Thanksgiving Side Dishes

I’ve collected my best Thanksgiving side dishes, all in one place! Whether you’re looking for the classics (like mashed potatoes or stuffing) or something new (I highly recommend my broccoli casserole), these Thanksgiving recipes are here to help you plan the most delicious holiday meal!

Thanksgiving Side Dishes are the Best Part of the Meal

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I love the side dishes more than any other part of the meal. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way! Which is why I’ve rounded up all of my very best Thanksgiving side dishes to make your menu planning that much easier. All of these go well with my Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe, and don’t forget the Turkey Gravy!

With this collection of Thanksgiving side dishes at your fingertips, the hardest part is choosing which recipes to add to your Thanksgiving menu this year! Many of these recipes can be made ahead to save you time on the holiday.

Comforting Thanksgiving Casseroles

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without some type of casserole on the menu. These recipes have been in my family for years, and they are just so good.

• Green Bean Casserole: My homemade green bean casserole is simply the best. Tender green beans, a homemade mushroom cream sauce and a crispy topping make this casserole truly special.
• Sweet Potato Casserole: In our house, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the sweet potato casserole. This recipe features warm spices, creamy sweet potatoes and a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping.
• Broccoli Casserole: Made from scratch, this broccoli casserole always has a place on our Thanksgiving table. It’s creamy and cheesy with a cheesy breadcrumb topping.
• Corn Casserole: Another classic for Thanksgiving, this creamy corn casserole is so simple to make! It bakes up moist and tender, studded with kernels of corn throughout.
• Broccoli Rice Casserole: I don’t know what it is about broccoli, rice and cheese, but this combo is just so good. My version is made from scratch, without canned cream of soup.

These Thanksgiving Side Dishes Prove that Homemade is Always Best

I’ve created from scratch versions of our favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, and they are so much better than store-bought. Move over canned cranberry sauce and boxed stuffing mix, these recipes are easy and amazingly delicious.

• Cranberry Sauce: My easy cranberry sauce recipe has the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, with a touch of orange and cinnamon. This 10 minute recipe is a must-make for Thanksgiving dinner!
• Stuffing Recipe: Once you try my Thanksgiving stuffing recipe, you’ll never go back to the boxed mix. It’s intensely flavorful, made with fresh herbs, garlic and plenty of butter. I can never resist going back for seconds.
• Homemade Mac and Cheese: This mac and cheese recipe is exceptionally cheesy, creamy and so easy to make. I love that this recipe is make-ahead friendly to save time on Thanksgiving day.
• Instant Pot Applesauce: My kids go crazy for this Instant Pot applesauce, and I love that it’s so easy to make – the Instant Pot does most of the work.
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese: This is my personal favorite way to make mac and cheese. Made completely in the Instant Pot, this mac and cheese is the creamiest I’ve tried.

Mashed Potatoes, So Many Ways!

We always have mashed potatoes on our Thanksgiving table, and I have three easy ways to make them: on the stove, in the Instant Pot or in the slow cooker (a great make-ahead option!).

• Mashed Potatoes: This recipe includes my best tips and tricks for making perfect creamy mashed potatoes. It’s no wonder this is one of my most popular recipes!
• Crockpot Mashed Potatoes: This is my favorite way to prepare mashed potatoes in advance, which is especially convenient for Thanksgiving dinner. The potatoes cook in the slow cooker – no boiling or draining required.
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Take your potatoes to a whole new delicious level with this irresistible garlic mashed potatoes recipe. Roasted garlic infuses these creamy potatoes with flavor.
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: Let the Instant Pot do the work for you this Thanksgiving! These easy Instant Pot potatoes come out perfect every time. These creamy, buttery potatoes are delicious as is, but I won’t judge if you pour on the gravy.

More Potato Side Dishes

If you’d like to offer another potato dish for the holiday, I have so many great options to choose from:

• Twice Baked Potato Casserole: I can’t tell you how much I love this cozy casserole! With bacon, cheese and green onions, this dish is loaded with flavor.
• Roasted Red Potatoes: Looking for a simple potato side dish this Thanksgiving? These roasted potatoes bake up nice and soft in the center with crispy edges.
• Scalloped Potatoes: Every time I make these scalloped potatoes, I wonder why I don’t make them more often. With cheese, garlic and crispy golden brown edges, they are absolutely irresistible. You can even make them ahead to save time on the big day.
• Twice Baked Potatoes: This is my family’s favorite twice baked potatoes recipe. This is another recipe that’s perfect for making ahead – just pop them in the oven to heat through before the meal.
• Roasted Potatoes: Garlic and rosemary give these tender roasted potatoes delicious savory flavor.
• Roasted Potatoes and Carrots: This recipe is a real crowd-pleaser! Simple and so delicious, these roasted carrots and potatoes always disappear so quickly in my house.

Sweet Potato Thanksgiving Side Dishes

The sweet potatoes are one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving dinner. I also highly recommend my Sweet Potato Pie for dessert!

• Roasted Sweet Potatoes: If simple is what you’re looking for, these roasted sweet potatoes are it. This Thanksgiving side dish is the best combination of sweet and savory.
• Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole: Let the slow cooker do the work for you with this healthy casserole recipe. It’s an easy, make ahead Thanksgiving side dish.
• Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes: I add a little bit of butter and maple syrup to enhance the sweet potatoes’ natural sweet-savory flavor.
• Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes: When you want sweet potatoes with a little something extra, these honey roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish.
• Baked Sweet Potatoes: So simple, yet so delicious! If I were having a Thanksgiving just for two, this is the sweet potato recipe I’d make.

Vegetable Side Dishes

We always choose at least one or two healthy vegetable dishes to serve with our Thanksgiving meal. These are some of our easiest Thanksgiving recipes.

• Roasted Vegetables: This colorful medley of veggies will brighten up your dinner table.
• Roasted Green Beans: This recipe will make you wonder why you don’t roast green beans more often! If you want to serve green beans but don’t want to bother with a casserole, I highly recommend this recipe!
• Glazed Carrots: Carrots are cooked to crisp-tender and then coated in a caramelized brown sugar and butter glaze. Your Thanksgiving guests will love them!
• Balsamic Brussels Sprouts: My favorite fancy Brussels sprouts recipe! A maple balsamic glaze, pecans and cranberries makes these roasted Brussels sprouts extra special for Thanksgiving.
• Roasted Butternut Squash: A simple yet elegant side dish. I love roasting butternut squash because the heat of the oven caramelizes the edges and brings out the rich flavor and natural sweetness of the squash.
• Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup: This is the best butternut squash soup I’ve tried, and it makes a lovely first course for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s luxuriously creamy and so easy to make.

• Roasted Carrots: Simply seasoned with fresh thyme, salt and pepper, these carrots are as delicious as they are easy to make.
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese: This is a great option for a unique side dish this Thanksgiving. It’s creamy and so comforting!
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts: One of my go-to recipes, these Brussels are quick to prep and always a favorite. Feeding a smaller crowd? Try these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
• Roasted Cauliflower: Simple and delicious! You can’t beat the caramelized edges.
• Roasted Delicata Squash: I roast this winter squash with maple syrup and fresh thyme to make its flavor shine. It’s a beautiful addition to a Thanksgiving spread.

Salads Worthy of your Thanksgiving Table

I always include a healthy salad in our Thanksgiving meal. These colorful salads just might steal the show!

• Kale Salad: Our favorite fall salad, this kale salad has crisp apple, crunchy pumpkin seeds and tangy goat cheese, all tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette.
• Butternut Squash Salad: Roasted butternut squash, candied nuts and pomegranate seeds make this gorgeous salad one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
• Broccoli Salad: What I love most about this recipe is that it’s so easy to make. It takes takes less than 30 minutes start to finish. With bacon, sunflower seeds and cranberries, this broccoli salad is loaded with flavor!
• Arugula Salad: Fresh pears and nutty Parmesan cheese star in this simple salad.
• Broccoli Kale Salad: This colorful salad is packed full of healthy ingredients.

• Wild Rice Salad: Butternut squash, apple and dried cranberries add color and flavor to this wild rice salad. An orange vinaigrette dressing brings it all together.
• Quinoa Spinach Salad: This spinach salad is one of my all-time favorites. The combination of flavors and textures is so, so good. Make it to share on Thanksgiving, and everyone will be asking for the recipe!
• Spinach Salad with Bacon: Bacon and hard boiled eggs make this classic spinach salad something special.
• Fruit Salad: I like to include a kid-friendly salad in our holiday meal, and this fruit salad is my go-to. With a honey-lime dressing, it’s always a favorite with both kids and adults!
• Green Salad: If it’s a simple green salad you’re looking for, this one is my favorite. I’ve made this recipe for so many family gatherings, and it’s always enjoyed by all.

Thanksgiving Bread Recipes

With these amazing bread recipes, you won’t be tempted to pass on the homemade rolls (or biscuits or cornbread) this Thanksgiving. Store-bought doesn’t come close to these homemade recipes.

• Honey Yeast Rolls: My personal favorite, these honey yeast rolls are light and fluffy with a delicious honey butter topping. I’ll be making them for Thanksgiving this year!
• Homemade Biscuits: They’re tall and buttery, with the best flaky layers.
• Dinner Rolls: This is our go-to classic dinner roll recipe. They’re soft, fluffy and buttery. The recipe includes make ahead instructions to save you time on Thanksgiving Day.
• Cornbread: This easy recipe is mixed up in just one bowl. It’s fluffy, moist and sweet, perfect for serving with butter and honey.
• Drop Biscuits: If biscuits are one of your go-to Thanksgiving recipes, you’ll love this recipe. Even easier than my traditional biscuit recipe, these drop biscuits are tender and buttery.

I hope you enjoy these Thanksgiving sides. These recipes have been well-loved by my family over the years and I hope a few of them will find their way onto your family’s Thanksgiving table. Don’t forget the Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie for dessert. 🧡