With Thanksgiving right around the corner, prepping is vital, especially if your the one doing all the cooking, hosting or both. So, I am going to make your life way easier with my 25 Classic Thanksgiving side dishes that will make them want the recipes for, they are that good. I have a nice easy recipe for every single food lover in your group, from broccoli and green beans to yams and mashed potatoes I have every single amazing dish right here under this blog roof!
I am going to start off with the classic, since everyone always wants the mashed potatoes and green beans first. But these are the top of the top for these recipes, so don't just grab the side of a can, either grab a pen or snap a screenshot. Because, these will be ones you will be making for years to come!
1: The BEST Mashed Potatoes Recipe
No holiday meal would be complete without a big bowl of creamy dreamy mashed potatoes
These are the BEST mashed potatoes, incredibly buttery and creamy, easy to make, and the perfect addition to every meal.
I’ve included all of my best tips and a complete “how to make mashed potatoes” guide for absolute perfection every time!
This recipe is by Holly from Spend with Pennies. I absolutely love this site and have made hundreds of their recipes. This particular one has everyone always asking for more and I have to end up making double batches every single time I serve it.
2: OUR FAVORITE BUTTERY HERB STUFFING
This is the best stuffing recipe ever!
Seriously, it’s our favorite stuffing and the only one I make now. The edges are golden and crunchy, the inside is soft. It’s wildly flavorful and buttery and filled with herbs and most importantly, a delicious neutral flavor that truly goes with any meal.
Stuffing is by FAR my favorite side dish. In fact, Thanksgiving is alllll about the side dishes for me. Each one gets better than the last. And yes, technically this would be considered dressing since I’m serving it outside the bird.
Recipe by Jessica from How Sweet Eats
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3: Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Fresh Green Bean Casserole is a classic side dish, great for special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas, yet still perfect any time of year! This recipe features fresh green beans cooked until tender crisp in a creamy mushroom sauce. This homemade casserole is topped off with a cheesy panko topping!
The perfect green bean casserole homemade from scratch!
No turkey dinner feast would be complete without mashed potatoes, gravy and of course a yummy green bean casserole! My family looks forward to this fabulous side dish every year! Tender green beans cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce and topped a crisp Panko topping and cheddar cheese; so many family favorite ingredients all put together in one dish!
Recipe by Holly from Spend with Pennies
4: Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
This Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows and Pecans will win over even the most averse sweet potato eater. This classic Thanksgiving side dish is made extra special with a delightfully crunchy pecan streusel topping that goes under a gooey marshmallow topping!
Be sure not to miss the rest of our classic Thanksgiving recipes! We always serve this sweet potato casserole with southern cornbread dressing, a fresh green bean casserole (from scratch and so delicious!), and a bacon-roasted turkey that everybody raves about!
I grew up eating candied yams for Thanksgiving, which is a dish made using chunks of soft, cooked sweet potato topped with butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows. It wasn't ever my favorite dish on our holiday table - probably my least favorite actually, but I have found a new love for sweet potatoes with this easy sweet potato casserole.
Recipe by Amy from House of Nash Eats
5: Savory Cornbread Stuffing
I find most cornbread to be very sweet. This one is grainy and savory, and the stuffing I make with it is my favorite. This is easily doubled for a larger quantity of stuffing. Bake it in a 3-quart baking dish (it will take about 45 to 50 minutes) or in two 9-inch pans.
This recipe has been at the top of the NY Time best read and most made recipe for over 5 years. Once you make it you will know why this recipe has a perfect 5 star review with over a thousand people that have made it to date.
It is buttery, full of herbs and flavors and has a delicious crunch to it that makes it super unique and delicious.
The Recipe is by By Martha Rose Shulman and published in the NY Times.
6: Balsamic Roasted Baby Carrots
Sweet baby carrots are the perfect match for this tangy balsamic glaze. Fancy enough for a holiday meal, but easy enough for a weeknight, this recipe is endlessly riffable and guaranteed to deliver crisp-tender carrots every time. Be sure to give your veggies plenty of room on your baking sheet for maximum caramelization.
Made these? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!
I am not a huge fan of cooked carrots, not sure why as I love raw carrots, but to me the flavor changes and are all of a sudden kinda gross.
But, my son wanted me to make some carrots two years ago, so I found this recipe and I have to say, they are so delicious I actually make it year round
Recipe by MAKINZE GORE from DELISH
7: Homemade Cranberry Sauce
A simple recipe for fresh and easy homemade cranberry sauce. Made with real whole cranberries and just 3 other ingredients, this is an easy traditional must-have for your next holiday dinner. This cranberry sauce is a holiday classic (like my roasted sweet potatoes) and deserves a place on your table. Be sure to check out the brief how-to video at the bottom of the post if you’re more of a visual learner!
Who here is hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Don’t look at me, while I’d love to someday, my biggest contributions to holiday get-togethers usually land on the dessert table. Pecan pie , chocolate pie (with a side of homemade whipped cream!), these are my usual contributions, but recently I’ve branched out. This year, I’m on a mission to replace canned cranberry sauce everywhere with homemade cranberry sauce.
Recipe be Sam from Sugar Spun run
8: Cheesy Baked Brussel Sprouts Casserole
Want a warm and comforting side dish without spending hours in the kitchen? This easy Cheesy Baked Brussel Sprouts Casserole is creamy and flavor filled, perfect for holidays or busy weeknights. Made with simple ingredients, this Brussel Sprouts side dish is sure to please.
I don’t know about you but holidays for me are all about the food. From the freshly baked cookies, to the holiday turkey or ham and all the side dishes in between…..I love it all.
Every dish is just a little bit “extra”…..even our classic Campbell’s Classic Green Bean Casserole gets a little extra dressed up for the occasion. But this year, I’m adding a new favorite to the mix and it’s going on the weekly meal plan because it’s so easy.
Recipe by Kellie from The Suburban Soap Box
9: THE BEST DINNER ROLLS
Light, fluffy, buttery dinner rolls are impossible to resist. Homemade with just a handful of simple ingredients, the BEST Dinner Rolls can you be on your table in a jiffy. They really are the perfect addition to any meal but I love this easy dinner roll recipe with Buttermilk Ranch Oven Fried Chicken or these delicious Turkey Meatballs.
An easy dinner roll recipe needs to be in everyone’s repertoire. These dinner rolls are perfect. Like, truly perfect. Soft and fluffy, my dinner roll recipe is going to blow you away with it’s pillowy texture and buttery flavor. They are extremely versatile and a welcome addition to essentially every meal.
Recipe by Trish from Mom on Time Out
10: Pumpkin Soup
This is a classic, easy pumpkin soup made with fresh pumpkin that is very fast to make. Thick, creamy and full of flavor, this is THE pumpkin soup recipe you will make now and forever! Don’t forget the hot buttered crusty bread for dunking! (Bonus: pumpkin soup is super healthy with just 189 calories per serving!)
Some recipes should be kept simple as nature intended them to be, and in my opinion, Pumpkin Soup is one of those dishes. The natural flavor of pumpkin is good enough that you need very little to make a beautiful, creamy, full flavored soup.
Recipe by: Nagi from Recipe Tin Eats
11: Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
This super easy Bacon Spinach Salad is filled with bacon, blue cheese crumbles, onions, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs and topped with a warm bacon dressing!
You can never go wrong with bacon, especially when it’s in a salad! This salad has a vast amount of texture and flavor from the crunchy bits of bacon to the creamy crumbles of blue cheese. Made with a few quick steps and is hearty enough to be served as a meal! Sometimes we add a bit more bacon to make it extra wholesome for lunch or dinner
This warm bacon dressing is packed with bacon flavor and crumbled bacon bites! This spinach salad isn’t like your typical salad..it’s comforting and loaded with so much goodness.
Recipe by Kathryn from Kathryn's Kitchen Blog
12: Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Bake
This loaded cauliflower broccoli casserole with bacon is an easy keto/low-carb recipe that's ready in 30mn and tastes incredible.
Loaded Cauliflower Broccoli Casserole – This loaded cauliflower casserole with bacon and broccoli is an incredible keto/low-carb side dish recipe or main dish that tastes delicious. The casserole is easy to make, kid-friendly, and one of the best ways to put a low carb dinner on the table for one of those busy weeknights. Enjoy!
This particular recipe I actually made up myself when I was in college and my kids favorite holiday side to this very day. I will post my version next week. This version has bacon, mine does not. Trying them both.
Recipe by CHRISTINA from Eat Well 101
13: White Cheddar Baked Corn
Corn. The glue that holds all Holiday meals together. Don’t think so? Try omitting it sometime, and everyone will just keep wondering “What’s missing here???”
I have to admit, I’ve been a corn lover my whole life. As a child I absolutely despised veggies, but corn…we got along just fine. So obviously, as an adult and a chef, I look for ways to make corn even better then it already is. I’ve found a winner here….ding, ding, ding! Corn + cheese = yes! It doesn’t really take a genius to figure that one out though, so let’s just say I took an obvious combination and upped the ante a bit by adding a touch of white wine and a layer of crispy Fontina cheese on top!
Recipe by Dana from Pretty Little Apron
14: Sweet Potato Bites
Sweet potato bites with marshmallows and pecans are a fun and delicious holiday appetizer or side dish.
I can’t seem to leave sweet potato dishes alone, and there’s always a new twist I’m looking for each holiday season. This year’s creation is these sweet potato bites with marshmallows and pecans! I’ve topped thick rounds of butter-roasted sweet potatoes with maple syrup, marshmallows, and pecans for all the flavors of classic sweet potato casserole in a delightful single-serving package.
So if you’re looking for something familiar but slightly non-traditional for Thanksgiving, this is it! And not only are these sweet potato bites tasty, but they’re easy to make too. With just 5 ingredients and only a few minutes of prep work needed.
Recipe by Annalise from Completely Delicious.
15: Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
These fluffy pumpkin cornbread muffins are extremely easy to make, don't take a lot of time, and are stuffed with heart-warming fall flavors. They are the best snack for picnics, lunches, or even as part of a breakfast buffet at this time of year.
We use fresh homemade pumpkin puree for these pumpkin corn muffins. It gives a much pure pumpkin flavor and a fantastic texture. We always use it to make recipes like cake mix pumpkin muffins, which are super easy to make and pumpkin spice pancakes. All these would be great on Thanksgiving tables in the morning.
These little bad boys are amazing for Thanksgiving Breakfast or a side dish, but either way, Thanksgiving will not be the only time you make these, they are that good!
Recipe by ZERRIN & YUSUF from Give Recipe
16: White Cheddar Baked Mac and Cheese
Loaded with good white sharp cheddar cheese, this white cheddar mac and cheese recipe is rich and creamy, making it perfect for a side or main dish.
When it comes to comfort food, there is no question that macaroni and cheese is my number one option - from Tuscan chicken mac and cheese to three cheese mac and cheese to pesto goat cheese mac and cheese.
The beauty of mac and cheese is you really can customize to your liking. As you can see above, you can add meats like chicken or even more unique sauces like pesto.
Recipe by Ryan from Chisel & Fork
17: The Perfect Turkey Gravy
The Best Turkey Gravy is the most flavorful one, and it’s made from the pan drippings after roasting the turkey. There are only four ingredients in this simple gravy recipe, and the pan dripping are by far the most important one! I include a few very important tips to get the best tasting drippings, which will in turn give you the best tasting turkey gravy.
It’s officially that time of year. I spend all eleven months looking forward to this one day. I’m talking of course about Thanksgiving! I feel like Halloween and Christmas get all the love, while Thanksgiving usually gets pushed to the sidelines. For me, I can’t help but look forward to the chilly weather, football watching, and mainly… the food! Of all the Thanksgiving cuisine I love, this easy to make turkey gravy is by far my most highly anticipated.
Recipe by Lyuba from Will Cook for Smiles
18: Balsamic Glazed Cauliflower
Roasted balsamic cauliflower is the perfect side dish or even afternoon snack! Don’t be surprised if you find yourself snacking on these right from the sheet pan! This simple recipe is vegan, Whole30, low carb and keto friendly!
If you love roasted cauliflower, you are going to love how adding balsamic vinegar heightens the caramelization and sweetness! If you haven’t tried this yet, you are going to love it!
Balsamic roasted cauliflower is the perfect side dish for brunch or dinner and can even be added to salads or tacos for a fun twist! This simple recipe is super versatile and it’s even perfect for snacking!
Recipe by Samantha from Bites of Wellness
19: Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash
Hi There! This winter squash recipe is delicious comfort food. Perfect as a hearty side dish for the fall and winter months.
The star ingredient is butternut squash, which has a wonderful sweet, rich, nutty flavour.
In addition to its great flavour, it also has health benefits as being a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C.
Did I mention that it also has bacon and two types of melty cheese on top?
So scrumptious with the tasty pairing of cheddar and parmesan cheeses. Of course, you can substitute with any melty cheese of your choice such as mozzarella or gruyere.
Recipe by Marie from Yay for Food
20: Cheesy Baked Asparagus
cheesy garlic roasted asparagus with mozzarella cheese is the best side dish to any meal! low carb, keto and the perfect way to get your veggies in!
Even non-asparagus fans LOVE this recipe! Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus tastes absolutely amazing…the whole family gets behind this one.
The easiest way to get asparagus into your diet is roasting them. Throw them on a baking sheet or tray and letting the oven work it’s thing. It doesn’t get any easier. But not everyone’s a fan of these green stalks! Coming up with ways for everyone to enjoy them can be a nightmare! That’s where this asparagus recipe comes in!
Recipe by Karina from Cafe Delites
21: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup is a classic fall and winter soup recipe. But today we’re roasting the butternut squash, which gives so much more depth of flavor and makes the soup easier to prepare (as you don’t have to cut the butternut squash).
Roasting veggies is one of my favorite preparation methods, so it should come as no surprise that I opted for a roasted butternut squash soup over a more traditional stovetop butternut squash soup. That earthy, roasted flavor gets me every time.
Butternut squash soup is one of the top 5 fall and winter soup recipes usually on anyone’s list. And it’s one of my personal favorites, along with Carrot Ginger Soup, Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup, Roasted Cauliflower Soup and Taco Soup.
Recipe by Lisa from Down Shiftology
22: Slow-Cooker Creamed Corn
Skipped the canned cream corn this year and make it from scratch right in the crockpot – it’s so rich and creamy and unbelievably easy to make with just 5 ingredients!
Sorry guys but I hope you’re not getting sick of all the heavy, comfort food I’ve been posting lately. I promise, once the new year hits, it’ll be quinoa/salad galore on Damn Delicious. But until then, it’s time to bring on the fat pants for the holidays, starting with the ultimate creamed corn that can easily be made right in the slow cooker!
Now I don’t know about you guys but I am a huge sucker for creamed corn. And even though it’s classified as a side dish, I could easily guzzle this into a main dish.
Recipe by Chungah from Damn Delicious
23: Creamed Spinach Casserole
Everybody loves creamed spinach, even folks who hate spinach! Here’s a luxurious baked version that I love serving with oven-roasted pork tenderloin, though it pairs just as well with steak, pork chops, or any other protein on your plate. Splurge on a little mid-week comfort food and make this with your dinner tonight!
This spinach bake is a cross between creamed spinach and a spinach soufflé, and in my opinion it’s the best of both worlds. While it seems like the kind of side you’d only serve for special occasions, it makes a dull weeknight oh-so-much better.
I particularly love this recipe because, thanks to a couple of shortcuts, it’s super quick and every bit as good as a fancy steakhouse version.
Recipe by Nealey from The Kitchn
24: The BEST Watergate Salad
There is nothing better than Watergate Salad! This simple dump-and-go salad is a classic that makes it’s way into every celebration because it’s both incredibly delicious and incredibly easy. Whip it together in less than 5 minutes and you’re good to go! Love pistachio? Make sure to try my Easy Pistachio Pie and Pistachio and White Chocolate Pudding Cookies too!
Pistachio Dessert Salad, Watergate Salad or Pistachio Fluff – whatever you choose to call it – it’s delicious! I mean, what’s better than dumping a handful of ingredients together in a bowl, giving it a quick stir, popping in the fridge to the chill and then having it ready to go when you are?
Recipe by Trish from Mom on Time Out
25: Fresh Cranberry Relish
Fresh cranberries, apples and oranges in a relish that is a beautiful combination of sweet and tart, and so easy to make!
Usually when I think about cranberries the first thing that comes to mind is a homemade cranberry sauce but fresh cranberries are also divine, especially in this cranberry relish! This relish could not be easier to make! You simple pulse fresh cranberries in a food processor into little bits followed by doing the same with a crisp apple and an orange before mixing it all with some sugar! This relish is a perfect alternative for cranberry sauce for your holiday meal, or better yet, in addition to cranberry sauce! I like to eat cranberry relish by the spoonful either as a side for a meal, or as a snack all by itself, or on top of a cream cheese, in sandwiches, etc.
Recipe by Closet Cooking
I truly hope this gave you all the side dishes you will need for your amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Let me know which ones you tried and if you loved them and if they were a hit! xoxo Haley