As a working chef, I was incredibly spoiled—I always had more than enough industrial stove and oven space to pull off Thanksgiving dinner. But for the past six years, I’ve cooked in a “normal” kitchen with four burners and a single standard oven. That shift has made menu planning a lot more thoughtful—and strategic. Do we really need another baked or roasted side dish? The answer is a resounding no, and these nine Thanksgiving side dishes that don’t require the oven prove it.
In addition to classics like our ultra-fluffy mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and French-style green beans with butter-toasted almonds, there’s an inspired Korean spin on traditional stuffing flavors, and super-fast and easy air fryer versions of oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, and potatoes. So, don’t worry, you’ve got options.
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