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  5. Last-Minute Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make In Under 30 Minutes

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make In Under 30 Minutes

Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Mary Shannon Wells Updated August 11, 2022
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garlic parmesan green beans
Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house, it's likely you'll be stressed about what china pattern to put out, how to cook the turkey, and most of all, if Mama will approve of your Thanksgiving hosting skills. That's a lot to think about (plus more), and it's easy for some things to slip through the cracks. If Thanksgiving day comes and you find a blank box glaring at you from your to-do checklist, no need to break out into a nervous sweat. We've gathered 15 quick Thanksgiving side dishes to help you out on Thanksgiving Day.

All of these easy Thanksgiving side dishes come together from start to finish (including prep time) in 30 minutes or less—really. We've found the quickest Thanksgiving sides recipes that include vegetables, casseroles, and even cornbread. These quick Thanksgiving side dishes are exactly what every busy hostess needs. So, sit back, relax, and give thanks for these fast and easy recipes.

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Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese

southern pimiento mac and cheese
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese 

Mouths will water when you bring this deliciously creamy macaroni and cheese to the Thanksgiving table. Also perfect for a quick dinner on weeknights, this recipe combines extra-sharp cheddar, cavatappi, bacon, hot sauce, pimientos, and panko. Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese will please guests of all ages, and is a warm, filling entree for cool nights.

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Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Smashed Baby Red Potatoes
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

This amazing mashed potato recipe combines tangy goat cheese with sweet, heavy cream for a fluffy, flavorful side dish. Chopped fresh chives seal the deal on an over-the-top potato side that's ready at nearly a moment's notice.

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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Recipe: Oven-Roasted Asparagus

This delicious veggie side dish has a short ingredient list and only takes 10 minutes in the oven. When it comes to asparagus, keeping it simple means keeping it special. Preparing them is as easy as it gets, but the outcome is refined with ingredients like garlic, slivered almonds, and freshly ground black pepper.

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Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese will be a hit at the kids' table, and it only takes 30 minutes to get it there. Cheesy and savory, this dish sneaks in the veggies to add seasonal flair. 

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Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

This no-cook recipe is the easiest way to add corn to your Thanksgiving menu. You only need four ingredients and 25 minutes to whip up your family's new favorite holiday corn recipe.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Marry mac and cheese with greens in this comforting, cheesy pasta. Use bagged kale and cheese to eliminate unnecessary food prep and save time—no one will notice. 

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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Forget your go-to tomato pie when you can whip up a delicious macaroni topped with flavorful tomatoes in just 30 minutes. This dressed-up Southern comfort food won't sit pretty on your dinner table for long before it gets gobbled up by your Thanksgiving crew.

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Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas Recipe

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling Torie Cox

Recipe: Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Take your peas with a side of pillowy potato or sweet potato gnocchi. This pairing will be a welcome alternative to the other pasta dishes on the table. 

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Wild Rice with Mushrooms

Wild Rice with Mushrooms
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Wild Rice with Mushrooms

Perfectly savory to complement the other sides in your Thanksgiving spread, this mushroom and Marsala dish comes together in a pinch. Your holiday guests can dig in after just 30 minutes and seven ingredients.

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Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Shaved Brussels sprouts, Honeycrisp apples, Parmesan cheese, and toasted pecans are an all-star combination with a touch of sweetness and a whole lot of crunch. Use a mandoline or very sharp knife for the thinnest Brussels in just 25 minutes.

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans
Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Sprinkled Parmesan, fatty bacon, and garlic pack in lots of flavor with hardly any effort needed. This green bean casserole-alternative keeps the veggies tender with just the right amount of snap—that's how fast this dish comes together too. 

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Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach
Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Creamed Spinach

Spinach is made rich with butter, cream, and Parmesan that transform a hard-sell veggie into a tempting side. Whip up Creamed Spinach in half an hour then sprinkle on pine nuts before serving.

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Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Recipe
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions

Green bean casserole is a holiday classic, but these quick beans make a strong case for themselves. This elegant side dish is tender, fragrant, and the caramelized pearl onions will be a very welcome addition to the Thanksgiving feast.

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Crusty Broiled Tomatoes

Crusty Broiled Tomatoes
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Crusty Broiled Tomatoes

The Thanksgiving table is a smorgasbord of veggies cooked to perfection in tasty sides. This year, don't leave tomatoes out of the festivities. The tomatoes are made simply with a brush of Dijon mustard and a cheese and breadcrumb crust that comes together in delicious effect in under 20 minutes.

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Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets

Candy Roaster Squash with Sorghum, Black Walnuts, and Cranberries
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets

Give your holiday greens a makeover with garlic and sippets of sourdough. Rather than heavily boiling them down, these collards are only on the stove for about 10 minutes and have a touch of red wine vinegar for tasty acidity. 

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Buttermilk Cornbread

buttermilk cornbread
Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Buttermilk Cornbread

This cornbread does contain a little sugar (brown sugar to be exact), but we won't tell if you don't. 

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Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage

Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage
Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage

It doesn't get any faster than this 15-minute side. Plus, the purple cabbage adds a beautiful pop of color to the Thanksgiving table. 

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole, easter casseroles 9x13 casseroles
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Oyster Casserole

Depending on where you grew up, you might know this dish as oyster dressing, oyster pie, or even scalloped oysters. Whatever you call it, it's a quick and easy classic that you can pull off on short notice. 

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Skillet-Roasted Carrots

Skillet-Roasted Carrots
Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Recipe: Skillet-Roasted Carrots

These carrots cook in just 10 minutes, then get coated in a shiny sauce of apple cider vinegar and honey. To make this side dish extra impressive-looking, make sure to use rainbow carrots. 

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Ann Taylor Pittman's Kale-Citrus Salad with Bacony Pecans

Ann’s Kale-Citrus Salad with Bacony Pecans
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Ann Taylor Pittman's Kale-Citrus Salad with Bacony Pecans

Add a bright and fresh note to your Thanksgiving dinner with this colorful salad. All of its many components come together in 30-minutes, for a hearty salad that is easier to quickly pull-off than it looks. 

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    1 of 20 Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese
    2 of 20 Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
    3 of 20 Oven-Roasted Asparagus
    4 of 20 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    5 of 20 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
    6 of 20 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
    7 of 20 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese
    8 of 20 Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas Recipe
    9 of 20 Wild Rice with Mushrooms
    10 of 20 Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans
    11 of 20 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
    12 of 20 Creamed Spinach
    13 of 20 Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions
    14 of 20 Crusty Broiled Tomatoes
    15 of 20 Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets
    16 of 20 Buttermilk Cornbread
    17 of 20 Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage
    18 of 20 Oyster Casserole
    19 of 20 Skillet-Roasted Carrots
    20 of 20 Ann Taylor Pittman's Kale-Citrus Salad with Bacony Pecans

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    Last-Minute Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make In Under 30 Minutes
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