Thanksgiving dinner isn’t just about the turkey, it’s the side dishes that make the meal unforgettable!
I’ve rounded up my family-favorite and reader-favorite recipes to help you plan your feast with zero stress. From classic mashed potatoes to buttery dinner rolls, the sides might be the best part of the meal!
First Things First
First things first… let’s nail those side dishes. Think of this roundup as your Thanksgiving cheat sheet: everything you need to wow your guests and keep the kitchen chaos to a minimum.
I’ve listed a bunch that can be made ahead of time and just warmed up so that your big day doesn’t have to be stressful at all! When the sides are solid, the whole meal tastes more delicious!
Tips for the PERFECT Sides
- Plan Ahead: Most of these sides can be made a day or two in advance. Do the chopping, mixing, or baking early to save oven space on Thanksgiving Day.
- Double Up on Favorites: Mashed potatoes, rolls, and stuffing always go fast so make extra if you’re feeding a crowd.
- Balance the Menu: Mix richer, more classic dishes (like sweet potato casserole) with lighter veggie sides (like Brussels sprouts or green beans) for variety.
- Warm Everything at Once: Keep a slow cooker or warming trays handy to hold sides at the perfect serving temp without overcooking.
- Use a Cooler as a Warming Drawer. If your oven is full, line a clean cooler with foil and towels to keep casseroles, rolls, or veggies warm for up to an hour. It frees up precious oven space and keeps everything at serving temperature until mealtime.
Dad’s Famous Mashed Potatoes
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My dad's famous mashed potatoes are always the star of the dinner table! Perfectly creamy, buttery, and they have such amazing flavor. People are always begging him to make the recipe!
The Best Sweet Potato Casserole
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The best sweet potato casserole is smooth and creamy, sprinkled with a brown sugar pecan mixture. It's a sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for the holidays!
Cornbread Stuffing
Cornbread stuffing is a delicious hearty dish that your family will go crazy over this Thanksgiving! It's loaded with fresh herbs, fruits, and veggies for the perfect sweet and savory side.
1 Hour Dinner Rolls
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1-hour rolls are the perfect solution for making fresh bread in a pinch! This easy and delicious roll recipe will become your new favorite, just in time for the holidays!
Roasted Brown Butter Honey Garlic Carrots
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Roasted brown butter honey garlic carrots make the perfect side dish. Roasted to tender perfection in the most incredible sauce, these will instantly become a new favorite!
World’s Best Green Bean Casserole
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Green bean casserole uses fresh mushrooms salted with onions and garlic, topped with crispy onions, and loaded with fresh, crunchy green beans! This might be your favorite dish next Thanksgiving!
The Easiest Cranberry Sauce
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This cranberry sauce is the perfect mixture of sweet and tart! It's made with fresh cranberries and topped with orange zest to really set it apart!
5 Ingredient Corn Casserole
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This five-ingredient cornbread casserole can be prepped and ready to go in the oven in less than five minutes. It's packed with sweet, juicy corn and fluffy cornbread and tastes amazing! You can make this side dish for the holidays, to go with your favorite chili or any weeknight dinner.
Roasted Maple Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
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The sweet maple glaze and bacon complement these roasted brussel sprouts perfectly. This will be a side dish that the family won't be able to get enough of!
Easy Turkey Gravy
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Turkey gravy is rich, thick, and creamy! This gravy takes less than 15 minutes to make! Once you drizzle it all over your turkey and potatoes, well, you will use this recipe for every holiday season!
Help a Cook Out!
Calling all Thanksgiving pros! I want YOUR input on how to make the sides of thanksgiving the best part of the meal this year. What’s your can’t-miss side dish or secret prep tip? Share it in the comments below. The more comments we can get, the better ALL of our meals will be!
This story originally appeared on TheRecipeCritic
