Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (2024)

A Southern SoulRound Ups

by Donya Mullins Leave a Comment This post may contain affiliate links.

This post may contain affiliate links.

From classic family favorites to new additions folks will love, these Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes are sure to make your celebration extra special! This collection of my BEST side dishes is all you need to make this holiday delicious.

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (2)

The countdown has started, and I couldn’t be happier. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. I’m giddy about all the good things to come, and of course, at the top of the list is food!

I’ve been planning, making lists, and getting organized about the big day and how I’ll pull it off. If you are doing the same thing, then I think I’ve got just what you need.

Not only do I have all the side dish recipes you need to make Thanksgiving super delicious, but I’ve also included some planning strategies and helpful ideas to help you bring this year’s turkey day celebration to life!

Jump To

  • Ingredients For These Recipes
  • Pro Tip
  • Helpful Kitchen Tools
  • Make Ahead Side Dishes
  • Salads
  • How Much Should I Make?
  • The Big List Of Thanksgiving Sides
  • Enjoy The Leftovers!
Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (3)

Ingredients For These Recipes

One of the most important things you can do before cooking is to take an inventory of ingredients you have on hand and make a list of items you need to purchase.

This list of ingredients does not include all the things you’ll need to make these side dishes, but they are ones you’ll want to have on hand for holiday cooking.

  • Chicken Stock
  • Vegetable Stock
  • Olive Oil
  • Kosher Salt
  • Pepper
  • Seasonings and Herbs
  • Garlic
  • Carrots
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Potatoes
  • Corn
  • Green Beans
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Half And Half
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Pecans

Pro Tip

Make sure you have reliable kitchen timers and instant-read thermometers on hand.

To make cooking the big meal easy and stress-free, I double-check all of my pots, pans, and utensils to make sure everything is in good working order. I do this at least 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Here’s my list of helpful kitchen tools:

Make Ahead Side Dishes

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (4)

One of the smartest things I’ve learned over the years is to prep and cook as much as possible ahead of time. For the holidays, I make a list of the dishes I’m going to serve, and I make sure I have as many make-ahead recipes as possible! Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes are one of the best recipes to prep, cook, and reheat for the big day.

  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Easy Broccoli Casserole
  • Skillet Cinnamon Apples
Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (5)
  • Crock Pot Creamed Corn
  • One Pot Mushroom Rice
  • Crock Pot Applesauce
  • Instant Pot Garlic Herb Rice

Salads

You may not think that salads have a place on the table at Thanksgiving, but they do! I serve classics that are fresh and bright, making them alongside rich main dishes.

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (6)

Ambrosia Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (7)

Cranberry Pecan Slaw

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (9)

Grape Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (10)

Best Caprese Pasta Salad (Fresh and Easy)

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (11)

Classic Pea Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (12)

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (13)

Broccoli Apple Salad

How Much Should I Make?

For my family of 6, plus a few friends, I prepare 2 salads and 4 side dishes. Now, of course, there’s no perfect number of sides to prepare. It really depends on what your family likes and how many people you are feeding. A good rule of thumb for serving size per person is 1 to 1-½ cups per person.

The Big List Of Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving is that one holiday where classic family recipes shine. It’s also fun to add in a new recipe. This BIG list of Thanksgiving side dishes has both!

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (14)

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (15)

Southern Fried Corn Recipe

Easy Roasted Broccoli Recipe

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (17)

Best Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (18)

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (19)

Roasted Butternut Squash With Bacon

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (20)

Crock Pot Maple Bacon Green Beans

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (21)

Brussels Sprouts Slaw

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (22)

Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Casserole

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (23)

Honey Glazed Carrots

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (24)

Southern Pineapple Casserole

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (25)

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (26)

Orange Cranberry Sauce

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (27)

Green Bean Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (28)

Southern Cornbread Dressing

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (29)

Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (30)

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (31)

Skillet Cinnamon Apples

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (32)

Southern Style Green Beans

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (33)

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (34)

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (35)

Waldorf Salad

Enjoy The Leftovers!

One of the best things about Thanksgiving is that after the special day, we’ve got leftovers! With a fridge full of good food, it’s nice to take a break from cooking. But, I also like to get my creative juices going and find ways to enjoy those much-beloved Thanksgiving dishes.

Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Southern Ham Salad
  • Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
  • Ham And Cheese Strata
  • White Bean And Ham Soup
Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (36)

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Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

Three of the New York Times cooking section's most popular Thanksgiving recipes are potato-related: a mashed potato casserole, potato gratin and cheddar mashed potatoes. As with potatoes, there's a Thanksgiving-preferred way for green beans to be consumed: the casserole, of course.

What are the 12 most popular Thanksgiving dishes? ›

Scroll through to take a look at our most popular Thanksgiving recipes.
  • 01 of 24. Perfect Turkey. ...
  • 02 of 24. Roasted Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • 03 of 24. Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • 04 of 24. Homemade Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 05 of 24. Sweet Potato Pie. ...
  • 06 of 24. Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll. ...
  • 07 of 24. Slow Cooker Turkey Breast. ...
  • 08 of 24. Cream Corn Like No Other.
Oct 26, 2023

What are most Americans favorite side dish? ›

What to eat in the United States of America? Top 33 American Side Dishes
  • Side Dish. Cheese Fries. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ...
  • Side Dish. Chili Cheese Fries. Texas. ...
  • Vegetable Dish. Fried Cabbage. ...
  • Side Dish. Cowboy Beans. ...
  • Potato Dish. Jo Jo Potatoes. ...
  • Corn Bread. Cornbread. ...
  • Rice Dish. Red Beans and Rice. ...
  • Snack. Hushpuppy.

What is the least favorite side dish for Thanksgiving? ›

And the least favorite side dish for Americans on Thanksgiving is -- green bean casserole. 31.4 percent of people surveyed do not like it.

What are 3 main foods on Thanksgiving? ›

The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

What is everyone's favorite Thanksgiving food? ›

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and though the turkey (or ham) might take top billing, everyone knows the sides are the true stars of the table. What would our national holiday be without stuffing and sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, green beans and rolls?

What are Thanksgiving must haves? ›

Four Essentials for Thanksgiving
  • Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. There's nothing better than smooth and creamy mashed potatoes! ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. Thanksgiving is never Thanksgiving without this iconic treat. ...
  • Pies. We saved the best for last!
Nov 6, 2023

What is a must for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

But a few things are guaranteed, no matter where I am or who I'm with: There will be turkey; there will be stuffing; there will be cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, and pie.

What is the number 1 side dish in America? ›

Mashed Potatoes

They are creamy, comforting, and the perfect complement to a hearty meal.

What is the most common side dish? ›

Some common side dishes include:
  • Mashed potatoes.
  • Mushrooms.
  • Pasta salad.
  • Potato salad.
  • Salad (often a "side" salad)
  • Sautéed mushrooms.
  • Squash.
  • Tater tots.

What is the best side dish in the world? ›

30 best side dishes
  • Classic guacamole. ...
  • Tteokbokki. ...
  • Focaccia. ...
  • Mexican fiesta rice. ...
  • Vegetable samosas. ...
  • Creamed spinach. ...
  • Cheesy garlic bread. ...
  • Buttery baked corn on the cob.

What not to do at Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Five topics to avoid during Thanksgiving dinner
  1. Religion. Religion is a big topic for people, especially if you do not believe in it. ...
  2. Politics. This is a topic that people should absolutely stay away from when eating at the Thanksgiving meal. ...
  3. Finances and Jobs. Finances can be stressful all year long. ...
  4. Relationships. ...
  5. Weight.
Nov 21, 2023

What are the top 20 Thanksgiving foods in America? ›

Most Traditional Thanksgiving Foods
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry Sauce. ...
  • Corn. ...
  • Green Bean Casserole. ...
  • Candied Yams. ...
  • Pumpkin Pie. ...
  • Pecan Pie. Complete the meal with a delectable (delicious) pecan pie, a pie that uses pecans (a type of nut) with spices and maple syrup.
Sep 29, 2023

What is served at a black Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You will likely be eating roast turkey, barbecued turkey, deep fried turkey, glazed country ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed and covered with marshmallows, corn, cornbread, yeast/potato rolls, black eyed peas, rice, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce from ...

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