17 Portable Sides for a Thanksgiving Potluck
Technically, you can bring any dish to a Thanksgiving potluck. Taking over pie duty is a kind thing to do, especially since pies really taste best the day they’re baked. Or you could volunteer to be in charge of hors d’oeuvres—dips are easy to tote in the car, and there’s a reason deviled egg carriers exist. But if you’re asked to bring a side dish this year, it’s worth checking in about your host’s oven capacity, and even kinder to plan to bring something that won’t require much (or any) warming up in the kitchen. (If you’re right down the block, though, stuffing and mac and cheese are definitely fair game.) Below you’ll find a few ideas that are portable and crowd-pleasing. Add a bottle of something to drink while you’re at it.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/17Glazed Shallots with Chile and Thyme
Rewarming these shallots requires only a few minutes in the microwave, so you can stay out of your host’s way when they’re finishing the gravy and checking the temperature of that turkey.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton3/17Kale Salad With Butternut Squash, Pomegranate, and Pumpkin Seeds
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/17Cranberry Orange Relish
For a large group, the Thanksgiving meal should have two cranberry options: one a bracing relish and the other more jammy and cooked. (Of course, an old-school jelly mold is sure to be a hit as well. Just don’t invert until you arrive at the celebration.) Relish is the easiest of the bunch, though, and this recipe is a winner.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li5/17Raw Butternut Squash Ribbon Salad With Orange and Chile
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/17Shaved Carrots with Charred Dates
Gentl & Hyers10/17Dilly Rolls
Some rolls are not for beginners, but these really are easy. And they can be baked up to three hours ahead.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng14/17Bitter Greens With Cranberry Dressing
There is no Thanksgiving salad that’s more Thanksgiving-y than this salad. The bright-tart dressing is a showstopper.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini16/17Smashed Green Bean Salad With Crispy Shallots
Photo by Linda Xiao17/17Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts Slaw
Not all the best brussels sprouts recipes are roasted. In this Thanksgiving potluck-friendly dish, crunchy raw broccoli and brussels sprouts meet their match in a punchy triumvirate of olives, anchovies, and lemon juice.
