Sides For Tri Tip

With 55+ sides for Tri Tip to choose from, you can create endless yummy dinners. All these side dish recipes are naturally gluten-free, with plenty of dairy-free options available as well. You’ll also find my entertaining menus for all four seasons.

Tri-tip roast is a family favorite, and we especially love this Smoked Tri Tip roast . So I wanted to share all our favorite side dishes that will complete your next family dinner.

Tri-tip is a great family dinner option that’s reasonably priced, easy to cook, and both juicy and tender.

This beef roast pairs well with just about any side dish you can think of. And I’ve included some of my favorite sauces below, too, for extra special dinners.

Potato Sides

• Grilled Potatoes
• Mashed Potatoes
• Potato Salad (no egg option)
• Roasted Potatoes & Carrots
• Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potato
• Roasted Sweet Potato
• Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes
• Pan-Fried Rosemary Potatoes
• Baked Sweet Potato

Potatoes are the perfect pairing to tri-tip for our family. Don’t get me wrong… we love the pasta options below, we just really love potatoes.

The grilled potatoes and my mom’s potato salad are my favorites for the summer. In the winter, you’ll find me making any of the mashed potatoes or the roasted potatoes and carrots for a 2-for-1 side dish.

Pasta Side Dishes

• Smoked Mac and Cheese
• Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
• One Pot Mac and Cheese
• Creamy Tomato Pasta
• One Pot Caprese Pasta
• Lemon Cream Sauce tossed w/1 pound of pasta
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad
• Grilled Veggie Pesto Pasta Salad
• Italian Antipasto Pasta Salad

In the winter months, creamy pasta is so good with tri-tip, and in the summer, try any of my pasta salads for outdoor cookouts.

Try my BBQ version of tri tip with the mac and cheese, or the Garlic Rosemary version with the Lemon Cream Sauce Pasta.

Salads

• Italian Chopped Salad
• Watermelon Feta Salad
• Best Broccoli Salad
• Apple Spinach Salad
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Easy Green Salad
• Caesar Salad (made w/o the chicken)
• Best of Summer Salad
• Bacon Kale Caesar Salad
• Citrus Spinach Salad
• Cilantro Lime Slaw

You can’t go wrong with any of these fresh flavorful salads, choose whichever one fits the season you’re in. My favorite meals include a salad and cooked vegetables. I love the combination of fresh and cooked that brings so much depth of satisfaction to a meal.

Vegetables

• Roasted Broccoli
• Prosciutto Asparagus
• Garlic Roasted Carrots
• Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
• Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
• Prosciutto Asparagus
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Maple Sage Carrots
• Roasted Green Beans
• Sautéed Green Beans
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Garlic Butter Mushrooms
• Lemon Herb Zucchini
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Roasted Asparagus
• Sautéed Spinach
• Mashed Butternut Squash

One of my favorite ways to add veggies is after I’ve removed the tri tip from the smoker, is Grilled Veggies . I increase the temperature, then I load it up with veggies to grill while the tri tip is resting.

But any of these stovetop and roasted veggie options work great too, especially in the colder months. Choose 1-2 depending on whether you’re serving a salad with your roast.

Sauces

• Cilantro Chimichurri
• Lemon Cream Sauce
• Garlic Butter Sauce
• Garlic Cream Sauce
• Mushroom Cream Sauce
• Parmesan Cream Sauce
• Garlic Butter Sauce

Fresh flavored cilantro chimichurri is perfect to pair with summer tri tips. My Garlic Butter Sauce bridges the gap of any season, and the cream sauce options are my favorite for winter roasts.

Entertaining Menus for Tri Tip

• Spring: Rosemary Smoked Tri Tip + Lemon Cream Sauce + Roasted Asparagus + Strawberry Spinach Salad and/or add my Creamy Mashed Cauliflower + Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp with Honey Ice Cream for dessert.
• Summer: BBQ Smoked Tri Tip + Cilantro Chimichurri + Grilled Potatoes + Watermelon Feta Salad + Peach Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert.
• Fall: Rosemary Smoked Tri Tip + Garlic Parmesan Pasta + Honey Glazed Carrots + Broccoli Salad + Apple Crisp and Maple Ice Cream for dessert.
• Winter: Rosemary Smoked Tri Tip + Mushroom Cream Sauce + Mashed Potatoes + Roasted Broccoli + Apple Spinach Salad with Death by Chocolate for dessert.

Griddle-seared leftover Smoked tri-tip on my back patio with the lilies in full bloom!

Bonus tip for reheating

• I like to thinly slice the tri-tip against the grain and pan-fry it in a skillet or on my Blackstone outdoor griddle over fairly high heat.
• This method quickly sears the leftover tri-tip, reheating it without way overcooking it.
• In the above photo, I cooked some potatoes and shishito peppers on the griddle, then quickly seared the tri-tip and served it all up with Basil Aioli . It’s a quick leftover remake that tastes so good!

Plan your ultimate holiday menu with these Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes. Enjoy all your favorite dishes without sacrificing any flavor with lots of dairy-free options to choose from as well. I’ve put together my ‘ all-out ‘ and my ‘ super simple ‘ Thanksgiving menus below for inspiration.

Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in a more relaxed way with my make-ahead tips. Or if you’re looking for super simple, I have you covered for that too.

It’s taken years to get all our family favorites written down and made gluten-free. But I hope these recipes will help you have your best Thanksgiving, too.

No one wants to feel like they’re left out with dietary restrictions of course. So I hope these recipes will help you to have the perfect holiday without feeling like you need to make a million things!

We’ll start out with my ‘all-out’ Thanksgiving menu and my ‘super simple’. But there’s no need to stick to the menu listed!

I’ve also included some favorite appetizers, side dishes, and desserts here as well. You can also head over to the Thanksgiving section of the recipe index . From there you can customize your own menu.

All Out Gluten Free Thanksgiving Menu

• Appetizers – I like to make my Antipasto Platter or Cheeseboard because they’re both no-cook grazing options.
• Smoked Turkey Breast – or a whole smoked Turkey straight from the Traeger recipe . You can follow my smoked chicken breasts recipe for a simpler option. Or try my Spatchcock Turkey for crispy golden skin and juicy meat in a fraction of the time.
• Gluten-Free Gravy – with my gluten-free flour tips, no one will ever know the gravy is gluten-free. You’ll also find my handy gravy ratio in that recipe, so you can expand it to fit as many drippings as you need.
• Best Mashed Potatoes – these are best made right before serving, and I know you’re going to love their incredible texture. The secret is to add the butter before any liquid, and you’ll be surprised how much difference it makes! For a make-ahead option, try my Cheesy Mashed Potatoes .
• Butternut Stuffing – is completely grain-free, and it’s always been a hit even with people who don’t need to be gluten-free. You’ll find some make-ahead tips in this recipe as well.
• Cranberry Orange Sauce – super easy to make, this is my go-to cranberry sauce, and you can make this several days ahead as well.
• Sweet Potato Casserole – also has make-ahead options to help you out.
• Green Beans with Bacon & Mushrooms – the bacon-mushroom sauce can be made ahead and reheated, then tossed with your freshly steamed green beans. It’s also made on the stovetop to free up oven space.
• Maple Glazed Carrots – these also have a stovetop option to free up oven space, and they’re always the biggest veggie hit thanks to the browned butter and sage.
• Apple Spinach Salad – don’t underestimate how nice a fresh salad is with Thanksgiving dinner. This one balances out all the other flavors.
• Desserts – Apple Crisp , Pumpkin Crisp or Pumpkin Pie , and Pecan Pie Bars with my Homemade Whipped Cream and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

Whew… this is ambitious, but it makes for an incredible all-out Thanksgiving. And you can definitely prep quite a bit ahead to make it easier.

Also, I hope you feel free to customize this menu according to your family traditions, add to it, or simplify it!

Ultra Simple Gluten Free Thanksgiving Menu

• Smoked Chicken Breasts or Smoked Turkey Breast —these are super easy to make: chicken takes just over an hour and turkey about 3-4 hours, and you can cook as much as your smoker will allow. This recipe is especially good if you want to have a smaller Thanksgiving without a ton of leftovers.
• Mashed Potatoes – my best ever mashed potatoes are a must in our house because we lean towards potatoes over stuffing. You can also try my Cheesy Mashed Potatoes for a make-ahead option.
• Gluten Free Gravy – you can make this with or without drippings, so if you smoke the chicken, just make the basic gravy without drippings.
• Cranberry Orange Sauce – super easy and made ahead, a little cranberry sauce is essential to me in even the simplest menu.
• Optional Stuffing – I know stuffing isn’t optional for every family, but to keep things simple, I like to choose either stuffing or mashed potatoes, depending on who I’m serving.
• Pick a Veggie – Sautéed Green Beans , Honey Glazed Carrots , Roasted Brussels Sprouts , Roasted Broccoli , or Maple Glazed Carrots . Or go fresh with my Apple Spinach Salad .
• Pick a dessert – Apple Crisp , Pumpkin Crisp , or Paleo Pecan Pie Bars are all classics paired with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream .

And that’s it, a simple gluten-free Thanksgiving Menu! Feel free to add more or less to the list above.

But I’ve found it so nice to think about Thanksgiving from a simpler perspective, choosing a few dishes rather than going all out.

For the simplest ever Thanksgiving meal make my Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots and choose a dessert. Or my Smoked Turkey Breast , Cheesy Mashed Potatoes , & Sautéed Green Beans .

Main Course

• Spatchcock Turkey
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Spatchcock Chicken
• Simple Roast Chicken
• Beef Tenderloin
• Ribeye Roast
• Pork Loin Roast
• Pork Tenderloin
• Pork Sirloin Roast

First, choose your main dish, then pair it with the rest of my holiday options! I have a couple of traditional turkey options here, but sometimes it’s fun to branch out and try a different kind of holiday feast.

My friend’s husband always makes smoked brisket for Thanksgiving, and that sounds like something I’ll need to try. My family usually did turkey, but sometimes we’d get a little fancy with Bacon Wrapped Filet or Ribeye Roast .

Appetizers

• How to Make an Antipasto Platter is my #1 go-to appetizer recipe because you don’t need to cook anything, and it can be prepped ahead of time. It’s also easy to make on a small platter or expand it to feed a crowd.
• Cheese Board – this recipe can also be prepped ahead for as many as you’d like.
• Bacon Wrapped Dates – these can also be prepped ahead and are always a hit.
• Deviled Eggs + 10 toppings – these are always fun, and you can top them with as many of the 10 options as you’d like.
• Butternut Hummus – another make-ahead option that’s truly stunning for the holidays.
• Apple Cider Mocktail – bright fresh flavor, a hint of cinnamon, and sparkling apple cider make these mocktails a hit with everyone.
• Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail – these are so fun and festive, and the cranberry-orange combo is always welcome during the holidays. You can also check out my 5 Kombucha Mocktails for more flavor combinations.
• Marinated Cheese – this is a classic recipe from the 80s/90s. It’s a make-ahead recipe, and it was at every gathering I went to growing up. I recently rediscovered it, and it’s been a fun hit!

Best Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Sides

• Paleo Butternut Stuffing
• Sweet Potato Wild Rice Stuffing
• Best Mashed Potatoes
• Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
• Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Mashed Butternut Squash
• Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole
• Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Caramelized Bacon Brussels Sprouts
• Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
• Garlic Roasted Carrots
• Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
• Smoked Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Broccoli
• Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Sautéed Green Beans
• Apple Spinach Salad
• Mandarin Pomegranate Spinach Salad

Thanksgiving really is all about the side dishes, right?! My latest favorite additions to this list are my Cheesy Mashed Potatoes because they’re make-ahead and my Honey Glazed Carrots, which are perfect for every holiday.

Sauce Recipes

• Cranberry Orange Sauce
• Gluten Free Gravy
• Mushroom Cream Sauce or Garlic Parmesan Sauce for a ‘fancy’ option. These sauces are both really great with Thanksgiving recipes, and you can serve them instead of gravy or serve both the sauce and the gravy.

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Desserts

• Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• Cranberry Apple Crisp
• Gluten Free Apple Pie Bars
• Pumpkin Crisp
• Paleo Pumpkin Pie
• Paleo Pecan Pie Bars
• Gluten Free Caramel Apple Galette
• Death by Chocolate – this is traditional at celebrations in my husband’s family, and I love adding chocolate to a Thanksgiving menu!

I like to make my crisp topping ahead of time to speed up making the apple/pumpkin crisp on Thanksgiving morning. The Death by Chocolate is also a great option because it can be made the day before. And you can even make the cake for the recipe and freeze it up to 2 weeks in advance.

Dessert Toppings

• Homemade Whipped Cream
• Coconut Whipped Cream (dairy-free)
• Best Vanilla Ice Cream
• Coconut Ice Cream (dairy-free)
• Homemade Maple Ice Cream
• Honey Ice Cream

Tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner

• My #1 tip for a relatively stress-free Thanksgiving Day is to choose several make-ahead recipes. And don’t overcomplicate the menu, less is more. Or less menu = less potential stress!
• If possible, have your guests bring one side dish, dessert, or appetizer each to take the pressure off.
• Choose what recipes you make by how much ‘real estate’ they take up on your stove and in your oven. There are only so many dishes you can cram in the oven at once. And there’s very little room if you’re roasting a turkey. Try choosing as many ahead options as you can. And possibly smoking your turkey if you have that type of grill/smoker will help a lot. If you’re having a smaller dinner, consider getting a smoked turkey breast to heat in the slow cooker. Or try making my Smoked Turkey Breast or Smoked Chicken Breasts .
• Shop ahead as many days as possible to avoid last-minute rushing.
• For the desserts, you can make whipped cream hours ahead of time and refrigerate it. I like to bake everything in the morning, so the crust and crisp toppings are crispy. You can make the crisp topping ahead of time and freeze it until you’re ready to use it. It will keep 2-3 days in the fridge or 1-2 months in the freezer. Also, if you’re making ice cream, it can be made 1 week in advance.

I really hope this Gluten Free Thanksgiving Recipes post was helpful. If you do get a chance to make any of these recipes, I hope you’ll leave me a comment or rating. I’d love to hear how your Thanksgiving went.