Thanksgiving Side Dishes

If you are looking for ideas for side dishes for Thanksgiving this year, we have you covered. We are sharing our favorite recipes, including traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, creative Thanksgiving side dishes, and even a few unconventional recipes.

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is the variety of delicious side dishes. It seems there is something perfect for everyone at the table. We all get to pick and choose from our favorites, and we all have one or two that stand out. If your family is like mine was when I was growing up, it’s a group effort to make the sides. You looked forward to Grandma’s mashed potatoes and your aunt’s casserole. It’s amazing how food can fill our bellies and our hearts. If you are looking for a perfect side dish to take or make, check out this list of Thanksgiving side dishes.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Here are a variety of delicious Thanksgiving dinner sides, recipes include cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, gravy, and pies.

Cranberry Sauce Recipes

These cranberry sauce recipes are tangy and sweet Thanksgiving side dishes.

Try this easy  Cranberry Orange Sauce for a smooth cranberry sauce that has hints of orange and cinnamon.

This chunky Cranberry-Orange Relish is a copycat recipe for Trader Joe’s Cranberry-Orange Relish.

Gravy Recipes

If you want to make your gravy ahead of time, cook a turkey breast a week or two before Thanksgiving. Then freeze the drippings. Pull the drippings out to thaw the day before Thanksgiving and make your gravy ahead of time.

This Homemade Turkey Gravy Recipe is made from the drippings, but includes tip in case you don’t have enough drippings.

Gluten-free gravy doesn’t have to be bland. If you have guests who mush avoid gluten, try this Gluten-Free Leek and Herb Turkey Gravy.

Mashed Potato Recipes

Mashed potatoes are a non-negotiable for me. I must have them with my turkey on Thanksgiving. I make them early in the day and then put them in a slow cooker set to warm to keep them warm until I am ready to serve them.

All side dish fans will love these Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes. They are chock full of flavor.

As with most households, oven and stove space may be limited as you prepare your feast. Try making these Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes for an easy set-and-forget way of making everyone’s favorite side dish.

This easy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes recipe does not require draining. You can make the mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot from start to finish.

Sweet Potato Recipes

Did you know that yams are a variety of sweet potatoes? True story. When you go to the root vegetable section in the produce department, the sweet potatoes with a reddish skin and orange colored flesh is sometimes labeled “Yam”. Below you will find 3 alternatives to candied yams using fresh sweet potatoes or yams. So these sweet potato recipes are all pretty healthy thanksgiving side dishes.

This recipe for Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes is seasoned with rosemary and garlic.

Put a spiced spin on this side dish with Pumpkin Pie Spiced Sweet Potatoes roasted in the oven.

This Chai Spiced Sweet Potatoes recipe is a healthier alternative to candied yams! It is a delicious and easy roasted yam recipe.

Squash Recipes

Why don’t we serve more squash recipes at Thanksgiving?

Savory flavors abound in this Acorn Squash Recipe with Rosemary. This is a great harvest-inspired side dish.

Stuffed Acorn Squash is delicious. For Thanksgiving, I leave out the meat and use it as a filling main dish for our vegetarian family members. If you wish you can replace the meat with cooked lentils.

Stuffing Recipes

I like to make my stuffing in a casserole dish instead of inside of the turkey.

Try this tasty Wild Rice Stuffing Recipe for interesting twist on traditional stuffing. It has all the flavors of classic turkey stuffing with a little bite added to it from the wild black rice.

For a unique and hearty way to make a stuffing side dish, try this Wild Rice, Chorizo and Gluten-Free Bread Stuffing.

Green Bean Recipes

Two of these green bean recipes are cooked on the stove top, so they aren’t competing for oven space with your other casseroles and turkey. If you need to fit more items in your oven than you have racks, you can use a stackable oven rack for some of the lower profile dishes.

Try a new way to eat green beans and skip the casserole with this recipe for Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms.

This Garlic Green Beans Recipe  is a quick and easy side dish to whip up right before serving dinner.

Looking for a healthier way to make green bean casserole? Here is a Fresh Green Bean Casserole made with a sauce instead of cans of soup.

More Vegetable Side Dishes

If you don’t like green beans, but want to serve a green vegetable, we have some ideas for you.

This Sautéed Asparagus with Garlic is simple and yet my guests always rave about it.

Sweet and savory meet in this dish for Green Peas with Green Onions and Basil. Sounds like an incredible way to jazz up boring peas on the plate.

Cornbread and Rolls

No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a side of bread.

Check out these soft, fluffy, tender Homemade Buttermilk Dinner Rolls. They are a pull-apart rolls with a golden top.

Are you or some of your guests following a low-carb diet? Make this easy Keto Dinner Rolls Recipe.

This Cornbread Casserole is a moist cornbread recipe with corn kernels in it. We cut it into squares and served as bread or scooped out of the baking dish and added to the plate like a casserole.

Bonus: Pie Recipes

Would it be Thanksgiving without multiple pies for dessert? I usually make 2 0r 3 different pies the day before Thanksgiving.

This Pumpkin Pie Recipe is absolutely delicious! It uses brown sugar and extra spices to create a more flavorful pumpkin pie.

Dutch Apple Pie has a sour cream apple pie filling with a sweet & crumbly topping. Perfect with a scoop of ice-cream.

This Old-Fashioned Pecan Pie recipe is made with maple syrup and molasses instead of corn syrup.

Homemade Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe is a delicious twist on the classic pecan pie.

 

Top your pies with this Homemade Vanilla Whipped Cream.

I hope after you’ve checked out these recipes, you’ll agree that we have the best Thanksgiving side dishes.