25 Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

Published: Nov 7, 2021 · Modified: Nov 18, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 345 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article.

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes! Today, I'm sharing with you my 25 best side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner. You're sure to find a new favorite on this list.

Collage of Thanksgiving side dishes.

From green bean casserole to classic mashed potatoes, you'll find all your favorite classics and more on this list of best side dishes for Thanksgiving.

Casseroles, like baked mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, and sweet potato casserole, are popular Thanksgiving side dishes. And you can't go wrong with a classic cranberry sauce or cornbread dressing.

Whether making turkey or spiral sliced ham, you're sure to find the perfect side dishes for your meal here.

Potato sides

Potatoes make popular Thanksgiving side dishes. Go for a classic mashed potato, a scalloped potato casserole, or Southern sweet potato casserole.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes are everything you want in a classic mashed potato recipe. These potatoes are filled with butter, heavy cream, and just a touch of salt and pepper. Incredibly simple, made from scratch, and a must for your next holiday meal or family dinner.

A white bowl filled with mashed potatoes.

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole

This southern sweet potato casserole is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Creamy sweet potato filling is topped with a crunchy pecan crumble and baked to perfection in the oven.

Pecan sugar topping on a casserole.

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory sweet potato casserole is made with mashed sweet potatoes, garlic, herbs, and a crunchy panko parmesan crust. It's the perfect Thanksgiving side dish recipe to pair with turkey or ham.

A black serving spoon scooping sweet potato casserole from a white dish.

Gruyere Potatoes Au Gratin

Gruyere potatoes au gratin is a cheesy potato side dish that's perfect for your next holiday meal. Thin sliced potatoes are baked in a creamy herb sauce with melty gruyere cheese.

Wooden spoon scooping potatoes au gratin from a dish.

Dill Scalloped Potatoes

Dill scalloped potatoes are an easy side dish to make from scratch. Thin sliced potatoes are coated in a creamy dill sauce and baked in the oven. Perfect for family dinners and holidays.

A wooden spoon scooping a serving of scalloped potatoes.

Hash Brown Potato Casserole

Hash brown potato casserole is made with cheesy potatoes and a crunchy panko bread crumb topping. The cheese sauce is made entirely from scratch - no canned soups needed! Perfect for serving at your next holiday gathering like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

A wooden serving spoon scooping hash brown potato casserole from a white casserole dish.

Vegetable sides

Green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving staple, but you can also mix things up and make some maple bacon brussels sprouts or kale apple slaw. While technically a fruit, butternut squash is treated as a vegetable when cooked, which is why you'll find them here.

Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

Green bean casserole is a classic holiday side dish to pair with that Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham. This green bean casserole is made entirely from scratch with a creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions.

A wooden spoon scoops a serving of green bean casserole.

Green Beans and onions

Green beans and onions is a quick and easy side dish for your next weeknight meal. Fresh green beans are tossed with flavorful sautéed onions, garlic, and butter. Ready in twenty minutes.

A saute pan of green beans on a wooden counter.

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Maple bacon brussels sprouts are a quick stovetop side dish to make this fall. Sliced brussels sprouts are sautéed with crumbled bacon, onions and a hint of sweet maple syrup.

Brussels sprouts and bacon in a metal pan.

Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots

Honey roasted parsnips and carrots make the perfect special occasion or holiday side dish. Sliced carrots and parsnips are tossed in honey and thyme, then oven roasted until tender.

Close up of roasted parsnips and carrots on a serving plate.

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Cheesy broccoli casserole is made with tender cooked broccoli and homemade cheese sauce, topped with a buttery garlic panko crust. An easy holiday side dish to make from scratch!

Metal spoon scooping broccoli casserole from a white casserole dish.

Kale Apple Slaw

Kale apple slaw is a simple side dish recipe that's light and flavorful. Chopped kale is tossed with sliced apple and red onion, then coated in a tangy poppy seed dressing.

A white scalloped edge bowl filled with salad.

Savory Butternut Squash

Savory butternut squash is a light and flavorful fall side dish recipe. Cubed butternut squash is tossed in oil, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted in the oven until tender.

Butternut squash cubed and topped with fresh parsley.

Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

Roasted butternut squash with brown sugar is an easy side dish that's filled with comforting fall flavor. Cubed butternut squash and pecans are coated in brown sugar and cinnamon, then roasted until tender in the oven.

A white serving dish filled with cubed butternut squash and pecans.

Pasta sides

Whether you make your mac and cheese baked or on the stovetop, you really can't go wrong with pasta side dishes for Thanksgiving. Noodle kugel is a traditional dish for Hanukkah, but also popular for Thanksgiving.

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

This creamy baked mac and cheese is a crowd pleasing side dish to serve at your next holiday meal. Macaroni is coated in a rich, creamy cheese sauce and topped with a crunchy panko crust.

A scoop of macaroni and cheese sitting in a casserole dish.

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

This creamy stovetop mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food side dish. It's rich, creamy, and made with gruyere and sharp cheddar cheese for maximum cheese flavor!

A large spoon scooping a serving of creamy mac and cheese from a pot.

Savory Brown Butter Noodle Kugel

Savory brown butter noodle kugel is a side dish made with egg noodles and a rich & tangy custard. Caramelized brown butter, sage, and thyme make this a savory, comforting side dish.

Serving of noodle kugel on a wooden server.

Fall Pasta Salad

Fall pasta salad is an easy and flavorful side dish to serve at your next fall gathering. Seasonal ingredients like broccoli, pecans, and cranberries are tossed with pasta in a flavorful homemade vinaigrette and served cold.

Rotini pasta tossed with grated carrots, broccoli, pecans, and cranberries.

Bread sides

Cornbread dressing is a staple side dish at our Thanksgiving table. Or, put a twist on the traditional dinner rolls and make cornbread muffins or buttery biscuits instead!

Southern Cornbread Dressing

The aroma of Southern cornbread dressing baking in the oven is a must on Thanksgiving day. A classic holiday side dish, cornbread dressing is filled with comforting flavors like onion, celery, and sage.

Wooden spatula holding a serving of cornbread dressing.

Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins

Buttermilk cornbread muffins are the perfect addition to your next bowl of chili. They are easy to make from scratch in your own kitchen and turn out tender, moist, and flavorful.

Two cornbread muffins stacked on a wooden cutting board.

Buttery Stovetop Biscuits

No oven needed for these buttery stovetop biscuits, they're cooked in a skillet right on the stovetop.

Biscuits stacked on a white plate.

Condiments & extras

Thanksgiving isn't complete without a gravy boat filled with homemade gravy. Place some compound butter on the table - it can go on mashed or baked potatoes, biscuits, and more. Don't forget the cranberry sauce. Made from scratch is way better than the store bought stuff!

How To Make Gravy Without Drippings

Learn how to make gravy without drippings today. This easy homemade gravy recipe makes a perfect batch of gravy every time, with a handful of simple ingredients. Perfect to make ahead gravy for the holidays.

Pouring gravy over a bowl of mashed potatoes.

Spicy Cajun Gravy

Spice up your mashed potatoes with this spicy Cajun gravy! Seasoned with Cajun spices and hot sauce, this gravy comes together in minutes on the stovetop.

Roasted Garlic Herb Compound Butter

Roasted garlic herb compound butter is a blend of butter with roasted garlic and fresh herbs. Compound butter is great for topping steaks, baked potatoes, and spreading onto dinner rolls.

A round log of compound butter filled with herbs and garlic.

Cranberry Sauce with Orange Zest

Cranberry sauce with orange zest is a classic holiday side dish that's often served with Thanksgiving dinner. Fresh cranberries are cooked into a sweet relish with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon.

Recipe makes about 1 ¾ cups of prepared sauce.

A bowl of cranberry sauce topped with orange zest.

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