These sides deserve main event status.
People might say that Thanksgiving is all about the bird, but real ones know—it's actually all about the SIDES. That turkey, ham, or even a Thanksgiving cauliflower centerpiece would be mighty lonely without a table full of casseroles, sauces, rolls, and lots and lots of potatoes. To ensure your feast is as great as it can be, check out our top 105 best Thanksgiving sides—you might just find a new family favorite among them.
First things first: If you’re going for the most quintessential Thanksgiving, you’ve got to have the classics. We’re talking stuffing, sweet potato casserole, gravy, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce… If you wanted to, you could make all those, stop right there, and have pretty much the perfect meal. If you’ve made those a million times already and want to branch out, but are worried your friends and family might mutiny, we suggest starting small. Try out a new variation on the tried and true recipes, like our cranberry relish instead of sauce, our sweet potato casserole with pecans instead of marshmallows, our loaded green bean casserole with added bacon, our melting potatoes, and more.
If your Thanksgiving crowd is more creative (or forgiving 😉), try adding in more exciting ingredients to your normal fare. Love veggies but looking for something with a little more intrigue? Try our salty-sweet shredded Brussels, our gnocchi stuffing, or our cheesy kale orzo with herbed breadcrumbs—they’re sure to kick your meal up a notch. Big potato fan but want something more interesting than mashed? Try our chili oil smashed potatoes, our mashed sweet potatoes, our fondue mashed potatoes, or our Lyonnaise potatoes. Love the idea of stuffing but never feel like the standard recipes do it for you? We've been there. Try changing it up with our sausage stuffing, our oyster stuffing, or our cornbread dressing. You might just like them so much, you’ll bookmark the recipes for years to come.
Want even more Thanksgiving ideas? Check out our favorite Thanksgiving salads, soups, co*cktails, and desserts too.
1
Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs
To make this side dish, we treat orzo like risotto, then top it with crunchy herbed breadcrumbs for added texture. The orzo soaks up the cheese sauce, and you get an incredible sauce to pasta ratio with multitudes of creaminess in every bite.
Get the Cheesy Kale Orzo With Herbed Bread Crumbs recipe.
2
Green Bean Casserole
For this recipe, we ditched canned cream of mushroom soup and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor. Cook the mushrooms enough that they get a little caramelized, and you'll really be good to go.
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
3
Gnocchi Stuffing
Heading to Friendsgiving and need a fun, different dish? This gnocchi stuffing is a creative twist on classic stuffing everyone will love. Using gnocchi instead of bread gives you dumpling-like bites with all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving.
Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.
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4
Pear Salad
This simple yet satisfying wintery salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).
Get the Pear Salad recipe.
5
Cornbread Stuffing
Also known as cornbread dressing, this dish is a classic in the South, where you’ll often find it mixed with sausage, bacon, jalapeños, nuts, even chopped oysters. We kept ours simple with flavors you’d find in classic stuffing, but don't let us stop you from jazzing up yours.
Get the Cornbread Stuffing recipe.
6
Melting Potatoes
These melt-in-your-mouth potatoes got their name for good reason: With a tender, soft middle and an herby topping, one bite and you'll get it. Smothered in butter, garlic, and fresh herbs, they really are amazing with everything, from weeknight dinners to romantic special occasions.
Get the Melting Potatoes recipe.
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7
Perfect Gravy
Whether you’re drizzling it over your roast turkey, mashed potatoes, or flaky biscuits, homemade gravy is an absolute must-have during the holidays. Since it’s such a staple, it's gotta be perfect—THIS is the recipe you need.
Get the Perfect Gravy recipe.
8
Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples
You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.
Get the .
9
Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots
This recipe made us wonder, Why don’t we roast carrots more often? When they roast, their flavor concentrates and sweetens. Pair that with copious amounts of umami-packed Parmesan and just a touch of lemon, and you’ve got a super-irresistible side.
Get the Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots recipe.
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10
Creamed Brussels Sprouts
We'll take Brussels any which way, but we especially love giving them the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.
Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
11
Classic Stuffing
When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, so follow our tips to make it the best you can.
Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.
12
Potato Gratin Stacks
These cute apps make classic potatoes au gratin more fun, and infinitely poppable. The trick to getting the perfect stack? Muffin tins!
Get the Potato Gratin Stacks recipe.
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13
Sweet Potato Casserole
This recipe is for everyone who hates marshmallows atop their sweet potato casserole—in their place is a buttery, brown sugar pecan topping that is still perfectly sweet and Thanksgiving-worthy.
Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
14
Cranberry Bacon Green Beans
It takes just a little effort to take eating your vegetables from a “have to” to a “want to,” and this green beans recipe is a perfect example. Some crispy bacon, sweet cranberries, and creamy goat cheese enhance green beans into a Thanksgiving side dish that your family will be cheering for.
Get the Cranberry Bacon Green Beans recipe.
15
Mashed Potato Casserole
This recipe begins—as you might expect—with classic mashed potatoes. We then add herb-infused milk and some cream cheese, then fold in the secret ingredient—eggs! Eggs are stirred in before baking to lighten up the potatoes, and they help the mixture “soufflé” a bit in the oven.
Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
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16
Cranberry Sauce
This sweet-tart sauce is almost as easy as opening up the canned stuff, and you know your Thanksgiving spread deserves better. This is one of the Thanksgiving dishes you can make up to a week in advance. (Bonus: The flavors will meld and deepen while it hangs out in the fridge.)
Get the Cranberry Sauce recipe.
17
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Quick: Name one thing better than creamy, buttery, steamy, perfect mashed potatoes! See? You can't! So put down the instant potatoes, grab your favorite spuds, a large pot, a masher, and let's get ready for comfort in a bowl.
Get the Perfect Mashed Potatoes recipe.
18
Miso Roasted Carrots
These sweet-savory carrots are topped with the most delicious mix of crunchy nuts and spices. We like pistachios and black and white sesame seeds, but feel free to swap in your favorites (like everything bagel seasoning, perhaps?).
Get the Miso Roasted Carrots recipe.
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19
Shredded Brussels Sprouts
We love classic sautéed Brussels sprouts paired with our turkey, but sometimes we crave something with a bit more kick. These slightly spicy salty-sweet sprouts make for a unique and easy fall salad that can be served warm or cold (so you can prep them ahead of time!).
Get the Shredded Brussels Sprouts recipe.
20
Scalloped Potatoes
Unlike potatoes au gratin, which typically contain cheese, traditional scalloped potatoes are very simple: just thinly sliced potatoes cooked in a mixture of milk and heavy cream that’s infused with aromatics, such as shallots, garlic, and herbs. Our only add-on? A bit of finely shredded Parmesan.
Get the Scalloped Potatoes recipe.
