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The BEST Thanksgiving side dishes that are easy, comforting & family-approved recipes everyone will love!
Sides That Steal The Show!
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where food really is the centerpiece, and the sides often steal the show (the sides are ALWAYS my favorite!) While the turkey is important, the creamy mashed potatoes, soft and pillowy rolls, and cheesy casseroles are the dishes everyone goes back for seconds (and thirds!).
We’ve rounded up the very best Thanksgiving side dishes to help you plan a stress-free, delicious feast. Whether you’re hosting the whole family or bringing a dish to share, you’ll find easy, tried-and-true recipes that everyone will love. From traditional must-haves like stuffing and green bean casserole to fresh ideas for veggies and breads, this list has you covered.
If you’re looking for dishes that can be made in advance or ones where the slow cookers do all the work, here are the sides that can make the day even easier.
11 Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 1 hourhour45 minutesminutes
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes stay creamy and fluffy after reheating, easy to prep up to two days ahead for stress free holiday dinners.
Sweet and savory Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes – no matter how they’re filled or topped, these delicious sweet potatoes will be the perfect side dish at your dinner or holiday meal.
Buttery smooth mashed sweet potatoes that elevate any meal you’re making. With maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter and more, you will love the combination of sweet and savory these potatoes have to offer.
Vegetable Thanksgiving sides are great at every holiday! Plus, they’re easy to ask friends to bring and help out. Here are some of the dishes we’ve added to the mix over the years.
41 Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Thanksgiving Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutesminutes
One skillet Thanksgiving Brussels sprouts are topped with bacon and goat cheese for a next-level side dish in only 30 minutes!
Full of shredded Brussel sprouts, pomegranate seeds, sliced almonds, and a little bit of shaved parmesan, this colorful salad has the perfect amount of crunch!
So hard to narrow it down! Just remember that sides are an easy thing for guests to help make and bring. Rely on them for more variety and be sure to coordinate so the same dish isn’t brought.
Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!
Thanksgiving is always great because of the sides. These mashed potatoes are the best. I’ve always used butter and sour cream in my potatoes but will definitely add the cream cheese. Cream cheese always makes food better. The turkey will be the star of the dinner but these potatoes will be the be next best. Thank you for all your great recipes. They are amazing.
We always have sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving – as a side dish and as a desert in pie form . We’re not much on mashed potatoes and usually have them with certain meats like meatloaf and roast beef. None of us like turkey a lot so we usually only have that on Thanksgiving and occasionally, I will make legs, wings, or a breast (for sandwiches), if I get a taste for turkey. This year, though, I am thinking of shaking things up a bit and I want to try the Loaded Potatoes casserole. It sounds really delicious. Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to taste it.
Thank you for all your amazing recipes ! This Thanksgiving I made your Funeral Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, and sweet potato casserole ! All were amazing . We add a new recipe to our table every Thanksgiving .
I love both the traditional side ideas along with other sides that look amazing.
I have made the roll recipe listed on the card. I had a hard time slicing the rolled dough into even triangles, but that was a “user” error and I’m sure just needs more practice on my end. The rolls themselves were fluffy and everyone loved them.
Hello
I found an easy solution for the roll to be cut, roll the dough in a round shape about 20 inch and cut in half, quarter, eight, and sixteen and you have a perfect 16 pieces to roll from the larger side, hope this will help
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing thanksgiving side dishes recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Mashed potatoes with butter! Great Thanksgiving side! Especially when you pour the gravy over it . . . Yummy!!!
Thanksgiving is always great because of the sides. These mashed potatoes are the best. I’ve always used butter and sour cream in my potatoes but will definitely add the cream cheese. Cream cheese always makes food better. The turkey will be the star of the dinner but these potatoes will be the be next best. Thank you for all your great recipes. They are amazing.
We always have sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving – as a side dish and as a desert in pie form . We’re not much on mashed potatoes and usually have them with certain meats like meatloaf and roast beef. None of us like turkey a lot so we usually only have that on Thanksgiving and occasionally, I will make legs, wings, or a breast (for sandwiches), if I get a taste for turkey. This year, though, I am thinking of shaking things up a bit and I want to try the Loaded Potatoes casserole. It sounds really delicious. Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to taste it.
Thank you for all your amazing recipes ! This Thanksgiving I made your Funeral Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, and sweet potato casserole ! All were amazing . We add a new recipe to our table every Thanksgiving .
I have used many of your Thanksgiving recipes & the sides are my favorite!! Especially your potatoes & rolls!
So many side dishes to choose from. I think I am going to have to make them all.
I love both the traditional side ideas along with other sides that look amazing.
I have made the roll recipe listed on the card. I had a hard time slicing the rolled dough into even triangles, but that was a “user” error and I’m sure just needs more practice on my end. The rolls themselves were fluffy and everyone loved them.
Hello
I found an easy solution for the roll to be cut, roll the dough in a round shape about 20 inch and cut in half, quarter, eight, and sixteen and you have a perfect 16 pieces to roll from the larger side, hope this will help
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing thanksgiving side dishes recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
A great variety of side dishes and you cant go wrong with any of them!
Thanksgiving isn’t complete without the sides!! We make a ton & they are mostly from your site. We love all the potato dishes!