Thanksgiving dinner may be known for the turkey, but the side dishes are the best part of the meal! From creamy potatoes and roasted vegetables to warm breads and cranberry sauce, the right sides turn Thanksgiving dinner into a true holiday feast.
This collection of Thanksgiving side dishes includes comforting classics along with a few flavorful twists from around the world. Whether you need a traditional potato dish, an easy vegetable side, or something a little different to add to the Thanksgiving table, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from.
Planning the rest of your holiday meal? Explore our Thanksgiving Dinner Menu and Planning Guide for turkey, ham, Puerto Rican pernil, appetizers, sides, desserts, and a step-by-step cooking timeline.
Potatoes and other hearty sides bring the comfort-food factor to Thanksgiving dinner and pair especially well with turkey, gravy, and roasted meats.
Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
Total Time: 30 minutesminutes
These Red Skin Mashed Potatoes are fluffy, creamy, and sure to be a favorite whether you're serving them with dinner for your family or at a holiday gathering!
These Lighthouse Inn Potatoes are thick, starchy and coated in creamy sauce with a crunchy topping that will easily become your new favorite side dish!
Indulge in the rich, savory taste of Lyonnaise Potatoes, blending crispy potatoes and sweet onions with spices for a side dish that truly enhances any meal.
Experience the hearty comfort of traditional German Potato Dumplings. They are perfectly thick and starchy spheres of delight. This dish complements any main course with its easy-to-prepare simplicity.
This Homemade German Spaetzle recipe shows you how to makethese delicious, German egg noodle dumplings in less than 30 minutes! They are the perfect side dish to go with all your Bavarian favorites!
Reinvent comfort food with our Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Apple. It’s a delightful fusion of creamy cheddar, crispy bacon, and juicy apples for a mouthwatering twist!
Colorful vegetables balance the richer dishes on a Thanksgiving menu while bringing plenty of different flavors and textures to the table.
Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
Total Time: 30 minutesminutes
Roast your Brussels sprouts to perfection with this Balsamic Brussel Sprouts recipe. Oven-roast your Brussel sprouts until they are crispy. Then, coat them with a glaze of balsamic vinegar and honey. This delicious side dish comes together in only 30 minutes!
These Arkansas Green Beans are bathed in a rich glaze that perfectly balances sweet and savory with brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic. Experience how this simple side dish is transformed into a delectable comfort food.
This Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Prosciutto recipe is an easy and delicious side dish that is perfect for any occasion! An irresistible combination of fresh asparagus, melted cheese, and crispy prosciutto. This tasty dish is ready in 25 minutes!
Who knew four ingredients and forty-five minutes could create such magic? These Curried Carrots are a delicious, easy-to-make treat, and these carrot fries will surely spice up any meal.
Experience the warm flavors of fall with our Roasted Fall Vegetables. This recipe combines fennel, parsnips, carrots, and Brussels sprouts, delicately seasoned with garlic and white pepper, creating a perfect, savory side.
Experience a burst of flavors with Braised Flat Beans. It embraces a rich tomato sauce, kissed by the essence of olives – a side dish that satisfies cravings.
A fresh or lighter side provides a welcome contrast to mashed potatoes, gravy, casseroles, and the other rich dishes traditionally served at Thanksgiving.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesminutes
Fresh, crisp, and bursting with flavor, this Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad is ready in 20 minutes, making it the ideal side dish for any meal that needs a little extra zing.
This Jerusalem Salad recipe is flavor-packed and uses the simplest ingredients to create a light fresh dish that comes together in a matter of minutes.
Whip up this vibrant Tomato and Walnut Salad in just ten minutes with a handful of simple ingredients. It's a delightful way to savor the flavors of ripe tomatoes!
Grab your vegetable peeler and get ready! This Veggie Ribbon Salad, tossed in zesty homemade dressing and topped with crunchy almonds and tangy feta, is ready in just 10 minutes.
Ready in under 30 minutes, this Lebanese Fattoush Salad is a quick flavor adventure with its crispy pita, fresh mint, and sumac, perfect alongside roast pork or chicken kebabs.
Experience a taste of Morocco with our Warm Moroccan Chickpea Salad, artfully combining sweet dried dates and crunchy pistachios for a truly irresistible dish!
Savor the unexpected twist with our Honey and Herb Bread – a harmonious blend that elevates your taste buds with its unique sweet meets savory charm. Turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience!
This easy Brazilian Cheese Bread recipe, also known as (Pão de Queijo), is light and fluffy, packed with cheesy goodness. Ready in just 25 minutes, this bread will keep you coming back for more!
This Pan de Agua recipe, the 'water bread', is a staple in Latin American kitchens. Revel in its fluffy texture and satisfying density – an effortlessly simple bread that promises to be the easiest loaf you'll ever bake!
Get ready for a flavor explosion! Our Cranberry Blueberry Sauce recipe blends traditional and bold, delivering a quick, irresistible addition to your extraordinary taste!
A great Thanksgiving menu includes a variety of flavors and textures rather than several sides that are too similar. Start with one or two potato or starch dishes, add two or three vegetables, include something fresh or colorful, and round out the meal with bread and cranberry sauce.
If you’re serving a larger group, offering a combination of familiar classics and one or two less traditional sides gives everyone something they love while still making the meal interesting.
For buffet-style serving, use a food thermometer to keep hot sides at 140°F or warmer and cold salads at 40°F or colder. The FDA’s buffet food safety guidance has more tips for holding food safely while guests serve themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes?
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, roasted vegetables, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce are among the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes.
How many side dishes should I serve for Thanksgiving?
For a smaller Thanksgiving dinner, three to five side dishes usually provide plenty of variety, while larger gatherings may benefit from five to seven or more options.
What Thanksgiving side dishes can I make ahead of time?
Cranberry sauce, cold salads, some potato dishes, breads, and many casseroles can be prepared completely or partially ahead so there is less work to do on Thanksgiving Day.
What side dishes go best with Thanksgiving turkey?
Creamy potatoes, green vegetables, roasted carrots, cranberry sauce, bread, and savory comfort-food sides all pair especially well with roasted turkey.
How do I keep Thanksgiving side dishes warm before dinner?
Keep hot sides at 140°F or warmer in a preheated oven, suitable slow cooker, or warming dish, and check the temperature with a food thermometer. Keep cold sides at 40°F or colder and refrigerate perishable dishes within two hours.
Whether you stick with the classics or add a few internationally inspired dishes to your holiday table, these Thanksgiving side dishes make it easy to build a holiday meal with plenty of variety, color, and flavor.
Hi, I'm Linda! Welcome to The Wanderlust Kitchen, where I share recipes and travel adventures from all around the world. Here you'll find a world of recipes you can have confidence in. These recipes celebrate authentic food heritage as well as modern techniques and ingredients. Be adventurous and try a new recipe and travel somewhere you have never been before. Bon Appétit! Bon Voyage!
Great list of dishes. My family is all coming for thanksgiving, and they are very judgy. Whether it’s about my carpet cleaning or the taste of my pumpkin pie, they always seem to have something to say. I hope I can do these recipes justice for my family.
Great list of dishes. My family is all coming for thanksgiving, and they are very judgy. Whether it’s about my carpet cleaning or the taste of my pumpkin pie, they always seem to have something to say. I hope I can do these recipes justice for my family.
Love all ! It’s great to do it right at home. Thanks for the video and your detailed recipe guide, just follow it and everything is easy
They all look great! You confuse me in choosing them … I’ll start testing Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Thanks for your great sharing
There are so many delicacies, I don’t know which one to start with, I’ll try some on your list. Thankyou anyway