Find 50+ of the best Thanksgiving side dish recipes — from classic stuffing and mashed potatoes to creative veggie sides everyone will love.
Can we all agree that Thanksgiving side dishes are the best part of the holiday meal? No shade to the roast turkey or pumpkin pie, but it’s the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and casseroles that truly steal the show.
To help you plan your menu, I’ve rounded up my favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes from the blog — everything from the classics (like sauteed green beans and brussel sprouts) to creative twists on vegetables, potatoes, and more. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or bringing a dish to share, you’ll find plenty of delicious inspiration here.
These tried-and-true recipes are easy to make, perfect for prepping ahead, and guaranteed to earn rave reviews at your holiday table.
Salads for the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving Salad
This Thanksgiving salad offers a refreshing balance of flavors and textures with crisp greens, sweet pears, tart cranberries and creamy blue cheese. It complements rich holiday dishes with a simple mustard vinaigrette that ties everything together with just the right amount of brightness.
Thanksgiving Salad
Brussels Sprout Apple Salad
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Apples & Pecans is tossed in a light maple vinaigrette and makes a delicious, crunchy side dish.
Recipe
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
This Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad is made with shaved brussels sprouts, homemade Caesar dressing, and baked croutons, offering a fresh and extra-crunchy take on a classic. Easy to make ahead of time and it pairs well with everything!
Recipe
The BEST Arugula Salad Dressing
This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
Simple Arugula Salad
Apple Celery Root Slaw
Apple Celery Root Slaw is an exciting twist on your basic coleslaw. Crisp apples and celery root combine with jalapeno, cilantro & pickled onions. It's sure to be a stand out side dish!
Recipe
Shaved Fennel Salad
This Fennel Celery Salad comes together quickly and has such a delicious light lemon-parmesan vinaigrette and wonderful crunch. It's the perfect side salad for rich and hearty dishes like pasta or braised short ribs.
Recipe
Snap Pea Salad
This Snap Pea Salad is the best warm-weather side dish. Crunchy and sweet snap peas, fresh basil, and almonds are tossed in a tangy lemon and Dijon dressing, giving you a simple meal that’s incredibly refreshing and flavorful!
Recipe
Italian Radicchio Salad
This delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese. And, a special tip ensures that your radicchio won't be bitter!
Recipe
Chickpea Squash Salad
This Roasted Squash Salad with Crispy Chickpeas combines roasted butternut squash & chickpeas with fluffy quinoa and a dreamy, creamy maple tahini dressing. It’s a delicious and fresh salad that can be made ahead of time.
Recipe
Simple Kale Salad
This Simple Kale Salad tosses kale, parmesan cheese, and croutons with a zesty lemon dressing to give you a perfect light meal or healthy side dish for any occasion. Ready in 10 minutes!
Recipe
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Mustard and Parmesan is tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette and makes a delicious, crunchy side dish.
Recipe
Mashed Potatoes – 8 Ways!
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
These Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream are the most delicious mashed potatoes you will ever have. They're light, creamy, buttery and tangy and easy to make with the help of your stand mixer – No hand mashing required!
Recipe
Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
These Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes are a simple but decadent twist on classic mashed potatoes. Russet potatoes are simmered in broth until tender, then mashed with sour cream and nutty browned butter for rich, caramelized depth. The result is ultra-creamy with a subtle toasted flavor that pairs perfectly with roasted meats and much more!
Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes
Cheesy Duchess Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes with Cheese are a fancy piped potato side dish that must make an appearance at your next dinner party. Rich, creamy, and cheesy with just a subtle crisp, these elegant baked mashed potatoes are unlike anything else!
Recipe
Miso Mashed Potatoes
Miso Mashed Potatoes make a quick and easy side dish. With roasted garlic and buttery miso paste these potatoes pack a delicious umami flavor.
Recipe
Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
These Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food side dish – rich, creamy, and packed with smoky, cheesy goodness. Yukon Gold potatoes are simmered in chicken broth for extra flavor, then mashed with butter and sour cream. Mix in Gouda cheese and top with Parmesan to broil until perfectly golden.
Recipe
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes with garlic take a classic comfort food dish to a new level! Made with tangy goat cheese, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese, these potatoes are perfectly creamy and flavorful every time.
Recipe
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with chicken broth are the most delicious mashed potatoes you will ever have. They’re light, creamy, buttery & quick to make with the help of your pressure cooker.
Recipe
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Ultra creamy, flavorful and delicious and made with only 3-ingredients! No hand mashing required. Let your stand mixer do all the work for you!
Recipe
Veggie Sides to Round Out Your Meal
Parmesan Delicata Squash
This easy recipe for Parmesan Delicata Squash roasts Italian-seasoned and parmesan-coated squash slices in the oven until they’re cheesy and tender. Enjoy it as a simple but addictive side dish with any fall or winter meal.
Recipe
Sauteed Snap Peas
Make your meals pop with a side of Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas! In this easy recipe, you’ll learn how to cook fresh snap peas to crisp-tender perfection in a sizzling hot skillet with just olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper.
Recipe
The BEST Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a salty, crispy, savory, and slightly sweet side dish you can pair with almost anything! Lightly spiced and so simple, this easy recipe is a total crowd pleaser and a must-have for weeknight dinners.
Recipe
Roasted Honey Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts don’t have to be boring! In fact, when roasted to perfection and drizzled with a rich, tangy balsamic-honey glaze, they become a standout side dish that’s hard to resist. This Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe is all about getting that perfect balance of crispy, caramelized exteriors and tender, juicy insides, finished off with a sweet-and-savory glaze that will have you coming back for seconds.
Recipe
Stovetop Glazed Carrots
These are the BEST Glazed Stovetop Carrots – Lightly sweetened, delicately seasoned, and perfectly glazed. These carrots make an amazing side dish that both kids and adults can't get enough of!
Recipe
Miso Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted Miso Cauliflower is a buttery, umami-filled delicious and healthy side dish. Cauliflower is tossed in a glaze of miso, soy and red pepper flakes and roasted until perfectly browned and crisp. {Vegan + Gluten Free}
Recipe
Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction
These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction & Cranberries make a simple and elegant side dish that both kids and adults love!
Recipe
Traeger Grilled Asparagus
Learn how to smoke asparagus on a Traeger or pellet grill/smoker! This Traeger Asparagus recipe is foolproof and yields tender-crisp, delightfully smoky asparagus every time.
Recipe
Savory Roasted Delicata Squash
Savory Delicata Squash is a winter side dish that’s really easy to prepare. There’s no peeling required and the maple flavors and warm spices taste divine!
Recipe
Easy Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed Cauliflower is a delicious, low carb & keto friendly side dish. With 5 flavor variations and instructions for making Stovetop Mashed Cauliflower or Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower.
Recipe
Braised Fennel
This Braised Fennel Recipe is an elegant side dish for roast chicken, fish, vegetarian meals, and more. The low and slow braising process leaves you with mouthwatering caramelized fennel infused with thyme, garlic, lemon, and honey. You’ll love this versatile veggie!
Recipe
Honey Roasted Carrots
These honey roasted carrots are everything you want in a simple side dish. They’re sweet and savory with just the right level of caramelization to make your mouth water in anticipation! With a quick toss of olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper, they roast up beautifully and are presented with a pop of color from the sprinkle of fresh dill.
Recipe
Italian Green Beans
Italian Green Beans are sautéed in a hot pan with aromatics and Italian seasonings, then steamed in a bold, savory broth. Easy to make in one pan, this is a fuss-free, must-try side dish to pair with all your favorite main courses!
Sauteed Green Beans
Cabbage Steaks with Bacon
Roasted Cabbage Steaks with bacon and a garlicky, creamy mustard sauce. Perfection! This delicious side dish is always a hit.
Recipe
Roasted Broccoli with Basil Tahini Sauce
This Roasted Broccoli with Garlic & Basil Tahini Sauce will seriously knock your socks off. Who knew that veggies could taste so good! Warning: You will want this sauce on everything…
Recipe
Stuffed Artichoke Hearts
These Stuffed Artichoke Hearts take all the work out of actually stuffing an artichoke. Canned artichoke hearts are arranged in a dish and topped with a “stuffing” of breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic.
Recipe
Braised Red Cabbage
Braised Red Cabbage is a side dish that quietly steals the show! Slow-cooked with tart and crisp apples and a splash of red wine vinegar, this humble vegetable transforms into something deeply flavorful, tender, and vibrant in color. It’s sweet, tangy, and just a little sticky – the kind of comforting dish that brings warmth and richness to any main meal.
Recipe
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash
Save on valuable time and oven space with this easy Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash recipe! It’s a convenient way of cooking this delicious and versatile winter squash, with no babysitting required. Use it as a holiday side dish, in a casserole, or as a healthy alternative to regular pasta noodles.
Recipe
Roasted Artichoke Hearts & Fennel
Looking for a side dish that’s simple to prepare with a touch of sophistication? Roasted Artichoke Hearts and Fennel combines two underrated vegetables with grated parmesan, Italian Seasoning, and olive oil! They’re flipped halfway into the cook time to ensure maximum golden browning and irresistible crispy edges with soft and tender centers!
Recipe
Classic and Comforting Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto
This always rich and warming Butternut Squash Risotto is the perfect meal for fall. Roasted squash, creamy and tender rice, and fresh sage come together to form dreamy and heavenly flavors in every bite.
Recipe
Mushroom Pecan Stuffing
This is the BEST Mushroom Pecan Stuffing recipe. Featuring pecans, fresh herbs and a splash of white wine, it's a true family favorite recipe for Thanksgiving!
Recipe
Mushroom Pot Pie
This Mushroom Pot Pie is the perfect, savory dinner party recipe! Rich, creamy mushrooms bathing in a red wine gravy, then topped with the most-delicious puff pastry crust! This vegetarian friendly meal can be made ahead of time, then popped into a hot oven when you’re ready to serve.
Recipe
Pumpkin Risotto Recipe
This Pumpkin Risotto with Goat Cheese and Cranberries is a perfect fall comfort food. It’s rich and creamy and perfect for an elegant weeknight meal. Or try serving this to your vegetarian guests at Thanksgiving.
Recipe
Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Spaghetti Squash Casserole made with tomatoes, Italian spices, creamy ricotta cheese and parmesan is a delicious and hearty vegetarian-friendly dinner option or delicious side dish.
Recipe
Use Your Air Fryer!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
These quick and easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes are deliciously seasoned and cooked to crispy and golden perfection! Enjoy them as a convenient side dish or healthy snack to pair with almost anything.
Recipe
Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
These easy air fryer Hasselback potatoes are drenched in garlic herb butter, giving you an almost addictive crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-inside snack or side dish in no time.
Recipe
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic cook up crispy and delicious with minimal oil with the help of your air fryer! Dressed simply with balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of salt. You'll love these!
Recipe
Thanksgiving Soups
Butternut Squash Bisque
This Butternut Squash Bisque with Maple Cream is a deliciously rich & creamy soup that’s perfect for chilly days.
Recipe
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
This Hungarian Mushroom Soup with Fresh Dill is rich, with hints of smokiness and a great umami flavor. It’s the perfect bowl of soup to warm up with this season!
Recipe
Curry Corn Chowder
Cozy up with a bowl of this warmly spiced Curry Corn Chowder. Corn kernels and potatoes are simmered in a rich and creamy broth infused with warm Indian spices to give you a comforting meal you can customize with all kinds of toppings.
Recipe
Creamy Zucchini Soup
Take advantage of the summer harvest with this savory and nourishing creamy zucchini soup. Perfect for freezing and using up frozen zucchini!
Recipe
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
This Curried Butternut Squash Soup is deliciously rich & creamy and perfect for chilly fall days. (Vegan + Vegetarian options)
Recipe
Leave a Reply