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Thanksgiving Side Dishes: 60+ easy, colorful recipes to impress your guests
When planning your Thanksgiving dinner, make sure to serve colorful, tasty side dishes. We have selected 60+ classic and modern recipes such as mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and casseroles.
By Cookist
54
A good Thanksgiving dinner is nothing if you do not serve the roast turkey with easy, colorful side dishes. If you want to impress your guests with delicious recipes, don't miss our selection of 60+ classic, tasty Thanksgiving side dishes made with vegetables, sauces, casseroles, sweet potatoes, squash, soups and fall salads.
When planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu, don't forget the side dishes. These are tasty recipes that you can even make ahead, so no excuses! During this holiday, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving stuffing or green bean casserole cannot be missing from the table.
Whether you're looking for classic holiday dishes or modern, tasty recipes to impress your guests with your culinary skills, these Thanksgiving side dishes are exactly what you need.
Classic Thanksgiving Sides
1. Mashed Potatoes: the ultimate recipe for the best-ever creamy mashed potatoes 
Mashed potatoes are a creamy, buttery side recipe perfect to serve with any main dish, especially at Thanksgiving. Quick and easy to prepare, it's made with potatoes, butter, milk, and garlic.
Read the recipe 2. Homemade Stuffing: the best-ever stuffing recipe for your Thanksgiving meal 
Stuffing is a tasty, versatile recipe perfect to stuff your roast turkey or to enjoy as a side. Part crispy and part tender, it's loaded with chopped bread, fresh herbs, garlic, celery, and onions.
Read the recipe 3. Cranberry Sauce: the sweet-tart recipe for a classic Thanksgiving side dish 
Homemade cranberry sauce is a classic side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Sweet yet tart, it's made with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, water, and orange juice and zest.
Read the recipe 4. Sweet Potato Casserole: a creamy, delicious casserole to serve this autumn 
Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe. With its creamy texture and crunchy, buttery pecan topping, you can also make it ahead of time.
Read the recipe 5. Green Bean Casserole: the hearty, delicious holiday side dish to serve this Thanksgiving 
Green bean casserole is a classic recipe to serve as a Thanksgiving side. It's made of green beans cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce, and topped with crispy fried onions.
Read the recipe 6. Cornbread: the best recipe for tender, moist homemade cornbread 
Cornbread is a classic Southern quick bread you can serve it as a side dish during barbecues. Fluffy and moist, it's buttery, rich in corn flavor.
Read the recipe 7. Turkey Gravy: the delicious Thanksgiving recipe using pan drippings 
Turkey gravy is a delicious sauce recipe perfect to serve at Thanksgiving. Rich and smooth, it's made from the pan drippings of roasted turkey, butter, flour and herbs.
Read the recipe Vegetable Thanksgiving Sides
8. Roasted Vegetables: the effortless recipe for a delicious, healthy side dish 
Roasted vegetables are an easy, healthy side dish. Crispy and golden brown on the outside, tender on the inside, oven-roasted vegetables are a nutritious recipe that goes with everything.
Read the recipe 9. Glazed Carrots: the delicious side dish recipe for making caramelized carrots 
Glazed carrots are a versatile vegetarian side dish perfect for weeknights or holidays. You'll love these tender carrots with a bit of bite and a sweet, buttery-maple glaze.
Read the recipe 10. Mashed Cauliflower: the delicious recipe for a creamy low-carb side dish 
Creamy mashed cauliflower is a low-carb, keto-friendly, easy dish you can serve on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or enjoy whenever you fancy.
Read the recipe 11. Candied Yams: a classic Southern Thanksgiving dish you don’t want to sleep on 
Candied yams are a delicious side dish from Southern US that's perfect for Thanksgiving. Easy and buttery, yams or sweet potatoes are scented with warming baking spices, and baked until caramelized.
Read the recipe 12. Mushroom Gravy: the effortless side dish to pair with anything 
Mushroom gravy is a must side dish to pair with a main dish during holiday season. Savory and creamy, this gravy is made from mushrooms and broth, so you don’t need any pan drippings.
Read the recipe 13. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes: the effortless recipe for perfect mashed potatoes 
This Instant Pot mashed potato recipe is the easiest, fastest way to make beautifully buttery, creamy mashed potatoes. It's a fluffy, smooth side with savory taste.
Read the recipe 14. Roasted Brussels Sprouts: the tastiest recipe for the classic holiday side dish 
Roasted Brussels sprouts are a tasty, quick and easy side dish perfect for the holiday season. Crispy and tender on the inside, they have a rich, nutty, caramelized flavor.
Read the recipe 15. Baked Sweet Potatoes: a flavorful, nutritious alternative to baked potatoes 
Baked sweet potatoes are a tasty, nutritious side dish recipe. Simply poke the sweet potatoes, brush them with oil and bake until tender on the inside, then add your favorite topping.
Read the recipe 16. Garlic Creamed Spinach: the effortless recipe for a creamy dish made with spinach 
Garlic creamed spinach is a simple, quick, tasty recipe you can serve as side. Creamy, garlicky and tasty, it's a hearty dish with simple ingredients that's ready in less than 15 minutes.
Read the recipe 17. Roasted Sweet Potatoes: a tasty, simple vegan side dish for any occasion 
Roasted sweet potatoes are a versatile side dish to enjoy during fall, winter and holiday season. Naturally sweet and savory, they've a crispy, caramelized outside and soft inside.
Read the recipe 18. Roasted Garlic Lemon Broccoli: the quick and easy side recipe 
Roasted garlic lemon broccoli is an easy and healthy side dish you can make in no time. Broccoli florets are crunchy, flavorful and bright green in color. You only need to roast the broccoli with garlic cloves, olive oil, then season and squeeze lemon juice to dampen the strong flavor of the broccoli.
Read the recipe 19. Mashed Sweet Potatoes: the mouthwatering essential side dish for Thanksgiving dinner 
Mashed sweet potatoes are a popular side dish perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. You just need to combine and mash boiled sweet potatoes with butter, heavy cream and seasoning until smooth.
Read the recipe 20. Stuffed Butternut Squash: a seasonal vegetarian dish to make during cold seasons 
This stuffed butternut squash is a vegetarian recipe to serve as main or side dish. Savory yet sweet, it's packed with tender quinoa, kale, chickpeas and cranberries.
Read the recipe 21. Roasted Carrots: an easy, mouthwatering side dish 
Roasted carrots are a versatile side dish perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Quick and easy, naturally sweet carrots are roasted with garlic, salt and pepper until tender and golden brown.
Read the recipe 22. Sautéed Brussels Sprouts: A Fast Vegetarian Side Dish to Make this Fall 
Sauteed Brussels sprouts are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. This recipe transforms your favorite crucefirous vegetables into a charred and flavorful vegetarian side dish everyone will love. Instead of roasting in the oven, use just a heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat on your stove to achieve the perfect texture and flavor on your Brussels.
Read the recipe 23. Roasted Potatoes: the best-ever recipe for the perfect oven-roasted spuds 
Roasted potatoes are an easy, versatile side dish that goes with anything. Seasoned with oil, herbs and seasoning, they're golden brown and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.
Read the recipe 24. Roasted Butternut Squash: simple and delicious side dish 
The most important thing about cutting butternut squash before roasting it is to use a sharp, heavy knife. Dull knives are more likey to slip and hurt you. Start by slicing the top (stem end) and bottom off of the squash. This gives you two flat surfaces to steady your squash on. Next, cut the squash in half widthwise, right where the neck starts to bulge out.
Read the recipe 25. Whole Roasted Cauliflower: the low-carb recipe popular among chefs 
Whole roasted cauliflower is a naturally low-carb, keto-friendly recipe to serve as a side or main dish. Crispy on the outside, it's tender and buttery on the inside.
Read the recipe 26. Baked Potato: the best ever recipe for the perfect baked potato 
Baked potato is an easy, versatile side dish perfect for any occasion. With fluffy insides and crispy, golden brown outsides, you can cook it in the oven or microwave.
Read the recipe 27. Smashed Potatoes: the effortless recipe to enjoy a tasty potato side dish 
These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are cooked twice, making them crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. The flavor is buttery with just the right amount of savory.
Read the recipe 28. Roasted Pumpkin: the vegan side dish perfect for fall holidays 
Roasted pumpkin is a vegan side dish perfect for fall and Thanksgiving. Nutty yet slightly sweet, pumpkin wedges are crisp on edges while the inside remains soft and tender.
Read the recipe 29. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes: the easiest recipe for creamy, rich mashed potatoes 
Everyone loves creamy mashed potatoes, but they can be a bit of a hassle to prep and cook. So what's the solution when you want to serve up great-tasting mashed potatoes? Use your crockpot!
Read the recipe 30. Stuffed Acorn Squash: a fabulous low-carb hearty dish for the holidays 
Stuffed acorn squash is a low-carb main dish perfect for holidays. Sweet, nutty and savory, it's stuffed with sausage, mushrooms, apples, herbs and spices, then baked.
Read the recipe 31. Roasted cauliflower steak: the clever cauliflower side dish 
There are many great ways to cook cauliflower, but roasted cauliflower steak has to be one of the best. This recipe is easy to prepare, with only a few ingredients, many of which you'll already have in your kitchen. The beauty of roasted cauliflower steak is that it can be served as a starter or a side dish.
Read the recipe 32. Sautéed Spinach: a versatile, nutritious side dish to make in no time 
Sautéed spinach is a quick, easy side dish that pairs with any meal. Cook washed fresh spinach and garlic in a pan with oil until wilted, season with salt and serve.
Read the recipe 33. Creamed Corn: the quick, easy recipe everyone will love 
Creamed corn is a quick, easy, tasty side. Tender, sweet corn kernels are mixed in a thick, smooth creamy sauce made by combining the starchy residue of corn, heavy cream, milk and flour.
Read the recipe 34. Sautéed Green Beans: a fast, healthy side dish for any occasion 
Sautéed green beans are an easy, healthy side dish recipe. Tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, the green beans are blanched and then sautéed in garlic.
Read the recipe 35. Brussels Sprouts Gratin: the effortless, tasty side dish recipe 
Brussels Sprouts Gratin is an easy, hearty side dish recipe perfect for the holidays. Soft Brussels sprouts are topped with cheese, breadcrumbs and baked until crispy.
Read the recipe 36. Spinach Gratin: the mouthwatering recipe for a creamy, delicious side dish 
Spinach gratin is a fantastic side dish to serve on holidays, thanks to its mouthwatering cheesy, buttery, savory flavor. Its creamy texture is complemented by a crisp topping.
Read the recipe 37. Hasselback Potatoes: an impressive potato side dish recipe 
Hasselback potatoes are a tasty, impressive side dish. With a tender inside and crispy skin, it's made by thinly slicing a potato, baking it and stuffing it with cheese.
Read the recipe Casseroles and Stuffings
38. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows: a classic Thanksgiving side dish you’ll love 
Perfectly delicious, creamy, and rich sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a traditional Thanksgiving dish. It started as a dessert and over time, has become a must-have side dish to accompany roasted turkey and gravy.
Read the recipe 39. Macaroni and Cheese: the creamy comfort food for baked mac and cheese 
Macaroni and cheese is a creamy comfort food perfect as a main dinner or holiday side. Simply coat elbow macaroni with a rich cheese sauce and bake it until golden brown.
Read the recipe 40. Cornbread Stuffing: a mouthwatering Thanksgiving recipe to try this year 
Moist, tender, crumbly sausage cornbread stuffing is a must-have for any Thanksgiving dinner. It is herby, savory, with just a hint of sweetness thanks to the cornbread.
Read the recipe 41. Corn Pudding: the creamy side dish for your holiday dinner 
Corn pudding is a buttery Southern side dish perfect for the holidays. Sweet yet savory, it has a creamy custard-like texture on the inside and a crisp outside.
Read the recipe 42. Cauliflower Casserole: the cheesy, loaded casserole you won’t be able to resist 
Cauliflower casserole is a tasty, loaded recipe perfect to serve as side dish. Gluten-free and keto-friendly, it's made of cauliflower florets, bacon, and green onions coated in a creamy sauce.
Read the recipe 43. Cauliflower Stuffing: a vegetarian stuffing recipe for a Thanksgiving side dish recipe 
Cauliflower stuffing is a healthy, low-carb recipe ideal for Thanksgiving, even if you're on a keto diet. Packed with flavor, it's a vegetarian alternative to other stuffings.
Read the recipe 44. Twice-Baked Potato Casserole: an easy creamy side dish to make for any occasion 
Twice-baked potato casserole is an easy, make-ahead recipe to enjoy on any occasion. It's made from creamy mashed potatoes topped with crispy bacon and cheddar cheese.
Read the recipe 45. Healthy Green Bean Casserole: the light recipe for a Thanksgiving side dish you’ll love 
Healthy green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish, and for good reason. This recipe is a healthier and lighter version of the beloved baked dish. Serve it at your thanksgiving gathering, and your guests will be thankful to you! It sounds so delicious. So, what are you still waiting for?
Read the recipe 46. Oyster Stuffing: an easy recipe for a delicious Southern Thanksgiving dish 
Oyster stuffing is a tasty holiday side dish you can also make for roast turkey. With a mild seafood taste, it's made with salty, savory oysters, sausage, herbs and bread.
Read the recipe 47. Cheesy Potato Casserole: the cozy side dish that will have everyone coming back 
Cheesy potato casserole is an easy, make-ahead side dish perfect for holidays or parties. Similar to funeral potatoes, it's creamy, tangy, and absolutely delicious!
Read the recipe Thanksgiving Salads
48. Carrot Raisin Salad: the tasty recipe for a crunchy, sweet, tangy appetizer 
Carrot raisin salad is an easy side dish to serve at potlucks or picnics. Crunchy, sweet and with a hint of tanginess, it's often served at Chick-fil-A.
Read the recipe 49. Butternut Squash Salad: the perfect autumn recipe 
This fall, make the most of the seasonal ingredients by whipping up this tasty butternut squash salad. Ideal as a side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's enriched of apples, cranberries, pecans and a maple dressing.
Read the recipe 50. Green Bean Salad: a healthy, fresh side dish for summertime 
Green bean salad is a quick side dish to serve cold in summer. It's made of tender yet crisp green beans, tomatoes, feta and black olives tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Read the recipe 51. German Potato Salad: an amazing side dish for your summer parties 
German potato salad is an easy side dish recipe for your summer. It's packed with tender, thick-cut potatoes and crispy bacon tossed in a tangy, sweet dressing.
Read the recipe 52. Caesar Salad: the tasty recipe for the classic Caesar salad with dressing 
The Caesar salad is a classic recipe with lettuce, croutons, chicken, parmesan. It's served with a creamy dressing made of lemon juice, oil, egg, anchovies, mustard, spices.
Read the recipe 53. Roquefort Pear Salad: the simple salad recipe for a special occasion 
Roquefort Pear Salad is an easy, healthy recipe to try during the cold seasons. You can whip it up in no time and serve it as a gourmet dish to your guests for your next dinner party or potluck. You only need a few ingredients to prepare this salad.
Read the recipe 54. Broccoli Bacon Salad: the phenomenal recipe for an easy healthy side dish 
Creamy broccoli salad with bacon is a sensationally tasty dish that everyone will love. This is a brilliant recipe to serve for the broccoli skeptic in your life: it's a combo of savory bacon, red onion, sweet raisins and a red wine vinegar-mayonnaise dressing that make this salad hard to resist.
Read the recipe 55. Pomegranate Salad: the simple recipe for an elegant holiday salad 
Pomegranate salad recipe has it all. This beautiful yet simple salad is sweet, salty, and tart, and has a fantastic crunchy texture thanks to the pomegranate seeds and candied pecans.
Read the recipe 56. Cauliflower Salad: the mouthwatering side dish that goes with just about everything 
Cauliflower salad is a simple side dish to make in no time. Steamed, tender cauliflower is mixed with cheese, bacon, olives, bell peppers, and tossed with a tangy, creamy dressing.
Read the recipe Thanksgiving Soups
57. Butternut Squash Soup: a cozy vegan soup recipe to warm you when it’s cold 
Butternut squash soup is an easy, vegan soup perfect for cold seasons. Creamy and velvety, this healthy soup made of butternut squash, herbs, ginger and garlic.
Read the recipe 58. Cauliflower Leek Soup: the delicious recipe for a healthy comforting soup 
There's nothing like a hearty, comforting soup, especially when the weather begins to get chilly. This mouthwatering cauliflower leek soup is both simple to make and healthy, packed with nutritious vegetables and made entirely without dairy. It's a paleo and keto-friendly soup that can easily be made vegan with a few tweaks.
Read the recipe 59. Cream of Mushroom Soup: a simple, cozy hearty soup recipe 
Cream of mushroom soup is a tasty, hearty recipe perfect for chilly fall and winter days. It is thick, rich, and velvety with a beautiful savory, earthy mushroom flavor.
Read the recipe 60. Pumpkin Soup: the delicious, healthy recipe without cream 
Pumpkin soup is a healthy, dairy-free, vegan recipe to enjoy hot or warm this fall. It's made without cream, but the texture is still thick and creamy thanks to the potatoes.
Read the recipe 61. Pureed soup of sweet potatoes: the recipe for delicious and simple autumnal comfort food 
The pureed soup of sweet potatoes is a warm and comforting autumnal first course. These tuberous roots, also called American or sugary potatoes, are characterized by their firm and compact pulp and a beautiful orange color and by the irresistible flavor that recalls a mix of pumpkin and chestnuts. In our recipe, very simple and quick to prepare, they are cooked in vegetable broth and then blended until you will get a thick and creamy puree.
Read the recipe Bread Thanksgiving Sides
62. Potato Rolls: the super soft, moist roll recipe made with mashed potatoes 
Potato rolls are a pull-apart holiday side dish to serve with any meal. They're made with mashed potatoes which give a softness, moisture and slightly sweet flavor to the rolls.
Read the recipe 63. Garlic Knots: the best recipe for this simple savory side 
Homemade garlic knots are an amazingly delicious appetizer the whole family will love. This tasty side dish takes virtually no time at all to make – within 20 minutes, you'll have a warm batch of soft golden brown garlic knots to enjoy with your main meal. Ultra-fluffy and topped with lashings of garlic herb butter, these garlic knots are light, fluffy, and perfect with everything from Italian dishes like pasta in tomato sauce or your favorite roasts, stews, and soups.
Read the recipe 64. Pumpkin Bread Rolls: the simple recipe for pumpkin dinner rolls 
The Pumpkin Bread Rolls is an easy bun recipe that is a fun fall twist on classic bread rolls. You don’t even need any fancy ingredients.
Read the recipe 65. Skillet Cornbread: the best recipe for a classic Southern side dish 
Skillet cornbread is a light, fluffy Southern side dish recipe. With a sweet yet savory taste, pour the batter into a cast iron skillet (hence the name) and bake it.
Read the recipe 66. Persimmon Bread: the wonderful quick bread recipe to make during the cold weather season 
Persimmon bread is an easy, tasty quick bread recipe perfect for the cold seasons. Soft and moist, it's made of sweet ripe persimmons and warming baking spices.
Read the recipe 67. Cornbread Muffins: the tender, sweet side recipe from South 
Cornbread muffins are an easy Southern side dish that pairs with sweet and savory recipes. Made with cornmeal, it's tender, fluffy on the inside and sweet in flavor.
Read the recipe 68. Pumpkin Focaccia: the delicious bread recipe you’ll love 
Pumpkin Focaccia is an easy recipe with a mildly savory yet sweetish flavor. Perfect for fall season, it's fluffy, chewy on the inside, with crispy edges and bottom.
Read the recipe 
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