Five Healthy Sweet Potato Side Dish Recipes for Thanksgiving and Beyond

Sweet potatoes are a kitchen superstar and especially popular around Thanksgiving and the fall season Sweet Potatoes are versatile, nutrient-dense, and naturally delicious – the perfect side dish for active living that will keep you going! Whether you’re looking for something savory, sweet, or a little bit of both, I have you covered with plenty of creative and healthy sweet potato side dish ideas. Here are five of my favorites to complement your next meal:

1. Sweet Potato Grits

Sweet Potato Grits combine the creamy comfort of traditional grits with the subtle sweetness and earthy richness of sweet potatoes. This dish is a fantastic side for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, pairing beautifully with eggs, greens, or your favorite protein — it also makes a fantastic savory alternative to that traditional overly sweet Thanksgiving sweet potato recipe with marshmallows!


2. Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions takes a savory approach to this classic side dish. The aromatic rosemary and deeply flavorful caramelized onions make this a standout choice for holiday gatherings or as a sophisticated accompaniment to roasted meats. I loved this mashed sweet potato recipe.


3. Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries

Let cool a couple minutes. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with honey, toss gently. Sprinkle with granola!

For a fun and slightly sweet side, try Granola Honey Sweet Potato Fries. These fries are baked to crispy perfection and topped with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of crunchy granola. They’re great for snacking or as a side for burgers or grilled chicken.  These are adapted from a recipe I developed for my Cooking For One for Dummies cookbook (page 215)


4. Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Cilantro Chimichurri

Vegan Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Cilantro Chimichurri brings bold, smoky flavors to the table. This creamy vegan soup is balanced with the fresh, zesty punch of cilantro chimichurri, making it a perfect choice for a warming side or light meal.


5. Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate & Balsamic Syrup

Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate and Balsamic Syrup.

Turn heads at the table with Purple Sweet Potato Salad with Figs, Pomegranate & Balsamic Syrup. This vibrant and visually stunning dish combines the earthy flavors of purple sweet potatoes with the sweetness of figs, tart pomegranate arils, and a drizzle of balsamic syrup. It’s a perfect side for festive meals or special occasions.


These sweet potato side dishes showcase the versatility of this humble root vegetable, with options ranging from comforting to elegant. Which one will you try first? Let me know in the comments or tag @TheFitFork on Instagram with your recreations!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn

This post is part of the #SamsSalsaRecipeChallenge hosted by Sam’s Fresh Salsa (on IG, on FB)

Well, Kiss my grits! Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!

Some of my friends think making amazing-tasting meals, with wholesome ingredients, and on-point macros is an all-day affair. I say nope, nada, and now way to that! Bring a “wow” recipe to the table and impress your family with this easy shrimp recipe that uses a few quality convenience products to make life easier — like salsa like mom would have made from the garden, but prepped and packaged up at peak flavor from Sam’s Fresh Salsa.

Get hyped with this 15 second tutorial!

Sam’s Fresh Salsa crafts crave-worthy salsas that are made with real ingredients with zero preservative, zero additives, and zero yucky stuff. You can feel confident you are eating the best salsa around, and the quality is guaranteed.

SAm's Fresh Salsa
Sam’s Fresh Salsa, lots of delicious flavors!

To get this salsa shrimp and girts recipe in just 15 minutes, it’s broken up into two main tasks. You can’t beat a 15 minute shrimp recipe — and Sam’s Salsa gives it the flavor!

First, toss thawed shrimp and frozen corn on a baking sheet and sprinkle with spices and drizzle with olive oil. Bake that for 15 minutes at 425F.

roasted shrimp and corn in 15 minutes

Second, while the shrimp is roasting in the oven, whip up all ingredients for the grits in the MICROWAVE. Quick grits, produce-department cut cubes of butternut squash, and Sam’s Fresh Salsa put an unexpected southwestern and seasonal spin on an old-school side dish. It all cooks up in the microwave in 10 minutes and ready just about when the shrimp is done!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!
Make these Salsa Butternut Squash Grits in the microwave in 10 minutes!

Pile grits in a bowl, top with roasted shrimp and corn, and extra Sam’s Fresh Salsa, Mild or Medium – your choice! Of course, salsa is great as a dip with chips, but using it as a quick and easy way to elevate the flavor in many recipes without adding a lot of calories or fat — like these salsa shrimp grits.

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn is an unbelievably fresh, fit, flavorful and fast recipe! Like 15-minute fast! Plus, only 261 calories per serving, 20g protein, 36g carb and 3g fat!
Without the shrimp, Salsa Butternut Squash Grits also are amazing as a southwestern side dish.

I’ve been a fan of making Sam’s Fresh Salsa recipes for a while, for dipping chips of course, but also drizzling on fish, salads, and other personal creations like these Salsa Verde Spinach, Corn & Rice Poppers, a popular snack at my house and also works as a party appetizer.

Delicious baked rice balls loaded with cheese and veggies are perfect for dunking in mild salsa verde! The secret to maximum flavor is also using the salsa as part of the cooking liquid in the rice! Surprising low cal and lower carb -- 56 calories and 6g carbs per piece. An appetizer and snack that makes everyone happy!
Salsa Verde Spinach, Corn & Rice Poppers for your party!

You can purchase Sam’s Fresh Salsa at fine stores like ShopRite, Acme, and Safeway. If they are not in your local store, ask them to carry Sam’s Fresh Salsa products!

Salsa Butternut Squash Grits with Roasted Shrimp & Corn – 15 minutes!

An amazingly flavorful, fit and fast meal, ready in 15 minutes!

Course: dinner, dinner, entree
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: grits, salsa, shrimp
Calories: 261 kcal
Ingredients
Sheet Pan Shrimp & Corn
  • 12 oz med raw shrimp peeled, deveined, tail on (or off, your preference), thawed
  • ¾ cup frozen corn
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Salsa Butternut Squash Grits
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • ¾ cup quick-cook grits
  • 10- oz package ready-to-cook butternut squash cubes from bag in produce dept
  • 1 cup Sam’s Fresh Salsa extra for garish– Medium or Mild (your preference)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425F.
  2. Pat thawed shrimp dry with paper towels. Add to rimmed baking sheet Add corn to baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle with garlic salt, chili powder, and ground cumin. Mix everything up in pan and then spread out into single layer. Roast in oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until shrimp done and corn turning brown in places.
  3. Meanwhile, while shrimp is cooking, prepare grits. Add broth to 2-quart microwave-safe container (I used a 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup). Microwave on high for about 10 minutes topping to stir every 3 or 4 minutes. Grits will be done when water is absorbed and grits and butternut squash are softened. Stir well, and mash up the butternut a little bit with spoon.
  4. Divide grits among 4 serving bowls or one large bowl to present family style. As soon as shrimp are ready, remove from oven and divide among bowls. Garnish with cilantro, additional salsa, and crumbled feta cheese.
Recipe Notes

Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl

This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, in conjunction with Healthy Aperture, as part of a blogger cooking contest. All content, opinions and enthusiasm remain my own!

I’m starting to get those fall-time feels! Cooler weather, cozy meals, seasonal flavors, and this year more family time around the dinner table. Not only are we staying home more and eating out less, we’ve also got a couple college kids who are able to extend their visits thanks to this new online learning situation. Quick, easy and affordable! This budget-friendly family favorite makes a great fall-inspired dinner on busy nights. White cheddar and pumpkin make stone ground grits so creamy, and chipotle chile powder adds just a touch of smoky heat. Add my suggested toppings to make it a balanced meat with under 400 calories and 20g protein per serving. Gluten free, lower carb and meal prep / freezer friendly. Get more quick and easy meal recipes and clean eating ideas at thefitfork.com

That being said, I’ve had to flex my creative cooking muscle to come up with budget-friendly ideas that will keep my three hungry guys filled up without breaking the bank (and interfering with my running shoe budge, lol). Cheesy, hearty meals are ALWAYS a winner with them, so I’ve relied on flavorful Cabot cheese, along with staples from my pantry) to create a Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl. Continue reading

20 Lighter Southern Food Recipes

It’s National Southern Food Day on January 22nd . . . that’s a thing, y’all! Traditional southern food is a reflection of who we are and where we came from, it’s what brings us together at family gatherings, holidays, special occasions and as regional collective. There are a lot of basic themes of southern food, but most is as unique as the mama that’s putting her spin on it. My “take” is to make healthy southern food based on the classic recipes, using fresh and “fitter” ingredients – I get a burr in my britches (and sometimes bee in my bonnet) when people assume you can’t make healthy southern food.20 Lighter Southern Food Recipes thefitfork.com

Check out my 20 Lighter Southern Food Recipes, and come back now, ya hear?!    Continue reading