7 Mushroom Recipes That Make the Best Healthy Thanksgiving Sides

1. Mushroom, Apple, and Walnut Stuffed Acorn Squash

Impress your guests with this Thanksgiving side dish, a winning blend of autumn flavors and elegant presentation!

Mushrooms add a rich, earthy taste to the sourdough stuffing, while crisp, diced apples provide bright bursts of flavor. With a savory vegetable stock, herbs, and the nutty flavor of walnuts, you’ll love this hearty, flavorful stuffing that is perfectly browned on the outside and tender inside. 

Bonus: Each roasted squash half serves as a natural bowl, eliminating a few dishes from your washing pile!  

Ingredients

• 4 small or medium-sized acorn squash, seeded, cut in half lengthwise
• Salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 8 oz. fresh mixed mushrooms such as Portabella, Shiitake, or Oyster, coarsely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, thinly diced
• 2 apples*, peeled and finely diced
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 small loaf of day-old sourdough or French bread, cut into ¼ inch cubes (approximately 5 cups)

*Tip: Use Idared, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Empire apples.

Fresh Green Bean Casserole with Mushrooms

Give this classic comfort food an upgrade that will have everyone asking for seconds!!

Fresh mushrooms and crisp green beans create the foundation of this beloved casserole. Follow the recipe or make it your own by choosing from delicious add-ins like crunchy water chestnuts, crispy bacon crumbles, or toasted almonds. You can even replace the green beans with broccoli or asparagus (or mix all three). 

The combination of grated cheese and golden fried onions creates an irresistibly crunchy, savory topping for a tastier and healthier take on the recipe you grew up with.

Ingredients

• 8 oz. Monterey Baby Bella or White Mushrooms*, sliced or finely diced 
• 4 cups fresh green beans, cut to bite-size
• 1 Tbsp. water
• 1 can (10-1/2 oz.) cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper
• 1-1/3 cup crispy fried onions (split 2/3 cup + 2/3 cup)
• 1/2 cup grated cheese (jack, swiss or cheddar)

*Selecting Monterey Mushrooms® "High Vitamin D" Mushrooms provides IU's of vitamin D per 3 oz serving, which is 50% of the Daily Value as recommended by the FDA.

Mama Jill’s Vegetarian Stuffing with Mushrooms

Finally, a holiday stuffing everyone at the table can enjoy! This vegetarian-friendly version delivers all the warmth and comfort of traditional stuffing without meat-based ingredients.

Finely diced mushrooms are the star here, providing that classic savory flavor and meaty texture that makes stuffing so irresistible. Combined with aromatic onions, garlic, and celery in a golden butter base, this lighter version allows everyone to save room for other holiday favorites. The traditional "poultry" seasoning adds that familiar holiday taste you know and love.

Perfect for mixed-diet gatherings, this stuffing proves that plant-based dishes can be just as satisfying as traditional Thanksgiving sides!

Ingredients

• 16 oz.  Monterey Baby Bella or White Mushrooms*, sliced or finely diced
• 1 cup onion, diced 
• 2 Tbsp. garlic, chopped 
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups salted butter or a vegan alternative
• 12 cups unseasoned bread cubes
• 1-1/2 tbsps vegetarian-friendly “poultry” seasoning
• 1-1/4 cups vegetable broth 
• Salt and pepper to taste

*Selecting Monterey Mushrooms® "High Vitamin D" Mushrooms provides IU's of vitamin D per 3 oz serving, which is 50% of the Daily Value as recommended by the FDA.

Mini Pumpkins Stuffed With Portabellas, Brussels Sprouts, and Wild Rice

Add a whimsical touch to your holiday spread with these charming stuffed mini pumpkins that double as individual serving vessels!

Wild rice forms the hearty base of this filling, while Portabella mushrooms add rich, earthy notes that complement the natural sweetness of the pumpkin. The medley includes Brussels sprouts, crunchy nuts, and dried cranberries, all brightened by a splash of apple cider and fresh thyme.

These stuffed pumpkins taste just as amazing as they look, and they’re sure to become one of your best Thanksgiving sides requested by guests year after year.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups pre-cooked wild rice
• 6 mini pumpkins
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 Monterey Portabella caps
• 3/4 lb. Brussels sprouts, halved
• 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme chopped
• 1 cup raw nuts, chopped (walnuts or pecans are great!)
• 1/4 apple cider (or fresh apple juice)
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• Salt and pepper to taste

*Selecting Monterey Mushrooms® "High Vitamin D" Portabella Mushroom Caps provides IU's of vitamin D per 3 oz serving, which is 50% of the Daily Value as recommended by the FDA.

Maitake Wild Rice Salad

When you think of easy Thanksgiving sides, your mind may not go straight to wild rice. With this recipe, however, the rice is prepared ahead of time, the rest of the instructions only take a few minutes, and you can serve this dish at room temperature or chilled. 

Easy, right?

This wild rice salad includes meaty Maitake mushrooms and toasted walnuts for a satisfying duo of textures and flavors, and caramelized onions and fresh lemon juice that add depth to every bite. The finishing touch of fresh chives brings a pop of color and subtle onion flavor to this versatile dish.

Try this sophisticated yet simple salad that showcases great ingredients with minimal fuss! 

Ingredients

• ½ cup raw walnut pieces
• 2 Tbsp. virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped yellow onion
• 6 oz. Maitake mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• ¾ tsp. fine sea salt
• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 cup dry wild rice, cooked according to package directions and cooled
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives

Maple Balsamic Mushrooms

Just mushrooms? 

Of course! 

Whether you eat these maple balsamic mushrooms straight from the serving dish or use them to enhance the flavor of sliced turkey breast or mashed potatoes, this simple mushroom recipe will steal the show!

Transform Baby Bella mushrooms into an irresistible sweet and savory sensation with a luxurious glaze of maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Coconut aminos or soy sauce — your choice — adds depth, while fresh thyme brings an aromatic touch of flavor.

This is a versatile recipe that proves that healthy sides for Thanksgiving dinner can be decadently delicious!

Ingredients

• 32 oz. sliced Monterey Baby Bella mushrooms
• 3 Tbsp. avocado oil
• 4 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 3 Tbsp. coconut aminos or 1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme

*Selecting Monterey Mushrooms® "High Vitamin D" Portabella Mushroom Caps provides IU's of vitamin D per 3 oz serving, which is 50% of the Daily Value as recommended by the FDA.

Easy Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Mushroom Gravy

Look no further than this delicious gluten-free gravy recipe that will elevate your holiday feast! Need a vegan recipe? We’ve included options for that, too. 

The rich, earthy, umami magic of mushrooms replaces animal fats; paired with gluten-free flour and a dash of coconut aminos, you’ll have a savory gravy perfect for main or side dishes. Simply sauté garlic and mushrooms, whisk flour into the melted butter — or butter alternative — add broth and herbs, and let it simmer.

Add gluten-free mushroom gravy to your menu as one of your easy Thanksgiving sides and don’t be surprised when everyone asks for the recipe! 

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 16 oz. Monterey sliced Whites or Baby Bella mushrooms*
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 4 Tbsp. gluten-free flour
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 tsp. coconut aminos
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme
• 2 tsp. fresh sage
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 3-4 Tbsp. of water for desired consistency (or more if you like a thinner gravy)

*Selecting Monterey Mushrooms® "High Vitamin D" sliced White or Baby Bella mushrooms provides IU's of vitamin D per 3 oz serving, which is 50% of the Daily Value as recommended by the FDA.

More Thanksgiving Sides and Holiday Appetizers and Drinks

We helped you with the sides, but what are your plans for appetizers and drinks? Turns out mushrooms can help with that, too!

Get your free copy of our ultimate cookbook, Holiday Recipes With Mushrooms, and have a Thanksgiving feast that’s as delightful as it is diverse! From start(ers) to finish, these recipes will set the stage for a memorable celebration filled with flavor and fun.