Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes that you’ll love. These crowd-pleasing holiday sides are sure to be the star of any Thanksgiving meal. And they’re great for any holiday meal, including Christmas.
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JUST TAKE ME TO THE CLASSIC THANKSGIVING SIDE DISH RECIPES ALREADY!
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Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
Thanksgiving is fast approaching! Have you decided what you’ll be serving?
Are you hosting the Thanksgiving dinner? Or are you bringing a dish to the family gathering? Or, maybe you have a Thanksgiving themed potluck at work that you have to bring a dish to.
Now’s the time to start thinking about what you’ll be making and serving.
Here are some great ideas and delicious dishes you can cook up for your family and friends.
From green bean casserole and roasted veggies to mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, these crowd-pleasing holiday sides are sure to be the star of any Thanksgiving meal.
Tried and tested by so many, these recipes are truly delicious and will be very popular on the holiday table.
You can make many of these ahead of time; just see each recipe for the best tips!
And, I’ve included alternate cooking methods for many of these recipes – so make it in the crock pot or slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker, or the traditional oven method. The choice is yours.
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Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes that you want to serve
Stuffing
The stuffing is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal. And I know many folks who share my opinion. I make my vegetarian stuffings even for the meat eaters. No one ever complains.
You can still stuff the turkey with these vegetarian stuffings if you want.
But, since it’s safer to bake or crock pot the stuffing anyway, why not just leave the stuffing on the side and not have that food safety risk?
You’ll love these delicious and moist stuffings. I have a classic oven baked casserole, a crock pot version, and a creamy veggie filled one.
Vegetarian Holiday Stuffing
My favorite stuffing that I've been perfecting for years! It's nice and moist and flavorful with lots of veggies right in the stuffing.
Vegetarian Crock Pot Stuffing
A crock pot or slow cooker version of my favorite stuffing. Save time and energy the day of the dinner. Also save oven space!
Zucchini Stuffing Casserole
A creamy zucchini filled oven casserole.
Carrots
Cooked carrots are so delicious, and even the picky eaters in my family love them. I have two maple roasted versions, and one twist on the classic with orzo and Parmesan.
Maple-Thyme Roasted Carrots
I make these Maple Roasted Carrots all the time, even for weeknight meals. They are easy and delicious, and will be a perfect addition to any holiday table.
Maple Roasted Carrots
These carrots are cooked all in the oven, making them great for a hands off side dish. They do take a bit of time to roast in the oven, so make sure you plan for that. They can be prepped ahead of time and simply tossed in once you're ready to roast them.
Cheesy One Pot Carrot Orzo Side Dish Recipe
A fun and different side dish filled with carrot goodness, orzo pasta, and lots of Parmesan cheese!
Spinach
I think spinach side dishes at Thanksgiving are such a welcome change. They are green and delicious, something many Thanksgiving sides are missing. Check out these delicious and fun holiday classics.
Spinach Mushroom Gratin
Spinach Mushroom Gratin is a lovely side dish that’s filled with iron-rich dark green spinach, mushrooms, creamy ricotta, cheeses, and all topped off with a crunchy bread crumb topping. This casserole dish is so good!
Cheesy Creamed Spinach Gratin Casserole
Savory cooked spinach in a creamy Parmesan white sauce, topped with more nutty salty Parmesan and baked to comforting side dish perfection. This Cheesy Creamed Spinach Gratin Casserole is perfect for holiday meals, or even for a nice Sunday family dinner.
Spinach Mushroom Crescents
Spinach Mushroom Crescents are easy to make, cheesy, crescents stuffed with iron-rich dark green spinach and mushrooms. Great as an appetizer or side, or make a bigger pouch with the crescents, and serve them as a great vegetarian main course.
Sweet potatoes
Another classic Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish. I’m not a huge fan of the marshmallow topped sweet potato, so you won’t find those in my collection. I’m much more of a fan of the savory sweet potato side dish! And these sides are sure to please!
Savory Sweet Potato Layer Bake
This easy to make Savory Sweet Potato Layer Bake Casserole is full of onions, Parmesan, Monterey Jack cheese, (not to mention sweet potatoes), and baked to perfection. This is a healthy, naturally gluten-free, low-carb, holiday side dish that’s simple and fairly low in calories for the flavor punch it packs.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
The simple technique of roasting makes sweet potatoes deep in flavor and super yummy, and perfect for the holiday table.
Chipotle - Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These Chipotle-Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes these are nice and tingly and savory with no marshmallows to be found.
Broccoli side dishes
Another fun green veggie side dish idea! Broccoli casseroles make everyone happy at the holidays. I also have a great cold broccoli salad that’s perfect for making ahead!
Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole
Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole – Creamy sauce, nutty wild rice, earthy broccoli, Hearty meatballs – Oh this casserole is so yummy! Your family will love it! Makes a great main dish for vegetarians too.
Cheesy Broccoli Potato Casserole
Cheesy Broccoli Potato Casserole is a family favorite, with its hearty and filling potatoes, fresh broccoli, and cheesy sour cream sauce, this easy to make casserole is going to be a favorite side dish in your house too.
Cranberry Pecan Broccoli Salad
Cranberry Pecan Broccoli Salad is a great salad that you can make ahead & take to potlucks and family gatherings; it’s filled with veggies and super yummy!
Corn side dishes
Corn is such a great side. It’s sweet and delicious, and can be made into so many things. Creamy. Hot. Cold. Whatever you fancy in a corn side, I’ve got it here.
Corn and Red Pepper Risotto
A delicious rice dish with corn & red pepper that can be made ahead.
Mexican Corn Salad
One of my favorite sides. This can also be served as an appetizer.
Classic Corn Casserole
The classic corn casserole dish can easily be made ahead. So delicious and so easy to make.
Crock Pot Corn Dip
Creamy and delicious creamed corn from the crock pot or slow cooker.
Roasted veggies
Roasting brings out the full complex nutty flavor of so may veggies. I have my favorite veggies here – some mixed and some simply the straight lone veggie. Also, you’ll find oven roasting and Air Fryer roasting are both delicious!
Roasted Veggies
One of my favorite dishes. Simple roasted veggies with herbs. Side dish perfection and a favorite on the holiday table.
Easy Roasted Green Beans with Mushrooms and Onions
A delicious and simplified oven roasted veggie side dish filled with green beans, mushrooms, and onions.
Air Fryer Roasted Green Beans
Roasted green beans in the Air Fryer, takes a fraction of the time, and saves oven space.
How to Roast Asparagus
Oven roasted asparagus is the perfect and easy side dish
Roasted Mushrooms
These Roasted Mushrooms would be fabulous as a simple side dish for a holiday dinner.
Potatoes
Probably the second favorite side dish of most people, or even the favorite of some people! Potatoes are so widely loved by everyone. Here they are: mashed, roasted, sliced, stacked, layered, smashed, boiled, oven baked, pressure cooked, and stuffed.
Rustic Mashed Potatoes
My favorite mashed potatoes, so much more flavor than boiled potatoes.
Mashed Potato Casserole
I love this Mashed Potato Casserole. It’s a little fancy with that crispy cheesy crust! It’s a lot tasty with all those yummy mashed potatoes hidden inside! And, it makes fabulous leftovers!
Potatoes Fondantes
Potatoes Fondantes: little potatoes of goodness. If you love potatoes, you need to try this recipe.
Instant Pot Potatoes Fondants
My recipe for French smashed potatoes made in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
Skinny Potato and Onion Bake
This Skinny Potato and Onion Bake will become a family favorite side dish for you too. Easy to make and delicious to eat. Earthy potatoes layered with flavorful and aromatic onions. All in a light cheesy sauce. Perfect for holidays or just serving with a weeknight dinner.
Roasted Potato Stacks
Despite its elegance, this delicious side dish is simple and quick to prepare. With its crispy edges and easy portioning, this will surely become your new holiday staple.
Twice Baked Potatoes
The classic cheesy potato bakes up nice and delicious. These are a hit at any family dinner. And they're nice because they are potion controled.
Green bean casserole
A category all its own. The green bean casserole is a classic that should be on every holiday table.
Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry sauce
The perfect holiday condiment. And again, I have options here for how you cook it.
Roasted Cranberry Sauce
This Roasted Cranberry Sauce is by far the easiest one I’ve ever made! This would be fabulous served as a simple condiment on the Thanksgiving table, but there are so many other ways to use this tasty condiment!
Cranberry Sauce with Tart Oregon Cherries and Red Onions
I wanted to share a few of the Pacific Northwest Thanksgiving Day recipes with you. Here’s the one for Cranberry Sauce with Tart Oregon Cherries and Red Onions, which was a huge hit!
Mac & cheese
Classic and delicious. Loved by kids and kids at heart everywhere. Want your mac & cheese oven baked, crock pot, or even a little healthy? I’ve got ya covered!
Crock Pot Mac & Cheese
This Mac & Cheese is made in the crock pot so it's perfect for a potluck. Delicious and creamy, this is always a hit with the family.
One Dish Oven Baked Mac & Cheese
This is my favorite way to make mac & cheese. One dish, no pre-boiling the pasta. Delicious and homemade mac & cheese!
Butternut Squash "Mac" & Cheese
A healthy autumn twist on the classic comfort food.
Bread, rolls, and cornbread
What would Thanksgiving be without the bread? In fact, I have some cousins who eat basically only the bread and turkey at the holiday. I’ve got lots of different options for you, from rolls to biscuits, to cornbread.These are Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes that you’ll want to serve.
Skillet Buttermilk Butter Biscuits
Dense flavorful buttermilk biscuits develop a buttery crispy crust when baked in a cast iron skillet. This post contains affiliate links, which if you buy something help support this blog. High five to you! Easy Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe I also love the ease of this recipe.
Parmesan Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits from Scratch
Parmesan Garlic Buttermilk Biscuits from Scratch Recipe for light fluffy homemade biscuits
Fresh Buttermilk Biscuits
This is my go-to recipe when I want fresh hot yummy Buttermilk Biscuits. It’s easy to whip up, there’s no weird ingredients in it, and it’s super yummy! I love that they are so fun to make too, no rolling out and cutting; I much prefer the drop biscuit method! If you’re looking for a great homemade biscuit, you’ve come to the right place!
Buttermilk Dinner Rolls
Buttermilk Dinner Rolls … crusty on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. Perfect with dinner! And, they help use up some leftover buttermilk
Bourbon Banana Walnut Bread
Bourbon Banana Walnut Bread is a great way to use older bananas, and it’s great for a special breakfast. I love to make this bread for Thanksgiving dinner!
Cook’s Country Dakota Bread
Dakota Bread – hot fresh seven grain homemade bread from scratch – it doesn’t get any better or any more comforting than this, and with some added nutrition from the whole grains
Cranberry Rosemary Cornbread
Cranberry Rosemary Cornbread – sweet old-fashioned cornbread with tart cranberries mixed in, and a little earthy rosemary to top it all off – the perfect festive and delicious side dish at the holidays
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