We’ve got the BEST Thanksgiving Side Dish recipes for your thanksgiving sides from mashed potatoes and stuffing to cranberry salad!
Thanksgiving is all about good food and family. If you’re anything like my family everyone has their favorite sides and it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without them!
We’ve made a list of traditional Thanksgiving sides that are must-haves and a few side dishes with a twist to change up your Thanksgiving routine.
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How Many Sides Should You Have at Thanksgiving?
What is America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Side?
Americans may be divided on a lot of things but surveys show that the favorite side dish, coming in with 46% of the vote is….Mashed potatoes!!! A close second with 43% of the vote was stuffing.
We couldn’t agree more! Mashed potatoes and dressing (I’m a southern girl so we call it dressing vs stuffing) are essential Thanksgiving side dishes!
Not Your Mom’s Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes are rich and creamy and made with a secret ingredient that is going to make your next dinner extra special!
What does your family call it…stuffing or dressing? When it comes down to it the only real difference between the two is whether you stuff it in the turkey or cook it in a baking dish.
In reality Americans use the words interchangeably and what you call it probably has more to do with where you live than how you cook it.
I don’t care what it’s called as long as it’s on my Thanksgiving table!
Southern Cornbread Dressing
This moist, delicious Southern Cornbread Dressing is a traditional stuffing recipe that makes the perfect Thanksgiving side dish!
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without sweet potatoes! Sweetened with brown sugar, cinnamon, and even maple syrup there are so many ways to jazz up your sweet potatoes.
Personally I like a good sweet potato casserole with pineapple and marshmallows but a close second is our cranberry sweet potato casserole. The tart cranberries are the perfect compliment to the sweet potatoes.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a classic southern recipe with lots of flavor! A must have Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish.
Thanksgiving veggies are just as decadent as everything else on the menu. Spinach, brussels sprouts, and corn and cooked in creamy, cheesy, sauces, and delicious casseroles are baked into savory sides that the perfect addition to a turkey dinner.
Easy Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach is a decadent, cheesy side dish special enough for the holidays but easy enough for any day. Warm, creamy, and comforting, this comes together in less than 20 minutes.
This Broccoli Casserole, made with mushrooms, sour cream and cheddar cheese is creamy and delicious. The perfect side dish recipe to serve with any meal.
These Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are an easy side dish made with roasted green beans, bacon, and brown sugar. They make a great addition to holiday dinners!
These Cheesy Bacon Brussels Sprouts are an easy side dish for a weeknight dinner. Perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts are simmered in a creamy sauce and topped with bacon and cheese for the ultimate side!
Easy Green Bean Casserole with green beans, mushroom soup, cheese and fried onions with just 5 minutes of prep. You’ll never go back to the canned stuff.
Don’t forget about the cranberries, these sweet and tart dishes get their own special section on the menu. Everyone loves a good cranberry sauce but you can take advantage of all of those amazing fresh cranberries that are available this time of year and make any of these awesome sides.
Creamy Cranberry Salad
This Creamy Cranberry Salad, otherwise known as Cranberry Fluff, is a delicious combination of fresh cranberries, red grapes, pineapple, marshmallows, and pecans all tossed together in a creamy whipped topping.
Fresh Cranberry Salsa is an easy holiday appetizer that is a little sweet, and a little spicy. Perfect for serving at holiday parties with crisp tortilla chips!
What Thanksgiving Side Dishes Can Be Made Ahead of Time?
Almost all of the side dishes on this list can be made ahead of time. If they can’t be cooked top completion the day before then they can be prepped to help save you some work on Thanksgiving day.
Hello , just dropping by to say you have a great selection for thanks giving, although we do not celebrate it here in Australia, I love the look of your squash blossom, how clever.
LOVE the poem on the bottom, it’s awesome! That squash blossom is beyond amazing! Ladies, you’ve done it again, you made an insanely awesome roundup make me want to lick my lab top! 🙂
Saying hello from Whimsey Wednesday!
What a great roundup! Pinning…I think we’ll be picking a few new ones to try for the Thanksgiving holiday! Thanks for linking it up with us at Foodie Fridays!
I was actually thinking of not making my mash potatoes this year…we will see if they make the list…
I found a side that I am definitely making though. Instead of green bean casserole (which never turns out right for me) I make green beans with mushrooms, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Sounds like it will be one of those simple and satisfying dishes. Thanks for these beautiful ideas!!! Foun you at G’day.
Kat & Melinda are best friends who love to get together and create something awesome. They started having craft nights a few years ago, so they decided to start a blog to share their creations. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail, but they always have fun!
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Awesome round-up!! I’m always looking for side dishes that I can bring to our family Thanksgiving, so this will come in handy! 🙂
what a beautiful collection! Thanks for sharing all these gorgeously presented vegetable creations, I will be pinning away!
some great choices! love the squash flower and so want to try some purple potatoes!!
A great roundup, I’m hungry now! Visiting from Marvelous Monday, thanks for sharing.
Hello , just dropping by to say you have a great selection for thanks giving, although we do not celebrate it here in Australia, I love the look of your squash blossom, how clever.
They all look amazing, I bet they’d be perfect for any dinner…I don’t even think they need turkey served with them!
I’ve never seen purple potatoes, and I’m looking foward to Thanksgiving.
This is an amazing round up! I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year, so this will definitely come in handy! Yum! Pinned!
What a beautiful collection! I don’t think I’d even need any turkey with all these as options! Pinning!
I agree!
What a great selection you have put together. Can’t go past that mash potato bake….yum!
Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.
I love bacon mac and cheese. Yours sounds yummy!
Wow! What an amazing collection of sides.
They would all be so good with other entrees, right?
I am participating in the party as wee- Fall Mantels.
Enjoyed visiting,
Laura
I totally agree Laura, some of them could totally stand all on their own!
Yum! What fun ideas to add to the Thanksgiving table. My daughter’s favorite color is purple…those purple potatoes might just work!
So many yummy ideas! that loaded backed potato side dish is calling my name… it would also be good for dinner just by itself!
Wow – there are some wonderful ideas here…And a few I might try this season! Thanks for sharing…
Pumpkin Ravioli Yummy! Pinned It!
Oh yum! So many of these looks delicious beyond description. Rosemary Roasted Carrots and the Pancetta and Porcini Gratin are must haves!
LOVE the poem on the bottom, it’s awesome! That squash blossom is beyond amazing! Ladies, you’ve done it again, you made an insanely awesome roundup make me want to lick my lab top! 🙂
Saying hello from Whimsey Wednesday!
what a gorgeous colleciton! pinning so I can find it later
Oh my gosh, these are all so beautiful! How can you choose? Hello from Menu Plan Monday on Org Junkie!
That bacon beer mac – OMG!
Pinning!!!
🙂 Anna
Great ideas! That Squash Blossom is beautiful! Thanks for linking this up to Motivation Monday!
Well, now I’m hungry. These are so beautiful! And with all the bacon, I may even be able to convince my picky husband to try some!
The roasted squash blossom is amazing! It would look so beautiful on the table! I love all your ideas!
Those all look amazing. Pinning! Thanks for linking up at Show Me Saturday!
What a great roundup! Pinning…I think we’ll be picking a few new ones to try for the Thanksgiving holiday! Thanks for linking it up with us at Foodie Fridays!
Thanks for linking up to Motivation Monday!
Amazing! Thank you for such a wonderful list 🙂
I was actually thinking of not making my mash potatoes this year…we will see if they make the list…
I found a side that I am definitely making though. Instead of green bean casserole (which never turns out right for me) I make green beans with mushrooms, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Sounds like it will be one of those simple and satisfying dishes. Thanks for these beautiful ideas!!! Foun you at G’day.
Wow, this is a Pinner’s Paradise! I’m having fun.
I think the blossom is the best. 🙂
It’s so pretty, I wouldn’t even want to eat it.
What a great collection! Yum!