27 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Everyone Will Actually Eat
Thanksgiving dinner can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. These 27 crowd-pleasing side dishes strike the perfect balance between delicious and doable. From creamy classics that remind you of childhood to modern twists that’ll impress your guests, every recipe here has been chosen because people actually clean their plates.
Whether you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving or your twentieth, these reliable sides will have everyone asking for seconds—and maybe even the recipe.
Classic Mashed Potatoes
Nothing beats the comfort of perfectly creamy mashed potatoes that melt in your mouth. This foolproof version uses butter, cream, and a secret touch of cream cheese for extra richness.
They’re surprisingly forgiving—even if you overmix slightly, they’ll still taste incredible. The best part? You can make them ahead and reheat in the oven, freeing up precious stovetop space on Thanksgiving day.
Get the recipe here.
Green Bean Casserole
This retro favorite never goes out of style, combining tender green beans with a creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions on top. It’s the ultimate make-ahead dish that actually tastes better after sitting overnight in the fridge.
The contrast of textures—from the soft beans to the crunchy topping—makes every bite interesting. Even kids who claim to hate vegetables somehow clean their plates.
Get the recipe here.
Stuffing with Herbs
Herb-packed stuffing is the soul of Thanksgiving dinner, with crispy edges and a perfectly moist center. Fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary transform simple bread cubes into something magical that soaks up all the delicious flavors.
It’s incredibly versatile—you can stuff it in the turkey or bake it separately for a vegetarian-friendly version. The aroma alone will have everyone gathering in the kitchen.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
These aren’t your childhood Brussels sprouts. Roasting transforms them into caramelized, crispy gems while bacon adds that irresistible smoky flavor. The key is cutting them in half and getting them golden brown on the edges.
Even the pickiest eaters find themselves reaching for seconds because they taste nothing like the mushy, bitter sprouts they remember. They’re elegant enough for company but easy enough for weeknight dinners.
Get the recipe here.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
This beloved side dish walks the line between dinner and dessert perfectly. Creamy, spiced sweet potatoes topped with golden marshmallows create a combination that’s pure comfort food magic.
The natural sweetness of the potatoes pairs beautifully with warm cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s essentially like having a sweet treat during dinner, which explains why it disappears so quickly from the table every year.
Get the recipe here.
Cranberry Sauce
Homemade cranberry sauce is ridiculously easy and tastes infinitely better than the canned version. Fresh cranberries burst into a ruby-red sauce that’s both tart and sweet, with just the right amount of texture.
You can customize it with orange zest, chopped apples, or even a splash of bourbon. The best part is watching guests’ faces light up when they taste the difference between homemade and store-bought.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Carrots with Honey
Simple roasted carrots become something special with a honey glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven. The natural sweetness of the carrots intensifies while they develop crispy, golden edges.
They’re incredibly low-maintenance—just toss with honey and herbs, then let the oven do the work. This side dish proves that sometimes the simplest preparations let the ingredients shine brightest, and even carrot-skeptics become converts.
Get the recipe here.
Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls
Soft, pillowy dinner rolls brushed with garlic butter are impossible to resist. These golden beauties are perfect for soaking up gravy and cranberry sauce, or simply enjoying warm from the oven with a pat of butter.
The garlic butter creates a slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender and fluffy. They fill the house with an incredible aroma that signals comfort and warmth to everyone who walks through the door.
Get the recipe here.
Mac and Cheese
Creamy, indulgent mac and cheese brings serious comfort food vibes to the Thanksgiving table. This isn’t the boxed stuff—it’s made with real cheese that melts into a velvety sauce coating every pasta shell.
The top gets delightfully crispy while the inside stays creamy and rich. It’s guaranteed to make kids happy and nostalgic adults even happier, serving as the ultimate crowd-pleaser when you need something universally beloved.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Simply roasted sweet potatoes showcase the vegetable’s natural candy-like sweetness without any fuss. Cut into wedges and roasted until caramelized, they develop crispy edges and creamy centers that taste almost like dessert.
They’re naturally vegan and gluten-free, making them perfect for guests with dietary restrictions. The beautiful orange color adds vibrant contrast to your Thanksgiving spread while requiring minimal prep time and effort.
Get the recipe here.
Cornbread Stuffing
Cornbread stuffing offers a delightful twist on the traditional version, with a slightly sweet flavor and more interesting texture. The cornbread’s natural sweetness pairs beautifully with savory herbs and aromatics like onions and celery.
It has a different mouthfeel than regular stuffing—less dense and more crumbly in the best possible way. Southern families swear by this version, and once you try it, you’ll understand why it has such devoted fans.
Get the recipe here.
Glazed Ham
A beautifully glazed ham serves as an impressive centerpiece that’s surprisingly hands-off once it goes in the oven. The sweet and savory glaze caramelizes into a gorgeous, glossy coating while the meat stays incredibly tender and juicy.
It’s perfect for feeding a crowd and provides delicious leftovers for sandwiches. The combination of sweet glaze and salty ham creates the perfect balance that appeals to all palates around the table.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash becomes incredibly sweet and nutty when caramelized in the oven. The natural sugars concentrate and develop complex flavors while the texture becomes creamy and almost custard-like.
It’s naturally beautiful with its vibrant orange color and requires nothing more than olive oil, salt, and pepper to shine. This healthy option doesn’t feel like health food—it tastes indulgent while being packed with nutrients and natural sweetness.
Get the recipe here.
Creamed Spinach
Rich and velvety creamed spinach transforms a simple green vegetable into pure luxury. The cream sauce is perfectly seasoned and coats every leaf of spinach in decadent goodness. It’s the kind of side dish that makes people forget they’re eating vegetables because it tastes so indulgent.
Despite its elegant appearance and restaurant-quality flavor, it’s surprisingly simple to make and can be prepared ahead of time for convenience.
Get the recipe here.
Candied Yams
Tender yams swimming in a sweet, buttery sauce that’s like edible liquid gold. The yams become incredibly soft while absorbing all the rich flavors of brown sugar, butter, and warm spices.
Each bite is comforting and nostalgic, bringing back memories of family gatherings and special occasions. They’re sweet enough to feel like a treat but substantial enough to count as a proper side dish.
Get the recipe here.
Pumpkin Soup
Silky smooth pumpkin soup brings warmth and elegance to the Thanksgiving table. The natural sweetness of pumpkin gets enhanced by aromatic spices like ginger and nutmeg, creating a sophisticated flavor profile that’s both comforting and refined.
It’s surprisingly filling despite being light, and the beautiful orange color makes it a stunning starter. The creamy texture feels luxurious while being much lighter than many traditional Thanksgiving sides.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Root Vegetables
A colorful medley of roasted root vegetables creates a rustic, beautiful side dish that tastes as good as it looks. Carrots, parsnips, and turnips caramelize in the oven, developing sweet, complex flavors and varying textures.
Each vegetable contributes its own unique taste while harmonizing perfectly with the others. It’s a healthy option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, and the natural sweetness appeals to both adults and children at the table.
Get the recipe here.
Gravy
Rich, silky gravy ties the entire Thanksgiving meal together, turning ordinary sides into something special. Made from pan drippings and carefully whisked to perfection, it adds moisture and flavor to everything it touches.
The key is getting the consistency just right—thick enough to coat but not so thick it becomes gluey. Good gravy can elevate even the simplest sides, and watching people drizzle it over everything confirms its essential role.
Get the recipe here.
Wild Rice Pilaf
Nutty wild rice pilaf offers a sophisticated alternative to regular stuffing with its complex, earthy flavors. The rice has a wonderful chewy texture that contrasts beautifully with tender vegetables and aromatic herbs mixed throughout. It’s naturally gluten-free and can easily accommodate dietary restrictions while still feeling special and festive.
The subtle nuttiness pairs perfectly with turkey and adds an upscale touch to the Thanksgiving spread without requiring advanced cooking skills.
Get the recipe here.
Baked Acorn Squash
Baked acorn squash becomes incredibly sweet and tender, with flesh that scoops out like natural mashed potatoes. A touch of butter and brown sugar in the cavity caramelizes beautifully, creating a naturally sweet side dish that looks impressive on the table.
The presentation is stunning—each guest gets their own individual squash half. It’s comfort food that happens to be healthy, satisfying both nutrition and taste requirements effortlessly.
Get the recipe here.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Baby carrots become something magical when glazed with honey and butter until they’re glossy and caramelized. The natural sweetness of the carrots gets amplified by the honey while maintaining a tender-crisp texture that’s perfect.
They’re incredibly easy to make but look and taste restaurant-quality. The beautiful orange color adds vibrancy to the plate, and even people who claim to dislike vegetables find themselves enjoying these sweet, glossy gems.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Corn Casserole
This comfort food classic combines the sweetness of corn with a rich, custardy texture that’s impossible to resist. It’s somewhere between a side dish and cornbread, with a slightly sweet flavor and incredibly moist texture.
The top gets golden and slightly crispy while the inside stays creamy and tender. It’s the kind of dish that disappears quickly from the table because everyone keeps going back for “just one more spoonful.”
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted cauliflower transforms from a bland vegetable into a nutty, caramelized delight with crispy golden edges. High-heat roasting brings out incredible depth of flavor while maintaining a tender interior.
It’s naturally low-carb and can be seasoned countless ways to complement your meal. The neutral color makes it versatile for any table setting, while the roasted flavor is sophisticated enough to impress guests who might normally skip the vegetables.
Get the recipe here.
Apple Stuffing
Sweet-tart apples add brightness and texture to traditional stuffing, creating a more complex and interesting flavor profile. The fruit provides natural sweetness while maintaining slight firmness for textural contrast against the soft bread. It’s particularly beautiful in fall with the apple pieces adding color and seasonal appeal.
The combination of savory herbs with sweet apple creates a balanced dish that feels both traditional and slightly unexpected in the best way.
Get the recipe here.
Maple Glazed Turkey
A maple glaze creates a beautiful golden finish on turkey while adding subtle sweetness that complements the meat perfectly. The glaze caramelizes during roasting, creating an attractive presentation that looks professional and impressive.
The maple flavor isn’t overwhelming—it just enhances the turkey’s natural taste while keeping the meat incredibly moist. This preparation method is foolproof for achieving restaurant-quality results that will have guests asking about your secret technique.
Get the recipe here.
Cranberry Orange Relish
Fresh cranberry orange relish provides a bright, acidic contrast that cuts through rich Thanksgiving dishes beautifully. The combination of tart cranberries and sweet orange creates a perfect balance that cleanses the palate between bites.
It’s incredibly easy to make—just pulse everything in a food processor—but tastes much more sophisticated than the effort required. The vibrant color and fresh flavor make it an essential component for balancing heavier dishes.
Get the recipe here.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Flaky, buttery buttermilk biscuits are the perfect vehicle for sopping up gravy and cranberry sauce. They’re incredibly tender with distinct layers that pull apart beautifully when warm. The slight tang from buttermilk adds complexity while keeping them light and fluffy.
Fresh from the oven, they’re irresistible—the kind of bread that has people filling up before the main course arrives. They’re also surprisingly quick to make for such impressive results.
Get the recipe here.
