Looking for some Thanksgiving Side Dish inspiration this year? If so, then you won’t have to dig too far since there are 75 recipes right here – in every traditional category of Thanksgiving feast side dish ideas!
Some recipes will be familiar, while others give a nice twist to the classics that sound delicious!
Thanksgiving Corn Side Dish Recipes:
The BEST Corn Pudding Recipe
This corn pudding recipe was passed down to me from my mom. It seriously is the sweetest and best corn pudding recipe you will ever try!
I used to beg her to make it when I was a kid. Now I try to avoid making it too much for myself so that I can still fit into my jeans. 🙂 It’s not calorie friendly – but it sure is taste bud friendly and will become a family favorite!
Texas Cornbread Dressing
Cornbread dressing is a staple for every Thanksgiving (and sometimes Christmas) holiday celebration-but this recipe, yeah, it’s knock-your-socks-off good.
Ricotta Filled Cornbread Recipe
This cornbread recipe is based on a famous Jewish dish called “malay”. Tiffany’s grandmother taught her this recipe and they make it all the time. It’s sweet, savory and bursting with flavor. The cornmeal gives the bread a soft crumb that makes it fork tender. The ricotta in the middle is super yummy! Now that you try this method, you will never go back to same ol’ cornbread again.
Homemade Cornbread Recipe
Jiffy cornbread mix is a fairly inexpensive side, and a must to pair with chili, IMO. But several years ago a friend brought over her homemade cornbread recipe and hubs won’t let me go back to Jiffy. LOL! And I agree, this recipe is worth a few extra steps!
Creamed Corn Cornbread Recipe
Hubby got most of this recipe from a book I gave him for his last birthday: The Cornbread Gospels Weeeellllll you know me and Hubby; can’t leave well enough alone. He pretty much disregarded the instructions and did it his own way. The ingredient change was buttermilk, and I think it made a world of difference.
Fried Corn Cakes Recipe
Today I want to share a yummy side dish recipe that’s perfect for summer. Fried Corn Cakes! Sweet corn season is The. Best. And these fried corn cakes are a perfect alternative to serving it on the cob.
I love to buy sweet corn in bulk during the summer when it’s both delicious and on sale. It freezes really well, so I just shuck it and pop it in a freezer bag still on the cob so that it’s ready when I have a corn craving.
Garden Zucchini Corn Saute
This Garden Zucchini & Corn Saute has quickly become a favorite at our holiday table. It has just the right amount of sweet, salty, and crunch.
This side has become a classic at our Thanksgiving table, but it comes together quickly for any weeknight side dish, too. This dish would be a great one in the summer time too, when zucchini is at an abundance.
Corn Casserole
Can you tell I’m on a “comfort food” kick lately?? This is a family favorite and a dish I was introduced to after moving to the South. It’s super simple and very yummy – if you like cheesy, bready, corny kinds of things! 🙂 It kind of reminds me of a pudding in texture – especially if you stick to the shorter baking time (I prefer it to be a little browned on top, but mostly soft still).
Pumpkin Spice Harvest Cornbread
I’m going to show you how to transform a normal old cornbread into a fantastic autumn inspired side with a touch of pumpkin and spice. Pair it with a hot bowl of soup, a plate of salad or a cup of ginger tea for a hearty morning breakfast. This original harvest cornbread recipe comes from Lindsey Nixon, also known as “The Happy Herbivore.” Her recipes are simple and healthy.
Thanksgiving Green Beans Recipes:
Green Beans with Lemon Rosemary Dressing
This garden fresh simple green beans recipe with lemon and rosemary dressing is a wonderful way to use your garden fresh green beans with a bit of a twist on flavor rather than the traditional olive oil, salt & pepper combo.
I got this recipe from my husband’s uncle who made this for a summer family picnic. It was unique and delicious and I just had to share it with you! This is a simple green beans recipe using just 4 ingredients – fresh green beans, lemon, butter, and rosemary!
Best Green Bean Casserole
Ever since I have perfected my homemade version of condensed cream of chicken soup, I use it in everything. It tastes so much better than the store-bought version, plus we actually what’s in there. No nasty hidden ingredients in this recipe!
I am the person who will usually skip the green bean casserole being served at Thanksgiving or even during Christmas because it tastes so chemically. Not here, I promise.
Skinny Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is a very traditional dish on Thanksgiving day. However, despite the fact that the star of this dish is a ‘lean green bean’, the traditional version of this recipe can pack as much as 600 calories and 30 grams of fat into a one cup serving!
This Thanksgiving enjoy this almost too-good to be true healthy version and impress your guests with an awesome dish that won’t weigh them down!
Green Bean Casserole – Low Carb & Gluten Free
This low carb green bean casserole is a deliciously healthy keto spin on a Thanksgiving classic. Have your old favorites without breaking the carb bank.
Non-Traditional Green Bean Casserole
I was so inspired to try some new recipes! One of my favorites was the non-traditional green bean casserole we had at dinner. I’m one who doesn’t like to mess with perfection, but this was really, really good.
What I liked about it was the fact that the green beans were not canned green beans. It made a huge difference. I also really enjoyed the corn being a part of the dish.
I did change a few things. I did leave out the bacon. I also did not add as much of the white mixture to the green beans. It seemed a bit much to me. You can find the original recipe here. All ingredients are from Aldi!
Roasted Green Beans with Balsamic Browned Butter
Your family will be licking the plate! Yes – it’sthatgood! This recipe for Roasted Green Beans with Balsamic-Browned Butter maximizes big flavors from roasting the beans, and from just a tiny bit of indulgently delicious browned butter. Perfect when you’ve got a bumper crop of summer beans, and also a healthier alternative to traditional green bean casseroles for the holidays (psssst … it’s a total Thanksgiving game-changer)!
Modified Green Bean Casserole
Here is a modified easy green bean casserole that is great to serve up on Thanksgiving day. It’s just like a classic easy green bean casserole, but instead of just green beans, add some more vegetables to get a bit more variety!
Add vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower to the green beans and you have a wonderful modified version of the classic easy green bean casserole.
Green Beans with Spiced Chickpeas and Feta
Casserole or no casserole, I still think Thanksgiving should have green beans. I usually do a simple side dish of sautéed green beans with slivered almonds. But this year, I’m changing things up and going spicy with theseHarissa Green Beans with Spiced Chickpeas and Feta Cheese. I hope my family doesn’t revolt against me.
Thanksgiving Recipes Using Potatoes:
Potatoes Au Gratin with Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Of all the recipes I’ve made for this blog, this dish is summed up in 3 words: OMG.. Yes is that good, and no, it’s not spicy. The flavor is amazingly complex and is mixed with a delicate and creamy texture over a crispy top. In conclusion, I need to make some more.
ThisPotatoes Au Gratin differs withany other gratin or scalloped potatoes you’ve tried in the past in the sense that the sauce is made beforehand in a skilletand then poured over the potatoes before they go in the oven.
Creating tons of flavor that will leave you wanting more.
Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes
Over the years, I have learned that everyone’s Thanksgiving table has different items. One thing that seems to ring common among most tables though is a heaping bowl of delicious mashed potatoes.We like to add a little extra creaminess into our mashed potatoes and I wanted to share my recipe for mascarpone mashed potatoes with you.
Slow Cookier Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a wonderful and nutritious comfort food. I’m not a fan of sugary sweet potato dishes made with marshmallows, but I do love them as a savory dish.
It only takes a moment to prep the sweet potatoes and get them in thecrock pot, so it can work it’s magic. I used Organic Garnet Yams fromFrieda’s. The flavor is excellent and they come outreally creamy.
Parsley Potatoes
Quick and easy, these Parsley Potatoes are a delicious alternative to baked potatoes.
Buttery Smashed Potatoes
Buttery Smashed Potatoes are a super easy potato side dish recipe. Boiled potatoes, smashed, smothered in butter, and baked until crispy.
Feta Mint Grilled Sweet Potatoes
It’s grilling season! The best thing about grilling is that impressive meals are so very simple to make. These Feta & Mint Grilled Sweet Potatoes are the perfect example!
We typically think of sweet potatoes in the Fall, but they’re a fantastically healthy addition to a summer barbecue. This recipe, with its fresh summer flavors, brings sweet potatoes front and center during grilling season and are a fun break from the typical steak-and-potatoes routine.
Clean Eating Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potato casserole is one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving foods. Ok, so I love all Thanksgiving food, but this casserole always has a special place in my heart… and the largest dedicated plate space. Even though I do like the ones with the marshmallow topping, I really love this crumble variation. The crumble adds a nice complementary texture to the creamy taters. You could also add some dried cranberries or mini marshmallows for a festive flair.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Use golden potatoes when making mashed potatoes. They boil well and have an amazing flavor.
I prefer Gold potatoes. I think they have a better flavor, BUT be wary with mixing them. Because they have a higher moisture content they boil well, the danger is they easily turn to a glue like texture with over mixing.
So if you like to really mix your mashed potatoes super smooth go with russet potatoes. You can beat them without that issue, but steam them instead of boiling them so they don’t fall apart.
How To Make The Best Baked Potatoes
I really love baked potatoes.Toppings are really endless but if you decide to keep it simple with some butter I insist you use a really good quality butter like Kerrygold because that is really going to make it just so wonderful.
Mini Sweet Potato Gratins
I’m officially declaring these Mini Sweet Potato Gratins to be the cutest sweet potatoes EVER!Some people may even call them adorable.
And they are fully ready to steal the show at Thanksgiving. Because while these little stacks may be small in stature, they certainly aren’t lacking in the taste department. They’re packed with all the flavors you’ve come to expect from your favorite sweet potato casserole: butter, brown sugar, cream, cinnamon, orange,pecansand more. Every bite is pure bliss.
Sweet Potato Kale Gratin
Ben and I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time and eight people came! I made a delicious sweet potato & kale gratinwith a vegetarian guest in mind, but it ended up being one of my favorite things at the table. It’s kind of been stuck in my head ever since.
But, we’re talking about a gratin that’s packed with butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. A Whole30-er can only dream.
I thought I could recreate the effect by making a sauce like this: a whole head of roasted garlic, blitzed to creamy perfection with a bunch of coconut milk and a little stock. Because roasted garlic is not cheese, but it’s pretty much the next best thing.
Easier, Tastier, Fried Potatoes
The first time I made these easy fried potatoes, they never even made it onto our plates. We literally ate them all off the serving plate while the rest of dinner was finishing up. They weresogood! I have since made fried sweet potatoes this way, too!
Make Ahead Irish Mashed Potato Casserole
Mashed potatoes made decadent with cream cheese, roasted garlic, and sour cream. Make them ahead of time and reheat in the oven or the slow cooker. Great for holiday potlucks, kids having dental work, or just because this is such a great recipe.
Thanksgiving Recipes Using Squash and other Non-Potato Vegetable side dishes:
Butternut Squash Soup with Apple, Sage, & Thyme
This butternut squash soup with apple is such a warming bowl of fall flavors. The flavors are that bit more complex than your average bowl, with the sweetness of the squash balanced out by a gently savory note from sage and thyme. Easy, tasty and perfect any day.
Acorn Squash Wild Rice
This acorn squash wild rice salad is packed with roasted vegetables, wild rice and coated in a tangy citrus dressing. It’s a tasty but light combination of fall and late summer flavors, perfect for any meal.
Roasted Squash with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese
I’m re-visiting (and re-vamping!) this recipe for Roasted Delicata Squash with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese. Which might just be one of my favorite ways to prepare delicata squash EVER! And it’s easy and festive enough for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Mashed Rutabaga Squash with Roasted Garlic
Have you ever tried rutabagas? They’re also called yellow turnips, and they make an amazing low-carb replacement for mashed potatoes. I was initially inspired to try them after seeing Ina Garten’srecipefor mashed rutabaga with crispy shallots, and I like to serve them withbacon-wrapped shrimp.
Spinach Souffle
Spinach is one of those vegetables that are so versatile. You can eat it raw, sautéed, baked, fried, etc. It’s full of iron and other great vitamins and it’s a very easy product to work with. Heck, remember Popeye? He was a fan of Spinach too.
Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe
Fresh spinach, dried cranberries and walnuts tossed with a tangy, great tasting pomegranate dressing. The results are wonderfully unexpected, and completely delicious. And the prep time is only 10 minutes.
Braised Fennel with Mint
I’m absolutely obsessed with fennel right now! The flavor is so fresh, and it is brimming with anti-oxidants that make it an extremely healthy addition to the menu. I love this recipe because it showcases a softer side to fennel. The braising tones down the hints oflicoricethat fresh fennel has, and instead brings a soft rustic flavor.
Skillet Roasted Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce
The key to delicious Brussels sprouts is all in how you prepare them. I spent the first 30 years of my life detesting Brussels sprouts all because of the way they were cooked in my home, growing up.
Cauliflower with Cheesy Dijon
This recipe was given to me by my dear mother-in-law. She first served it to us at a holiday meal several years ago.
Roasted Mushrooms, Zucchini, and Eggplant with Rosemary
I love the tart, acidic taste of balsamic vinegar paired with savory ingredients like garlic and onion. Roasting these vegetables with thebalsamicbrings out the sweet component of the vinegar as well. I love to pair this dish with a nice chicken breast stuffed with ricotta cheese and prosciutto. YUM!
Honey Glazed Carrots
I love cooked carrots, but unfortunately have two boys to cook for who do not! However, I’ve received a lot of them lately in our farmer’s market baskets and needed to use some up.
So I decided to make some Honey Glazed Carrots as a side dish for dinner. These are super easy and very tasty and you can use baby carrots, or whole, do what the original recipe suggests and throw in some sugar snap peas too or just use carrots – whatever suits your preferences!
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Maple Bacon
I made this for Easter dinner with prime rib roast. This may have been better than the prime rib. The bacon/onion/balsamic vinegar/roasting in the oven thing was a huge winner.
Freshly Roasted Pumpkin
There are two ways to preserve your Freshly Roasted Pumpkin for later use. You can place pre-measured amounts in freezer plastic zippy bags or containers, label them with the date, and freeze them in a deep freeze.
This works well, although when you thaw it, you should skim off any extra water that surfaces as part of the freezing process, especially if you are using Freshly Roasted Pumpkin in pie. The other method of preserving Freshly Roasted Pumpkin is by canning it in a pressure canner.
Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes:
Quinoa Stuffing with Pancetta
I have a great recipe that you should consider making a spot for on your table: quinoa stuffing with pancetta. The dressing {or stuffing depending on where you are from} is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.
I like to try all different versions and you can sometimes find two or three on our table for the holiday. This quinoa version is perfect for anyone who wants or needs to be gluten free.
Whole Wheat Stuffing
I don’t know about you, but stuffing is integral to my Thanksgiving plate. It’s what catches the gravy. It’s what you snack on, right out of the fridge, while you stare at the contents wondering what to eat next. Stuffing the morning after, fried up a little, with an egg on top? Oh lordy.
Pear, Cranberry Sausage Stuffing
This pear, cranberry and sausage stuffing combines a great variety of seasonal flavors into a tasty side to a festive meal. Or make it the main event alongside some roasted vegetables.
Rutabaga Bacon and Date Stuffing
This tasty rutabaga, date and bacon stuffing is not your average dry, bread-heavy affair. It has a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors, is juicy and rich, and the perfect accompaniment to a festive dinner.
Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
This is another awesome recipe that uses cornbread muffins as a great base for a side that will grace your Thanksgiving table. You start with the cornbread muffins, or some store brought cornbread, and add some more great flavors to make a delicious cornbread and sausage stuffing.
Thanksgiving Cranberries Recipes:
Cranberry Mango Salsa
Appetizers are something that’s really easy to overdo, so I came up with a tasty fruit salsa that is easy to make and lighter than a traditional nacho cheese dip. The fresh ingredients taste great and don’t contain the fat, calories or chemicals of a typical pre-packaged cheese dip.
Korean Pear Cranberry Sauce
Serve warm or chilled. Can be made in advance, so it’s ready to serve at your big holiday meal.
Cranberry Hazelnut Waldorf Salad
Here is a fun twist on a traditional Waldorf Salad that is great for holiday meals at home or potluck parties.
Instead of grapes and walnuts, I used dried cranberries and hazelnuts. Chestnuts also work well, if you’d like to swap them for the hazelnuts. I also used a red and green apple to add some extra festive color to the dish.
Cranberry Fruit Gelatin Salad
Cranberry Fruit Gelatin Salad is an old-fashioned jello salad recipe.The heart of the recipe is a can of cranberry sauce, and in addition this salad has a finely chopped apple, a finely chopped orange, and a can of pineapple, giving it a variety of textures and flavors.
Traditionally prepared in a round jello mold, it can also be prepared in any other dish or dishes to make it more quick and easy.
Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce recipe uses only 3 ingredients and is mainly sweetened with orange juice. As a result, it’s lower in sugar with a lovely zesty flavor. So worth the effort to make yourself!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
Homemade crockpot cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries! The combination of orange juice, fresh cranberries, cinnamon and sugars create delicious flavors – and your house will smell amazing!
Easy Cranberry Sauce with Apples, Pecans, and Pineapples
An all-time, family-favorite cranberry sauce recipe– perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays! It’s so quick and easy, and burstingwith wonderful sweet-tart flavors and great texture! Plus, it takes just a few moments in your food processor and can even be made in advance!
Cranberry Honey Butter
This compound butter is tangy and slightly sweet, terrific on seasonal veggies, desserts, or breads. It’s a terrific last minute homemade addition to a Thanksgiving or holiday meal.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce
I’m not gonna lie, I grew up eating cranberry gel from a can and I liked it. However, I had a coupon for fresh cranberries so I decided to try a slow cooker cranberry sauce recipe and it turned out great! Since it cooks in 4 hours it would be perfect to put together on Thanksgiving morning to let cook while you tend to other things.
Thanksgiving Recipes For Bread/Rolls:
Cranberry Brie Bruschetta
One thing that is often leftover is cranberry sauce. Whether you get it out of a can or make it from scratch, this super easy recipe makes it easy to finish off that last bit of cranberry sauce in a delicious way. You can even use leftover bread, since it will be toasted in the oven.
Red Lobster Chedder Bay Biscuit Copycat Recipe
One thing that everyone loves when they go out is bread service.Red Lobster makes it extra special by bringing you biscuits with cheese in them.And the best part? You can even pass this job off to your 12 year old — with supervision of course.
Homemade Croissants
Croissants tend to scare people but they are actually really easy to make at home, they just take a bit of time, but are worth it when you break into one
Carrot Zucchini Chedder Soda Bread Rolls
These tasty soda bread rolls are quick to make and made with carrot, zucchini and cheddar to add texture, flavor (and generally be a bit better for you).
Sweet Potato Biscuits
I made Sweet Potato Biscuits for the first time on Thanksgiving a few years ago. My family had decided to ditch the traditional Thanksgiving menu, in favor of trying all new recipes.
Amazing No Knead Bread
For the last several years, I thought thatArtisan Bread in 5 Minuteswas the best thing since, well, sliced bread. It was simple, and wewere content withthe results. That is, untillast summerwhen our neighbor brought over a beautiful, deliciousloaf of home-baked bread. We had to know her secret. One phone call, and shecame back with the book,My Bread by Jim Lahey.
Thanksgiving Recipes For Gravy:
Turkey Gravy Recipe
I love gravy, it’s seriously the best part of the meal for me, I pour it on myturkey,potatoes, stuffing, even my rolls get dipped in gravy, so I like to make a huge batch. I usually run out of gravy leftovers first, and I seriously make a HUGE batch!
Pumpkin pie is a classic Thanksgiving dessert. Learn how to make your ownhomemade pumpkin pie recipethat is a bit unique from the traditional, as it also has a chocolate ganache topping!
