Turkey might be the holiday centerpiece, but everyone knows that the delicious Thanksgiving side dishes are the real stars of the show. From mashed potatoes ladled with gravy to green beans and sweet potatoes to stuffing, cranberry sauce, and even the humble dinner roll, these iconic flavors are what make Thanksgiving, well, Thanksgiving. They’re the tastes and textures that round out each plate and have guests coming back for seconds (or thirds).
Whether you stick with tried-and-true classics or put your own spin on tradition, our Thanksgiving side dishes have you covered. These holiday-worthy recipes focus on ease and convenience without cutting corners on the classic Thanksgiving flavors you love. No matter your skill level or confidence in the kitchen, these never-fail recipes can be mixed and matched to create the ultimate holiday spread.
Stuffing
Five Ingredient Stuffing
For stuffing purists, or anyone unsure how to tackle the must-have Thanksgiving side, this straightforward recipe never fails. Pre-cut vegetables and store-bought stuffing cubes eliminate some of the prep work while ensuring uniform size and shape for even cooking.
Get the recipe: Five Ingredient Stuffing
Brown Butter Stuffing
This side is so buttery, nutty, and rich that you won’t believe it preps in just five minutes with packaged stuffing cubes. Gently browning butter in a saucepan coaxes out toasty flavor that pairs perfectly with pecans and chestnuts studded throughout.
Get the recipe: Brown Butter Stuffing
Classic Stuffing with Sage
A loaf of crusty Italian bread is the base for this rustic stuffing loaded with fresh herbs and aromatics. The combination of onion, celery, and garlic with fresh sage and thyme will fill the kitchen with an appetizing aroma of the holiday as it cooks.
Get the recipe: Classic Stuffing with Sage
Potatoes
Fondue Mashed Potatoes
For cheese-lovers, this totally unexpected spin on mashed potatoes is a fon-doozy. Melty Gruyère (or Swiss) cheese, white wine, and cream turn the traditional holiday standby into an ooey-gooey sensation.
Get the recipe: Fondue Mashed Potatoes
Duchess Potato Casserole
Skip boiling and mashing with this pretty potato dish that tastes as good as it looks. Egg yolks and Parmesan enrich instant mashed potatoes, piped with a decorative topping that makes an eye-catching addition to any Thanksgiving table.
Get the recipe: Duchess Potato Casserole
Easy Scalloped Potatoes
A smart shortcut ingredient gives this simplified version of scalloped potatoes a head start. Canned potatoes let you skip the peeling and slicing in this creamy, layered casserole with a cheesy bechamel sauce.
Get the recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Gravy
Make-Ahead White Wine Gravy
Forget scrambling at the last minute to whip up gravy before the turkey gets cold; this recipe can be made up to three days ahead. Poultry wings infuse the gravy with distinctive turkey flavor rounded out with fresh herbs and white wine.
Get the recipe: Make-Ahead White Wine Gravy
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy
This vegan-friendly recipe feeds everyone at your table—no matter their dietary needs. Two kinds of mushrooms, soy sauce, and fresh thyme add umami-rich flavor to this silky gravy that’s equally delicious on roast turkey and plant-based turkey alternatives.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy
Make Ahead Red Wine Gravy
For a more robust gravy that still offers the convenience of make-ahead prep, open a bottle of your favorite red and follow this easy recipe. Poultry stock, onions, herbs, and a splash of dry red wine make up this classic gravy that can be made days in advance and enriched with turkey drippings just before serving.
Get the recipe: Make Ahead Red Wine Gravy
Sweet Potatoes
Classic Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
If you miss old-fashioned sweet potatoes the way that grandma used to make them, you’ll love this nostalgic recipe with a twist. A topping of gooey, oven-toasted marshmallow hides a layer of crunchy pecans over mashed sweet potatoes flavored with orange zest and cinnamon.
Get the recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes with Walnuts
This sweet, aromatic side is delicious straight from the oven or made up to a day ahead and reheated. The standout flavor comes from a duo of brown sugar and pumpkin pie-spiced butter that caramelizes between layers of roasted sweet potato and toasted walnuts.
Get the recipe: Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes with Walnuts
Sweet Potato Pie with Praline Topping
This mashup of two iconic Thanksgiving desserts lets pecan pie lovers and sweet potato lovers enjoy the best of both worlds. A homemade sweet potato filling crowned with candied pecans sits on a crust made from store-bought dough, which helps cut prep to just five minutes.
Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Pie with Praline Topping
Cranberries
Cranberry Sauce
Simple, traditional, but still a showstopper, this three-ingredient cranberry sauce is a perfect dish for the “I don’t cook” cook. The combination of fresh cranberries, sugar, and gelatin is equally elegant when made in a decorative Bundt pan and served whole or portioned into individual ramekins.
Get the recipe: Cranberry Sauce
Smoky Spicy Cranberry Sauce
Think outside the can with this five-ingredient cranberry sauce that brings the heat. Chipotle chilis in adobo sauce are the surprising ingredient that adds a touch of smokiness and spice to cranberries simmered with orange juice and cinnamon.
Get the recipe: Smoky Spicy Cranberry Sauce
Gingery Cranberry Sauce
Three flavor boosters turn ordinary, store-bought cranberry sauce into a truly memorable side in this anyone-can-make-it recipe. Prep a day ahead and refrigerate to allow the fresh ginger, orange, and cinnamon to fully infuse the cranberries with warm, spicy notes of the holiday.
Get the recipe: Gingery Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry-Pineapple Gelatin Salad
Dive into these easy, retro salad packed with tart and tangy cranberry sauce, sweet pineapple, crunchy walnuts, and a side of nostalgia. It’s easy to prepare, and it will be the surprising hit among the holiday side dishes.
Get the recipe: Cranberry-Pineapple Gelatin Salad
Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni Corn Casserole
Two kinds of canned corn are the simple ingredients that make this mac and cheese stand out from the rest. A blend of creamed and whole kernel corn and a double dose of cheese create a light, creamy texture with a hint of earthy sweetness.
Get the recipe: Macaroni Corn Casserole
Baked Pimiento Mac and Cheese
Bring a touch of Southern tradition to your Thanksgiving table with this side inspired by a favorite regional snack. Chopped pimiento peppers, cream cheese, and extra-sharp Cheddar bring pimiento cheese dip vibes to baked mac and cheese finished with crunchy breadcrumbs.
Get the recipe: Baked Pimiento Mac and Cheese
Baked Mac and Cheese
The sauce for this macaroni with four kinds of cheese comes together in the microwave, saving valuable space on the stovetop. Cheddar, mozzarella, asiago, and Jack cheeses, along with a rich blend of herbs and spices, add layers of flavor to an ooey-gooey baked mac finished with tangy green onion.
Get the recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese
Dinner Rolls
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
These soft, pillowy rolls are full of seasonally inspired flavor that would be at home on any Thanksgiving table. Canned pumpkin puree helps to ensure a tender crumb and adds mild sweetness counterbalanced by a buttery, salted topping.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Knot Dinner Rolls
Serve a crowd with these from-scratch dinner rolls, made holiday-ready when tied into a festive knot. They’re soft, buttery, and oh-so easy to make right at home.
Get the recipe: Knot Dinner Rolls
Homemade Dinner Rolls
Whether you make them ahead and reheat or serve them warm from the oven, these surprisingly easy rolls are certain to be a holiday hit. Instant mashed potato flakes help to create a soft, never-dry texture that practically melts in your mouth.
Get the recipe: Homemade Dinner Rolls
Corn Casserole
Sweet Corn Casserole
This one-bowl wonder comes together with 15 minutes of easy prep that anyone can do. Canned corn is the base of a savory-sweet casserole studded with fresh chives that’s tasty served warm or at room temperature.
Get the recipe: Sweet Corn Casserole
Cheesy Corn Casserole
This easy but unforgettable side tastes like a mashup of macaroni and cheese and corn pudding. Two kinds of melty cheese combine in a creamy sauce with frozen corn and the mild kick of green chilies, finished with a layer of sharp Cheddar.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Corn Casserole
One Bowl Corn Casserole with Jalapeños
Store-bought jalapeño cheese dip is the secret ingredient that makes this recipe better than your average cornbread. Corn muffin mix lets you bypass some of the prep work for a moist, bready casserole studded with bacon and fresh jalapeño.
Get the recipe: One Bowl Corn Casserole with Jalapeños
Green Vegetables
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Don’t be surprised if even the so-called Brussels sprout haters give this unexpected side rave reviews. A combination of roasted and fresh, shaved Brussels sprouts takes the place of Romaine lettuce tossed in homemade Caesar dressing and finished with croutons.
Get the recipe: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Warm Kale Salad with Cranberries
A handful of ingredients and a skillet are all you need to upgrade store-bought salad kits to a Thanksgiving-worthy side. Crumbled bacon and goat cheese dress up kale that’s gently warmed on the stovetop before tossing with dried cranberries and poppyseed dressing.
Get the recipe: Warm Kale Salad with Cranberries
Kale Salad with Sliced Persimmons, Apples, and Walnuts
Fresh persimmons, a mildly sweet fruit with a flavor similar to apricots, are a treat when you can find them in the grocery store from mid-fall through early winter. Here, they star in a fall-inspired kale salad with apples, walnuts, and maple-Dijon vinaigrette.
Get the recipe: Kale Salad with Sliced Persimmons, Apples, and Walnuts
Roasted Green Beans with Whole Orange Vinaigrette
This could be the year that everyone fights over who gets the last of the green beans. A tangy vinaigrette made with clementines, miso, and ginger takes the reliable holiday veggie to new heights of flavor.
Get the recipe: Roasted Green Beans with Whole Orange Vinaigrette
Loaded Green Bean Casserole
Our take on green bean casserole relies on canned ingredients for ease, with a few tasty upgrades for wow-factor. Bacon and sautéed mushrooms level up green beans blended with cream of mushroom soup and two kinds of cheese, finished with a crispy onion topping.
Get the recipe: Loaded Green Bean Casserole
Orange Glazed Green Beans
This fresh and flavorful, five-ingredient side hits the table in just 16 minutes. An orange-garlic-honey glaze adds bright, tangy flavor to steam-in-bag French green beans that cook effortlessly in the microwave.
Get the recipe: Orange Glazed Green Beans
