69 of Our Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Updated: Feb. 12, 2024
You have the turkey. You have the pumpkin pie. Now what about everything else? Here are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes to round out your holiday dinner.
No offense to turkey, but it’s Thanksgiving side dishes that really make the feast. From 30-minute Thanksgiving dishes like glazed carrots and cranberry sauce, to stunning side salads, cheesy potato recipes and homemade rolls, you’ll find a little something for everyone on this list. And we didn’t forget those who prefer to prep early: Read on for lots of slow-cooker and make-ahead sides, too.
While you’re at it, you can also explore some no-bake Thanksgiving desserts for fuss-free preparations this year!
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Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese
The homemade goodness of this creamy mac and cheese makes it a perfect Thanksgiving side dish. No matter where you live, you’ll want to dig into this traditional southern recipe. Don’t forget to check out our collection of mac and cheese Thanksgiving recipes.
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Aunt Margaret’s Sweet Potato Casserole
Topped with gooey marshmallows, these brown-sugary sweet potatoes are an inviting side that both kids and adults will enjoy. It’s been beloved for generations.
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Parker House Rolls
These rolls are the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal. Slather them with butter, dunk them in gravy or eat them plain. If there are leftovers (doubtful), make leftover turkey sliders the next day!
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Green Bean Casserole
Thanks to its savory flavors and crunchy onion topping, this easy green bean casserole recipe is a classic for a reason. You can make it Thanksgiving morning and pop it in the fridge, then add the onions and bake it right before the feast.
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Shredded Gingered Brussels Sprouts
Here’s a new Thanksgiving dinner idea! These stovetop Brussels sprouts are a fan favorite because they’re so fast to fix.
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Rum Vanilla Cranberry Sauce
For something memorable, serve this amped-up homemade cranberry sauce. Combine tart fresh cranberries with orange juice and rum to create a unique sauce that your guests will be talking about until next Thanksgiving.
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Acorn Squash Slices
Maple syrup adds extra oomph to naturally sweet acorn squash, while pecans add nuttiness. For deeper flavor, sprinkle on warm spices like cinnamon and ginger.
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Bacon & Sausage Stuffing
Sausage stuffing is already famous for being one of the best Thanksgiving recipes. Add bacon and it’s even better!
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Potato Pan Rolls
The mashed potatoes in this recipe keep these rolls pillowy and moist. If you don’t have leftover mashed potatoes and would rather not make them from scratch, use instant mashed potatoes instead.
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Roasted Apple Salad with Spicy Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
You might not think of salad as a Thanksgiving side dish, but once you taste this super-seasonal version, you’ll want it on your Thanksgiving menu every year.
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Roasted Squash, Carrots & Walnuts
This dish is as vibrant as it is tasty. Once the turkey is out of the oven, crank up the temp and roast carrots and squash while your bird is resting.
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Moist Corn Spoon Bread
Spoon bread is an American classic that will never go out of style. This version of the recipe doesn’t take up coveted oven space—it’s made in a slow cooker.
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Lemon Roasted Fingerlings and Brussels Sprouts
For perfectly roasted vegetables, choose ones that cook in the same amount of time, like these fingerling potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Feel free to use other vegetables like cauliflower if you have it on hand. Just keep the measurements the same so the seasonings shine through.
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Cranberry-Apple Red Cabbage
This jewel-toned Thanksgiving side dish is a sweet-tart combo of red cabbage, apples and cranberry sauce. It may be entirely new to your family, but will feel comforting and familiar. Here are the best Thanksgiving salad recipes to make this year.
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Honey-Squash Dinner Rolls
These puffy dinner rolls take on rich color when you add frozen squash to the dough. For riffs on the flavor, use mashed sweet potatoes, carrots or other root vegetables instead.
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Badger State Stuffing
Your family will love the contrasting sweet, savory and slightly tart flavors in this Wisconsin spin on a Thanksgiving classic. Be sure to keep the sauerkraut and beer, but feel free to use any dried fruit to make the dish your own.
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Roasted Honey Sweet Potatoes
Tender sweet potatoes are tossed with honey and cinnamon for a burst of spicy sweetness. Sprinkle with roasted nuts for a wonderfully crunchy topping.
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Cheesy Corn Spoon Bread
This custard-like side dish is comforting and homey. The jalapeno pepper adds just the right amount of heat.
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Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes
Cream cheese is the secret ingredient in these comforting spuds. Simply mash, mix and let them warm in the slow cooker.
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Wild Rice Stuffing
Thanks to its chewy texture, this wild rice stuffing is delightfully different than what you’re used to. Amp up the wild rice’s naturally nutty flavor by sprinkling with toasted pecans just before serving.
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Chipotle-Orange Cranberry Sauce
With brown sugar, cinnamon and chipotle powder, this cranberry sauce may not be traditional, but once your guests taste it, it may well end up with a permanent spot in your holiday lineup!
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Flaky Butterhorn Rolls
Sure, you could go with refrigerated crescents, but with their slight sweetness and buttery flakiness, these homemade dinner rolls are in a league all their own.
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Cheddar Creamed Corn
Can’t decide whether to bring mac and cheese or classic corn pudding to your family Thanksgiving gathering? This recipe lets you do both. You need only five ingredients to make this easy, cheesy casserole that comes together in the slow cooker.
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Old-Fashioned Green Beans
You won’t believe how three simple ingredients can create such enormous flavor! Bacon gives these simply simmered green beans savoriness and smokiness, while brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness.
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Thanksgiving Colcannon
A twist on the classic Irish veggie dish, this holiday-worthy colcannon will be brand-new to your menu. Butter, farmer’s cheese and yogurt layer on the creaminess.
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Creamed Pearl Onions
To save time on Thanksgiving Day, assemble this dish the night before, store in the refrigerator and slip it into the oven right after the turkey comes out. Make things even easier with frozen pearl onions instead of fresh.
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Brown Sugar-Glazed Baby Carrots
Are glazed carrots a Thanksgiving staple because they’re insanely delicious or because they’re so easy to make? This recipe uses the slow cooker, gently braising the carrots in butter and brown sugar until they melt in your mouth.
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Buttery Dinner Rolls
These lovely dinner rolls are tender, fluffy and delicious when eaten warm from the oven. Serve them with butter or top with cranberry sauce.
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Scalloped Sweet Corn Casserole
Almost every family has some version of this dish. Make it your own by stirring in crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, chopped green onions or anything else you wish before sprinkling with Rice Krispies for a crispy-crunchy topping. Bonus: You can use fresh or frozen corn in this comforting casserole.
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Butternut Squash Butter
This Thanksgiving, serve homemade butternut squash butter as a gorgeous topper for turkey or rolls, or in little phyllo cups as an appetizer. It’s comfort food without being overly heavy or rich.
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Creamed Spinach & Pearl Onions
Here’s an indulgent way to eat your veggies. Cooked on the stovetop, this Thanksgiving side dish takes only about 15 minutes to make—and it’ll be gone in a fraction of that time once dinner is served!
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Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Butter
This recipe, which showcases creamy yellow Yukon Golds and vivid orange sweet potatoes, is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the stomach. Drizzled with garlic butter, then showered with cheddar and Parmesan, this dish proves there’s beauty in simplicity.
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Sicilian Brussels Sprouts
These Mediterranean-style sprouts are simply exploding with flavors. You will love the pops of sweetness from the golden raisins and nutty savoriness from toasted pine nuts.
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Cinnamon Spiced Apples
These slow-cooked spiced apples are wonderful no matter when you serve them. They taste wonderful alongside turkey and stuffing, but you could serve them for dessert as a crustless apple pie, too.
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Gluten-Free Stuffing
Gluten-free folks, rejoice! Now you can enjoy this favorite Thanksgiving side, too. This easy GF stuffing has all the classic stuffing flavor and texture minus the side effects.
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Cran-Raspberry Gelatin Salad
This retro stunner mixes raspberry gelatin with a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce, canned crushed pineapple and orange juice for a side that’s bursting with delicious nostalgia. Make sugared cranberries to fancy it up.
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Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
If your sweet tooth can’t wait for dessert, this is the Thanksgiving side for you. With bourbon, coconut and marshmallows, these sweet potatoes might just be the most indulgent dish on the table.
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Wild Rice Stuffed Squash
These beautiful wild rice-stuffed squash halves are a delicious, showstopping entree for vegan or vegetarian guests. Even meat lovers will fall in love with this dish as a holiday side. Looking for dairy-free recipes? Here’s our collection of vegan Thanksgiving sides.
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Syrian Green Beans with Fresh Herbs
These simple green beans make the most of your herb garden, featuring chopped fresh parsley, cilantro and mint.
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Comforting Cheesy Potatoes
Requiring just 10 minutes of prep, these slow-cooker cheesy potatoes are comforting, hearty and oh-so good. No judgment if you go in for seconds (or thirds).
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Slow-Cooker Sriracha Corn
This corn is an unexpected side dish for just about any hearty Thanksgiving entree. The Sriracha adds a wonderful hint of smokiness and spice. Cool your palate with a bite of something rich, like buttery mashed potatoes or creamed onions.
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Italian Spaghetti Squash
If you want a veggie-forward Thanksgiving side, this five-ingredient spaghetti squash is a real winner. Don’t worry about taking up that precious oven space—our recipe is for the slow cooker.
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Cheesy Corn Spoon Bread
Homey and comforting, this custardy side dish is a must-have Thanksgiving side. The jalapenos add just the right amount of heat to keep things interesting.
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Glazed Spiced Carrots
Pretty glazed carrots are a classic side dish for all kinds of special occasions. This recipe is very easy to put together, leaving your oven and stovetop free for other cooking creations.
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Sweet and Tangy Ranch Beans
You can prep this delicious semi-homemade side in no time—just open a few cans! The beans’ sweet and tangy sauce is perfectly balanced.
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Creamy Carrot Soup
This soup’s creamy orange hue and deliciously different flavor make it a great option for a Thanksgiving side. A hint of rosemary adds an earthy note to the slightly sweet soup.
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Black Bean Potato au Gratin
Here’s a hearty and unexpected Thanksgiving side that’s packed with protein and fiber. Give it a southwestern twist by adding chili powder and swapping the peas for canned corn.
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Slow-Cooker Italian Mushrooms
If your family debates whether mushrooms belong in stuffing, this recipe is here to keep the peace. Serve these savory slow-cooked mushrooms; folks who want stuffing with ‘shrooms can add them to their own serving.
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Oregano Green Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts
This super easy side dish is a wonderful way to get more veggies in your Thanksgiving feast. You can substitute any kind of nut for the pine nuts or even replace them with fresh berries.
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Spectacular Overnight Slaw
It may seem summery, but you can’t go wrong with crunchy coleslaw on Thanksgiving. It’s a fresh complement to turkey and savory items like cheesy potatoes.
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Pickled Bell Peppers
These colorful sliced peppers add zest to the menu—and they’re a smart way to use any leftover peppers you have! This side dish tastes great on its own or tossed in a leafy green salad.
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Pressure-Cooker Lemon Red Potatoes
Butter, lemon juice, parsley and chives enhance this simple side dish, which is made in an Instant Pot. It’s a light, bright alternative to heavy mashed potatoes. If you’re looking for more, then here’s a list of alternatives to turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
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Broccoli Cheddar Soup
For a comforting side that will warm everyone up, this soup takes the cake—err, pie. The combo of broccoli and cheddar is the perfect mix of cool-weather flavors.
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Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce
Corn and broccoli might not be most obvious ingredient combo, but don’t let that stop you from trying this veggie side. Reviewers of all ages have loved it. The next day, stir in leftover turkey for a quick one-pot meal.
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Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes
Packaged ingredients like frozen hash browns and chive cream cheese are the secret behind these rich slow-cooker potatoes. Play around with flavors by using different types of cream o’ soup.
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Creamy Grape Salad
Not every side dish needs to be hot! This refreshing, creamy grape salad is the perfect palate cleanser between bites. For a special finishing touch, sprinkle it with brown sugar and pecans.
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Party Time Beans
Featuring five kinds of beans, this slightly sweet side is perfect for a cool autumn day. The beans aren’t too heavy, making them a great complement to heavier sides.
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Balsamic Green Bean Salad
Serve up those green beans in a whole new way—with a green bean salad recipe! The tangy flavors and fresh crunch are most welcome alongside creamy side dishes.
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Slow-Cooked Broccoli
If you’re hosting this year, this hands-off side is an ideal menu option. Reviewers have had fun swapping different crackers or chips for topping, so feel free to cater to your own family’s tastes.
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Bacon Macaroni Salad
Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, this salad is the ultimate make-and-take Thanksgiving side. In fact, you have to make it ahead so the flavors have time to meld.
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Glazed Ranch Carrots
On Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to do is spend hours on a side dish. This one relies on packages of baby carrots and ranch dressing mix, so there’s no time-consuming prep.
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Fried Onions and Apples
This tangy side dish pairs so well with a smoky turkey and savory gravy. The combination of the sweet apples mixed with salty fried onions makes for a side dish to remember.
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Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potato Stuffing
If you’re headed to a second Thanksgiving this year, here’s what to make. The recipe calls for leftover dinner rolls, letting you transform something from your first feast into this super moist side. The cheesy ranch flavor is a fun twist on the classic sage seasoning.
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Sweet Potato Carrot Crisp
This whipped side dish is a versatile option that will pair with everything else on the table. Subtly sweet, it has just a hint of garlic, while the nut and crumb topping adds a fun crunch to any holiday meal.
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Festive Fall Tortellini Toss
Iconic flavors of the season come together in this pasta dish with mushrooms, squash, apples and walnuts. This recipe can easily be doubled and can be served either warm or at room temperature, a terrific choice if you’re traveling over the river and through the woods.
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Baked Parmesan Broccoli
This cheesy side dish is a great way to get some vegetables in at this famously carby, starchy meal. The Parmesan adds a little interest to the broccoli that will have folks making room on their plates for more.
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Black-Eyed Peas & Ham
These slow-cooked black-eyed peas are sure to be a hit at your feast this year. The ham adds a subtle savoriness without being too overpowering or rich. Have the recipe again on New Year’s for good luck!
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Butternut Squash with Whole Grains
Fresh thyme really shines in this hearty slow-cooked side dish featuring tender butternut squash, nutritious whole grain pilaf and vitamin-packed baby spinach.Originally Published: November 21, 2022
