Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Add to Your Restaurant Menu

All restaurants have some signature dishes and a fairly set menu, but when Thanksgiving and the winter holidays arrive, customers like to see something different and special on the menu. There are plenty of Thanksgiving side dishes that are incredibly popular but certain ones are considered classics. These dishes truly capture the flavors and festivity of the season and can be a great addition to your restaurant’s menu no matter what type of food you serve.Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Add to Your Restaurant Menu If the dish doesn’t quite fit the other flavors, simply make some small changes to make the dish your own. Here are some popular holiday and Thanksgiving side dishes that you should consider adding to your restaurant’s menu.

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin is one of the most popular ingredients during the holidays and it can be used in everything from appetizers, to main dishes, desserts, and even to drinks. If you add a tasty pumpkin soup to your menu, you will quickly notice that your guests love it. You can try adding some additional holiday flavors to the soup such as sweet potato or sage to give it an even more festive feel.

Spaghetti Squash

If you are looking for amazing seasonal side dishes, then you will need to include at least one with squash on your menu. These are especially popular around Thanksgiving but can also be great during the other winter holidays. For this holiday side dish, try roasting some spaghetti squash and adding a bit of dried cranberries and maple butter for extra flavor.

Butternut Squash Casserole

If you want to include even more squash on your restaurant’s holiday menu, try making a casserole with butternut squash. This dish is incredibly versatile so whether you are looking for a home-cooked feel or an upscale dish, you should be able to find the right one. Some good flavors to add to the casserole include onion, coconut milk, curry powder, raisins and flaked coconut.

Baked Carrots with Maple

If your restaurant is looking for a creative way to serve vegetable side dishes during the holidays, then consider baked carrots with a bit of maple for flavoring. All you will need to do is bake carrots wrapped in maple syrup, maple sugar and orange juice and then your patrons will have a delicious and seasonal dish to enjoy.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the most popular holiday foods, both for Thanksgiving and the other winter holidays. When looking for a sweet potato side dish to add to your menu, you can stick to the traditional options of mashed or roasted sweet potatoes. But if you want to have your side dish really stand out, serve them with a bit of salsa verde made from jalapeno, parsley, garlic, cumin, olive oil and salt.

Stuffing

One of the most popular side dishes for Thanksgiving is stuffing and there is no reason you can’t add that to your restaurant’s menu as well. The great thing about stuffing is that it is incredibly versatile. You can go with traditional stuffing, vegetarian stuffing, sausage stuffing or even one with a little bit of spice.

Bread Pudding

Bread pudding is a classic dessert, but if done right it can work as a side dish as well, especially during the holidays when people tend to eat more and worry about the calories later. For a twist on the classic bread pudding, try making it with butternut squash to add a bit of holiday flavor.

Brussels Sprouts

Although children may not appreciate this holiday side dish, most adults will. Brussels sprouts are a great addition to any holiday meal and your restaurant can add a bit of flavor to them by adding some onions, a bit of bacon and some chicken broth.

Green Beans

Green beans are another incredibly popular side dish for holiday meals whether you are looking at Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s. If you are looking for a new twist on green beans for your menu, try adding some sliced toasted almonds for additional flavor and texture.

Upscale Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is another holiday classic but most restaurants wouldn’t think of serving it by itself or as a single side dish. If you want to take the traditional cranberry sauce up a notch, try serving it with a mixture of cream cheese, mayonnaise and pecans.

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