80 Delectable Thanksgiving Side Dishes To Elevate Your Holiday Dinner
As the days grow shorter and the air takes on a crisp chill, the annual Thanksgiving feast draws near, heralding a time of gratitude, togetherness, and, of course, culinary indulgence.
While the turkey often claims the spotlight, it’s the supporting cast of side dishes that truly transforms a Thanksgiving meal into an unforgettable banquet.
In our quest to help you create the ultimate Thanksgiving spread, we’ve scoured the culinary landscape to curate a spectacular collection of 80 Thanksgiving side dish ideas.
Whether you’re a seasoned chef looking to spice up your traditional favorites or a novice seeking inspiration for your first Thanksgiving in the kitchen, our roundup has something for everyone.
From classic recipes that have graced family tables for generations to modern and innovative twists on traditional fare, this comprehensive list covers a diverse range of flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques.
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Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that explores the rich tapestry of Thanksgiving side dishes, each capable of adding its own unique charm to your holiday celebration.
So, loosen your apron strings, sharpen your knives, and embrace the opportunity to impress your loved ones with a Thanksgiving feast like no other. Without further ado, let’s dive into the flavorful world of Thanksgiving side dishes that will leave your guests feeling thankful for your culinary prowess.
1. Green Beans Almondine
This super easy green bean recipe won’t hog valuable oven space on Thanksgiving. It’s easy to make, tastes incredible and can be served at room temp.
2. Wild Rice And Butternut Squash
This rice butternut squash recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s bright, colorful and delicious.
3. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Cranberry Sauce is easy to make and tastes better than the store-bought! This cranberry sauce is flavorful, sweet, tart, and makes a perfect accompaniment to your holiday meals.
4. Mashed Acorn Squash
Mashed acorn squash is the Thanksgiving Side Dish that everyone adores – it’s simple, delicious, vibrant, and will quickly become a family favorite.
5. Beet And Arugula Salad With Goat Cheese
Roasted fall vegetables, fresh arugula, and crumbled goat cheese tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette.
6. Dutch Oven Potatoes
Buttery, tender, and deliciously comforting, this simple recipe for Dutch Oven Potatoes is a must-have for cooler weather. Adorable baby potatoes are given a seasonal treatment of garlic and rosemary for the easiest, tastiest carb-y side you can imagine!
7. Boursin Mashed Potatoes
Make-ahead Boursin mashed potatoes are the perfect Thanksgiving recipe! These Boursin cheese mashed potatoes are easy, herby, and delicious!
8. Acorn Squash Salad With Maple Dressing
Roasted acorn squash salad is a must for Thanksgiving or even as a side for a fall dinner, especially drizzled with creamy maple dressing!
9. Sheet Pan Roasted Broccoli And Brussel Sprouts
It’s time to turn on your oven and make the best baked broccoli and brussels sprouts for your dinner guests! This easy sheet pan roasted broccoli and Brussels sprouts recipe is full of flavor and delicious as a side dish. Yes, broccoli and Brussels sprouts can be super yummy if they’re seasoned right, and these are full of garlic and parmesan goodness.
10. Candied Sweet Potato Casserole
Candied Sweet Potato Casserole is packed with flavor! Simple to prepare, this dish will have your guests begging for seconds and needing the recipe!
11. Smoked Stuffing
Take a classic Thanksgiving side dish and elevate it with this smoked stuffing recipe.
12. Purple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Creamy and sweet, these Purple Sweet Potato Mashed Potatoes are not only delicious but they’re beautiful as well. Gluten-free, nut-free, egg and easily dairy-free, these potatoes are ones you’ll want to make for any occasion and it only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish.
13. Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Slow cooker red cabbage is a delicious, colorful side dish. It’s fruity flavor is a perfect complement to rich, roast meats.
14. Cornbread Dressing
With a buttery texture and a crisp, golden exterior, this Cornbread Dressing Recipe stands out as an ideal complement to festive meals. It’s effortlessly crafted using homemade sweet cornbread, Italian sausage, celery, onion, and aromatic fresh herbs.
15. Rice Dressing With Bacon
A change from traditional stuffing, this rice dressing is packed full of bacon, mushrooms, and fluffy rice. It’s a great make-ahead Thanksgiving side dish that is so easy and so delicious!
16. Baked Brown Sugar Carrots
The perfect side dish, these easy Baked Brown Sugar Carrots are so simple to make and packed with flavor! Serve these brown sugar-glazed carrots for a special occasion, or as a side for busy weeknights.
17. KFC Copycat Coleslaw
This KFC coleslaw recipe is very easy to make and a good side dish to whip up quickly if you are pressed for time; however, the list of ingredients may surprise you for such a simple-looking dish.
18. Roasted Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
These roasted cauliflower mashed potatoes put a new spin on a traditional recipe favorite. Loaded with roasted heirloom garlic and fresh herbs, these easy mashed cauliflower potatoes are the absolute best.
19. Gluten-Free Vegan Stuffing
Thanksgiving is never complete without some of The Best Gluten-Free Vegan Stuffing! Impress your guests with this essential side dish recipe that’s safe for all food allergies, loved by all, and may just become the new star of the show!
20. Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Balsamic
These Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Balsamic require only 8 ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare. Tossed with a sweet, savory balsamic glaze then air-fried to crispy perfection, this is a healthy, low-calorie, low-fat vegetable side dish that pairs well with just about anything.
21. Root Vegetable Mash
Change it up with this yummy root vegetable mash. Same creamy, fluffiness as mashed potatoes, but made with your favorite root veggies. Beautiful colors and extra nutrition. Under 30 minutes.
22. Rustic Rosemary Thyme Potatoes
An easy and delicious dinner side dish recipe for Rustic Rosemary Thyme Mashed Potatoes! They’re gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and allergy-free; perfect for the holidays or as a simple healthy take on classic comfort food!
23. Sage and Bacon Stuffing
If your favorite part of Thanksgiving, like mine, is the stuffing, you’ll love this recipe for Sage and Bacon Stuffing. Take the classic Thanksgiving stuffing with sage, onion, celery, and parsley, and add salty, savory bacon for the perfect side dish.
24. Vegan Corn Casserole
This super easy Vegan Corn Casserole is just 5 ingredients and a homemade gluten-free copycat of the classic Jiffy recipe! Just stir the ingredients together and bake in the oven for a simple comforting side dish everyone in the family will love! This dairy-free old-fashioned Southern casserole is like a moist and eggless cornbread soufflé! Perfect for the holidays and feeding a crowd!
25. Gochujang Butternut Squash
An easy 5-ingredient Gochujang Butternut Squash recipe that is bursting with flavour. The hardest thing about this roasted Korean butternut squash recipe is cutting the squash!
26. Garlic Bread Rolls
Garlic bread rolls are soft and fluffy dinner rolls brushed with delicious garlic herb butter. They make a perfect side to any dish, especially for Thanksgiving!
27. Creamy Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
With four cheeses and a buttery cracker topping this quick and easy Dutch oven mac and cheese is the perfect side to share for Thanksgiving!
28. Baked Miso Mushroom Farro Casserole
Miso mushroom farro casserole is a hearty, savory, vegetarian dish that’s sure to be the star of your holiday table! Full of nutty and chewy farro, earthy mushrooms, umami-rich miso and delicious chickpeas. Serve it as a side or the main dish!
29. Crockpot Stuffing
Utilize your slow cooker this holiday season for delicious Crock Pot Stuffing! A simple, flavorful recipe with 10 ingredients, sure to please family and friends, enhancing any meal.
30. KitchenAid Mixer Mashed Potatoes
Take the elbow grease out of mashed potatoes by using your KitchenAid stand mixer! Just boil, mix, and you have easy, creamy mashed potatoes in under 20 minutes. This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and easily dairy-free or vegan.
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31. Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
Take your mashed potato game to a whole new level with this easy smoked gouda mashed potatoes recipe! The perfect side dish for a casual dinner or a holiday feast.
32. Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Dried Cranberries and Goat Cheese
These easy, crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are tossed with a bit of maple syrup, dried cranberries, and crumbled goat cheese for a cozy side dish that’s sure to impress!
33. Classic Geen Bean Casserole
This Green Bean Casserole recipe is a classic holiday side dish that needs just a few minutes of prep and can be made with fresh, frozen, or canned green beans.
34. Vegan Mushroom Gravy
This Vegan Mushroom Gravy is plant-based, oil-free, rich, savory, and perfect for the holidays! Serve this with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, or your Thanksgiving main dish.
35. Baked Vegan Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
A veganized version of the classic! This Baked Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and cheese is creamy, comforting, and delicious. Makes a great side at a holiday table!
36. Garlic And Leek Mashed Potatoes
These creamy mashed potatoes use real fresh garlic, sauteed leeks in butter and sour cream for a rich side dish. The use of yellow potatoes, with their thin skin, means you don’t need to peel them, saving time.
37. Butter Rice
This butter rice is a simple and quick side dish that pairs well with various dishes. You won’t believe how the garlic, butter, and onion can bring so much flavor and richness to this rice!
38. Gluten-Free Cornbread Stuffing
This gluten-free cornbread stuffing recipe has the classic flavors of traditional cornbread stuffing but uses gluten-free sweet cornbread, fresh herbs, and breakfast sausage to make a guilt-free delicious stuffing.
39. Fall Farro Salad With Butternut Squash
This flavorful fall farro salad is the perfect side dish with butternut squash, cranberries, and feta cheese.
40. 5 Ingredient Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
This 5-Ingredient Sweet Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish for any holiday meal. It’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time, so you can enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
41. Maple Cinnamon Whipped Sweet Potatoes
These five-ingredient maple cinnamon whipped sweet potatoes are perfectly fluffy and slightly sweet with loads of nutrition. They’re easy to whip up and make the perfect side dish for any meal.
42. Savoury Sweet Potatoe Casserole
Comfort food at its finest. Soft creamy sweet potato mash encrusted with a crunchy maple walnut breadcrumb topping, this savory sweet potato casserole recipe is one to share at family dinners or festive holiday celebrations.
43. Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin
Creamy potatoes au gratin is a classic side dish that everyone will love. Every bite is comforting potato heaven with creamy, cheesy goodness. Perfect for festive celebrations like Easter and Christmas or anytime you need an easy, delicious potato side recipe.
44. Butternut Squash Casserole
A trusted family recipe passed down for generations. This Butternut Squash Casserole recipe is one of our all-time favorite holiday side dishes. It’s terrific served with any kind of roasted meat or poultry.
45. Au Gratin Potatoes
Everyone’s favorite creamy Au Gratin Potatoes with Gruyère. This recipe makes produces the perfect combination of tender cheesy potatoes and a silky, flavorful sauce.
46. Southern Baked Beans
This baked beans recipe takes minutes to throw together, slow cooks in the oven and can be prepped ahead of time. Bring a pan of these baked beans to Thanksgiving dinner and everyone will love you!
47. Crack Green Beans
These Crack Green Beans will leave you begging for seconds! Discover a world of culinary bliss as fresh green beans harmonize beautifully with crispy bacon and a sweet-and-savory glaze.
48. Creamy Jalapeno Corn
This cream jalapeno corn recipe is made with sweet corn and spicy jalapeno and is tossed in a creamy and cheesy sauce.
49. Balsamic Glaze For Caprese Salad
This balsamic-glazed caprese salad is the perfect side dish recipe for Thanksgiving!
50. Roasted Butternut Squash With Brown Sugar
This roasted butternut squash with brown sugar is the perfect blend of sweet, savory, herbaceous, and slightly spicy too! An easy, no-peel recipe for your holiday table!
51. Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread
This Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread is super moist, fluffy, and perfect for Thanksgiving or on the side of any meal!
52. Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Balsamic
These roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic are the perfect side dish for any fall gathering. Crispy Brussels sprouts and bits of bacon with plenty of zesty balsamic vinegar to create a mouthwatering bite.
53. Sauteed French Green Beans With Parmesan and Pine Nuts
This Sautéed French Green Beans with Parmesan and Pine Nuts recipe is elegant and packed with flavor, but so simple to make! Serve them with Thanksgiving dinner or alongside meatloaf during the week. No matter the occasion, they’re a real crowd-pleaser!
54. Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole
This Easy, healthy, and cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole Recipe and so easy to make and is the perfect dish for any meal! Made without condensed soup, loaded with healthy vegetables, and made in under 30 minutes, this creamy and cheesy casserole will become a household favorite. It’s also low-carb, keto, and gluten-free.
55. Vegan Fall Harvest Salad
Sweet, maple-roasted squash, peppery, bitter kale, sweet apples, chewy dried berries, crunchy toasted nuts, and bright maple cider vinaigrette combine forces in this gorgeous Vegan Fall Harvest Salad that’s so much more than the sum of its parts. Best of all, these fall harvest bowls are perfect for meal prep, meaning a nutritious and delicious meal is never far from reach.
56. Maple Roasted Carrots
These sweet maple-roasted carrots are full of fall flavor and a delicious addition to any dinner spread like Thanksgiving or Christmas!
57. Soft Sourdough Dinner Rolls
Easy to make and flavored with a slight sourdough tang, these soft pull-apart dinner rolls will be a welcome addition to any meal and a great use of your sourdough discard!
58. Boursin Mashed Potatoes
These super easy Boursin cheese mashed potatoes are the most delicious and perfect side dish for nearly any meal. The potatoes are mashed with creamy Boursin cheese and topped with crispy shallots and chives.
59. Pear Blue Cheese Salad
This Pear Blue Cheese Salad combines the flavors of juicy pears with sharp blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and a tangy walnut oil vinaigrette. This intense flavor combination atop a bed of mixed greens and sprinkled with dried cranberries will be your new go-to salad.
60. Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Mexican sweet potatoes are a delightful culinary treat featuring a harmonious blend of flavors. A delicious and tasty side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
61. Scalloped Potatoes
These delicious Classic Scalloped Potatoes are made easily with sautéed onions and garlic, creamy sauce, fresh herbs, and plenty of salt and fresh ground black pepper.
62. Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potatoes
Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potatoes are a super simple side dish for weeknight dinners and delicious enough for holiday meals and special occasions.
63. No Knead Avocado Dinner Rolls
These No Knead Avocado Dinner Rolls are ultra soft, plush, and made with mashed avocado instead of butter! There is no kneading or stand mixer required, and it is shockingly easy to make.
64. Cheesy Instant Pot Hash Brown Casserole
The Cheesy Instant Pot Hash Brown Casserole is a delicious make-ahead side dish that will be a hit at your Thanksgiving feast. With its creamy cheese and crispy hash brown texture, it’s sure to please everyone’s palate.
65. Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls
These homemade Old Fashioned Yeast Rolls are the perfect addition to your holiday dinner. They are soft, fluffy, and can be easily pulled apart.
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66. Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
Who says creamy, savory, and buttery-flavored mashed potatoes need to have milk?! these dairy-free mashed potatoes are all that plus more, all while being made with no milk or dairy!
67. Spiced Beef Croquettes
Crispy and delicious Beef Croquettes made with mildly spiced beef mince, aromatics and spices….an excellent appetizer for your next party.
68. Maple Cranberry Brussels Sprouts
These are the best maple cranberry Brussels sprouts. You will love how easy they are to make with fresh cranberries, balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.
69. Emeril’s Baked Oyster Dressing
This classic New Orleans Thanksgiving side dish will be on most Louisianian’s tables – a delicious dressing full of southern spice and oysters.
70. Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese
This delicious homestyle Mac and Cheese is famous in the Cracker Barrel restaurants and is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.
71. Instant Pot Wild Rice
Serve a vegan and gluten-free side this Thanksgiving! This nutty and flavourful wild rice blend is ready in less than an hour thanks to the Instant Pot.
72. Sausage Sweet Potato Salad
This sausage sweet potato salad is a quick and easy dish with chicken sausage chunks on top. Sprinkled with dried cranberries and crunchy almond flakes, enjoy the nice sweet-savory mix.
73. Candied Sweet Potato Stacks
Candied Sweet Potato Stacks are a fun twist on everyone’s favorite holiday side dish that’s guaranteed to impress your guests! Made with sweet potatoes coated in spiced maple syrup that’s topped with pecans and marshmallows for a tasty holiday treat.
74. Sauteed Eggplant Recipe
Learn the best way to make sauteed eggplant on the stove in under 20 minutes. Enjoy a tender and delicious eggplant side dish topped with garlic and fresh parsley-infused oil. It’s definitely a crowdpleaser eggplant recipe that’s vegan, keto-friendly, and paleo!
75. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash
The best balsamic-maple roasted Brussels sprouts with butternut squash, pecans, cranberries, and avocado-roasted garlic dressing. Ultimate healthy vegan Thanksgiving side dish ready in just 40 minutes!
76. Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These are the absolute best mashed Sweet Potatoes you’ll ever have. They are buttery, creamy, nutty, and have hints of caramel.
77. Sweet and Spicy Hasselback Butternut Squash
Tender butternut squash slices, roasted to perfection, infused with the aromatic flavors of fresh garlic and chili flakes.
78. Irresistible Sauteed Carrots
Lightly caramelized carrots are sauteed with shallot for an elegant, delicious, and simple side dish.
79. Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Fresh Thyme
Get ready to love the flavor of this sweet potato recipe. Not only is this easy recipe made with simple ingredients, but it’s perfect for a holiday meal or the perfect side dish at the dinner table. Once you make these creamy mashed sweet potatoes, you’re going to crave that creamy texture over and over again.
80. Fall Fruit Salad
Quick and easy Thanksgiving fruit salad includes a tasty homemade simple syrup dressing.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’ve explored a bounty of side dish ideas that promise to elevate your holiday table and create unforgettable memories. From time-honored classics like creamy mashed potatoes and green bean casserole to daring newcomers like hasselback butternut squash and truffle-infused mac and cheese, this collection has something to tantalize every palate.
As you embark on your Thanksgiving culinary adventure, remember that the true essence of this holiday lies not only in the delicious food but also in the love, laughter, and warmth shared with family and friends. So, gather your loved ones around the table, savor the flavors of the season, and take a moment to express gratitude for all the blessings in your life.
We hope these 80 Thanksgiving side dish ideas inspire you to create a feast that nourishes not only the body but also the soul. From our kitchen to yours, we wish you a joyful and delicious Thanksgiving celebration. May your holiday be filled with love, happiness, and the delectable dishes that make this day truly special. Happy Thanksgiving!
