Up your side dish game at this year’s Thanksgiving meal with any of these 40+ Thanksgiving Side Dishes. Keep it classic with flavorful cranberry sauce and creamy green bean casserole, or try something new like texture-filled cornbread stuffing and hearty vegetarian pumpkin chili. As you plan out this year’s menu, you (and your dinner guests!) will be thankful to have this list for inspiration.
I love my Thanksgiving pies—obviously.
But if you really asked me what I look forward to seeing on my Thanksgiving plate, it is, without a doubt, all the side dishes. All those wonderfully warm, hearty, classic side dish recipes that bring back memories of Thanksgivings past.
With so many Thanksgiving side dish recipes out there, it can be hard to find tried-and-true favorites. I’m thrilled to share my family’s 40+ best Thanksgiving side dishes that we—and readers around the world—rely on year after year. (And we certainly don’t limit these to November!)
We always include the classics, like green bean casserole, sausage & herb stuffing, and of course—homemade cranberry sauce. A big bowl of that bright, tart-yet-sweet sauce is always the crown jewel of the table. I make it every single year, no questions asked. (Just made it for a Friendsgiving party last weekend!)
Sweet potatoes always make an appearance—and usually more than one! My sweet potato casserole and candied sweet potatoes always fly off the table, so you won’t regret making both. This year I plan on making a batch of these sweet potato dinner rolls, too. (And if you find yourself with a surplus, make sweet potato pie for dessert.)
Although not side dish recipes, my recipes for honeycrisp apple sangria and apple cider autumn sangria are fun, festive drinks to add to your Thanksgiving menu.
As a reminder, all of my recipes include make-ahead and freezing options. (You can find that information at the bottom of each printable recipe.)
I hope you find a new favorite dish to add to your Thanksgiving table this year. Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!
More Thanksgiving Baking Resources:
40+ Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Sausage & Herb Stuffing with Apples
A hearty and flavorful stuffing dish is an essential part of a Thanksgiving meal. Everyone loves the variety of textures and flavors in this one.
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Perfect for making ahead, this homemade sweet potato casserole will steal the show. Crunchy sweet brown sugar pecan crumble covers every bite of this irresistibly buttery sweet potato mash.
My Favorite Cornbread Recipe
My cornbread recipe hits the spot with its lightly-sweetened flavor, impeccably moist crumb, and crispy-crunchy edges.
Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
Kick your regular stuffing up a notch by using cornbread instead of regular bread. Most flavorful stuffing around, trust me!
Creamy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This wholesome and satisfying dish uses pureed butternut squash for a fun fall twist on classic mac and cheese. It’s meat-free, full of flavor, and makes excellent leftovers.
Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
Who can say no to homemade buttermilk biscuits with HUNDREDS (!) of flaky layers? Even better, you only need 6 simple ingredients and about 35 minutes to whip up a batch.
5-Ingredient Cranberry Sauce Recipe
No Thanksgiving spread is complete without cranberry sauce, and I’m confident that this recipe will be your family’s favorite. Made from 5 easy ingredients.
Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
Fluffy, flaky, soft, and extra tall sweet potato dinner rolls are a wonderful accompaniment to any big meal. Top with flaky sea salt and serve with homemade cinnamon butter. (Recipe included.)
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Tarts
These individually portioned tartlets are perfect for snacking on before the big meal or serving alongside the turkey at dinner. They’re altogether sweet, savory, salty, buttery, and flaky.
Brown Butter Sage Dinner Rolls
Savory, soft, and flaky, with a delicious dose of caramelized and nutty browned butter, these brown butter sage dinner rolls are a flavorful and upgraded version of ordinary dinner rolls.
Creamy Green Bean Casserole
This is my creamy, comforting green bean casserole made completely from scratch. It’s undeniably rich and has several ways to make ahead for the big meal.
Butternut Squash & Mushroom Tart
A delightful savory butternut squash and mushroom tart will be a unique addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table, or serve it as an appetizer or lunch leading up to dinner.
Candied Sweet Potatoes
One of my all-time favorite side dishes, these candied sweet potatoes are soft, buttery, saucy, sweet, and salty all in one. You can purchase the ingredients and prepare the dish ahead to save time during the Thanksgiving rush.
Homemade Cheddar Biscuits
In lieu of classic biscuits or rolls, wow your Thanksgiving guests with a fresh batch of homemade cheddar biscuits!
Savory Ham & Cheese Scones
These scones are a savory favorite for brunch, but they’d also be wonderful as a side dish. They’re positively loaded with the satisfying flavors of cheddar cheese, ham, garlic powder, black pepper, and fresh chives.
Honey Skillet Cornbread
Adapted from my traditional cornbread recipe, this honey skillet version includes corn in the batter. When baked in a cast iron skillet, it has wonderfully crispy cornmeal edges.
Soft Dinner Rolls Recipe
Classic dinner rolls are a must on any Thanksgiving table, and they’re especially handy for making leftover turkey sandwiches. This recipe guarantees rolls that are pillow-soft with the most delicious flaky and buttery texture.
Easy Cornbread Muffins Recipe
Tender and buttery, with just the right amount of sweetness, you can have warm, homemade cornbread muffins on the table in less than an hour. No mixer required!
Rosemary Garlic Pull Apart Bread
This impressive loaf starts with a simple rosemary-infused dough and is shaped and assembled with butter, garlic, herbs, and cheese. The pull-apart style adds an extra layer of fun!
Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball
You won’t regret prepping this easy make-ahead hors d’oeuvre to snack on while preparing the Thanksgiving meal. It’s decked out in the most delicious coating of chopped dried cranberries and pecans.
Mushroom Puff Pastry Tarts
These are mega flaky mushroom puff pastry tarts with tangy gorgonzola cheese, fragrant thyme and rosemary, and a dash of slightly sweet balsamic vinegar. An excellent vegetarian side dish option!
Maple-Roasted Squash Kale Salad
If you’re looking for a healthy yet delicious (not to mention beautiful!) side dish for your menu, this salad is the answer. Full of fall and winter’s best produce, feeds a crowd, and is make-ahead friendly, too!
Blood Orange Avocado Quinoa & Kale Salad
Anything but boring, this salad is loaded with flavor and nutritious ingredients. Thanksgiving guests will love seeing this pop of color and flavor on the table.
Favorite Strawberry Bacon Salad
My strawberry bacon salad is a year-round favorite, so why not serve it at one of the most important meals of the year? It’s quick to throw together and features a homemade honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Tried & True Honey Butter Rolls
You only need 7 ingredients to serve these fluffy, flaky, soft, lightly-sweetened, and buttery rolls on your Thanksgiving menu.
Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Pumpkin bread is a true any-time treat and would make for a lovely sweet addition to your Thanksgiving spread. My recipe is packed with cinnamon spice and tons of extra flavor—you can even add chocolate chips if you wish.
Ham & Potato Casserole Recipe
This savory ham and potato casserole is cheesy, flavorful, and satisfying. It’s a delicious way to use leftover ham, and it can do double duty as a brunch recipe or a dinner dish.
Zucchini & Sweet Potato Fritters
Add a platter of hot, crisp, and golden brown zucchini sweet potato fritters to your Thanksgiving table in just about 35 minutes.
Easy Zucchini Casserole Recipe
Easy and flavorful, this garlic and herb-infused feta cheese zucchini bake is ready in 30 minutes and doesn’t require any pre-cooking.
Sea Salt & Herb Skillet Rolls
If you’re looking for a flavorful upgrade to ordinary dinner rolls, try these sea salt & herb skillet rolls. You can bake them in an oven-safe skillet or a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Biscuit & Vegetable Pot Pie (Casserole)
This biscuit casserole is filled with wholesome savory flavor and plenty of vegetables that can be customized to your liking. The easy biscuit topping is made from just 5 ingredients, comes together in minutes, and can be prepared ahead of time.
Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili (GF & Vegan)
Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike will appreciate a warm bowl of this soup as part of their Thanksgiving meal. It’s shockingly easy to prepare and is filled with flavor, texture, and just enough spice.
Garlic Rosemary Herb Focaccia
This simple homemade bread comes together with a 6 ingredient dough and you can add any of your favorite toppings like garlic, herbs, tomatoes, and more. It’s soft, chewy, and oh so flavorful!
Company-Worthy Mac and Cheese Recipe
If you’re searching for a creamy mac and cheese recipe that satisfies and impresses, look no further. White cheddar, crisp bacon, and garlicky spinach create a fancied-up mac and cheese recipe that everyone will love.
Savory Vegetable Cheese Tart
Bring pie to the dinner table! This savory vegetable and cheese tart combines a thick buttery crust, a creamy herbed cheese filling, and a beautiful arrangement of roasted veggies.
Honey Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
These are my soft yet hearty homemade honey whole wheat dinner rolls. They’re made with 100% whole wheat and sweetened with honey.
Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese
The breadcrumbs here add a wonderfully crisp texture on top of the soft, cheesy pasta. Using a bit of cream cheese in addition to sharp cheddar adds ultimate flavor and creamy texture.
Easy Corn Fritters
These easy corn fritters are the lively boost of fresh flavors that you didn’t know your Thanksgiving table needed.
Loaded Sweet Potato Skins
A big plate of extra crispy, extra loaded sweet potato skins are welcome as pre-dinner appetizers or as a side on the dinner table. Use your favorite potato toppings, because any way you serve these, they’re nearly impossible to resist.
Zucchini Biscuits
Here we have tender yet flaky drop-style zucchini biscuits, ready in about 40 minutes without the hassle of a mixer, rolling pin, or biscuit cutter.
Asiago-Crusted Skillet Bread (No Knead)
This chewy, cheesy asiago-crusted skillet bread is packed with the savory flavors of asiago cheese and a hint of garlic and black pepper. The no-knead method used here produces a beautiful homemade loaf with minimal hands-on work.
Finally, if you like to use the Thanksgiving weekend to get a start on your holiday shopping, don’t miss my annual Holiday Gifts for Bakers shopping guide.
