Bring down-home flavors to your holiday table with these southern Thanksgiving side dishes. We have delicious ideas for collard greens, sweet potato casserole, grits, cornbread dressing and more.
30 Southern Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can’t Miss
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Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese
The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy Velveeta mac and cheese makes it a staple side dish in my mother’s kitchen and in mine as well. It has tender noodles and a crowd-pleasing golden crumb topping. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina
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Texas Pecan Rice
For a special holiday side dish, I dressed up an old recipe to give it a little more Texas character. Everyone loved the savory flavor and crunchy pecans. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, TX
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Black-Eyed Peas
Ready for the ultimate black-eyed peas recipe? This popular Southern side dish gets its flavor from salty pork belly and ham hocks and might even bring good luck when eaten on New Year's Day.
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Deluxe Cornbread Stuffing
When my husband and I were newlyweds and far from family, we invited friends over for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. I searched for stuffing recipes and combined the best aspects of several to create this one. Everyone liked it, and I still make it for holidays. —Pamela Rickman, Valdosta, Georgia
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Bacon-Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins
Cornbread is essential at family dinners, and with the addition of bacon and pimiento cheese, you'll have requests for more long after the get-together! —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia
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Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, Texas
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Crock-Pot Grits
Since moving to the South, I have come to love grits! I also adore my slow cooker, and I worked to find a way to make perfect grits without stirring on the stovetop. I knew this slow-cooker grits recipe was a winner when my mother-in-law overheard someone at a church potluck say that it just wasn't right that a Midwesterner could make such good grits! —Tacy Fleury, Clinton, South Carolina
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Contest-Winning Cajun Cabbage
Looking for a different treatment for cabbage? Try this spicy cheese-topped Cajun cabbage that I adapted from a friend's recipe. I added a little of this and that until it tasted the way I wanted. Not only do my husband and kids like it, but I also get rave reviews when I make it for company or church functions. —Bobbie Soileau, Opelousas, Louisiana
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Granny’s Apple Scalloped Potatoes
This scalloped potatoes with apples dish is delicious with baked breaded pork chops, which you could cook at the same time in another cast-iron pan. We are retired, so it's just the two of us, but you could easily double the recipe to serve a crowd. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida
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Buttermilk Biscuits
You can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
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Slow-Cooked Green Beans
I spent hours in search of sides for a cooking demo to present to women from my church. These easy green beans became my star attraction. —Alice White, Willow Spring, North Carolina
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Whipped Squash
This is an excellent way to serve one of the season's most delicious vegetables—butternut squash. Its rich flavor and golden harvest color really come through in this smooth vegetable side dish. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
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Marmalade Candied Carrots
My favorite way to make baby carrots is to steam them, then drizzle with an orangey glaze that makes them candy-sweet. —Heather Clemmons, Supply, North Carolina
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Moist Red Pepper Cornbread
The name of this recipe says it all—except how perfect they are for scooping up that last drop of soups and stews! —Katherine Thompson, Tybee Island, Georgia
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Hoppin’ John
Serve up good food (and good luck) with hoppin' John, a southern staple made with beans and bacon.
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Southern Green Beans with Apricots
Green beans and apricots have become a family tradition. Enhanced with balsamic vinegar, this dish will make your taste buds pop. —Ashley Davis, Easley, South Carolina
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Hasselback Sweet Potatoes
My family and friends love the warm and inviting flavors of the luscious citrus butter, smooth cream cheese, sweet dates, fresh sage and toasted pecans that surround and capture the deliciousness of sweet potato in every bite of this side. —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina
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Brussels Sprouts and Grapes au Gratin
Red grapes add pops of sweetness to this bubbly, cheesy veggie side. I make mine with Swiss, but if you're feeling fancy, try Gruyere. And if you have one on hand, toss in a sliced apple. —Lorie Durrant, Nashville, Tennessee
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Make-Ahead Maple & Sage Gravy
Save those turkey wings! Then use this richly flavored stock in my pour-it-on-everything herbed gravy. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
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Pineapple Casserole
Southern pineapple casserole combines sweet and tangy pineapple with savory cheddar cheese and a buttery Ritz cracker topping. It's a unique side dish perfect for holiday gatherings or potluck dinners.
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Roasted Okra
Our recipe for roasted okra transforms this versatile vegetable into a crispy, flavorful treat. Perfect as a side dish or snack, roasted okra is a healthy way to enjoy this often under-appreciated veggie.
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Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens
A classic Southern dish often served at the holidays, black-eyed peas and collard greens might just become an all-the-time meal once your family tries it.
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Cornbread Dressing with Oysters
My father's dressing bakes separately from the turkey and is simply delicious. The secret is to prepare the corn bread first, let it cool and then crumble it to form the base for the rest of the ingredients. My father always added oysters to give the dressing a special flavor. —Nell Bass, Macon, Georgia
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Crunchy au Gratin Potatoes
With its golden, crunchy topping and gooey, cheesy interior, this comforting spin on a classic side dish is brimming with robust flavors. Horseradish and nutmeg add that extra-special touch.—Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Cornmeal Parker House Rolls
My mom deserves the credit for making this recipe a family tradition. These sweet, tender rolls have been on every holiday table at her house for as long as I can remember. —Lisa D. Brenner, Harrisburg, Nebraska
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Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens
These savory greens are a hit at every church dinner I take them to. Adjust the seasonings as you please to make this recipe your own. —Amy Inman, Hiddenite, North Carolina
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