43 Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides

Green Beans with Bacon

Green beans with bacon and onions makes such an easy side dish. Fresh beans lend a crisp, bright flavor to any meal. They’re best when served hot. —Mari Anne Warren, Milton, Wisconsin

Special Squash Casserole

Squash has traditionally been a food our family passes up, but this luscious casserole is an exception to the rule. You won't find it among our Thanksgiving leftovers—it's one of the first dishes to go back to the kitchen empty. —Kathleen Cox, Wyoming, Michigan

Spinach Risotto

I had never tried mushroom spinach risotto until a trip to Paris a few years ago. Since then, I worked hard to create a recipe that tasted similar, and I think I finally succeeded with this version. It is very rich and indulgent! I often add cubed cooked chicken to make this a more satisfying and protein-packed main dish. —Sandi Ogden, Clinton, Missouri

Cider Baked Squash

I’m a freelance writer who sometimes needs a break from a long session of working on a story. That’s when I escape to the kitchen to whip up something that’s good to eat, yet easy to prepare. This is one of my favorites!

Smashed Potatoes

Golden brown and buttery, these crispy smashed potatoes live up to their tantalizing name. A sprinkle of fresh herbs when they’re hot out of the oven maximizes the flavor…and the pretty. —Althea Dye, Howard, Ohio

Carrots Lyonnaise

This recipe from a junior high home economics class was brought home by my sister Laurie. My family liked it so much that it became a part of our Christmas dinner tradition. — Elizabeth Plants, Kirkwood, Missouri

Sweet Potato and Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple, sugar and marshmallows lend a super sweetness to sweet potatoes. I’ve been making the casserole for years, both for special occasions and casual dinners. —Ruth Leach, Shreveport, Louisiana

Roasted Fall Vegetables

I love serving this tender veggie side dish as part of a comforting dinner on a chilly night. The cayenne pepper lends zippy flavor that's not overpowering. —Juli Meyers, Hinesville, Georgia

Celeriac & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

My family can't get enough of this comforting fall favorite, especially at Thanksgiving. I love the addition of the celeriac. Its mild celery flavor pairs well with the garlic and potato. —Lynelle Martinson, Plover, Wisconsin

Maple & Bacon Glazed Brussels Sprouts

For special meals, here’s a fantastic side dish that even children will love. The sweet maple syrup and smoky bacon complement the Brussels sprouts perfectly. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois

Acorn Squash Slices

Roasted acorn squash slices are a favorite with my family. This recipe has a sweet maple flavor from syrup and an appealing nuttiness from pecans. It's easy, too, because you don't have to peel the squash. —Richard Lamb, Williamsburg, Indiana

Butternut Squash Custard

My husband first tasted this comforting casserole more than 10 years ago when he was still my fiance. Having enjoyed it so much, he said I needed to offer it at every Thanksgiving dinner. I was happy to oblige!—Maura Calusdian, Londonderry, New Hampshire

Creamed Pearl Onions

Creamed pearl onions are a classic holiday side that you should make more often. Tender little onions, bathed in rich cream, are an ideal accompaniment for roasted meats and mashed potatoes.

Creamed Corn

This creamed corn recipe features a rich, from-scratch cream sauce, sweet corn kernels and a nutty Parmesan topping. Enjoy it with your favorite southern dishes.

Herbed Baked Spinach

Parmesan cheese and garlic liven up this spinach dish, which goes well with meat entrees and main-dish casseroles. Sometimes, I use broccoli as a spinach substitute. It's equally delicious.

Apple, Butternut and Sausage Dressing

I'd heard about using squash in dressing, so I combined four things I love into one dish: apples, butternut squash, bacon and maple sausage! Now, it's one of the most requested dishes during the holidays. —Brenda Crouch, Ansley, Nebraska

Green Beans Amandine

It’s hard to improve on the taste Mother Nature gives to fresh green beans, but Mom has done just that for years using this green beans amandine recipe. I have always thought the crunchy almonds were a super addition. —Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan

Minty Peas and Onions

Mother always relied on peas and onions when she was in a hurry and needed a quick side dish. Besides being easy to prepare, this recipe was loved by everyone in our family. It was handed down to my mother by my grandmother. —Santa D'Addario, Jacksonville, Florida

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

Scented Rice in Baked Pumpkin

This easy, delicious and healthy side is a showpiece that always delights. You can use grain, squash, fruits and nuts to suit your taste—it's impossible to go wrong! —Lynn Heisel, Jackson, Missouri

Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Bacon-wrapped green beans are like little bundles of savoriness. Fresh green beans and your favorite bacon create a tasty and impressive-looking side dish.

Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens

Time to gather round the table, y’all! This dish has special meaning on New Year’s Day, when Southerners eat greens for future wealth and black-eyed peas for prosperity. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina

Makeover Creamed Corn

This healthy creamed corn has all the rich feel and flavor of the original, but only about half the calories and about a third of the saturated fat. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Roasted Peppers and Cauliflower

Caramelization really enhances the flavors in this easy side dish. The seasoned, roasted peppers and cauliflower are just right with nearly any main course. —Cheryl Wilt, Eglon, West Virginia

Roasted Honey Sweet Potatoes

Cinnamon and honey bring out the natural earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes in this simple, elegant side dish. —Laura Mifsud, Northville, Michigan

Spinach Souffle

You just can’t make an easier, more delicious side dish than this. It’s great with beef, pork and lamb, and I especially like serving it for a festive occasion like New Year’s Eve. —Bette Duffy, Kenmore, Washington

Vegetable Barley Saute

This wonderful side dish can easily be turned into a hearty entree by adding cooked chicken. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Rustic Squash Tarts

This recipe is hiding a big surprise. Flaky, rustic-looking pastry shells hold a sweet and spicy pecan layer under the squash slices. —Ann Marie Moch, Kintyre, ND

Green Bean Casserole

This green bean casserole has always been one of my favorite dishes—it’s so easy to put together! You can make it before any guests arrive and keep it refrigerated until baking time. —Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington

Baked Acorn Squash with Blueberry-Walnut Filling

I absolutely love squash—and I've filled it with so many variations of savory stuffing over the years. But my favorite way to stuff it is with an unexpected fruit filling, like this sweet apple-blueberry one. —Bruce Newcomer, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Sweet Potato Orange Cups

Serve this refreshingly sweet side dish to your guests in separate cups you craft…from oranges! All you have to do is cut oranges in half, scoop out the fruit and fill the peel with the sweet potato mixture. It's a hit among our family and friends. —Melonie Bowers, Sugarcreek, Ohio

Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce

Save room in the oven by making this savory side in your slow cooker. It is a standby in my house. My daughter likes to add leftover ham to create a hearty main course. —Joyce Johnson, Uniontown, Ohio

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

Cauliflower Gratin

This is a lower-carb side dish that pairs well with pork, ham or beef. It’s so creamy and delicious! If you like a bit of crunch, sprinkle buttered bread crumbs over the top for the last five minutes in the oven. — Mary Zinchiak, Boardman, Ohio

Broccoli Casserole

Even people who don’t like broccoli beg me to make this comforting broccoli cheese casserole recipe. It’s similar to a classic green bean casserole, but the melted cheese just puts it over the top. —Elaine Hubbard, Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania

Cheese & Herb Potato Fans

It's downright fun to make and serve this potato recipe. The fresh herbs, butter and cheeses are just what a good potato needs. —Susan Curry, West Hills, California

Garlic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce

Don’t be afraid to bring out the roasted Brussels sprouts. Mellowed with mustard sauce, they may just delight even the most skeptical folks. —Becky Walch, Orland, California

Glazed Green Beans

Glazed green beans with onions, bacon, dried cranberries and maple syrup are sweet, savory and 100% addictive.

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

I couldn’t shake my mashed potato habit—until I tried mashed cauliflower with a similar consistency. I started making my own, and my family loves it. —Meredith Howard, Franklin, Kentucky

Butternut Squash Apple Bake

Even those who aren't fans of squash enjoy this side dish. Sweet slices of butternut squash are topped with apples covered in a cinnamon-sugar glaze for a quick and easy dinner accompaniment. —Ellie Klopping, Toledo, Ohio

Creamy Parmesan Spinach Bake

My creamy, comforting side dish wonderfully rounds out any holiday dinner. Just a little of this rich casserole goes a long way. —Jennifer Bley, Austin, Texas

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

Spiced Acorn Squash

Working full time, I found I didn't always have time to cook the meals my family loved, so I re-created many of those dishes in the slow cooker. This treatment for squash is one of our favorites. —Carol Greco, Centereach, New York

Thanksgiving Vegetable Sides FAQ

What are the most popular Thanksgiving vegetables?

The most popular Thanksgiving vegetables are seasonal options like sweet potatoes, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, russet potatoes and root vegetables like carrots, parsnips and celery root. Green beans, though not exactly seasonal (they’re a summer crop in most places), have also firmly cemented their place at the Thanksgiving table thanks to green bean casserole recipes that often call for canned or frozen beans.

Can any Thanksgiving vegetable sides be made ahead of time?

Yes! Many vegetable side dishes for Thanksgiving can be made ahead to save time, stress and oven space. Most mashed or creamed vegetable dishes can be made a day or two ahead of time and, once cooled, stored in the refrigerator in airtight containers and reheated (or warmed in a slow cooker). Casseroles can often be assembled ahead of time and either baked day-of, or baked and cooled ahead of time and reheated to serve. If you’re making a casserole with a crispy topping, wait to add it until it’s time to serve, so crispy onions or cracker crumbs don’t get soggy.

How many Thanksgiving vegetable sides do I need?

This number largely depends on what the menu looks like overall and the number of guests. If you’ve already got plans to make turkey, gravy and stuffing, plus some kind of cranberry sauce, you may find that your group only needs a green bean casserole and squash souffle. If you’ve got a big group coming, you’ll have more opinions on what dishes qualify as essentials on a Thanksgiving menu. Generally, having about three vegetable side dishes is plenty. If you have more guests coming, sides are generally easier to prepare and transport so there’s no harm in adding more variety to the spread.