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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

  1. One Week Ahead: Get all non-perishables, including canned and boxed items, baking staples, and also sturdier produce like potatoes, apples, squash, and carrots.
  2. 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…).
  3. 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.
Stuffing with an assortment of Thanksgiving tools.
  1. 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.
Butternut Squash on a Sheet Pan.
  1. 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?
Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Brussels sprouts and butternut squash on a pink plate.

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

Bacon, Fresh Corn and Oregano Cornbread / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

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 / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Bread Stuffing with Turkey Sausage

Full flavored, moist (but not soggy!). As seen on The Today Show!
Spoon in a pan of Cornbread Dressing.

Cornbread Dressing

This is the dressing (or stuffing!) we all want on the holiday table: satisfying, flavorful, moist, and filled with texture and color.
White cast iron pan of cornbread.

Easy Cornbread

This simple cornbread takes all of 10 minutes to get into the oven, and it makes any meal just that much better.
Molasses Cornbread / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Molasses Cornbread

Earthy and slightly sweet.
Pepper Jack and Green Chili Corn Muffins

Pepper Jack and Green Chili Corn Muffins

There's a nice bit of heat in these moist corn muffins.
Garlic bread with spinach-parsley pesto between slices.

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.
Spoonbread Corn Pudding / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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

Sweet Potato Spoon Bread

Spoon bread is a soft and comforting sweet potato casserole perfect for holiday meals.

Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Recipes

Bowl of Brussels sprouts.

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

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

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

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

Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Toasted Bread Crumbs

Brussels sprouts get extra texture and flavor from a fabulous chorizo-spiked breadcrumb topping.
Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Best Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

The dish is amazingly complex for being so simple — and that is the true beauty of Parmesan.
Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon / Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Sautéed Kale and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Two of my favorite vegetables, bound together in love and bacon.
White plate of Shredded Brussel Sprouts on a yellow table.

Shredded Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts make an easy-elegant side.

Pasta and Rice Side Dish Recipes

Creamy Four-Cheese Pasta

Four Cheese Pasta

Can there ever be too many mac and cheeses?
Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries

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

Bulgur Wheat, Sweet Potato, and Black Bean Gratin

This casserole can be served as a vegetarian main course or a substantial side.
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

A comfort food gets even more comforting.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

An easy scalloped potato recipe is the perfect way to round out any holiday meal.
Spoon in a Dutch Oven of Idaho Potatoes.

Dutch Oven Idaho Potatoes

Kind of like a rough and ready scalloped potato dish in a cast iron pot.
Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Mia

Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

The perfect partner to most anything.
How to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes

How to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Possibly the most perfect comfort-food side dish in the world.
Serving bowl of Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes with spoon.

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 Sauteed Leeks / Katie Workman themom100.com

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.
Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese

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.
Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

The Best Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

When roasted potatoes meet nutty Parmesan only good things can happen.
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes deserve many shining moments, and also to be scalloped.
Simple Butter Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Simple Butter-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

A perfect three-ingredient recipe (including the salt!). Because sweet potatoes+butter+salt+heat are a winning combination.
Smashed Roasted Baby Potatoes / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Smashed Potatoes

What's best about roasted potatoes, tender on the inside, but with even more crunchy bits!

Salad Side Dish Recipes

White bowl of Autumn Salad.

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 / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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.
Endive Arugula and Orange Salad

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 in white bowl.

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 / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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 / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

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 and Slivered Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Romaine and Slivered Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing

This is one of my favorite simple salads.
Romaine, Pear and Goat Cheese Salad / Photo by Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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 / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

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 / Luci Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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 / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Black Lentil and Butternut Squash with Provencal Vinaigrette

Black lentils and bright orange squash provide dramatic color contrast.
Braised Cipollini Onions with Dried Cherries

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 / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Butternut Squash and White Bean Ragout

Healthy and satisfying, plus a serious dose of good-lookingness (which is now officially a word).
Creamed Pearl Onions

Creamed Pearl Onions

This belongs on any holiday table, and then some.
Fresh Green Bean Casserole / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

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

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

Green Beans and Mushrooms with Shallots

Sautéed green beans and mushrooms belong on pretty much any holiday table.
Green Beans with Tarragon Vinaigrette / Photo by Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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 / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

Harissa-Spiked Parsnip Puree

A little bit of heat, a nice earthy flavor, a pretty alternative to mashed potatoes.
Honey Mustard Green Beans

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 / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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 / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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

Roasted Butternut Squash

Caramelized and beautiful — the perfect addition to any fall or holiday table.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Creamy Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash with Creamy Sauce

This is a terrific autumnal or holiday side dish.
White serving dish of Roasted Carrots with Tapenade Dressing.

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 / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Roasted Cauliflower with Chimichurri Sauce

Chimichurri sauce turns roasted cauliflower into something special.
Roasted Squash with Salsa Verde and Whipped Feta and Ricotta / Photo by Lucy Beni / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Roasted Squash with Salsa Verde and Whipped Feta and Ricotta

A little fussy, but it is worth all the effort.
Roasted Vegetables with Blue Cheese / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Roasted Winter Vegetables with Blue Cheese

Just when you thought roasted vegetables couldn’t get any better.
Roasted Vegetables with Sriracha Honey Glaze

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).
Rutabaga and Parsnip Puree / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

Rutabaga and Parsnip Puree

Earthy, with a touch of sweetness, and very simple to make.
Sautéed Green Beans with Thyme Butter in a skillet.

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 Haricot Verts with Red Onions and Shallots / Mandy Maxwell / Katie Workman / themom100.com

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.

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