Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

ByCarlee Updated

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While the turkey gets a lot of the attention at Thanksgiving, it is the sides that steal the show. Here are some Thanksgiving side dish recipes that includes plenty of the classics along with some fun new ideas to add to the menu.

Collage of images including turkey dinner with green bean casserole and mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, and homemade crescent rolls.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite meals of the year. I just love the tradition of it.

A holiday that is all about food and family is my kind of holiday. My family is quite large, so Thanksgiving is a massive feast.

Of course the core menu is all of the classics that you would expect. The nice thing about having such a crowd, is there are a lot of cooks bringing dishes.

That means we get to have some fun additions to the menu to compliment the staples. So, if you are looking for something a little bit different we have ideas for that, too.

After you get your side dishes figured out, be sure to check out my collection of Thanksgiving pie recipes as well. That is also a very important part of the menu!

The Classics:

Here are a few of the recipes that have to be on the menu. You may notice there isn’t a stuffing in the mix.

That is because my brothers insist on Stovetop stuffing. My family also makes a rice and sausage dressing. I really need to share that recipe one of these days!

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Classic Green Bean Casserole
There are so many fun new ways to make green bean casserole. We still love the tried and true though. So, get that cream of mushroom soup ready! We usually make 2 double batches to make sure there is enough for everyone.
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Serving spoon getting a scoop of green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup and fried onion topping out of pan.
Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a must. (I think I could live off of turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes!) Regular are good, sour cream and chive are better!
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Serving bowl filled with cream sour cream and chive mashed potatoes topped with extra melted butter and bits of fresh green chive.
Old-Fashioned Scalloped Corn Casserole
Scalloped corn is so simple, but really delicious. This one is a classic and is still a hit at holidays.
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dinner plate with turkey, gravy, green beans and scalloped corn.
Homemade Egg Noodles
Egg noodles were a staple at my mom's childhood Thanksgivings. We still love making them for the holidays, but usually enjoy them the day after as their own meal now.
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Dinner plate with roasted brussels sprouts, sliced turkey breast, and homemade chicken and egg noodles with carrots.
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
These are the ultimate classic with their gooey marshmallows on top. My youngest sister insists that we still have them.
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small dish of candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows in front of remaining pan.
Maple Crunch Sweet Potato Casserole
We tried making sweet potato casserole a decade or two ago and it became a hit as well. My grandpa really loved it, so we started having to make both this and the marshmallow kind.
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Forkful of maple sweet potato casserole topped with oats, pecans and brown sugar ready to eat.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans and Marshmallows
If you don't want to make two kinds of sweet potatoes, this recipe gives you a little bit of both worlds.
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Square casserole dish filled with a layer of mashed sweet potatoes topped with pecans and gold brown marshmallows.
3-Day Dinner Rolls
If you are celebrating with my family, these are the rolls they want. They are soft and delicious. Plus, they make a great base for leftover turkey sandwiches.
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Roll cut in half showing soft interior next to basket of additional rolls.
Homemade Crescent Rolls
If we are celebrating with my husband's family, these are the rolls they request. They are buttery and delicious.
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Basket of fresh homemade crescent rolls with buttery golden brown exterior and classic horn shape.
Sourdough Crescent Rolls
Sometimes I switch up the crescent rolls with this sourdough version. They are really delicious and use some yeast, so the process is shorter and they are super soft.
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Hand holding golden brown sourdough crescent roll.
Orange Cranberry Sauce
While my husband loves the cranberry sauce in the can, I prefer homemade. This cranberry sauce is pretty simple to make and hits those classic notes.
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Antique berry spoon scooping out freshly made orange cranberry sauce with chunks of cranberries and a deep red color from a white serving bowl.
Fresh Orange Cranberry Relish
My sister-in-law introduced us to this simple recipe a few years ago and I just love how fresh and easy it is. No cooking required!
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Serving bowl of orange cranberry relish with orange zest and serving spoon.
Frozen Fruit Salad
This might not seem traditional in a lot of households, but this fruit salad always makes an appearance at our Thanksgiving as a not to my great-grandma. It is a fun way to keep her memory alive.
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Close slice of frozen fruit salad showing fruit and marshmallows in peach frozen mixture.

More Great Options:

Now that we have the classics covered, it is fun to sprinkle in a new item or two. Here are some sides that would make a great addition to your holiday menu:

Orange Cranberry Rice Pilaf
Orange cranberry rice pilaf is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Don't save it for the holidays, though. It is also great with any roast meat or special dinner.
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Serving bowl filled with cranberry orange rice pilaf with fresh herbs, almonds, toasted orzo, and rice.
Fresh Pineapple Casserole
Fresh pineapple casserole takes the king of fruit, butter crackers and cheddar cheese and turns them into something amazing. This recipe is both sweet and savory and is a perfect side dish to go with a holiday ham.
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Small dish filled with pineapple casserole topped with buttery cracker crumbs and cheese.
Jiffy Corn Casserole
This corn pudding is such a perfect way to add corn to the menu. We usually make a double batch to ensure there is plenty.
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Spatula lifting first piece of corn pudding casserole out of baking dish showing soft interior and golden top.
Pomegranate Couscous Salad
Pomegranate couscous salad is a bright and fresh side dish that is perfect for a picnic but would also be a light and festive side dish for the holidays. It is a great make ahead salad recipe that can be served with almost any entrée.
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Forkful of salad with small couscous, pomegranate arils, fresh herbs, yellow peppers and more.
Honey Roasted Baby Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
This one has become a favorite. It makes an appearance at almost every holiday meal. It tastes special but is still holy enough for the more health conscious folks.
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Spoonful of honey roasted brussels sprouts and carrots, ready to eat.
Creamy Cranberry Fluff
Turn fresh cranberries into a fun fluff salad. This easy 5 ingredient recipe is simple but delicious. It is perfect for the holidays or any time you want to turn cranberries into something special.
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Serving bowl filled with creamy cranberry fluff salad with marshmallows and pineapple ready to eat.
Frosted Cranberry Jello Salad
This frosted cranberry Jello salad has a fluffy cream cheese topping and a secret ingredient. The Jello features cranberry sauce, pineapple, and Coke for that extra bit of kick. This old-fashioned recipe is still super delicious and fun.
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Bite of cranberry jello salad with pineapple and coke inside and fluffy cream cheese frosting and pecans on top.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Air fryer butternut squash is tender and delicious roasted squash in less time. Plus you don't have to turn on the oven. This recipe is a great way to get a flavorful vegetable on the table.
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serving bowl filled with cubes of air fryer roasted butternut squash.
Cranberry Applesauce
This applesauce has the magic of cranberries mixed right in. Not only do they lend their crimson color, but a great tart burst that is will keep your taste buds dancing. This is a great snack, would be perfect stirred into a bowl of oatmeal or served as a side dish. Your Thanksgiving table is begging for this fabulous recipe instead of cranberry sauce from a jar. You will find it pairs well with pork and chicken as well.
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wooden spoon filled with red cranberry applesauce held over pot of sauce.
Maple Glazed Roasted Fall Vegetables with Chestnuts
Delicious fall vegetables and chestnuts are roasted and then quickly glazed in a bit of maple and butter for a luscious side. It tastes amazing and sounds sinful but is a delicious and nutritious side dish.
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bowl of roasted fall vegetables with chestnuts in a maple glaze ready to serve.
Easy Duchess Sweet Potatoes
These duchess sweet potatoes add a little pizzazz to your plate, but they are really simple to make. They would be a fun way to change up your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, but are delicious any time!
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plate with slices of roast chicken, roasted brussels sprouts and 3 ruffly duchess sweet potatoes.
Crockpot Candied Sweet Potatoes
If you want to make southern style candied sweet potatoes without turning on the oven, this crockpot recipe is for you. Load it up with sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and butter for the perfect caramelized side dish.
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Bowl of sweet potatoes slices in brown sugar sauce after they have cooked in a slow cooker, ready to be served.
Baked Mushroom Rice
This tasty baked rice recipe has beef broth and mushrooms to make it the perfect savory side dish. It only takes a few minutes to put together and is hands off once it's in the oven. So it is an easy and delicious addition to a dinner menu.
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Close up of fluffy baked rice with beef broth and mushrooms served on dinner plate.
Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted acorn squash is a simple but tasty side dish. The herbs add great depth of flavor and the Parmesan cheese brings a bit of umami that brings it all together in every delicious bite.
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Plate of roasted acorn squash slices with herbs and parmesan cheese.
Cheesy Onion Casserole
Sweet onions are the star of the show with this cheesy onion casserole. As the onions bake, they get soft and mild, making them the perfect base for herbs, cheese, and a buttery cracker topping.
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Plate of cheesy onion casserole with softened rings of onions and buttery cracker topping, ready to eat.
Smothered Green Beans
Your new favorite side dish is here! These green beans are smothered in a simple sweet and sour sauce with plenty of crumbled bacon.
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Smothered green beans with bacon and sweet and sour sauce served with grilled chicken on a plate.
Honey Roasted Delicata Squash With Fresh Cranberries
This roasted delicata squash is the perfect fall side dish. It is just a little sweet from the honey and a little tart from fresh or frozen cranberries. Plus there is a hint of citrus to bring it all together.
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Bowl of honey roasted delicata squash and cranberries ready to eat.

Round Out Your Thanksgiving Menu

If you need to figure out the rest of the menu, here are some more recipe collections to help you:

Collage of images including turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy and green bean casserole, cranberry relish, orange cranberry rice pilaf, and a turkey dinner with green beans and scalloped corn.

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Carlee is a busy mom that loves to share family friendly recipes. There are a mix of quick and easy Midwest comfort food meals and plenty of sweet treats.

Whether you are looking for an old fashioned recipe from Carlee's grandma's recipe box or a new meal to feed your family, you are in the right place. There are plenty of delicious recipes for every cooking skill level and amount of time available.

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