Stovetop Side Dish Recipes

Multitask while the turkey's roasting and prepare sides on the stovetop that don't require you to use the oven.

Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2012, Television Food Network, GP. All Rights Reserved.

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

Photo By: Tara Donne ©2009, Tara Donne

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Photo By: Evan Sung for The New York Times

Photo By: Armando Rafael Moutela ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved. 2014, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Stove Top Mac-n-Cheese

Alton Brown uses evaporated milk to ensure a smooth and even cheddar coating on his pasta, making this the perfect grown-up version of a childhood favorite.

Get the Recipe: Stove Top Mac-n-Cheese

Stovetop Green Bean Casserole

Alex makes this classic casserole in a cast-iron skillet, starting with a creamy homemade mushroom base instead of canned cream of mushroom soup. Hers is boosted with cayenne pepper and Dijon mustard, then covered with crispy fried shallots.

Get the Recipe: Stovetop Green Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Soup

This soup from Two Fat Ladies takes the seasonal squash and kicks it up a few (hundred thousand) notches — on the Scoville scale, that is. It calls for an entire Scotch bonnet pepper, but if you can't find the exotic, fiery veggie, try a similarly hot habanero chile.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup

Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Tyler's chunky garlic-flavored mashed potatoes are balanced out by just a few sprigs of fresh thyme and a couple spoonfuls of chives.

Get the Recipe: Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale

Dark, leafy and slightly bitter, kale makes an unexpected appearance in this green bean-based side, which takes on additional savory notes when sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Parmesan Green Beans and Kale

BB n' C Mac and Cheese

This stovetop mac and cheese possesses two family-friendly secret weapons: cooked squash and cheddar cheese. The squash, added to the cheese sauce, kicks up the fiber and vitamins with an incognito yellow color that leaves diners none the wiser.

Get the Recipe: BB n' C Mac and Cheese

Garlic Sauteed Spinach

Debi and Gabriele have the secret to avoiding a mushy mess of spinach: Blanch the spinach first and squeeze out all the excess water before sauteing it in olive oil.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Sauteed Spinach

Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds

It's no secret that almonds are the perfect complement to crisp green beans, but Tyler improves the classic combo by adding caramelized onions for extra flavor.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes

This five-star side dish recipe from Bal Arneson infuses cauliflower and sweet potatoes with the strong flavors of ginger, coriander, cumin and turmeric.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes

Green Beans with Mushroom and Shallots

Assorted mushrooms and shallots make the perfect accompaniment for fresh, snappy green beans.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Mushroom and Shallots

Cranberry, Apple and Ginger Chutney

For a chunkier take on cranberry sauce, try this cranberry and apple chutney, given tang and spice with apple cider vinegar and ginger.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry, Apple and Ginger Chutney

Honey Glazed Carrots

Slather baby carrots in a sticky sheen of butter, honey and lemon juice for a colorful and quick-cooking side dish.

Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes

Tyler gives traditional mashed potatoes an update by adding parsnips, which impart carrot-like flavor and a subtle sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes

Tommaso's Baby Carrots

Though these carrots are little, they're certainly sophisticated when roughly mashed with Parmesan and extra virgin olive oil.

Get the Recipe: Tommaso's Baby Carrots

Green Beans with Mustard

Spicy mustard and freshly ground cumin seeds give green beans a kick, while pine nuts and almonds add sweet, nutty flavor.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Mustard

Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes

Add some color to your Thanksgiving mash with red new potatoes that are smashed and smothered with garlic, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese.

Get the Recipe: Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes

Stir-Fried Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and Sage

Grating and stir-frying sweet potatoes gives them a different texture, but sage leaves and brown butter sauce give them familiar fall flavor.

Get the Recipe: Stir-Fried Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and Sage

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Aged Cheddar and Pancetta

Think a cauliflower-based soup will bore? With salty pancetta, sharp cheddar and fragrant leeks, this mild-looking bowl packs a punch.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Aged Cheddar Pancetta, and Sauteed Leeks

Butternut Squash and Vanilla Risotto

By infusing her risotto with vanilla, Giada highlights the natural sweetness of the squash, giving this creamy side the decadence of a dessert.

Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash and Vanilla Risotto