140 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That’ll Steal the Show
Thanksgiving is a highly anticipated food-centered holiday. Everyone knows that the turkey isn't the real star of the Thanksgiving table—it’s the side dishes. These tailored side dishes will perfectly complement the main dish. Start a new family tradition this year and try our crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving side dish recipes. Take your pick from more than 100 traditional and modern takes on Southern Thanksgiving sides including mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, roasted vegetables, casseroles, and more.
Many of these Thanksgiving side dishes can even be made ahead or prepared in a slow cooker. We’ve transformed classic dishes like Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Leeks and added vegetarian friendly options like Cabbage Casserole. There's something for everyone in this special collection of Thanksgiving side dish recipes. When it comes to Thanksgiving, the more side dishes the better, and you can’t go wrong with any of these delicious recipes.
Round Out Your Thanksgiving Meal With These Perfect Sides
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Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread
Recipe: Ben Mims' Perfect Cornbread
The secret to the perfect cornbread is cooking it in a cast iron skillet and browning the butter.
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Old-School Squash Casserole
Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole
Make this classic, comforting dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
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Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe: Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
We elevated this classic Thanksgiving staple by adding cornflakes, pecans, and marshmallows.
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Macaroni Pudding
Recipe: Macaroni Pudding
This easy side dish fulfills our cheesiest dreams.
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Southern-Style Collard Greens
Recipe: Southern-Style Collard Greens
The addition of bacon to these collard greens provide a bold, smoky flavor.
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Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin
Recipe: Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin
This vibrant casserole is jam-packed with veggies from pumpkin to butternut squash.
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Sweet Potato Rolls with Cane Syrup Glaze
Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls with Cane Syrup Glaze
Rolls are always a hit on any spread, and these buttery and warm rolls are simply irresistible.
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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes
When you're tired of mashed potatoes, try this delicious layered potato dish.
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Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels
Recipe: Cheesy Bacon Pinwheels
These buttery rolls are filled with bacon, cheese, and caramelized onions.
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Easy Cauliflower Casserole
Recipe: Easy Cauliflower Casserole
This healthy casserole is so creamy and cheesy, you’ll confuse it with baked mac and cheese.
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Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo
Recipe: Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo
This spicy cornbread will surely bring the heat to your Thanksgiving table.
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Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Recipe: Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Although technically not a bread, this dish is a mixture of cornbread and cornmeal soufflé.
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Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Skip the can this year and make your own mushroom cream sauce. You will taste the difference.
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Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks
We swapped out canned fried onions for crispy fried leaks for a more elegant casserole topper.
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Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping
Recipe: Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Pecan Topping
Oven-roasted vegetables are so easy to make and a great change from the traditional veggie casserole.
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Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing
There’s only one thing we love better than cornbread dressing, a make-ahead casserole.
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Mashed Potato Bar
Recipe: Mashed Potato Bar
This customizable Mashed Potato Bar is perfect for picky eaters.
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Classic Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Classic Cornbread Dressing
For this Thanksgiving staple, make the cornbread in a skillet up to two days before making the rest of the dish. You will want it to dry out completely.
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Sweet Potato Soufflé
Recipe: Sweet Potato Soufflé
For the fluffiest take on sweet potato casserole, this soufflé offers an airy and sweet side to complement all the savory dishes on the table.
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Slow-Cooker Green Beans
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Green Beans
Bacon, chopped onion, and thyme transforms these Slow-Cooker Green Beans.
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Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing
This casserole stays true to its roots with earthy and nutty flavors.
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Classic Cranberry Salad
Recipe: Classic Cranberry Salad
Fresh cranberry salad is a crunchy alternative to the canned stuff.
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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots
Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots
It’s easy to enjoy your Brussels sprouts with this savory bacon-filled dish.
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Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Pack your mac and cheese with cheddar cubes to make sure you get creamy cheese in every bite.
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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole
We modified traditional sweet potato casserole by adding the texture of thinly sliced potatoes.
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Corn Pudding Casserole
Recipe: Corn Pudding Casserole
We combined fontina and Swiss cheese to make this savory corn casserole.
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Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets
Recipe: Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets
Mixed with garlic and sourdough bread, collard greens have never looked so delicious.
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Fluffy Corn Pudding
Recipe: Fluffy Corn Pudding
Pureed corn kernels make this dish delicate and fluffy.
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Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon
Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon
We elevated homemade mac and cheese by adding crispy bacon and a breadcrumb crust.
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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole
Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole
You can’t go wrong by adding this tried-and-true broccoli casserole to your spread.
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Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole
Adding cheese to a dish has never steered us wrong.
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Sweet Potato Biscuits
Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits
Like a buttermilk biscuit, but make it autumn. Serve with butter and honey for a wonderful vessel for turkey and cranberry sauce.
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Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Recipe: Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Only five minutes of cook time is required to turn out this homemade cranberry sauce that will beat out the can every time.
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Scalloped Oysters
Recipe: Scalloped Oysters
Oyster casserole has graced Southern Thanksgiving tables for decades, and this recipe lets the fresh, briny flavor of oysters really shine with a topping of crushed buttery crackers.
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Martina McBride’s Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Warm Bacon Dressing
Recipe: Martina McBride’s Green Beans with Goat Cheese and Warm Bacon Dressing
We never thought of adding goat cheese to our green beans, but now we’re hooked.
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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Come Thanksgiving, there never seems to be enough oven space—say hello to the problem solver: slow cooker. Cubing the sweet potatoes offer a nice bite of texture that classic versions sometimes lack.
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Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries
Recipe: Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries
This ribboned squash provides a unique texture and sweet and savory flavors.
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Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole
Recipe: Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole
Top your squash casserole with the snack that smiles back for an extra cheesy crunch.
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Macaroni Pie
Recipe: Macaroni Pie
Slice a piece of this savory, three-cheese macaroni dish.
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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Since Thanksgiving is the ultimate day to turn any and everything into a casserole, we're showing up with this veggie-packed casserole loaded with a combination of cream cheese, sour cream, and two different cheeses. Oh, and bacon, of course.
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Baked Corn Casserole
Recipe: Baked Corn Casserole
This hybrid casserole marries two of our favorite things: cornbread and corn pudding. The addition of sour cream and Monterey jack cheese make it ultra creamy.
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Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Crispy Scallions
Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Crispy Scallions
What do your mashed potatoes need this Thanksgiving? Bacon.
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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole
Recipe: Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole
How do you make green bean casserole extra Southern? You add bacon and Brussels sprouts.
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Simple Mashed Rutabagas and Potatoes
Recipe: Simple Mashed Rutabagas and Potatoes
Two root veggies join forces in this lighter version of a holiday mash that takes on a pleasantly rustic color that will complement your Thanksgiving table.
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Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Recipe: Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Spending 9 hours in the slow-cooker allows the tender ham hocks to develop savory, smoky flavors.
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Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Skip the casserole this year and serve creamy, dreamy, spiced mashed sweet potatoes instead. It'll be a welcome update to any Thanksgiving menu.
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Smothered Green Beans
Recipe: Smothered Green Beans
Flavor green beans with a coating of tomato paste and chicken broth before letting shallots and a bacon topping come together on top for a salty-sweet taste everyone will love.
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Pecan-Herb Cornbread Dressing
Recipe: Pecan-Herb Cornbread Dressing
This cornbread dressing gets an extra crunch from tasty pecans.
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Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Broccoli and cheese is a great combination. Add it to macaroni and you have a side dish the kids can't turn down.
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Savory Corn Pudding
Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding
Give your creamy, not-too-sweet side dish extra flavor with chopped onion and fresh thyme.