15 Must-Have Thanksgiving Side Dishes

By Rosa L. • Jan 30, 2024

Thanksgiving side dishes are the unsung heroes of the holiday table, adding a symphony of flavors and textures to complement the star of the show, the turkey.

From classic favorites to creative twists, these delectable accompaniments are an essential part of the Thanksgiving feast. Whether you crave a heaping mound of creamy mashed potatoes drizzled with savory gravy, or the sweet and buttery goodness of candied yams topped with marshmallows, our cornucopia of options below will leave everyone at your holiday table feeling grateFULL.


Put on Your Stretchy Pants and Prepare for a Bountiful Feast:

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#1. Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Butter and potatoes. Two of the world's most delicious yet simple dynasties. Put them together, like Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes does, and man, oh, man. You've got yourself a side dish for the ages! Who could ever pass up these creamy, perfectly-mashed potatoes?! They're oozing with the salty, savory flavors of the melty, nutty browned butter; it's truly a dish for the history books! Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes are a yummy classic that will continue to rock our world until the end of time!

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#2. Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Sure, sweet potatoes are super yummy when made emphasizing the "sweet," like with marshmallows and brown sugar, but have you ever tried a savory version? Savory Sweet Potato Casserole focuses on just that and might give the other option a run for its money. Caramel-y sweet potatoes get mashed and mixed with some salty ham, autumnal spices, and melty cheese. How could anything beat that? Then it's baked to achieve bubbly, melty perfection. Can't you almost taste it? Once you do, we're pretty confident that you will deem Savory Sweet Potato Casserole the victor in the great sweet and savory debate!

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#3. Easy Homemade Gravy

Is your meal missing something, and you're not quite sure what? Maybe it's gravy! Easy Homemade Gravy is a delicious and flavorful concoction that will bring any dish to life. Pour this gravy over your favorite dinner to infuse it with creamy savoriness! Easy Homemade Gravy is hearty and tasty, and it only takes 30 minutes to whip up so you should jump aboard this gravy train!

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#4. Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

Cauliflower has gotten quite the PR makeover in the last few years. In the past, it was mostly bland and served steamed alongside more delicious items. These days, the veggie is made into rice, pizza crust, and steak. Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole is yet another innovative and delicious interpretation. The mild flavor of the cauliflower lets the rich cheese and butter take center stage. Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole makes a competitive companion to mashed potatoes alongside a holiday spread, but also with a protein for a balanced dinner.

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#5. Harvest Hazelnut Casserole

The autumn harvest is about to start rolling in, and the question of what to do with all these delicious vegetables is thankfully easily answered: the Harvest Hazelnut Casserole! Fluffy, caramel-noted sweet potatoes, bright carrots, and hearty cauliflower are infused with savory chicken flavor and rich tomato sweetness before being mixed with sharp cheddar cheese. On top is a crunchy, nutty hazelnut crust that has just a bit of floral honey sweetness to remind you of the joys of fall. Harvest Hazelnut Casserole ensures that vegetables never feel boring again and that you look forward to harvest season all year round!

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#6. Turkey Day Salad

You got the turkey. You got the potatoes. You got the dessert. But wait! What about the greens? Can't have Thanksgiving without the greens! Turkey Day Salad brings the refreshment and nourishment that you need alongside the heavier fare on the feasting table. Fluffy grains, crunchy, crisp apples, tender cauliflower and sweet potatoes, they're all here to make the vegetables as exciting and appealing as the main course. A sweet, zesty, herbaceous dressing makes sure the Turkey Day Salad is ready for the festivities and for your fork! Can't beat a salad like this!

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#7. Thanksgiving Cornbread

You're sitting at the table with the people you love most. Looking around, watching them laugh and tell stories from the good 'ole days. Then, you take a look at your plate. There's a mound of creamy mashed potatoes, the juiciest turkey you've ever tasted, your favorite veggies, and a heaping of fluffy, savory stuffing. Your gaze stops and fixates on the most glorious thing on your plate. Behold! A perfect golden-brown, crumbly slice of Thanksgiving Cornbread, nice and warm and straight from the oven. Then, you take a bite — it's begging you to. It's sweet, it's salty, it's pumpkin-y, it's basically melting in your mouth. Your love for your people is stronger than ever and you're filled with gratitude. You'll remember this one for a long time. And for that, Thanksgiving Cornbread will always be there to help you reminisce on all the blessings you've been given!

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#8. No-Can Green Bean Casserole

No-Can Green Bean Casserole makes sure you get all the flavors of the beloved casserole but with a little less sodium! Tender, nourishing green beans get soaked in a creamy, no-can-needed filling, and it's pretty divine. For even more goodness, there's nutty water chestnuts in the mix, and a crispy, fried onion and melty cheese topping. Sounds like a win! No-Can Green Bean Casserole will make dinner time that much more amazing!

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#9. Mildred's Cranberry Orange Relish

Mildred's Cranberry Orange Relish walks the line between a dinner side and dessert — to famously delicious effect! Combining tart, wintery cranberries with the sunny, summery sweetness of oranges, this relish is pleasingly zesty and refreshing no matter the meal or season. Mildred's Cranberry Orange Relish can lighten a heavy meat dish, cut through the richness of gravy, or serve as a unique topping to vanilla ice cream. A quick and easy-to-make pick-me-up and a vibrant twist on classic cranberry sauce all at once!

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#10. Creamed Spinach Casserole

Ah the classic conundrum: did you make enough of the incredibly popular side dish for everyone at the holiday table? When it's something like creamed spinach, you know the answer has to be yes. Don't worry, Creamed Spinach Casserole has you covered. The creamy, tender, and cheesy mix of fresh garden veggies and luscious sauce now makes enough to feed everyone and even comes with a crunchy, buttery topping for a little extra enchantment. Mmmm! Sounds good already! Let yourself stop stressing and whip up some Creamed Spinach Casserole. The results are guaranteed to make you happy!

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#11. Scalloped Corn Casserole

Surely you've heard of scalloped potatoes, but what about a more summery take on the beloved dish? Something a little sweeter, a little brighter, a little more corny? Well, a lot more corny, really. Scalloped Corn Casserole is a creamy, savory bake with a lot of flavor packed into it, with a crunchy breadcrumb topping to boot! You can't really go wrong with the Scalloped Corn Casserole: not the speed and certainly not the taste!

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#12. Sweet Potato Casserole

History doesn't say who figured out that sweet potatoes pair well with the molasses smoky-sweetness of brown sugar, the holiday aroma of cinnamon, or the floral delicateness of vanilla, thus inventing Sweet Potato Casserole. No one is quite sure who convinced the world that this creamy and luscious casserole should be a side dish rather than a dessert. But we can say one thing with certainty: that person was a genius. Sweet Potato Casserole is a beloved classic of the Thanksgiving table, adding a touch of sugar that's sure to satisfy and pair perfectly with savory servings!

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#13. Stuffing Mac & Cheese

Stuffing Mac & Cheese takes full advantage of limited table space during Thanksgiving by combining two beloved sides into one super-dish—a dish that features the best strengths of both! The holiday seasonings of the stuffing pair beautifully with the creamy, savory, sharp cheddar flavor of the mac and cheese. Rich and loaded with chicken flavors, Stuffing Mac & Cheese is a steaming-hot serenade sure to get you salivating. You'll always find room for more of it!

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#14. The Best Stuffing

The Best Stuffing checks all the boxes. Tender cubes of bread infused with poultry flavor? Check! Meaty, spiced bites of sausage? Check! Refreshingly tender apples and tart cranberries for bursts of color and flavor? Check! A simple way of preparing it so you can focus on other dishes? Double check! Well, that proves it as objectively as possible; The Best Stuffing really is the best!

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#15. Everything Buns

What's there to love about Everything Buns? Why, just about everything! The tender bread is baked until perfectly golden-brown to start! The creamy, tangy filling is infused with the distinct fragrance and joy of everything seasoning! The extra everything seasoning spread across the top of each little bun is just the cherry on top of the sundae, so to speak! The fact that they look like savory cinnamon rolls? Well seriously, you might just find more things to love about Everything Buns once you try them!

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Thanksgiving side dishes truly make this holiday a feast for the senses, inviting us to savor the bounty and togetherness that this special day represents. We wish you a happy festival of feasting this year with a little help from our must-haves!

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