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Best Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

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Whether you're looking for new ways to make your favorite holiday recipes, fresh ideas for what to serve to wow your guests, or easy side dishes to save yourself time in the kitchen, start with this collection of the best Side Dishes for Thanksgiving!

overhead shot of sweet potato casserole in a white dish and on a plate
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Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Impress

Between you and me, I look forward to Thanksgiving side dishes even more than the main course. There is nothing better than a plate loaded to the brim with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and holiday casseroles!

Every year, my family loves to try something new - so I'm always keeping up with the latest holiday food trends and popular Thanksgiving side dishes. Of course, our favorite classic Thanksgiving recipes always have a spot at the table, too.

My collection of the best Thanksgiving Side Dishes combines both classic side dish recipes for the holidays and new, fun takes on what to serve with turkey or ham. I guarantee you will find a new favorite on this list, even if it's just a new way to prepare mashed potatoes!

Let me know your favorite Thanksgiving sides in the comments below - I would love to be inspired by the recipes you make your family for the holidays!

sweet potato casserole in a white dish with a wooden spoon

Thanksgiving Sides FAQs

How many sides should you have at Thanksgiving?

For a gathering of 4-8 people, serve at least 3 sides at Thanksgiving to give your guests a full meal. For a larger group, it's better to have more options to choose from, especially to account for dietary needs or picky eaters. As for the amount served of each side dish, consider how many leftovers you plan on having.

What is a good Thanksgiving menu?

For a classic Thanksgiving menu, serve a variety of sides with turkey and/or ham, such as stuffing, mashed potatoes or au gratin potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn casserole, rolls, and gravy.

Potato Thanksgiving Recipes

Riced Mashed Potatoes

Riced Mashed Potatoes make the best mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving! This easy, creamy mashed potatoes recipe is buttery and delicious - the perfect side dish for turkey.
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Creamy garlic mashed potatoes piled high in a white bowl with chives on top

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Creamy, fluffy, and so, so easy! Ditch the prep with these amazing mashed potatoes in the pressure cooker!
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a serving bowl of completed mashed potatoes with a wooden spoon lifting some out

Chorizo Stuffing

Chorizo Stuffing pairs cornbread with chorizo and ground beef for a truly delicious holiday stuffing you will love! Ready in under an hour.
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chorizo stuffing on a black plate up close

Au Gratin Potatoes

Gluten-free and deliciously creamy, these Au Gratin Potatoes make a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving. This dish will wow your guests and have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Potatoes au gratin in a cast iron skillet

Pave Potatoes

With a little bit of effort, you can create the most amazing pave potatoes that will wow everyone at the table. This is one of the best side dishes for Thanksgiving to impress your guests!
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Potato pave on a cutting board with herbs

Scalloped Potatoes

Classic, cheesy scalloped potatoes with cheddar are a delicious variation of au gratin potatoes your guests are sure to love and want more of.
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Scalloped potatoes in a baking dish with a wooden spoon

Roasted Small Potatoes

Garlic roasted small potatoes make a gorgeous addition to the holiday table and are a mouthwatering way to mix things up if you want to try cooking your potatoes a little differently this year.
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roasted small potatoes in a pan

Duchess Potatoes

Duchess potatoes are a gorgeous way to serve potatoes for the holidays. They're creamy, buttery, and perfect for filling with gravy!
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three duchess potatoes on a plate with tomato sauce

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

Chorizo Stuffing

Chorizo Stuffing pairs cornbread with chorizo and ground beef for a truly delicious holiday stuffing you will love! Ready in under an hour.
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chorizo stuffing on a black plate up close

Instant Pot Sage Stuffing

Learn how to make Instant Pot Stuffing! Each bite of my Instant Pot Stuffing is savory and hearty, making it an excellent choice for the holidays.
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instant pot stuffing on a wood cutting board

Mushroom Stuffing Recipe

Learn how to make mushroom stuffing! Loaded with mushrooms, onions, leeks, and thyme this mushroom stuffing recipe will quickly become a new favorite.
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mushroom stuffing in a clear baking dish with a gold spoon inside

Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes

Veggies Au Gratin

Veggies au gratin is a delicious, fun way to serve seasonal vegetables for Thanksgiving! These roasted veggies make one of the best vegetable Thanksgiving side dishes your guests will crave.
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vegetable au gratin served on a white plate with herbs

Glazed Maple Carrots

Sweet, tender, delicious Glazed Maple Carrots that are so easy to make, you'll be making them every week! All it takes is one pan or the oven!
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a closeup of completed maple glazed carrots in a cast iron pan

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Why not change things up this year and try grilled corn on the cob in foil at your Thanksgiving table? Your guests will love the flavor of deliciously charred corn in garlic butter sauce, and it's easy to make!
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four corn on the cob in foil ready to eat

Roasted Tomatoes

Roasted tomatoes make a fun vegetable side dish that adds a lovely pop of color to your Thanksgiving spread.
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Roasted tomatoes up close with a fork

Thanksgiving Salads

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Roasted brussels sprouts salad pairs deliciously with turkey and all your other favorite Thanksgiving side dishes for a seamless addition to your holiday table.
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brussels sprouts salad on a wooden spoon

Broccoli Salad with Apples

Perfect for both serving as a side dish for turkey at the holiday table, and for mixing together with leftover turkey the day after. You will love this easy broccoli salad with apples!
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Pouring dressing over broccoli salad with apples

Burrata Salad

Arugula burrata salad is creamy and cheesy with a tasty bite from the arugula - perfect for enjoying alongside your other favorite Thanksgiving side dishes!
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Burrata salad up close with Parmesan cheese on top

Thanksgiving Casseroles

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans is a gluten-free, fresh take on classic green bean casserole. Full of flavor and simple to make!
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green bean casserole on a white plate with a fork

Creamed Corn Casserole

At only 5 ingredients, this Creamed Corn Casserole recipe is easy to make and oh-so tasty and soft.
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Drizzling honey onto slices of creamed corn casserole with pats of butter on top

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

This sweet potato casserole with pecans has no marshmallows and a lovely sweet, nutty flavor. You will love every bite!
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Sweet potato casserole in a dish with a wooden spoon

More Thanksgiving Sides

Yorkshire Pudding

Although traditionally made with beef drippings from a roast, this recipe for Yorkshire Pudding can also be made using butter or other meat drippings - making it an incredible addition to your holiday table and a beautiful alternative to traditional dinner rolls.
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Yorkshire puddings on a rack

Orzo Pasta

If you want to try something different this year, creamy orzo pasta is an amazing side dish for turkey. It's flavorful and so cheesy!
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orzo on a plate next to green beans and an entree

Air Fryer Biscuits

Learn how to make biscuits in the air fryer! Air fryer biscuits are ready in 10 minutes for the best fluffy results every time!
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Side Dish Recipes

sweet potato casserole in a dish up close

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole

Isabel Laessig
Whether you're looking for new ways to make your favorite holiday recipes, fresh ideas for what to serve to wow your guests, or easy side dishes to save yourself time in the kitchen, start with this collection of the best Side Dishes for Thanksgiving - including How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr 45 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 273 kcal

Equipment

  • 9 by 9-inch baking dish
  • Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Wooden spoon
  • Baking sheet
  • Fork

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 large sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 stick butter melted
  • ½ cup evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Pecan Topping

  • ½ stick butter melted
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup pecans chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Pierce sweet potatoes with a fork several times, then add to a baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes until tender, then remove from oven and allow to cool.
    Once cooled and able to be handled, peel sweet potatoes and add to a large mixing bowl. Whip with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and fluffy to create 4 cups whipped sweet potatoes.
    For coarser sweet potatoes, or to mix without an electric mixer, use a potato masher or fork.
    4-5 large sweet potatoes
    Mashing sweet potatoes in a bowl
  • To the mixing bowl, add sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla, evaporated milk, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg, then mix to combine.
    1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 stick butter, ½ cup evaporated milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    Sweet potato mixture in a bowl
  • Spread the seasoned sweet potato mixture evenly in a 9 by 9-inch baking dish.
    Sweet potato mixture in a casserole dish
  • Finally, add butter, brown sugar, flour, and chopped pecans to a separate bowl. Mix well, then spread evenly over top of the potatoes. Bake 30-35 minutes until heated through and browned on top. Serve and enjoy!
    ½ stick butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup pecans
    Sweet potato casserole top-down in a casserole dish

Notes

  • You can make sweet potato casserole with pecans topping ahead of time by baking and mixing the sweet potato mixture, then storing it in a plastic-wrapped casserole dish for up to 3 days. Prepare the pecan topping on the day of baking, then bake as instructed.
  • Freeze sweet potato casserole for up to 3 months by preparing the potatoes as instructed, then storing in a freezer-safe casserole dish, tightly wrapped with plastic and foil. Label with the freezing date and freeze. When ready to serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then prepare the pecan topping and bake as instructed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 403mgFiber: 4gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 11579IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg
Keyword best side dishes for thanksgiving, How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole, side dishes for thanksgiving, thanksgiving sides
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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About Isabel

Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay along with other television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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