By Thanksgiving side dishes are just as important as the Turkey or Ham if you want to create the perfect Thanksgiving feast! These delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes will have everyone in your family coming back for seconds!
They’re not just delicious; they’re also all incredibly easy to make! So whether you’re hosting your family for the holiday or inviting some friends over, these Thanksgiving side dishes are guaranteed to be a big hit.
Here are some of my favorite recipes.
1
Mashed Potatoes
We all know the main star of the show is turkey, but the Thanksgiving plate would not be complete without a heaping scoop of mashed potatoes. Not only is the recipe super creamy and incredibly fluffy, but it's also super simple to make.
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2
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Take your mashed potatoes up a notch with a whole head of roasted garlic. It melts right into the potatoes and gives them a sweet, mellow flavor everyone will ask about.
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3
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Looking for a lighter side? This creamy cauliflower mash is made with butter, cream cheese, and garlic, so it tastes like comfort food with a fraction of the carbs.
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4
Roasted Baby Potatoes
The oven can get extra crowded on Thanksgiving, so save yourself the space and go to the air fryer to make these roasted potatoes. The air fryer will not only be a time saver but also give your potatoes a crisp and clean look, as it removes all of the unnecessary oil from the cooking process.
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5
Garlic Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these garlic roasted potatoes are tossed with fresh rosemary for a side dish that smells like the holidays.
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6
Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
Two Thanksgiving favorites roasted together on one pan. The potatoes get crispy, the carrots turn sweet and caramelized, and cleanup is a breeze.
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7
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Want to impress your guests? Add mashed sweet potatoes to your Thanksgiving menu. The easy dish gives off an impressive look, plus it adds a pop of color to all the brown food on your Thanksgiving plate.
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8
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic, these roasted sweet potatoes come out crispy on the edges and tender inside. They’re a savory twist on the classic sweet potato side.
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9
Stuffing
The best part about this stuffing recipe is that you can customize it any way you would like. Add in mushrooms, bacon, or even sausage for a delicious twist. Even without the additions, the classic stuffing is a must for the Thanksgiving spread.
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10
Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
Pro tip: If available, use fresh green beans for a crisp and super bright flavor. Frozen green beans will work just as well, but if you have the option, go for the fresh — you won't regret it.
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11
Green Beans and Bacon
Crisp-tender green beans cooked in a skillet with smoky bacon, onion, and garlic. It’s quick, budget-friendly, and always one of the first dishes to disappear.
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12
Southern Collard Greens
Slow simmered with smoked turkey until tender and full of soulful flavor. Don’t forget to save the pot likker for dipping your cornbread!
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13
Creamed Spinach
Rich, creamy, and ready in minutes, this creamed spinach feels special enough for the holiday table without any extra fuss.
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14
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
The oven gets crowded on Thanksgiving, so let your air fryer do the work. These Brussels sprouts come out golden and crispy in no time.
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15
Crispy Oven-Roasted Broccoli
A simple, bright green side to balance all the rich dishes. Roasting gives the broccoli crispy, caramelized edges that even the kids will love.
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16
Gravy
Don't let gravy be an afterthought when it comes to Thanksgiving. Treat it like any other side dish and forget the stuff that comes in the jar or packet. The gravy is made with all of the drippings from the turkey, plus herbs and spices like parsley and thyme to help take your turkey to the next level.
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17
Gravy Without Drippings
No drippings? No problem! This rich, savory gravy is made with butter, onion, garlic, and chicken stock, and you can make it up to 3 days ahead.
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18
Layer Salad
Break up the seven different kinds of potatoes on your plate and add some salad to the mix. This 7-layer salad features the standard lettuce base but truly stands out because of the crunch. The signature feature comes from chopped cauliflower. It may seem like an unusual combo, but it will light up your tastebuds. I especially love this Thanksgiving side because you can easily make it ahead.
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19
Sweet Potato Kale Salad
A fresh, colorful salad with sweet potatoes and hearty kale. It brings a little brightness to a plate full of comfort food.
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20
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
Start your feast with a cozy bowl of creamy pumpkin soup. It’s silky, warmly spiced, and makes a lovely starter while the turkey rests.
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21
No-knead Garlic Knots
Good luck eating just one of these bread rolls. The best part about this recipe is that you can make them in advance and leave the uncooked dough in the refrigerator overnight. Simply take them out of the refrigerator on Thanksgiving morning, leave to come to room temperature, divide and knot the dough then bake them to have buns literally coming out of the oven right before your meal.
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22
No-Knead Garlic Pull-Apart Bread
Soft, buttery, and loaded with garlic, this no-knead pull-apart bread is made for sharing. Set it in the middle of the table and watch it disappear.
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23
Focaccia
Focaccia bread may seem like an unusual choice for a Thanksgiving plate, but it is truly the dish you never knew you needed. The herbs in the loaf will pair perfectly with the turkey on your plate. Plus, you can use the light and fluffy slice to clean up any extra drippings and crumbs left on your plate.
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24
No-Knead Dinner Rolls
These no-knead bread rolls will be the best thing you make for Thanksgiving. Maybe not for the meal itself, but for the day after to make the ultimate Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. Stuff these rolls full of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce for the best leftover sandwich of the year.
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25
No-Knead Air Fryer Bread Rolls
No oven space? Make your dinner rolls in the air fryer! They bake up golden and soft, and they’re perfect for small batches.
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26
Homemade Biscuits
Fluffy, flaky, buttery biscuits made from scratch with buttermilk. They bake in just 15 minutes and are perfect for soaking up gravy.
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27
Southern Cornbread
Golden, tender cornbread is a must on a Southern Thanksgiving table. Serve it warm with butter, or use it to make cornbread dressing.
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28
Cranberry Sauce
Forget the canned stuff! This homemade cranberry sauce will easily replace the store-bought kind after one bite. Made with fresh cranberries and a hint of orange zest, this cranberry sauce will add brightness to your Thanksgiving feast. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to make.
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29
Honey glazed Carrots
Add a touch of sweetness to your savory plate with these delicious roasted carrots. The carrots are roasted in honey and loads of herbs, spices, and finished off with a touch of lemon juice, creating the perfect balance of flavors.
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30
Roasted Butternut Squash
Sweet, nutty, and caramelized, roasted butternut squash is fall on a plate. It’s simple to make and adds beautiful color to your table.
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31
Roasted Pumpkin
Tossed with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and thyme, then roasted until tender. It’s a cozy, savory way to enjoy pumpkin beyond pie.
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32
Sautéed Mushrooms
Need one more side dish to add to the menu? Go with sautéed mushrooms. Not only do they have a rich umami and meaty flavor, but they also cook on the stovetop in one pot and only take about 20 minutes to come together. It will be the easiest side dish you make all day.
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33
Rice Pilaf
A nice change from potatoes, this fragrant rice pilaf is made with saffron, peas, carrots, and raisins. It’s colorful, flavorful, and pairs beautifully with turkey.
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34
Jollof Rice
Bring a little West African flavor to the table! Smoky, tomato-rich jollof rice is a party favorite and goes perfectly with roast turkey.
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35
Nigerian Coconut Rice
Fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk with a hint of spice. It’s a delicious West African side that pairs wonderfully with turkey.
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36
Hasselback Potatoes
If you prefer crispy potatoes over mashed potatoes, add these hassle-back potatoes to your Thanksgiving menu. The controlled heat from the air fryer creates the perfect crisp on the potato skin. Use large potatoes for a smaller crowd and give everyone their own, or go with smaller potatoes and cut them in half for a large gathering.
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37
Baked Sweet Potatoes
The secret to getting super tender and crispy roasted sweet potatoes? Super high heat. The seasoning, plus the heat, allow the potatoes to caramelize, resulting in a burst of amazing flavors. It's a great alternative for those looking for a lighter side dish.
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How to Plan Your Thanksgiving Side Dishes
A little planning makes Thanksgiving so much less stressful. Here’s how I like to do it:
- Pick a good balance. Choose one or two potato dishes, a green vegetable, something bright like cranberry sauce, and a bread such as no-knead dinner rolls or garlic knots.
- Make ahead when you can. Cranberry sauce and gravy without drippings can be made up to 3 days ahead, and dinner roll dough can rest in the fridge overnight.
- Use your air fryer. With the oven busy with the turkey, sides like air fryer Hasselback potatoes free up valuable oven space.
- Keep it warm. Mashed potatoes stay hot and creamy in a slow cooker on the warm setting for a couple of hours.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes FAQs
How many side dishes should I make for Thanksgiving?
For a small gathering of 6 to 8 people, 3 to 5 side dishes is plenty. For a bigger crowd, plan on 6 to 8. A good mix is one or two potato dishes, a green vegetable, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and a bread like my no-knead dinner rolls.
What are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes?
The classics never go out of style: creamy mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and bacon, cranberry sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, and a rich turkey gravy. They’re on almost every Thanksgiving table for a reason!
Which Thanksgiving side dishes can I make ahead?
Quite a few! Cranberry sauce actually tastes better made a day or two ahead, gravy without drippings keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, and mashed sweet potatoes can be made 2 days ahead. You can also bake your stuffing covered the day before, then uncover it and brown it right before dinner.
How do I keep side dishes warm on Thanksgiving?
Keep mashed potatoes warm in a slow cooker on the warm setting, and cover baked sides with foil and hold them in a 200°F oven until dinner is ready. Warm the gravy on the stovetop right before serving and give it a good whisk.
What Thanksgiving side dishes can I make without the oven?
With the turkey taking up the oven, stovetop and air fryer sides are a big help. Try green beans and bacon, honey glazed carrots, cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, or air fryer Hasselback potatoes.
Did You Make Any of These Thanksgiving Side Dishes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and be sure to take a picture of your creation and tag me on Instagram @cheflolaskitchen or share it on Facebook @cheflolaskitchen.
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