This list of delicious sides gives you some great ideas for what to serve with smoked turkey. These recipes work whether you’ve got a smoked turkey leg, a smoked turkey breast, or a whole bird. From green beans to mashed potatoes to cornbread, you can’t go wrong with any of these side dishes.
Smoking turkey is a great way to cook your holiday bird, but what about side dishes for smoked turkey? This list has you covered with over 20 great options, ranging from appetizers to traditional sides, all the way to desserts.
This list has some traditional Thanksgiving recipes, some takes on conventional classics, and some healthier options too. All of them are gluten free, several of them are dairy free (or can be made so easily), and a couple are even low carb. But all of them are truly delicious recipes your family will love. I have made side dishes on this list time and time again and they are indeed crowd pleasers.
And don’t forget you can do great things with leftovers too! I like to make leftover mashed potato pancakes and use my cranberry sauce to make orange cranberry muffins. And there are lots of ways to repurpose leftover turkey too (like my turkey and rice soup).
FAQ about smoked turkey
How many people does a smoked turkey feed?
You’ll want between 1.25 and 1.5 pounds of turkey per person, depending on how much turkey people will eat. If you want to make sure you have leftovers, figure more like 1.75 to 2 pounds per person.
How do you keep a smoked turkey moist?
To keep a smoked turkey moist, you want to prepare it right so it stays juicy when cooking. To do this, you’ll want to dry brine your turkey before smoking.
Should I wrap turkey in foil when smoking?
No, you do not need to wrap your turkey in foil when smoking.
Is it better to smoke a turkey fast or slow?
If you want the smoky flavor, it’s better to smoke your turkey slow. If you want to cook your bird more quickly, you can smoke it at a higher temperature. I have done both and both ways taste great.
What wine goes good with smoked turkey?
For a red wine, a Pinot Noir is a great choice. It’s relatively mild and won’t overwhelm the smoky flavor of the meat. We love Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Some of our favorite Pinots are from Elk Cove, Erath, Domain Drouhin, and Beaux Freres.
For a white wine, try a dry Reisling. We like ones that aren’t bone dry but have a little juiciness to them. Some of our favorite drier Reislings are from Chateau Ste. Michelle, Lemelson, and Elk Cove.
If neither of those sounds appealing, there are other options too! For more suggestions, check out this article on wine pairings for turkey.
Smoked Turkey Recipe
This Traeger smoked turkey recipe turns out so juicy and flavorful, you’ll never want to cook your turkey any other way. Check it out to see step by step photos and directions for a foolproof smoked turkey on your pellet grill or smoker.
Recipe Notes
- Start out by spatchcocking your turkey, which just means you’re removing the backbone. It will help your turkey cook faster and more evenly and is truly not difficult to do.
- Next you want to dry brine your turkey. This will lock in the flavor and moisture. You will need to do this at least 24 hours ahead of when you want to cook it, so work that into your schedule.
- The only other seasoning you need is an herb butter made with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage.
- The ideal smoking temperature for the best smoked turkey is 250 degrees F. This will deliver great smoky flavor while still cooking it in a timely manner.
- When smoking, you want to check the internal temp of the turkey in multiple spots before you take it off Traeger to make sure all of the meat is cooked. We use our Thermapen meat thermometer (affiliate link) to do this as it gives a fast and highly accurate reading so we’re not losing as much heat with the lid of our Traeger open. If you need help doing this, check out this post I wrote about how to use a meat thermometer.
- Once you’ve carved up the turkey, use the carcass to make turkey stock! It’s easy and the broth comes out so tasty.
What to serve with smoked turkey
From salads to desserts, there are so many great options!
- Bread – Stuffing is a classic holiday pairing with smoked turkey, but rolls and cornbread are fantastic too. We love these soft gluten and dairy free cornbread muffins.
- Salad – A green salad would pair well with the hefty flavors of a smoked turkey. Keep the dressing to a light vinaigrette to add some brightness to this side dish.
- Vegetables – Roasted or sauteed veggies are great with smoked turkey. You can even grill some veggies to go along with the turkey!
- Potatoes – Roasted, mashed, stuffed, and everything in between, potatoes are a great side for smoked turkey.
- Soup – While this may seem unconventional, a small cup of soup can be great with smoked turkey! A smooth or creamed soup is best, like this potato soup.
- Appetizers – The turkey may be the main star, but don’t forget about appetizers. You can keep them light, such as a veggie tray with a roasted garlic dip, some deviled eggs, or some sliced fruit, or do a fun fall meat and cheese board.
- Desserts – Pumpkin may reign supreme for Thanksgiving, but there are lots of great options here. Try cakes or cookies (we love almond butter cookies), a different type of pie like apple or banana cream (my family’s favorite), or even something healthier like chocolate-dipped orange slices.
- Wine – Don’t forget about drinks! For a red wine we love Pinot Noir; for a white wine we like a drier Riesling.
Gluten Free Stuffing
A classic side dish for turkey, this stuffing uses sausage, cranberries, apples, and fresh herbs. It’s made with gluten free bread but no one will ever guess!
Cranberry Sauce
With only 3 ingredients this tangy yet sweet cranberry sauce cooks up in less than 20 minutes. The acidity of the cranberries cuts into the meatiness of turkey for a great pairing, plus it’s vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and paleo.
Pumpkin Sweet Potato Soup
Don’t discount soup next to turkey! This pumpkin sweet potato soup is creamy while still being dairy free and is a great starter for a smoked turkey.
Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots
Instead of the traditional green bean casserole, try this lighter green bean side dish! It cooks up quickly and has a touch of sweetness with the sauteed shallots to balance the smokiness of the turkey.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Can you even have turkey without mashed potatoes? These whipped mashed potatoes are easily made in the Instant Pot, and are creamy while still being dairy free.
Green Salad with Pears
This pear salad has a light vinaigrette that doesn’t overwhelm the other flavors. With crunchy hazelnuts, tangy red onion, and juicy pomegranate seeds, this salad is a great light addition to smoked turkey.
Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
Add a little extra to roasted carrots by glazing them with some whipped honey butter. The sweetness of the honeyed carrots pairs well with the smokiness of the turkey to balance out the flavors.
Banana Cream Pie Cups
Instead of a more traditional apple or pumpkin pie, try this crustless banana cream pie cup for dessert. Serve it up in little ramekins for the perfect portion size.
Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower
Don’t discount roasted cauliflower! This earthy and warm version of the vegetable holds its own against the smokiness of the turkey without being too heavy.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Skip the traditional marshmallow version and make this sweet potato casserole instead! It has a crunchy oat and pecan crumble on top of fluffly sweet potatoes. Not too sweet but still plenty of goodness, it’s exactly right to go with smoked turkey.
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Even if you don’t typically like Brussels sprouts, this dish may change your mind. Roasting takes away some of the bitterness and maple syrup naturally sweetens them to pair with the smokiness of the turkey.
Cranberry Orange Chocolate Bark
If you need a super easy dessert option, try this chocolate bark! It’s got traditional holiday sweetness of orange and cranberry to offset the smokiness of the turkey and is so simple to make.
Kabocha Squash Soup
A slightly sweeter cousin to a butternut squash, the kabocha squash get roasted then blended into a soup to make for an unexpected but awesome pairing with savory smoked turkey.
Cauliflower Stuffing
If you’re looking for a little healthier option for stuffing, this cauliflowver version from Pip and Ebby is perfect. Loaded with fresh herbs and delicious sausage, it’s a great low carb alternative.
Apple Pecan Harvest Salad
Another great option for a green salad, this version from Mama Gourmand pairs apples and pecans with blue cheese and crisp greens. The maple dressing really makes the salad shine.
Garlic Hasselback Potatoes
If mashed potatoes aren’t for you, try these beautiful and delicious garlic hasselback potatoes from Sweetly Splendid. Made with just 6 ingredients, these have crisy edges but are fluffy inside.
Healthy Pumpkin Pie Bars
A pumpkin dessert is a classic pairing with turkey. Try these pumpkin pie bars from The Clean Eating Couple instead of traditional pumpkin pie for a dessert that’s already pre-portioned.
Roasted Cabbage
Cherries, pecans, and smoked paprika liven up this roasted cabbage dish from Butter & Baggage. The sweet and smoky flavors in the dish add to the flavors of the smoked turkey for a great pairing.
Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Salad
A warm salad can be just the thing with smoked turkey, and this roasted carrot and chickpea salad from Intentional Hospitality hits the nail on the head. Use the grain of your choice to customize this dish to your liking (or that of your holiday guests)!
Roasted Delicata Squash
This roasted delicata squash dish from Josie & Nina is great for a smoked turkey dinner as it has an unexpected kick of chili powder but is balanced with the sweetness of dried cranberries.
Garlic Cauliflower Mash
Love mashed potatoes but don’t love the carbs? This garlic cauliflower mash from Talking Meals gives you the all the flavor of traditional mashed potatoes but in a lower calorie version.
Fall Salad with Pumpkin & Beets
This fall salad is colorful and bright, using arugula, roasted pumpkin, and steamed beets. It’s a healthier option for your holiday table and is a light and refreshing dish to go with smoked turkey.
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