70 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Discover this collection of the 70 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes, including classic favorites like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, plus new, inspired versions with updated ingredients and methods, including vegan, slow cooker, and air fryer recipes.

 

Meggan’s notes

The only thing better than big, juicy roasted turkey on your Thanksgiving table is a bounty of side dishes. I eat the turkey for balance, but my heart lies with the mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. There’s just no other meal that is so side-dish focused.

Below, I’ve pulled together 70 delicious side dishes for Thanksgiving. You’ll find all the ones you expect, but you’ll probably discover something new along the way. From several varieties of mashed potatoes and seasonal soups to every veggie you can possibly air fry, this collection has something for everyone.

Best Classic Thanksgiving Sides

1. Best Mashed Potatoes

The Best Mashed Potatoes in the world are just 3 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and so simple, they barely even need a recipe.

2. Classic Bread Stuffing

An easy Bread Stuffing made with all the classic flavors like onion, celery, and sage. Baked outside the bird but still buttery and moist, this recipe tastes just like Mom used to make!

3. Vegetable Casserole

Vegetable Casserole, just like mom used to make! Made with frozen veggies, Velveeta, and buttery cracker crumbs, it’s always the first side dish to disappear.

4. Green Bean Casserole

This classic oven-baked Green Bean Casserole is made with a homemade creamy mushroom sauce, plenty of fresh green beans, and crunchy topping made with both bread crumbs and canned fried onions.

5. Cranberry Sauce with Apples

Update your Cranberry Sauce with apples for a simple and sweet twist on the classic Thanksgiving side. Tasty without getting too crazy!

6. Mushroom Gravy

Rich, savory, and incredibly easy to make, this Mushroom Gravy takes mashed potatoes, Salisbury steak, and more to the next level. Made with simple ingredients, it’s full of deep, comforting flavor, perfect for a hearty homemade meal.

7. Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes

Nothing beats a classic potatoes-butter-milk recipe except the addition of sour cream. As a classically-trained chef, I tested all the ratios to ensure your Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes are fluffy, flavorful, and extra creamy. You’ll savor every bite!

8. Sweet Potato Casserole

Grandma will be so proud when you bring this classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe to the table. My easy Sweet Potato Casserole is just sweet enough and requires just 5 minutes of bake time.

9. Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

For a flavorful yet easy side dish, try Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. Smoky bacon and caramelized onions help this sheet pan vegetable recipe shine.

10. Homemade Crescent Rolls

Pillowy soft with a sweet, buttery taste, these Homemade Crescent Rolls are perfect for all the holidays or a weekend baking project. This from-scratch version is light-years ahead of anything you could ever pop out of a can.

11. Boursin Mashed Potatoes

This easy recipe for Boursin Mashed Potatoes uses baby potatoes with soft skins so you don’t even have to peel them! And the garlic and herb soft cheese melts like a dream, making every bite creamy and unforgettable.

12. Pumpkin Soup

An easy and creamy classic Pumpkin Soup recipe that is perfect for fall. Comforting and delicious, this soup has sweet pumpkin flavor with warm, savory spices. It is quick to make, thanks to a can of pumpkin purée.

13. Cauliflower Gratin

If you like scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin, then prepare to meet your new favorite side dish recipe: Cauliflower Gratin. This easy vegetable casserole features a creamy garlic Alfredo sauce that will convince even picky eaters to enjoy eating vegetables.

14. Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These Mashed Sweet Potatoes are flavored with fresh thyme, butter, and just a touch of brown sugar. This one-pot recipe always delivers delicious results, and is a perfect side to work into your weeknight routine.

15. Harvest Roasted Vegetables

An easy recipe for Harvest Roasted Vegetables with butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, bacon, and walnuts. Your new favorite fall side dish!

16. Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole is a cornerstone holiday recipe in the Midwest. This version has from-scratch cream of chicken soup and a crunchy cornflake topping.

17. Baked Mac and Cheese

Take a break from the blue box mac. Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese is the epitome of comfort food! The irresistible garlic butter breadcrumb-topped casserole is a surprisingly easy dinner recipe, calling for just 10 minutes of prep time.

18. Cranberry Sauce

This classic Cranberry Sauce has just 5 ingredients and takes 10 minutes to make (plus chilling time). It’s sweetened with orange juice and the perfect antidote to all the richness on your Thanksgiving menu. It’s also ideal to make ahead and/or freeze.

19. Butternut Squash Soup

A creamy and nourishing Butternut Squash Soup that is simple to make and full of roasted butternut flavor. The ultimate fall comfort food, this cozy soup is best served warm with crusty bread. You’ll love this Butternut Squash Soup recipe!

20. Scalloped Potatoes

At dinners and parties throughout the Midwest, Scalloped Potatoes are always the first thing to disappear. This recipe uses a quick, made-from-scratch cheese sauce that’s layered with plenty of potatoes.

21. Green Beans with Bacon

This simple recipe for Green Beans and Bacon is an easy, tasty side dish. Blanch fresh green beans ahead of time, then toss with cooked bacon and a touch of brown sugar. It’s sweet, salty, and totally satisfying.

22. Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls

When nothing but homemade bread will do, try these easy Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls. They are perfect at your holiday table, on the side of Sunday Supper, piled with any kind of meat, or served simply with a bowl of soup.

23. Glazed Carrots

These best Glazed Carrots are exactly like grandma made: golden, buttery, and tender, with just the right amount of sweetness. This 20-minute side dish of Glazed Carrots is destined to become a mainstay on your family dinner menu.

24. Twice Baked Potato Casserole

This Twice Baked Potato Casserole has all the flavors of twice-baked potatoes but is as easy to make as mashed potatoes. No need to refill potato skins when you can just spread it in a pan and bake it! This is an unforgettable side dish you’ll find yourself making again and again.

25. Homemade Mac and Cheese

This fool-proof Homemade Mac and Cheese is made with a 3-ingredient cheese sauce, no roux required. Spend 5 minutes or less making the sauce, then toss with hot noodles for the EASIEST stovetop mac and cheese ever!

26. Cauliflower Mashed Potaotes

If you’re craving a side dish change, skip the spuds and try these Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. It’s an easy way to eat more veggies and they taste almost as good as the real thing!

27. Cranberry Relish

This 3-ingredient, 5-minute Cranberry Relish is the easiest side dish you’ll make this Thanksgiving. Make it ahead, too, because the flavor improves as it sits. Freezer friendly.

28. Potatoes Au Gratin

Au Gratin Potatoes are ubiquitous at parties, potlucks, and holiday dinners across the Midwest. Rich and hearty, they are always the first side dish to disappear. This from-scratch version is made with lots of potato slices and a quick homemade cheese sauce.

29. Gluten Free Stuffing

Buttery and delicious, this Gluten Free Stuffing transforms gluten-free bread into a side dish worth making. Even the best gluten-free breads tend to be dense and dry, but you’d never know it when you tuck into this glorious gluten-free bread stuffing.

30. Duchess Potatoes

Duchess Potatoes look fancy, but they are easy to make and pipe right on to a baking sheet. They are pillowy-soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside, and you can freeze them ahead of time to bake when needed.

Roasted Vegetables for Thanksgiving

31. Roasted Broccoli

This easy Roasted Broccoli recipe turns boring broccoli into something crispy, caramelized, and delicious in 40 minutes or less. Add a squeeze of lemon and some Parmesan for even more flavor. You’ll love it!

32. Roasted Cauliflower

This easy Roasted Cauliflower recipe cooks up crispy and caramelized in 40 minutes or less. It’s easy and delicious, the perfect weeknight side dish.

33. Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes are great for dinners, meal prep containers, and all your salads and grain bowls. A touch of fresh rosemary infuses the whole dish with delicious flavor, and it’s a recipe you’ll reach for again and again.

34. Roasted Green Beans

These easy Roasted Green Beans are loaded with garlic and lemon and roasted to perfection. They’re simple to make any night of the week, but special enough for holidays, too.

35. Oven-Roasted Potatoes

These Oven Roasted Potatoes are an simple, delicious side dish that goes with everything from everyday family meals to special holiday feasts. You’ll love how crispy they get in the oven, and you can customize the herbs to your favorites.

36. Roasted Butternut Squash

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash makes a delicious side dish any night of the week or on your holiday table. Or, meal prep a batch to toss into salads and grain bowls all week long.

37. Roasted Asparagus

An easy recipe for Roasted Asparagus with olive oil, garlic, and lemon. The high oven temperature cooks it to tender-crisp perfection in 10 minutes or less.

38. Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Oven-crisp Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are an easy, delicious side dish that goes with everything from quick family suppers to holiday feasts.

39. Roasted Root Vegetables

This easy Roasted Root Vegetables recipe is the best way to eat the rainbow! The natural sugars in the vegetables caramelize to kid-friendly territory via this sheet pan side dish idea.

40. Roasted Carrots

This easy Roasted Carrots recipe showcases the best of spring’s new, tender carrots. They look so pretty roasted whole with the green tops attached and the optional yogurt sauce is the perfect complement.

41. Roasted Smashed Potatoes

Learn my tested and perfected technique for Smashed Potatoes: Boil, cool, smash, bake! These hand-held spuds are a guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike. They have a unique texture and a balanced flavor that pairs with almost any meal.

42. Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Inspired by Supper Clubs in the Midwest, these Roasted Fingerling Potatoes bake up tender with browned edges. They feature a simple seasoning blend and a delicious sour cream and onion dipping sauce, too.

43. Roasted Fennel

This easy recipe for Roasted Fennel brings out it’s natural sweetness, making it the perfect side dish for mild meats like turkey, chicken, fish, and shellfish.

Make Ahead Thanksgiving Sides

44. Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Reduce your Thanksgiving Day stress with Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes. These creamy, fluffy potatoes can be mashed a few days in advance and reheated in the oven or a slow cooker.

45. Make Ahead Stuffing

The most important feast of the year just got easier with my menu for a Complete Make Ahead Thanksgiving. Make the turkey ahead, make it all ahead, make your life easier with these great recipes!

46. Make Ahead Mac and Cheese

This Make Ahead Mac and Cheese recipe helps you get ahead on dinners, parties, and more, crafting a batch up to 3 days in advance. A mix of cheddar and Gruyère makes the best sauce. For maximum crunch, save the garlic butter crumb topping until you’re ready to bake.

47. Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

If you only make one holiday recipe in advance, choose cranberry sauce. This easy Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce recipe gives you all the information you need: a great recipe to make, and all my best strategies for packing it away for the future.

Vegan Thanksgiving Sides

48. Vegan Mashed Potatoes

The best Vegan Mashed Potatoes are made with just 3 simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper). They are so easy, wholesome, and delicious, and they are perfect for any holiday table and all year round.

49. Vegan Mushroom Gravy

This Vegan Mushroom Gravy is rich, hearty, and packed with deep umami flavor. Using 2 kinds of fresh mushrooms and delicious aromatics like onions, garlic, and fresh thyme, this mushroom gravy is perfect for any holiday, dinner parties, and Sunday Supper.

50. Vegan Stuffing

This easy Vegan Stuffing recipe is filled with wild mushrooms, leeks, fresh kale, and all the classic Thanksgiving herbs you love. The bread cubes are soft and chewy on the inside with browned, crispy edges outside, and the entire recipe is 100% vegan and delicious.

51. Vegan Green Bean Casserole

This Vegan Green Bean Casserole has everything you love about the classic holiday side dish: a creamy homemade mushroom sauce, lots of green beans, and crunchy onion topping.

52. No Knead Bread

Mastering homemade yeast bread is easy with this foolproof No-Knead Bread recipe in your repertoire. You’ll never want to buy bread again after tasting a slice from this chewy, delicious No-Knead Bread recipe (that bakes in just 30 minutes!).

53. Balsamic Mushrooms and Onions

With just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes, whip up Balsamic Mushrooms and Onions. This easy mushroom recipe is ideal as a topping for steak and chicken, or dive in or an easy side dish.

54. Rice Stuffing

This Rice Stuffing is made pilaf-style with cranberries, pecans, scallions, and a little curry powder for warmth. Outstanding with any holiday menu, but easy enough to make every night of the week.

55. Applesauce Recipe

This classic homemade Applesauce Recipe is super easy to make and can last for a long time by freezing or canning (we included instructions for both). The sugar is optional depending on the sweetness of your apples, too.

Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sides

56. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

For the best-tasting Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, choose a high-starch potato like Russets. Slow-cook them in butter, milk, and salt, then stir in sour cream at the end for a punch of extra flavor and creaminess.

57. Slow Cooker Stuffing

An easy Crockpot Stuffing made with all the classic flavors like onion, celery, and sage. Save the oven space and make this side dish in your slow cooker.

58. Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

This Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is a great mix of convenience and from-scratch cooking and won’t take up any oven space. Start with frozen beans but make your own creamy mushroom sauce, then top the whole thing with plenty of crunchy fried onions.

59. Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce

When stove-top and oven space are in high demand, Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce is a no-brainer. This classic recipe uses fresh or frozen cranberries and orange juice for extra sweetness and flavor.

Air Fryer Thanksgiving Sides

60. Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes

Cut down on your overall side dish prep time with this easy Air Fryer Mashed Potatoes recipe. Baking potatoes in the air fryer takes a lot less time and you can save your oven space for other recipes or just keep the oven off.

61. Air Fryer Stuffing

It’s hard to improve on a top-notch stuffing recipe, but I cracked the code: make it faster! This Air Fryer Stuffing has all the classic flavors you love including buttery bread cubes, tender-crisp veggies, and fresh herbs. It turns out golden brown with plenty of crispy edges, and it takes just 15 minutes in your air fryer.

62. Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are delightfully crunchy, addictive, and made in a pinch. They are dressed with balsamic and seasoned with garlic powder, and with a crispy outer shell and slightly caramelized interior, this is my favorite way to cook Brussels sprouts! Serve as a side dish or appetizer. 

63. Air Fryer Carrots

In the time it takes to preheat your oven, you can make Air Fryer Carrots, one of the easiest side dishes around. They cook up tender with caramelized edges in just 15 minutes, and you can customize them with your favorite spice blends or sauces.

64. Air Fryer Broccoli

It’s hard to beat the ease, convenience, and taste of Air Fry Broccoli. The stems are tender, the florets are caramelized and crispy, and the whole side dish is tasty. Keep it simple with garlic and lemon juice and you’ll have your new favorite vegetable side dish on the table in 10 minutes or less.

65. Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Air Fryer Butternut Squash is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with natural sweet flavor. It’s a quick, easy, and delicious side dish that’s ready in half the time of oven roasting!

66. Air Fryer Cauliflower

This quick recipe for Air Fryer Cauliflower is irresistibly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Tossed with your favorite seasonings, this versatile veggie is ready in just minutes.

67. Air Fryer Asparagus

Save time, oven space, and dinnertime stress with this Air Fryer Asparagus recipe, perfect to round out any lunch or dinner menu. The easy vegetable side dish can be yours in just 10 minutes with simple ingredients and lots of flavor.

68. Air Fryer Mushrooms

Whether you’re trying to fill your plate with more veggies or round out your next steakhouse-quality meal at home, these Air Fryer Mushrooms are a must-make. Learn the secret to the best flavor and texture paired with the convenience of air frying for an exceptional side dish you’ll make again and again.

69. Air Fryer Green Beans

Using the air fryer, turn fresh green beans into total comfort food! Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, Air Fryer Green Beans make a quick and easy, crowd-pleasing side dish that is healthy too. Green beans are simply tossed in olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic powder and ready in just 10 minutes, with no blanching required. 

70. Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Learn how to make air fryer smashed potatoes, a fun, fast, and flavorful side dish that your kids will love! They take almost half the time of baked potatoes, making them perfect for busy nights.