlrabi, which tastes like a mild, sweet turnip, this gratin is an excellent place to start — after all, what doesn't taste good with cheese sauce on it? Kohlrabi that are less than 3 inches in diameter will give you the most tender results.
Recipe: Kohlrabi and Ham Gratin
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Cut the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts with the sweetness of the pancetta.
Prosciutto, Parmesan, and Parsley Mashed Potatoes
Inject the Italian flavors of cured prosciutto and Parmesan cheese into mashed potatoes for a savory variation.
Whole-Grain Stuffing with Apples, Sausage, and Pecans
After tossing the ingredients and spreading them in a pan, Melissa Rubel Jacobson chills the stuffing for at least an hour before baking. This ensures that the bread soaks up the liquid — key to a stuffing that's crisp on top and moist within.
Recipe: Whole-Grain Stuffing with Apples, Sausage, and Pecans
Bacon Mac and Cheese
Everything's better with bacon! Basic mac and cheese gets a lift from salty, crunchy bacon bits.
Recipe: Bacon Mac and Cheese
Grilled Kale with Garlic, Chiles, and Bacon
Grilling kale gives it a toasty flavor; the smartest way to prepare kale for grilling is blanching it so it becomes tender and doesn't burn.
Brussels Sprouts with Leeks and Bacon
Brussels sprouts get a flavor boost from leeks and bacon in this holiday side dish.
Roasted Sweet-Potato Salad
This salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Bring to room temperature before serving. What's the meaty ingredient? Bacon, of course.
Recipe: Roasted Sweet-Potato Salad
Green Beans with Bacon and Pecans
A nice green bean side dish made with a maple syrup and Dijon mustard dressing. Tossed with crumbled bacon and pecans, this side dish is a great way to dress up green beans.
French-Bread Stuffing with Oysters, Bacon, and Chipotle
Chef Tim Love gives his Southern-style oyster stuffing a smoky, spicy kick with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Recipe: French-Bread Stuffing with Oysters, Bacon, and Chipotle
Ham and Potato Gratins
Ham, potatoes, and cheese. Need we say more?
Recipe: Ham and Potato Gratins
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