Thanksgiving side dishes are an essential part of the holiday feast. Some people even prefer the sides to the main course. These recipes feature the most common foods and holiday staples served at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. For a classic holiday meal, you can choose a few sides or make an epic Thanksgiving spread and try them all!
Check out my posts on what to serve with Thanksgiving turkey, last-minute Thanksgiving sides, or make-ahead sides for more recipes and ideas.
Jump to:
- 1. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- 2. Easy Stuffing
- 3. Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
- 4. Candied Yams
- 5. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
- 6. Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
- 7. Cornbread Stuffing
- 8. Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
- 9. Butter Herb Rhodes Rolls
- 10. Brown Sugar Candied Yams
- 11. Jiffy Corn Casserole
- 12. Sweet Potato Casserole
- 13. Bacon Cheese Green Bean Casserole
- 14. Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
- 15. Classic Turkey Gravy
- 16. Buttered Peas and Carrots
- 17. Oat Rolls
- 18. Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- 19. Green Beans Almondine
- 20. Dauphinoise Potatoes
- 21. Zucchini Squash Casserole
- 22. Creamed Spinach
- 23. Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes
- 💭 Tips For Choosing The Best Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes (17+ Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes For The Holidays!)
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
As much as I love a holiday prime rib roast or baked ham, I am a bit of a side dish fanatic myself! I want a big spread of various dishes, each with different flavors and textures - and getting a little bit of everything is the best part!
Thanksgiving comes with its own set of traditional recipes that are beloved across the entire country. Here are a few timeless and beloved Thanksgiving recipes that have become holiday staples in my home!
Whether you're a pro at hosting Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties or giving it a try for the first time this year, you're sure to find my ultimate guide to planning Thanksgiving a help! Don't forget to safely thaw your holiday turkey early, too!
1. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
For the richest and most decadent mashed potatoes, you've got to add cream cheese! It adds a subtle tang that gives it a more complex flavor than your run-of-the-mill mashed potatoes.
Is it your first time making mashed potatoes? I have an entire page on how to make mashed potatoes if you have any further questions not answered on the recipe card!
2. Easy Stuffing
If you're looking for a classic American Thanksgiving stuffing, save this recipe. Pre-prepared stuffing cubes from the grocery store make it quick and convenient, and the results are everything you could want from traditional stuffing.
You can check out my full collection of Thanksgiving stuffing recipes right here!
3. Honey Roasted Acorn Squash
November is acorn squash season, and squash recipes always make an excellent addition to the Thanksgiving dinner table. I like acorn squash because it can take on both sweet and savory flavors, and it pairs well with warm fall spices like cinnamon.
4. Candied Yams
Sweet, syrupy candied yams are a favorite Thanksgiving side dish for Southern households in particular. Some swear it needs a marshmallow topping (I'm team marshmallows), while others prefer candied yams without marshmallows.
5. Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
On Thanksgiving, you can't go wrong with sweet potato recipes in any way, shape, or form. These twice-baked sweet potatoes are a personal favorite because they are loaded with bacon, cheese, and jalapenos!
I make a lot of holiday pies and other sweet side dishes, so the savory flavors are a nice contrast!
6. Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Brussel sprouts are a great way to add some green vegetables to your Thanksgiving plate. The outer leaves get crisp and caramelize for amazing flavor in every bite, and then I've added bacon!
7. Cornbread Stuffing
I've always called it 'stuffing,' though I know plenty of cooks that call it 'dressing' (learn about stuffing vs dressing here). Cornbread adds a mellow sweetness and a rustic feel that really gives it that holiday comfort food vibe.
I usually prep the stuffing in advance to save myself time on Thanksgiving. Just follow my guide to freezing stuffing and instructions for reheating stuffing for the best results!
8. Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
Although I grew up on Campbell's green bean casserole, there's something so satisfying about green bean casserole made from scratch. Canned green beans are convenient, but the fresh beans keep a little more of their crunch!
Not sure if you prefer canned or fresh green beans? Check my page on how to make green bean casserole and see which method sounds best!
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
9. Butter Herb Rhodes Rolls
Dinner rolls or biscuits are a Thanksgiving must-have, so you can soak up any extra gravy or cranberry sauce on the plate! Rhodes rolls can be kept frozen until just before Thanksgiving, then they rise for a bit, and you pop them in the oven.
10. Brown Sugar Candied Yams
This classic candied yams recipe calls for canned yams, which are super tender right from the start. They could almost be dessert with the rich brown sugar and cinnamon syrup and melted marshmallow topping!
11. Jiffy Corn Casserole
Corn pudding, or corn casserole, is another timeless Thanksgiving tradition. It's super moist and fluffy, with a sweet and rich flavor coming from the creamed corn and juicy corn kernels mixed into the batter.
12. Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is sweet and warmly spiced, similar to candied yams, but with a creamier texture. Pecans give it a delectable crunch, and the melted marshmallows on top are just an added bonus!
13. Bacon Cheese Green Bean Casserole
Once you try this green bean casserole, you'll wonder why you have been making yours without bacon and cheddar cheese for so long! Everything is better with bacon and cheese, and this green bean casserole is proof!
14. Apple Cider Cranberry Sauce
If you have some extra apple cider on hand, I highly recommend incorporating it into your cranberry sauce! Canned cranberry sauce will be a thing of the past once you see how easy (and better tasting) it is homemade.
15. Classic Turkey Gravy
Save all the flavor-packed drippings from your Thanksgiving roasted turkey and use it to make a rich turkey gravy! It's such a quick and easy condiment that really elevates the entire meal!
16. Buttered Peas and Carrots
Two vegetables in one easy and delicious side dish! Buttered peas and carrots only require a few ingredients, yet it's one of the first things to disappear!
17. Oat Rolls
A small amount of brown sugar gives these rolls a sweetness that will keep you coming back for more. They're soft and fluffy, just waiting for some red-skin mashed potatoes or gravy to soak up!
18. Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Rich and creamy mac and cheese is indulgent comfort food at its finest and perfect for any Thanksgiving feast. Save yourself some oven space and make it in the crockpot!
Otherwise, you can see all of my mac and cheese recipes here (you can't go wrong)! Depending on the recipe, you could even freeze your mac and cheese and reheat it on Thanksgiving!
19. Green Beans Almondine
Green beans almondine is a classic French dish consisting of tender green beans and almonds for crunch. It's incredibly easy to prepare yet elegant and elevated above simple steamed or sauteed green beans.
20. Dauphinoise Potatoes
Dauphinoise potatoes are another French inspiration that makes an excellent addition to the holiday dinner table. The thinly sliced potatoes are creamy, cheesy, and decadent, making them a great alternative to mashed potatoes.
21. Zucchini Squash Casserole
This delicious casserole will have you looking at zucchini and yellow squash in a whole new light. The squash is baked in a creamy cheese sauce until perfectly tender with a crunchy Panko breadcrumb topping that everyone will fight over!
22. Creamed Spinach
Even the kids will want to eat their spinach when it's sauteed until tender and mixed into a rich and creamy cheese sauce! Yes, technically, it's vegetables. But it's so indulgent, they won't care!
23. Crockpot Scalloped Potatoes
I'm a huge advocate for using crockpot recipes during the holidays. These scalloped potatoes turn out just as fabulous as they do in the oven, but the slow cooker does all the hard work!
💭 Tips For Choosing The Best Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
You can never have too much food at Thanksgiving. I put together these tips to help you choose the best recipes for you.
- Balance flavors and textures. I recommend offering a wide variety of dishes so that everyone can choose what they like. Try to include veggies, starches, and proteins. Classics like mashed potatoes, green beans, and stuffing are always a safe bet!
- Make-ahead options. Save some stress and choose dishes that can be prepared in advance. Many casseroles can be assembled or frozen and reheated the day of. Muffins, pies, biscuits, and bread can be made ahead of time, too.
- Fresh ingredients. I recommend using fresh (or seasonal) ingredients for the best results. Try using ingredients like sweet potatoes, cranberries, and brussel sprouts.
I hope my list of Thanksgiving side dishes has helped you out! Leave a comment down below because I'd love to hear what your favorites are.
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes (17+ Popular Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes For The Holidays!)
Ingredients
- 5 lbs yellow potatoes (peeled, washed, and quartered)
- ½ cup milk (or more as needed)
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened, at room temperature)
- ½ cup butter (softened, at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more for the water)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Add the quartered 5 lbs yellow potatoes to a large stockpot and cover them with 1-2 inches of cold water. Generously season the water with salt.
- Bring the water to a light boil and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork. Remove from the heat and drain the potatoes.
- Add ½ cup milk to a small saucepan and bring it up to a boil, stirring frequently.
- As you are waiting for the milk to boil, press your potatoes using a potato ricer.
- Add the scalded milk, 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to the potatoes and gently mash it all together.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- You don't have to peel the potatoes if you don't want to, but they are much easier to press through the potato ricer without the skin.
- Salting the water used to cook the potatoes adds a ton of flavor! You'll want to add 1 tablespoon of salt per pound of potatoes.
- Start off with ½ cup of milk and then add more if you would like to thin out the mashed potatoes.
- Take a look at my guide on scalding milk for mashed potatoes if you want to learn more.
- Always use a fork, potato masher, or potato ricer to mash up your potatoes. Anything electric (such as a blender or food processor) will make the potatoes have a gummy texture.
- To store: Let your mashed potatoes cool completely and then store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: Portion your mashed potatoes into single servings and then freeze them for up to 2 months. Take a look at my post which is all about freezing mashed potatoes for more information.
- To reheat: Reheat the cream cheese mashed potatoes over low heat on the stovetop. For more methods and tips, check out my guide on the best methods for reheating mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
Originally published November 4, 2023
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