Draven Jackson
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With Thanksgiving and Christmas right out around the corner, your schedule is about to become packed with family dinners, potlucks with friends, and work events where everyone brings a little something to share.

If you are someone who struggles with knowing what to make for another dinner party, have no fear! We have a few great choices for side dishes and desserts that are sure to be fan favorites every time!

Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese

If you need to whip up a dish quickly or were asked to bring something fresh and green to your next event, then this Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese recipe is perfect for you.

Ingredients

• Spinach
• Goat cheese
• Pickled onions
• Candied pecans
• Raspberry vinaigrette

Recipe

1. Drain the pickled onions and get rid of the excess juice (otherwise your salad may be overly onion-y and soggy).
2. Mix everything together in a big bowl.*
   *Note: When it comes to salads, measurements are up to the chef’s discretion. Add as much or as little of the different ingredients as you want!
3. For extra flair and aesthetic, serve your salad in small cups or ramekins to make it bite-sized.

Miniature Twice Baked Potatoes

This is a recipe my family absolutely loves, and my mom is known for bringing it to barbeques and dinners. More often than not, there’s nothing left by the end of the night! This side dish is super easy to make and will work perfectly with any Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs of baby potatoes *
  *Note: (red or white-skinned is fine)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 tbsp. of scallions
• 3/4 tbsp. of butter
• Two strips of bacon (chopped and crumbled)

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Using a fork, prick holes in your baby potatoes to help with their cooking. Lay them out in one layer on a microwave-safe plate.
2. Microwave for 4 minutes on HIGH, then turn the potatoes over and microwave for another 4 minutes.
3. When the potatoes are ready, take them out of the microwave, cut them in half, scoop out the middle of the potatoes and place the insides into a large bowl. Leave a small layer of potato along with the skin to serve as a makeshift bowl.*
   *Note: Make sure to use oven mitts or a kitchen towel to hold the potatoes as they will be very hot.
4. Lay the potato halves on a baking sheet (the skin side up) and brush with olive oil, then sprinkle generously with salt.
5. Bake for 10 minutes so the potato skin can get nice and crispy. Remove from the oven.
6. Set your oven to broil. Then, in the bowl with the scooped potato filling, add the sour cream, cheese, scallions, butter, and more salt and pepper (to taste). Mix everything together.
7. Turn the potato skins over and scoop in your potato and cheese filling.
8. Put the potato skins back into the oven and broil until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and add the chopped bacon and any other garnishes you might like. You’re ready to serve!

Rolo Pretzel Bites

Another great last-minute recipe, these Rolo Pretzel Bites are always a popular sweet treat at any party or dinner we’ve ever made them for! So easy to make and delicious to eat, these snacks will become a go-to dish whenever you’re not sure what to bring to a casual Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients

• Rolos
• Mini Pretzels
• M&Ms

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap the Rolos (or you can buy a large bag of pre-unwrapped candies from the grocery store).
2. Place the pretzels in a single layer on a baking sheet. Then, lay one Rolo on top of each pretzel.
3. Bake for 3 minutes. You want the Rolos to be soft and starting to melt, but not completely melted.
4. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and add one M&M to the top of each Rolo. Leave the treats alone so the Rolo can set. You can put them in the freezer if you want to complete this step faster. Once the chocolate is firm, you’re ready to go!

I hope you and your family have a great time making these yummy holiday party dishes. If you have any other easy-to-make recipes that would work well for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, tell us in the comments!

About Draven Jackson

Draven is an avid writer and reader who enjoys sharing her opinions on movies, books, and music with the rest of the world. She will soon be working as a teacher in Japan and hopes to use her experience to connect with other teachers and students around the globe. Draven spends most of her time at home with her family, her dogs, and her ferret.

To see more, view all posts by Draven Jackson here.