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It’s a-comin’. That big day, that big meal. But if you plan ahead, you will rule the world on the third Thursday of November. And I think many people agree the turkey is great, but the side dishes are where you get to show off, be creative, hang on to family traditions, or shake it all up year after year.
As you can see, we are all about the sides in my family. I lean towards the classic dishes (Brussels sprouts, green beans, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, stuffing, mashed potatoes, salads, and so on). But as you can also see, that hardly means the same old, same old. Here are the pantheon of Thanksgiving side dishes I pick and choose from each year for Thanksgiving and other fall and winter holiday gatherings.
Tips for Making Thanksgiving Side Dishes Ahead of Time
- One Week Ahead: Get all non-perishables, including canned and boxed items, baking staples, and also sturdier produce like potatoes, apples, squash, and carrots.
- A Couple of Days Before: This is when you go back to the store for the more perishable items: the greens, herbs, breads, and so on. And also all the other stuff you forgot the first time (bay leaves, extra onions, chicken broth…).
- Create a Timeline for the Day of: Write down all of the little things, like putting the mashed potatoes into the oven to reheat, tossing the salad, and warming the gravy.
- Do What Can Be Done Ahead of Time: Thanksgiving menus are usually full of sturdy side dishes that can be reheated on the stovetop, in the microwave, or in the oven. Make use of all of the heat sources, plot out which dish you will reheat in which way, and put together a game plan. Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, roasted butternut squash, cranberry sauce…all of these can be made a day or more ahead of time.
- Make salad dressing.
- Clean and chop all vegetables.
- Peel potatoes and keep them in cold water to cover in the fridge to prevent browning.
- And, of course, make any side dishes that you can; get them ready to be reheated or served at room temperature for the big meal. You will see that most of these dishes can be in advance and kept in the fridge. Many can even be frozen. Check each individual recipe for specific make-ahead, reheating, and serving instructions.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Room-Temperature Food: Hey, by the time everyone serves themselves and finds a seat, the food isn’t going to be super hot anyway! Give yourself permission to not stress about getting all of the food to the table piping hot at the same time. When you go back for seconds, it’s always room temperature anyway, right? And has that ever slowed anyone down?
Great Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
Here are the recipes that I am 100% sure will be on our table, and it would thrill me to no end if some of them were on yours as well.
- Bread and Stuffing Side Dish Recipes
- Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Recipes
- Pasta and Rice Side Dish Recipes
- Potato Side Dish Recipes
- Salad Side Dish Recipes
- Other Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
Bread and Stuffing Side Dish Recipes
Bacon, Fresh Corn, and Oregano Cornbread
Fresh corn and rosemary — plus bacon! — adds a summery note to moist, tender cornbread made in a cast-iron skillet.
Bread Stuffing with Turkey Sausage
Full flavored, moist (but not soggy!). As seen on The Today Show!
Cornbread Dressing
This is the dressing (or stuffing!) we all want on the holiday table: satisfying, flavorful, moist, and filled with texture and color.
Easy Cornbread
This simple cornbread takes all of 10 minutes to get into the oven, and it makes any meal just that much better.
Spinach-Parsley Pesto Garlic Bread
Get an amazing garlic bread recipe that is an easy and satisfying way to use parsley and leftover pesto. In just a few minutes, dinner feels super special.
Corn Pudding
Fluffy and comforting, studded with corn kernels, this is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or another holiday feast.
Sweet Potato Spoon Bread
Spoon bread is a soft and comforting sweet potato casserole perfect for holiday meals.
Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Recipes
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Super crispy on the outside, tender but not mushy on the inside, they are like roasted Brussels sprouts at their best. And they take just 15 minutes in the air fryer!
Brussels Sprouts, Apple, and Pomegranate Slaw Salad
So much going on in terms of taste, texture, and color — this is a fully engaging salad.
Cheesy Baked Brussels Sprouts
Asolutely delicious, and kind of like Brussels sprouts au gratin. They make a tempting fall and winter side dish. and I would eat them as a vegetarian main dish any time.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad
Alex Guarnascelli's sophisticated but not-at-all-complicated Brussels sprouts are pretty close to divine.
Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Toasted Bread Crumbs
Brussels sprouts get extra texture and flavor from a fabulous chorizo-spiked breadcrumb topping.
Best Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
The dish is amazingly complex for being so simple — and that is the true beauty of Parmesan.
Sautéed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Two of my favorite vegetables, bound together in love and bacon.
Pasta and Rice Side Dish Recipes
Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries
The sweet-tart chewy cranberries are a great foil for the slightly smoky, nutty flavor of the wild rice. A perfect fall or holiday side dish.
Potato Side Dish Recipes
Bulgur Wheat, Sweet Potato, and Black Bean Gratin
This casserole can be served as a vegetarian main course or a substantial side.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
An easy scalloped potato recipe is the perfect way to round out any holiday meal.
Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes
The addition of roasted garlic (which is so freaking easy to make) gives sweet potatoes a very savory twist.
Mashed Yukon and Sweet Potatoes with Sautéed Leeks
Because there will never be enough recipes for mashed potatoes. This has a nice combo of buttery Yukon and sweet potatoes, plus a tussle of sliced sautéed leeks.
Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Classic mashed potatoes get a little more personality and flavor with the addition of a little Parmesan cheese. This is the ultimate comfort food.
The Best Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
When roasted potatoes meet nutty Parmesan only good things can happen.
Simple Butter-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
A perfect three-ingredient recipe (including the salt!). Because sweet potatoes+butter+salt+heat are a winning combination.
Smashed Potatoes
What's best about roasted potatoes, tender on the inside, but with even more crunchy bits!
Salad Side Dish Recipes
Autumn Salad with Cranberries and Goat Cheese
The addition of dried fruit is a pretty and flavorful way to make a green salad much more special.
Baby Romaine, Chickpea, and Root Vegetable Salad with Slightly Spicy Dressing
Different colored radishes and carrots make this salad a riot of color and texture.
Arugula in an Endive and Orange Salad
Everything you need to know about cooking with arugula, and a recipe for a colorful, peppery, citrusy salad (and more arugula recipes!).
Endive, Radicchio, and Citrus Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette
Dinner feeling a little drab? Add this burst of color and flavor.
Endive Salad with Pear and Creamy Herb Dressing
A bracing salad with a bit of sweetness from the pear — a perfect companion to a rich meal.
Green Salad with Pears, Parmesan, and Pomegranate Seeds and Puff Pastry Croutons
If you are looking for a salad that shouts “Holidays!” then you have come to the right place.
Romaine, Pear, and Goat Cheese Salad
This is a perfect autumn salad, and comes together in 10 minutes.
Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
Baby Pattypan Squash Gratin
Squash is nestled in a beautiful green sauce made with chard, cream, and gruyere cheese for a flavorful and unusual side dish.
Baked Squash with Chili and Maple Syrup
The ruffle-y green exterior contrasts with the orange interior, and there is a lovely blend of heat and sweetness.
Black Lentil and Butternut Squash with Provencal Vinaigrette
Black lentils and bright orange squash provide dramatic color contrast.
Braised Cipollini Onions with Dried Cherries
Cipollini in Agrodolce, a wonderful sweet and sour preparation for these charming little onions.
Butternut Squash and White Bean Ragout
Healthy and satisfying, plus a serious dose of good-lookingness (which is now officially a word).
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Green Bean Casserole from scratch! An updated version of a favorite holiday side dish.
Green Bean Salad with Clementine Oranges and Feta
A great mix of colors, texture, and flavors in a fresh green bean and citrus salad.
Green Beans and Mushrooms with Shallots
Sautéed green beans and mushrooms belong on pretty much any holiday table.
Green Beans with Tarragon Vinaigrette
The dressing is bright and bracing and adds an extra layer of flavor to this simple green bean side dish.
Harissa-Spiked Parsnip Puree
A little bit of heat, a nice earthy flavor, a pretty alternative to mashed potatoes.
Honey Mustard Green Beans
A simple (5-Minute!) honey mustard dressing transforms green beans into a flavorful side dish.
Lentils and Carrots with Dried Apricots
Protein-packed lentils brightened with some spices and seasonings shine in this vegetarian or vegan recipe.
Roasted Broccolini with Lemon
This is a simple side, but a real powerhouse of nutrition and flavor. Just a few ingredients, and the oven does all the work.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Caramelized and beautiful — the perfect addition to any fall or holiday table.
Roasted Carrots with Tapenade Dressing
These roasted carrots have a tangy dressing and are a gorgeous and colorful side side to all sorts of meals from holiday feasts to weeknight dinners. Serve warm or room temp!
Roasted Cauliflower with Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri sauce turns roasted cauliflower into something special.
Roasted Squash with Salsa Verde and Whipped Feta and Ricotta
A little fussy, but it is worth all the effort.
Roasted Winter Vegetables with Blue Cheese
Just when you thought roasted vegetables couldn’t get any better.
Roasted Winter Vegetables with Sriracha Honey Glaze
A bit of heat perks up these earthy vegetables in such a great way (and livens up those rich holiday meals, too).
Sautéed Green Beans with Thyme Butter
When green beans are at their freshest, you only need to cook them lightly with simple seasonings to make them perfect.
Sautéed Haricots Verts with Red Onions and Shallots
Sautéed haricots verts is a lovely simple side dish; terrific for holiday meals and weeknight dinners, both.
