Fantastic side dishes for smoked turkey are the perfect way to complement the main dish of a holiday dinner. It’s great to have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, but even when it’s not on a holiday table, it makes an excellent meal anytime. The best part is that there are usually lots of leftovers.
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When you change the side dishes for leftover smoked turkey, you change up the entire meal, which doesn’t feel like leftovers! My favorite side dishes are quick and easy, perfect for busy cooks who want a delicious meal without spending half the day in the kitchen.
A dry rub works amazingly well on turkey, but doing a brine with the dry rub adds more flavor. There is no wrong way to smoke a turkey. Now, I buy extras during the holidays, so I have extra turkeys to smoke later in the year!
Smoked turkey breast is a tasty and versatile main dish for many occasions. When cooking up this smoky, juicy meat, you’ll want sides that complement and enhance the flavors.
The right sides can take your smoked turkey from simple to spectacular. Here are 15 must-try recipes to serve with smoked turkey breast:
1. Classic Bread Stuffing
This Thanksgiving favorite pairs perfectly with smoked turkey breast. Toasty bread cubes, sausage, veggies, and herbs make an ultra-comforting and flavorful bedfellow. The interplay of smoky turkey and savory stuffing is a match made in heaven.
2. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes are a beloved classic for good reason. Their smooth, rich taste and texture complement smoked turkey breast beautifully. Roast some garlic and mash it into Yukon Gold potatoes with butter and cream for the ultimate comfort food side.
3. Green Bean Casserole
Green beans cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions combine in this holiday staple. The fresh bean crunch, savory sauce, and onion cronch balance the smoky turkey flavors. Make it from scratch or cheat with store-bought onions.
4. Roasted Root Vegetables
A rainbow of root veggies brings natural sweetness and earthiness. Roast carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and beets drizzled in olive oil, salt, and pepper. The medley of fall flavors pairs perfectly with smoked turkey.
5. Cranberry Sauce
What’s turkey without tangy cranberry sauce? The bright, tart sweetness cuts through the rich smoked turkey Make your own with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, and orange zest. Or open a can — no judgment!
6. Cornbread
Bake up some cornbread with cornmeal, flour, buttermilk, eggs, and baking powder The subtle sweet corn flavor complements smoked turkey breast deliciously Crumble for stuffing or serve in squares.
7. Creamed Corn
For an indulgent side, make some creamed corn! Simmer corn kernels in cream or half-and-half with garlic, onion, and parmesan. The rich, sweet flavor perfectly complements your turkey.
8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
For veggie lovers, roasted Brussels sprouts make an amazing side. Toss halved sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast until caramelized. Brussels sprouts pair wonderfully with smoky turkey breast.
9. Mac and Cheese
Comfort food at its finest, mac and cheese is always a crowd pleaser. Cook macaroni and make a cheese sauce with cheddar, parmesan, butter, and milk. Top with crispy panko breadcrumbs for extra decadence alongside your turkey.
10. Wild Rice Pilaf
Cook up some wild rice pilaf seasoned with herbs and broth. The nutty, chewy wild rice provides delicious texture contrast to tender smoked turkey. Toast the rice in butter before simmering in broth for deeper flavor.
11. Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, pecans, marshmallows — what’s not to love? This indulgent casserole balances smoked turkey’s savory profile. Bake sweet potato mash topped with mini marshmallows for a decadent side.
12. Green Bean Almondine
For an easy veggie dish, sauté green beans in butter with slivered almonds and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and squeeze lemon juice over the beans. A quick, tasty side the whole family will devour.
13. Quinoa Salad
Make a nutrient-packed quinoa salad with veggies like corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado and a light vinaigrette. The fresh flavors complement rich smoked turkey beautifully.
14. Sauteed Kale
Kale offers a healthy dose of vitamins and pairs great with smoked turkey. Sauté chopped kale with olive oil and garlic. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of parmesan cheese for depth of flavor.
15. Baked Brie with Figs
For an elegant and easy appetizer side, bake brie topped with sweet figs and toasted nuts. Serve with crackers and turkey for gourmet flavor contrast on the plate.
The Perfect Smoked Turkey Meal
With so many mouthwatering options, you really can’t go wrong. Try classic comfort foods like stuffing, mashed potatoes or cornbread. Roast veggies like Brussels sprouts for freshness. Bake mac and cheese or sweet potato casserole for indulgence. And don’t forget tangy cranberry sauce!
The beauty of smoked turkey is it pairs well with almost anything. With these 15 side dish ideas, you’re sure to find the perfect match to create a spectacular meal. Now get cooking up that smoky bird and savor the flavors!
Frequency of Entities:
smoked turkey: 15
turkey: 12
side: 15
breast: 15
green bean: 3
cranberry: 3
Best Smoked side dishes for smoked turkey:
Smoked Green Bean Casserole– Green bean casserole is probably the most popular side dish for turkey. Smoking gives a leveled-up smoky flavor to the entire meal. It’s unnecessary to save this delicious plate for Turkey Day, either. Enjoy it any day you’d like!
Sweet Potatoes – The old lady’s favorite. Whether you serve leftover turkey with sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, baked sweet potatoes, or something else, sweet potatoes are a great way to have a healthier side dish. And trust me, you need to try smoked sweet potato casserole; it’s incredible and will cook alongside the turkey.
Smoked Potato Salad – If you’re serving turkey breast in the summer months, there’s nothing quite as tasty as a nice smoked potato salad to pair it with! You can even take it a step further, chop up the leftover turkey while it’s cold (or even at room temperature), and mix it with the salad.
Smoked Loaded Cheesy Potatoes– This is one of the best side dishes to serve with red meats. Smoked Brisket is one of my favorites to do with this; just like a loaded baked potato, it has sour cream!
Smoked Cream Cheese – This is more of an “accessory” than a side, but I promise, once you’ve had smoked cream cheese, you’ll want to put it on everything! This genuinely addictive food goes great with turkey, giving it an even smokier flavor and creamy texture.
Creamy Smoked Macaroni And Cheese– Enough said! Melt cheese with the flavor of smoke to cover your pasta! The heavy cream helps to make this dish even creamier.
Smoked Loaded Baked Beans– This is the ultimate side dish or dish to take to a tailgating party. Allow this to slow smoke on your smoke in a cast iron Dutch Oven. Add in a bit more bacon grease for more flavor.
The Best Leftover Smoked Turkey Recipes:
I love to use leftover smoked turkey in other recipes! From Pot Pies to soup to a casserole, there are no limits. I even use my Pit Boss Grills and Blackstone griddle to make leftover dishes too!! Check out all my tried and true leftover turkey recipes ->HERE.
How to Smoke Turkey Breast: Only FOUR INGREDIENTS (Texas Style Recipe)
FAQ
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