Planning the perfect holiday meal starts with knowing your Thanksgiving side dishes inside and out, and I have gathered 52 of my absolute favorites right here for you.
Whether you are feeding a crowd or keeping things cozy with just your closest people, this list has something for every table and every taste. From creamy mashed potatoes to fresh holiday salads, I hope you find a few new family favorites.
Potatoes
Potatoes are the ultimate Thanksgiving companion because they soak up all those savory turkey juices and gravy like nothing else can.
The Best Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are fluffy, creamy, and buttery in all the right ways. They are the kind of reliable classic that earns a permanent spot on your Thanksgiving table.
Make this recipe:
The Best Mashed PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Spend With Pennies
Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Whole garlic is roasted low and slow before being folded into these buttery, whole-milk mashed potatoes. The result is deep, mellow flavor that takes a simple side to new heights.
Make this recipe:
Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Roasted GarlicPhoto and recipe: The Modern Proper
Twice Baked Potatoes
These twice baked potatoes are stuffed with fluffy, seasoned mashed potatoes and finished with melted cheese on top. They bring serious comfort to the Thanksgiving table and can be prepped ahead to save you stress on the big day.
Make this recipe:
Twice Baked PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Tastes Better From Scratch
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
Sour cream and cheese make these mashed potatoes extra rich and satisfying. You can serve them as a classic side or bake them into a cheesy casserole for something a little more special.
Make this recipe:
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Sour CreamPhoto and recipe: Peel with Zeal
Creamy Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
Mascarpone and roasted garlic come together to create the silkiest, lump-free mashed potatoes you have ever tasted. This is the dish that earns compliments every single time.
Make this recipe:
Creamy Mascarpone Mashed PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Josie + Nina
Duchess Potatoes
These elegant piped potato rosettes are baked to golden perfection, with crispy bottoms and lightly browned edges that make them almost too pretty to eat. They bring a little wow factor to your Thanksgiving table without a lot of fuss.
Make this recipe:
Duchess PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Saving Room for Dessert
PERFECT Au Gratin Potatoes
These au gratin potatoes are layered with creamy, cheesy goodness and baked until perfectly golden. Rich and indulgent, they are a true crowd-pleaser at any holiday meal.
Make this recipe:
PERFECT Au Gratin PotatoesPhoto and recipe: The Daring Gourmet
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Every layer of these scalloped potatoes is smothered in ooey, gooey melted cheese. If you love a seriously cheesy potato dish, this one is absolutely for you.
Make this recipe:
Cheesy Scalloped PotatoesPhoto and recipe: i am baker
Hasselback Potatoes
Thin, fan-cut potato slices are roasted until crispy on the edges and tender in the center, finished with herbs and garlic butter. They look as impressive as they taste.
Make this recipe:
Hasselback PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Love and Lemons
Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
A golden, crispy Parmesan crust gives way to a soft and creamy center in these roasted potatoes. They are simple to make and add great texture to any holiday plate.
Make this recipe:
Crispy Parmesan Roasted PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Kevin Is Cooking
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes bring a natural warmth and sweetness to the table that balances the richness of the rest of the meal beautifully.
Southern Candied Yams
These Southern candied yams are tender and perfectly spiced with warm flavors that feel made for Thanksgiving. Sweet without being over the top, they are pure comfort on a plate.
Make this recipe:
Southern Candied YamsPhoto and recipe: There's Food at Home
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed sweet potatoes are topped with a pecan and marshmallow topping and flavored with brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. This classic casserole is a tradition our family looks forward to every year.
Make this recipe:
Sweet Potato CasserolePhoto and recipe: Spend With Pennies
Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Smoky chipotle and naturally sweet potatoes make an unexpected but delicious pairing in this easy mashed side dish. It is a great way to add a little heat to your Thanksgiving spread.
Make this recipe:
Chipotle Mashed Sweet PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Casual Foodist
Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Honey roasted sweet potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth tender and wonderfully simple to pull together. They bring natural sweetness and warm color to any holiday table.
Make this recipe:
Honey Roasted Sweet PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Cheerful Cook
Candied Coconut Sweet Potatoes
Creamy sweet potatoes are crowned with a caramelized coconut topping for a side dish that feels a little unexpected and totally wonderful. It is guaranteed to disappear fast.
Make this recipe:
Candied Coconut Sweet PotatoesPhoto and recipe: Our Best Bites
Sweet Potato Gratin
Sweet potatoes are layered with Gruyere, cheddar, garlicky cream, and fresh thyme in this stunning gratin. It is a sophisticated twist on a classic casserole that works beautifully for Thanksgiving.
Make this recipe:
Sweet Potato GratinPhoto and recipe: Fork Knife Swoon
Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Fries
These garlic and herb sweet potato fries are crispy, slightly sweet, and full of savory flavor. They are a fun and crowd-pleasing alternative to the usual sweet potato casserole.
Make this recipe:
Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato FriesPhoto and recipe: A Kitchen Addiction
Sweet Potato Biscuits
These buttery sweet potato biscuits are fluffy with just a gentle hint of sweetness. They are an instant hit and pair wonderfully with everything else on the holiday table.
Make this recipe:
Sweet Potato BiscuitsPhoto and recipe: Once Upon a Chef
Stuffing
A great stuffing ties the whole Thanksgiving spread together, adding hearty, herby flavor that feels like the heart of the holiday.
Our Favorite Buttery Herb Stuffing
This buttery herb stuffing is loaded with toasted bread and savory flavors that make it truly irresistible. It is the kind of dish everyone goes back for seconds of.
Make this recipe:
Our Favorite Buttery Herb StuffingPhoto and recipe: How Sweet Eats
Cornbread Dressing
This classic Southern cornbread dressing is moist, flavorful, and absolutely packed with holiday character. It is a showstopper that earns its place at the center of the Thanksgiving spread.
Make this recipe:
Cornbread DressingPhoto and recipe: Maple Jubilee
Herb Sourdough Stuffing with Wild Mushrooms
Sourdough bread is baked with fresh herbs, wild mushrooms, and fennel for a stuffing that is vegetarian and full of earthy, savory depth. Best of all, you can make it ahead.
Make this recipe:
Herb Sourdough Stuffing with Wild MushroomsPhoto and recipe: Abra's Kitchen
Simple Herb Sourdough Dressing
Sauteed onions, celery, and fresh herbs are tossed with torn sourdough bread for a simple yet deeply flavorful dressing. It is the kind of recipe that lets great ingredients shine.
Make this recipe:
Simple Herb Sourdough DressingPhoto and recipe: Simply Scratch
Apple Cranberry Walnut Stuffing
Apples, cranberries, and walnuts bring the best fall flavors into a stuffing that is both festive and delicious. It is an easy upgrade that makes your holiday table feel extra special.
Make this recipe:
Apple Cranberry Walnut StuffingPhoto and recipe: Delicious Little Bites
Chestnut Stuffing
Cooked chestnuts, fresh herbs, and a medley of vegetables come together in this rustic, flavorful stuffing. It is a classic that works just as well at Christmas as it does at Thanksgiving.
Make this recipe:
Chestnut StuffingPhoto and recipe: Foolproof Living
Vegetables
Vegetables add color, freshness, and balance to a plate that can easily get heavy, making them an essential part of any Thanksgiving spread.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts come out bright, tender, and full of savory flavor with this simple method. They are a fresh, easy vegetable side that pairs naturally with roasted turkey.
Make this recipe:
Roasted Brussels SproutsPhoto and recipe: Love and Lemons
Easy Green Beans Almondine
Buttery green beans are tossed with shallots, toasted sliced almonds, and lemon for an elegant side that feels effortless. It is light, bright, and balances heavier dishes perfectly.
Make this recipe:
Easy Green Beans AlmondinePhoto and recipe: Delish Knowledge
French's Green Bean Casserole
This classic French's Green Bean Casserole brings creamy, comforting goodness to your holiday table, topped with crispy fried onions for the perfect crunch. It's simple to put together and always a crowd favorite at Thanksgiving.
Make this recipe:
French's Green Bean CasserolePhoto and recipe: Kevin Is Cooking
Garlic Green Beans
These green beans are cooked in a hot pan until the edges blister and crisp up, then tossed with golden garlic and a squeeze of lemon. It's a quick, flavorful vegetable side that earns a spot on any Thanksgiving table.
Make this recipe:
Garlic Green BeansPhoto and recipe: Gimme Some Oven
Roasted Butternut Squash
Sweet maple syrup, warm cinnamon, and fragrant rosemary turn simple butternut squash cubes into a gorgeous caramelized side dish. It is exactly the kind of easy, crowd-pleasing vegetable your Thanksgiving table needs.
Make this recipe:
Roasted Butternut SquashPhoto and recipe: Well Plated by Erin Clarke
Perfect Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted acorn squash is simple to prepare and becomes wonderfully tender and naturally sweet in the oven. Its warm fall flavor makes it a beautiful and fitting Thanksgiving side.
Make this recipe:
Perfect Roasted Acorn SquashPhoto and recipe: Cookie and Kate
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables
A vibrant, herb-flecked medley of root vegetables roasted with garlic and olive oil until perfectly tender and caramelized. This healthy, colorful dish is as easy to make as it is beautiful on your Thanksgiving table.
Make this recipe:
Oven Roasted Root VegetablesPhoto and recipe: Tori Avey
Harissa Roasted Carrots with Yogurt, Pine Nuts and Fresh Herbs
Carrots are roasted with harissa and honey until caramelized, then served with yogurt, pine nuts, and fresh herbs. Bold, earthy flavors make this one of the most exciting vegetable sides on the table.
Make this recipe:
Harissa Roasted Carrots with Yogurt, Pine Nuts and Fresh HerbsPhoto and recipe: Eden Eats
Rosemary Glazed Carrots
Brown sugar and fresh rosemary create a simple glaze that makes these roasted carrots feel genuinely special. Sweet and savory, they are an easy win on any holiday table.
Make this recipe:
Rosemary Glazed CarrotsPhoto and recipe: Kylee Cooks
Parmesan Crusted Baked Cauliflower
A golden Parmesan crust turns baked cauliflower into something truly craveable. It is a simple, satisfying vegetable side that even cauliflower skeptics tend to enjoy.
Make this recipe:
Parmesan Crusted Baked CauliflowerPhoto and recipe: emptynesteats.com
The Best Creamed Spinach
Fresh or frozen spinach is transformed into a rich, creamy side dish that comes together in just 25 minutes. It is restaurant-quality comfort food that fits right in at Thanksgiving.
Make this recipe:
The Best Creamed SpinachPhoto and recipe: Salt & Lavender
Creamed Corn
Sweet corn is simmered with cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese for a creamed corn that is smooth, cheesy, and loaded with flavor. It is the kind of side you sneak spoonfuls of while cooking.
Make this recipe:
Creamed CornPhoto and recipe: Grandbaby Cakes
Cream Cheese Corn Casserole
Sweet corn is mixed with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and optional diced jalapenos for a decadent, comforting casserole. Rich and crowd-pleasing, it is a side that earns repeat requests.
Make this recipe:
Cream Cheese Corn CasserolePhoto and recipe: Five Heart Home
Southern Collard Greens
These Southern collard greens are full of deep, savory flavor and are surprisingly easy to make. They bring a soulful, traditional element to the Thanksgiving table that I truly love.
Make this recipe:
Southern Collard GreensPhoto and recipe: Divas Can Cook
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts in Cream Sauce
Brussels sprouts are cooked quickly in one skillet with a creamy sauce for a fast and flavorful side. It is a great way to get a seasonal vegetable on the table with minimal effort.
Make this recipe:
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts in Cream SaucePhoto and recipe: Bite On The Side
Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Rich, savory garlic butter mushrooms come together in just 15 minutes and bring a wonderful umami depth to your Thanksgiving spread. They pair beautifully with almost everything else on the table.
Make this recipe:
Garlic Butter MushroomsPhoto and recipe: Skinnytaste
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Fresh cranberries and just a handful of ingredients make a homemade cranberry sauce that beats anything from a can. Bright and simple, it ties the whole Thanksgiving plate together.
Make this recipe:
Homemade Cranberry SaucePhoto and recipe: Sugar Spun Run
Breads
Warm, fresh-baked breads and rolls are the perfect way to scoop up gravy, cranberry sauce, and every last bite on the plate.
Parker House Rolls
Soft, buttery, and perfectly pull-apart, these classic Parker House Rolls come together more easily than you'd expect and bake up fluffy with just a thin golden crust, exactly what every Thanksgiving bread basket needs.
Make this recipe:
Parker House RollsPhoto and recipe: Eat The Love
Cheddar Bay Biscuits
These Cheddar Bay-style biscuits are easy to make and packed with cheesy, savory flavor that my family cannot get enough of. Quick to prepare and always a hit at the dinner table.
Make this recipe:
Cheddar Bay BiscuitsPhoto and recipe: Simple Joy
Flaky and Tender Cheddar Chive Biscuits
Tender, flaky, and loaded with cheddar and chives, these scratch-made biscuits are best served hot with plenty of butter. They are an elevated take on a buttermilk classic.
Make this recipe:
Flaky and Tender Cheddar Chive BiscuitsPhoto and recipe: Fueling a Southern Soul
Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy dinner rolls are brushed with a garlic and fresh herb mixture straight out of the oven. They are completely irresistible and absolutely perfect for soaking up every last drop of gravy.
Make this recipe:
Garlic Herb Dinner RollsPhoto and recipe: Fork in the Kitchen
Sweet Honey Cornbread
This golden cornbread bakes up soft and tender with real honey stirred right in for natural sweetness. It comes together in just 30 minutes, making it an effortless addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Make this recipe:
Sweet Honey CornbreadPhoto and recipe: Eating on a Dime
Honey Butter Rolls
These extra soft and flaky rolls need just seven ingredients and reward you with the most pillowy, honey-buttery result. They are impossible to stop at just one.
Make this recipe:
Honey Butter RollsPhoto and recipe: Sally's Baking
Salads
A crisp, fresh salad is a welcome contrast to all the rich, warm dishes on the Thanksgiving table and helps keep the meal feeling balanced.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Shaved Brussels sprouts are tossed into a fresh, crisp salad that works beautifully as a Thanksgiving or Christmas side. It is light and bright, a lovely contrast to all the warm, rich dishes.
Make this recipe:
Shaved Brussels Sprouts SaladPhoto and recipe: Two Peas & Their Pod
Autumn Apple and Kale Salad with Parmesan and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Autumn apples, massaged kale, Parmesan, and roasted pumpkin seeds come together in a simple, seasonal salad. It is a fresh November-style dish that adds color and crunch to the holiday spread.
Make this recipe:
Autumn Apple and Kale Salad with Parmesan and Roasted Pumpkin SeedsPhoto and recipe: Simple Bites
Maple-Roasted Squash & Kale Salad
Maple-roasted squash, seasoned toasted chickpeas, and kale are tossed with a maple cider vinaigrette for a hearty, beautiful salad. Fall produce has never looked or tasted better.
Make this recipe:
Maple-Roasted Squash & Kale SaladPhoto and recipe: Sally's Baking
Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Hazelnuts
Ripe pears, blue cheese, and hazelnuts make a stunning salad finished with an apricot dressing that ties it all together. It is elegant and fresh, a perfect starter or side for Thanksgiving.
Make this recipe:
Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and HazelnutsPhoto and recipe: The Gourmet Gourmand
Belgian Endive with Avocado Salad
Crisp Belgian endive and creamy avocado come together in a salad that is refreshingly light and pleasantly bitter. It works wonderfully as a side dish that cuts through the richness of the main meal.
Make this recipe:
Belgian Endive with Avocado SaladPhoto and recipe: Giangi's Kitchen
I hope this list makes your Thanksgiving planning a little easier and your holiday table the best one yet!



























































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