113 Classic (& Not-So-Classic!) Thanksgiving Side Dishes To Make For The Holiday
These sides deserve main event status.
Though everyone says 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 113 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, cocktails, and desserts too.
Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
This isn't your average mac & cheese. Chef Millie Peartree puts an entire layer of pure cheese in between two layers of (already cheesy) macaroni. Game. Changer. Your Thanksgiving guests will flip.
Get the Southern Baked Mac & Cheese recipe.
Croissant Stuffing
Would Grandma really be all that upset if you tried a new stuffing this holiday? Her cornbread stuffing is undoubtedly delicious and nostalgic, but what if we switched it up a bit this year and tried something new? Enter: flaky, savory-sweet croissant stuffing.
Get the Croissant Stuffing recipe.
Gnocchi Green Bean Casserole
That green bean casserole on your holiday menu is begging for an upgrade, so we're adding just one ingredient (!) to turn your favorite side into gnocchi green bean casserole. Blanched fresh green beans and buttery sliced mushrooms, onions, and garlic get tossed with a creamy béchamel sauce and pillowy gnocchi, then baked until bubbly. Seriously. That’s it.
Get the Gnocchi Green Bean Casserole recipe.
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.
Harvest Caesar Salad
If you thought kale Caesar was over, you’ve clearly never topped it with crispy frico squash croutons. Featuring butternut squash and crispy baked Parmesan frico, this autumn spin on the classic Caesar salad will have you wishing it was fall all year round.
Get the Harvest Caesar Salad recipe.
Melting Sweet Potatoes
Thought glazed sweet potatoes always needed brown sugar, orange juice, or pecans? Think again. Coated in a savory maple-miso sauce, these melting sweet potatoes are here to challenge everything we think a sweet potato can be—and win us over with their deliciousness.
Get the Melting Sweet Potatoes recipe.
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.
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.
Fondue Mashed Potatoes
Fondue mashed potatoes, or more classically known as pommes aligot, are super-creamy, silky mashed potatoes that have a starchy, cheesy pull like you’ve never seen before. The buttery potato mixed with fresh garlic, white wine, and mild Gruyère is really an experience you're going to love.
Get the Fondue Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Pumpkin Cornbread
Cornbread is a crumbly, savory side we love anytime of the year, but this pumpkin version is a fall dream. Classic cornbread gets an autumn upgrade with the addition of pumpkin puree and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, making it an ideal side for Thanksgiving (or a base for cornbread stuffing!).
Get the Pumpkin Cornbread recipe.
Brussels Sprout Casserole
This is one side dish that will make everyone freak out (and run for seconds). If you have vegetarian guests, feel free to skip the bacon. We're usually all about the smoky flavor, but for this dish, it's all about the CHEESE.
Get the Brussels Sprout Casserole recipe.
Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese
What do you get when you take mac & cheese on a shopping spree to the fanciest cheese shop you know and shower it with gold leaf? Million-dollar mac. Showcasing a trifecta of bougie (and delicious) cheeses and a crispy crunchy panko topping, this irresistible comfort food in a casserole will take center stage on any table it hits.
Get the Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese recipe.
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.
Onion Soup Mix Roasted Potatoes
We can all agree that roasting potatoes is the best way to cook 'em up, right? And if roasting potatoes in the oven wasn’t simple enough, we’ve made seasoning even simpler by using a flavor-packed packet of onion soup mix. Potatoes don’t get any better or easier than this.
Loaded Green Bean Casserole
Wave goodbye to that can of cream of mushroom soup and meet your new favorite green bean casserole! It's got bacon, chives, and SO much cheese. If you've got vegetarian company, feel free to leave the bacon out—it's got plenty of cheese to make up for it. 😏
Get the Loaded Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Pumpkin Soup
Nothing goes the distance all fall and winter long quite like pumpkin soup. It's warming and welcoming whether you're enjoying it as a casual weeknight dinner or serving it alongside turkey for Thanksgiving.
Get the Pumpkin Soup recipe.
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.
Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo
If you love stovetop mac 'n' cheese on your Thanksgiving table, you’ve got to try this creamy butternut squash orzo. Butternut squash and Parmesan join forces with orzo to create a cheesy pasta skillet that hits every nostalgic note.
Get the Creamy Butternut Squash Orzo recipe.
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.
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.
Expertise: Vegan cooking and baking, holiday party foods, and grammar.
Education: Boston University College Of Communication / Natural Gourmet Institute
About Me: As the Digital Food Producer/Editor at Delish, Camille provides myriad insights into our new and existing content, juggles our newsletter offerings, and coordinates between teams to guarantee our recipes and recipe round-ups are the best they can be. Camille worked at/managed several New York restaurants and cafes, focusing on fostering good relationships between the front and BOH (IYKYK). She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma. When she's not writing, editing, or debating the appropriate ingredients in everything from beer cheese to Sichuan chicken, she reads any fantasy or sci-fi she can get her hands on, goes thrifting, and spends time with her wife and their dog, Bacon.
