Fall Fest: Top In Season Thanksgiving Sides

In our humble opinion, Thanksgiving is superior to any other day of the year. In an effort to make this year's feast the best of all time (sorry, Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe), we're bringing you the recipes, how-tos and decorating ideas to help you become a Turkey Day pro.

By: Cameron Curtis

With one week to go until Thanksgiving, plan on cooking these seasonal recipes that turn market-fresh produce into delicious sides for Turkey Day.

Roasted Cauliflower

1. Roasted Cauliflower (pictured above)

This five-star dish requires just 10 minutes' prep time. Toss cauliflower with oil, garlic and cumin before topping with panko breadcrumbs, then roasted until tender and golden brown.

 Roasted Squash Chili Mac

FN RECIPE Rachael Ray Roasted Squash Chili Mac

Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Rachael's dressed up mac and cheese features roasted butternut squash, plus chile pepper and chili powder. Best of all, the casserole can be covered and refrigerated before baking for a make-ahead side dish.

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Alton Brown - Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes.

Photo by: Adrian Mueller ©2012, Adrian Mueller / AMueller.com, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Adrian Mueller, 2012, Adrian Mueller / AMueller.com, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Alton steams sweet potatoes because it's an easy and fast way to cook the potatoes and the cooking method won't wash away their nutrients. He mashes the steamed sweet potatoes with butter, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce to give them a bit of heat.

 Baked Apple Pear Stuffing

Cubes of Granny Smith apples and Bosc pears fill Kelsey's Thanksgiving stuffing. They're sauteed with sausage and leeks until fragrant and softened, then mixed with country-style stuffing.

Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Tara Donne, Tara Donne

Go beyond green bean casserole with Sunny's seasonal side dish that features market-fresh shiitake or baby bella mushrooms. Frozen broccoli, cooked rice and shredded cheddar combine to make a cheesy casserole.

Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Nancy's Vodka Cranberries

Weelicious: Maple Roast VegetablesNapa Farmhouse 1885: Easy Mushroom-Chile RisottoRed or Green: Schezwan Green Beans

Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Purple Potato Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette

The Heritage Cook: Maple-Roasted Root Vegetables

Next Up

Healthiest Thanksgiving Sides

Get maximum flavor and enjoyment out of Thanksgiving without getting overly stuffed by incorporating lots of nonstarchy vegetables into side dishes.

Meatless Monday: Vegetarian Thanksgiving Sides

The great news is that most side dishes are either meatless or can be made without meat very easily (and just as deliciously).

Thanksgiving Side Dishes That'll Hold Up to Reheating

Get make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish recipes that will reheat well on Cooking Channel, including cranberry sauce, stuffing and more.

All Hail the Sweet Potato

Here are a few ways you can get hip to sweet potatoes, including mashed sweet potatoes and sweet potato soup recipes.

Beat the Wheat: Gluten-Free Cheesy Kale, Sausage and Rice Casserole

Casseroles = love, comfort, coziness, and simplicity. Having a good casserole in your hip pocket will make you the hit of your friends and neighbors!

Fall Fest: Winning Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Ace your Thanksgiving with these all-star side dishes.

Fall Fest: Carrot Recipes to Covet

Turn carrots into soup, salad, dessert and even jam with these clever ideas.

Fall Fest: Bring On the Brussels Sprouts

Get Cooking Channel's favorite Brussels sprouts recipes just in time for Thanksgiving.

Fall Fest: Cauliflower and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Take your Dutch oven out from its seasonal hiatus to host a twist on Rachael Ray's Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese.

On TV

So Much Pretty Food Here