Let’s be honest: Thanksgiving sides are the real stars of the table! Sure, the turkey gets the spotlight. But it’s the buttery, creamy, cozy dishes around it that have everyone reaching for seconds.
This roundup brings together traditional Thanksgiving sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce. There are also a few colorful veggie dishes to round out the plate. Many of them are easy Thanksgiving side dishes you can pull off even with a packed oven.
So, which ones will land on your table this year? Grab a fork and let’s dig in!
Thanksgiving Sides – Table of Contents
Green Bean Casserole
Eric Kim gives the classic a smart update. Instead of canned cream of mushroom soup, a quick homemade cream sauce is seasoned with celery salt and nutmeg. Without the mushrooms, the green beans really get to shine.
It’s an easy green bean casserole, too. Frozen cut beans mean no trimming. Half of them simmer in broth for savory depth, and store-bought crispy onions go on top because, as he puts it, they cannot be improved. Ready in about 35 minutes!
Scalloped Potatoes – Creamy Holiday Side Dish
Taylor Ann Spencer calls scalloped potatoes her go-to side dish at holiday dinners, and she tested this recipe again and again to get it just right. The cream and milk are first steeped with shallot, garlic and black peppercorns for deep flavor.
Her secret for the creamiest result? Simmering the thin Yukon Gold slices in the infused cream before baking. A layer of Parmesan makes these cheesy scalloped potatoes golden on top, and chives add a fresh finish.
Small-Batch Parker House Rolls
Hosting a smaller gathering? This small-batch version makes just six fluffy rolls in a loaf pan. The dough comes together by hand in one bowl with no specialty ingredients, and a hot-water flour paste keeps the crumb tender.
Each piece is folded over a generous smear of melted butter for that classic Parker House shape. It’s an easy Parker House rolls recipe with yeast, and stirring herbes de Provence or za’atar into the butter is a fun optional twist.
Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe
This roasted acorn squash with maple syrup and cinnamon is pure fall comfort. Each half gets a pat of butter, a drizzle of real maple syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon before roasting until tender.
Natasha was pleasantly surprised at how much both of her kids loved it. She calls it simple enough for a weeknight yet stunning on a holiday table. Her tip: brush the cut sides with the buttery juices after 30 minutes for extra flavor.
Traditional Mashed Potatoes
Jent from Farmwife Feeds calls herself a connoisseur of mashed potatoes, and she stands by this plain version as hands down the best. She describes it as super simple, super easy, not fancy but creamy and delicious.
For this simple classic mashed potatoes recipe, the drained potatoes rest with butter under a clean dish towel for five minutes before being mashed with milk or cream. Finish with a big chunk of real butter on top!
Stuffing Recipe – Easy Homemade Holiday Classic
Christy Denney calls this her favorite side at Thanksgiving dinner and says she can never go back to a stuffing mix. Her goal: not too soggy, not too crispy, but soft with some nice toasty edges on top.
Dried bread cubes soak up butter-sauteed onion and celery, fresh parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, plus broth and eggs to bind it all. Sourdough is her favorite bread here, and the recipe makes 10 servings.
The Easiest Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Sarah promises you can’t mess this one up, as long as you stay at the stove and stir occasionally. Fresh cranberries simmer with sugar, orange juice and an optional strip of orange peel, filling the house with warm citrus and cinnamon scents.
This simple cranberry sauce recipe takes about 25 minutes and keeps in the fridge for 7 to 10 days, so it’s perfect to make ahead. You control how smooth it gets, and a tiny pinch of black pepper at the end is a lovely touch.
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Monique of Divas Can Cook first tasted this mac and cheese when her sister brought it to Thanksgiving dinner. Her husband even told her to replace her old recipe with it! The secret is a generous topping of smoked cheddar for crisp, smoky edges.
It’s an old-fashioned macaroni and cheese recipe with eggs, with no roux or cheese sauce required. Colby Jack, sharp cheddar and Velveeta keep it ultra creamy. Bake until the center is still slightly jiggly, then let it set.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Need to free up oven space? These honey glazed carrots cook on the stove top, simmering gently with butter, olive oil and thyme for about 20 minutes until tender.
The author shares that her cousin makes them every holiday. Honey goes in at the end for a light glaze, and fresh parsley and lemon zest add brightness. You can even peel and slice the carrots up to two days ahead.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Sometimes simple is best! The author calls roasted butternut squash one of her favorite easy fall and winter side dishes. Cubes are tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper, then roasted at 400 degrees until sweet and caramelized.
Flipping the cubes halfway helps them brown evenly on both sides. The post walks you through cutting the squash step by step, and a pinch of cinnamon or some fresh thyme leaves are optional extras.
The Best Creamed Spinach
Marzia jokes that the sides are the real reason most of us wait around for Thanksgiving, and this creamed spinach is one of her favorite things to serve. Frozen spinach makes it an easy creamed spinach recipe, ready in about 25 minutes.
Instead of a flour-based sauce, cream cheese and half and half create the creamy base, with mozzarella, Parmesan, plenty of garlic and a hint of nutmeg. It’s also perfect to make ahead, and she suggests making extra!
Parmesan Green Beans
Fresh green beans, garlic powder, panko and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan turn into crispy roasted green beans that are crunchy outside and tender inside. As they roast, the cheese forms a golden, savory crust.
Mary Younkin shares that her family grabbed them right out of the bowl as soon as the photos were done. It’s an easy garlic Parmesan roasted green beans recipe, and her tip is to taste your cheese first, since some Parmesan is saltier than others.
Conclusion
From creamy potatoes to buttery rolls, these 12 recipes cover every corner of the plate. My tip: pick one or two classics like stuffing and mashed potatoes, then add a vegetable side and something sweet like cranberry sauce or maple acorn squash for balance.
Oven space is precious on the big day, so mix baked dishes with stovetop recipes like the honey glazed carrots or creamed spinach, and make the cranberry sauce ahead. Planning Thanksgiving side dishes for a crowd? The stuffing serves 10 and is a great place to start.
Whether you stick to the classics or try something new this year, these Thanksgiving sides will make your table shine. Pick your favorites, save this list and happy cooking!