The ultimate guide to Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes! Whether you want classics like mashed potatoes or something with a twist, we’ve got you covered!
I don’t know about you, but the moment November 1st rolls around my mind immediately goes to Thanksgiving planning. More specifically, SIDE DISHES! My all time favorite part of Thanksgiving is the sides. Usually, I pack my plate so full with them that I have no room for the turkey…but that’s what second plates are for, right? 😉
What are the most popular side dishes for thanksgiving?
Popular side dishes include mashed potatoes, dressing/stuffing, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, cornbread, sweet potato casserole, rolls, brussels sprouts, and even mac and cheese! Thanksgiving may include turkey and pie but let’s be honest, it’s the one holiday where the side dishes really shine! Although it does vary slightly depending on region, many popular side dishes are the same throughout the country!
Potatoes
How to Make Instant Potatoes Better
How to Make Instant Potatoes Better: a few simple ways to make your bag or boxed mashed potatoes taste like they’re made from scratch. Creamy, fluffy, and so easy!
Mashed Potatoes
These are the BEST Mashed Potatoes! They're fluffy, yet rich and creamy, ultra buttery, and only require 4 ingredients!
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
This Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe makes a great addition to your Thanksgiving or holiday meal. It's loaded with seasonings, cheese, and sour cream for super creamy, fluffy, and delicious potatoes!
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
These Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes are quick, fluffy, and ultra creamy. Yukon gold potatoes are cooked in broth then mashed with buttermilk, cream cheese, sour cream, and parmesan.
Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole
This Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole is a twist on a classic Thanksgiving side dish! Fresh sweet potatoes are cooked and mashed with the yummiest Fall spices and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel.
Roasted Potatoes
These Roasted Potatoes require just 10 minutes of prep and 8 ingredients. They're crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, and make the perfect side dish for any meal!
Crockpot Funeral Potatoes
These Crockpot Funeral Potatoes are easy, cheesy, and so tasty! You'll only need 5 minutes of prep and just a few ingredients: frozen potatoes o'brien, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, spices, and crushed kettle chips!
Scalloped Potatoes
These homemade Scalloped Potatoes couldn't be easier to make! Thin slices of Yukon gold potatoes slathered in a flavorful cream sauce and topped with two types of cheese!
Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
These Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes are creamy, tangy, and packed with gooey cheese. Frozen hash browns are slow cooked with sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar, then topped with crunchy cheese-its.
Hashbrown Casserole
This Hashbrown Casserole is creamy, cheesy, loaded with tender potatoes, and topped with crunchy cornflakes! Only 10 minutes of prep for the BEST side dish for dinner or breakfast.
Boursin Mashed Potatoes
These Boursin Mashed Potatoes are the most luxurious potatoes to hit your holiday table! This indulgent and flavorful twist on a classic is sure to be the crowd favorite.
Stuffing/dressing
How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better
How to Make Stove Top Stuffing Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed stuffing mix taste like it's made from scratch. Quick, flavorful, and versatile!
Best Ever Sausage Stuffing
This is the Best Sausage Stuffing! Made with store-bought stuffing cubes, this easy dressing recipe is packed with texture, flavor, and is always a family favorite!
Crockpot Vegetarian Stuffing
This Crockpot Vegetarian Stuffing is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! Bonus: no oven space required! It's packed with crunchy celery, sweet apples, meaty mushrooms, and so much flavor!
Cornbread Dressing Recipe
An easy gluten free stuffing, this Cornbread Dressing Recipe will surely impress! Full of italian sausage, homemade cornbread, cranberries, and more!
Corn
Creamy Corn Casserole
This is the BEST Creamy Corn Casserole! It's fluffy, creamy, and is the star of holiday meals! Only 5 minutes and 7 ingredients (including Jiffy Mix) required.
Corn Pudding
This corn pudding is luxuriously creamy and loaded with crispy bacon and gooey cheese. This from-scratch recipe is made without Jiffy or canned corn, but is just as delicious as the original!
Slow Cooker Corn Pudding
This Slow Cooker Corn Pudding is decadent, creamy, easy to make, and a crowd favorite! Loaded with cream-style corn, sweet corn, sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar — it's the perfect holiday side dish!
Mexican Street Corn Spoon Bread
A twist on a classic, this Mexican Street Corn Spoon Bread is a mash up of two of my favorite recipes: Mexican street corn and creamy corn casserole! A baked corn pudding texture with all the flavors and spices found in elote!
Veggies/salads
Green Bean Casserole Recipe
This Green Bean Casserole Recipe is a one-pot wonder that's perfect for the holidays. It's creamy, delicious, and full of bacon, cheddar cheese, and French-fried onion rings. No Cream of "X" Soup!
Broccoli Salad
This Broccoli Salad is a classic summer potluck side! Fresh broccoli, chewy raisins, crunchy pecans, crispy bacon, and more tossed in a creamy and tangy homemade dressing.
Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This Strawberry Pretzel Salad has a crunchy pretzel crust, a tangy cream cheese filling, and a sweet topping made with strawberry jello and fresh strawberries. The BEST side dish or dessert for the holidays!
Cranberry Jello Salad
This Cranberry Jello Salad is an easy, festive addition to any holiday meal. Raspberry jello is mixed with canned cranberries and topped with a fluffy marshmallow topping.
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
This Crockpot Green Bean Casserole is a classic holiday side dish made in the slow cooker! It's creamy, flavorful, made with frozen green beans, and topped with crispy fried onions.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
This Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe is smothered in a bacon fat, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar dressing and tossed with goat cheese, parmesan, and bacon!
Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
This Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans is everything you could ask for in a salad. Crispy romaine paired perfectly with fresh, juicy pear, creamy blue cheese, sweet and crunchy pecans, and a fresh, tangy red wine vinaigrette dressing.
Honey Roasted Carrots
A healthy-ish side dish that's perfect for any occasion! You're only 10 ingredients and 30 minutes away from devouring these super simple and delicious Honey Roasted Carrots!
Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad
This Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad makes the perfect, healthier, light fall lunch or vegetarian side dish addition to your Thanksgiving menu!
Bread
Crescent Rolls
How To Make Crescent Rolls Better: a few simple ways to turn your canned rolls into Cheesy Garlic Crescent Rolls. They're loaded with ooey-gooey cheese and slathered in a melty garlic butter.
Rhodes Rolls
How to Make Frozen Rolls Better: a few simple ways to make your store-bought Rhodes Rolls taste homemade. They’re SO easy, pillowy soft, and ultra buttery.
How to Make Jiffy Cornbread Better
How to Make Jiffy Cornbread Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed corn muffin mix taste homemade! Moist, flavorful, and so easy!
Air Fryer Biscuits
These Air Fryer Biscuits are crispy, flakey, and smothered in melted butter. This is the best way to cook refrigerated or frozen biscuits!
Cornbread Recipe
This is the BEST Cornbread Recipe! Made with cornmeal, creamed corn, and sweet corn – it's gluten free, perfectly sweet, and PACKED with corn flavor.
Drop Biscuits
These Drop Biscuits are crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle! These easy biscuits are ready in under 30 minutes and made with Bisquick, buttermilk, and white cheddar.
Vegan Cornbread
This Vegan Cornbread is fluffy, but incredibly moist! It's naturally sweetened and made with corn kernels for a delicious pop of texture.
Garlic Bread Recipe
This Garlic Bread Recipe is so quick to make and results in moist, chewy, buttery, garlicky, and deliciously crispy side dish or appetizer.
Easy Dinner Rolls
These Easy Dinner Rolls are made in less than an hour and truly are SO easy to make! Fluffy, slightly sweet, and totally delicious!
Instant Pot Cornbread
This Instant Pot Cornbread is moist, dense, and subtly sweet. This classic side dish is steamed in your pressure cooker then served with homemade whipped honey butter!
Easy Cornbread Muffins
These Easy Cornbread Muffins are quick, easy, and naturally gluten free! They’re ultra fluffy, tender, and loaded with flavor thanks to butter, honey, eggs, sour cream, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, cream style corn, and sweet corn!
Mac & cheese
How to Make Kraft Mac and Cheese Better
How to Make Kraft Mac and Cheese Better: a few simple ways to make your boxed macaroni tastes like it's made from scratch. Rich, creamy, and insanely easy!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy, ooey-gooey, and made with three kinds of cheese! This is a one pot, quick version of a family favorite classic!
Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Recipe
This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is ultra rich and creamy thanks to FOUR kinds of cheese: Asiago, Sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda! Bonus: the noodles cook directly in the sauce which saves time and dishes!
One Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
One Pot Mac and Cheese is a creamy and ultra cheesy pasta dish made in a single pot! This quick and delicious comfort food is loved by kids and adults alike!
Baked Mac and Cheese
This is the BEST Baked Mac and Cheese! With an ultra rich, creamy, cheesy sauce, it's a family favorite! Bonus: only 15 minutes of prep time!
Truffle Mac and Cheese
This Truffle Mac and Cheese is restaurant quality, but made with every day ingredients! This easy dinner is rich, creamy, and loaded with bacon — what's not to love?!
Happy Thanksgiving!
– Jennifer