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:

  • Stock Pot
  • Casserole Dishes
  • Baking Sheets
  • Wooden Spoons
  • Crock Pot
  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • Air Fryer
  • Food Processor
  • Measuring Cup and Spoons
  • Mixing Bowls

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.

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)

What I’m Making for Easter

FREE EMAIL Bonus

Go ahead, steal my menu. This year’s feast is going to be amazing!

Reader Interactions

Rate & Comment

Easy Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular side dish served at Thanksgiving? ›

Thanksgiving side dishes: Here's the 10 most popular for your...
  • Sweet potatoes.
  • Brussels sprouts.
  • Gravy.
  • Bread.
  • Stuffing/dressing.
  • Cranberry sauce.
  • Squash.
  • Corn.

What is the favorite Thanksgiving side dish survey? ›

Mashed potatoes took the top spot in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Green bean casserole was the top dish in 10 states. Cranberry sauce was the top dish in five states, mac and cheese came out on top in four states, and sweet potato casserole was the favorite dish in two states.

What are most Americans' favorite side dishes? ›

What Is the Most Popular Side Dish in America?
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Baked Beans. ...
  • Garlic Bread. ...
  • Green Beans. ...
  • Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Cornbread. ...
  • Caesar Salad. ...
  • Coleslaw. A salad consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage and dressed most commonly with a vinaigrette salad dressing.

What are 4 commonly consumed foods at Thanksgiving other than turkey? ›

Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals.

What is the best dish to bring for Thanksgiving? ›

Think: deviled eggs, a cranberry-pecan cheese ball, and creamy caramelized onion dip. Then, divvy up Thanksgiving casseroles like classic stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole. And don't be afraid to try out a fresh veggie side dish such as garlicky green beans or shaved Brussels sprouts salad.

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 is the second most consumed food on Thanksgiving? ›

After turkey, mashed potatoes rank as the most popular Thanksgiving dish as of 2020.

What are common side dishes? ›

  • Corn Salad.
  • Coleslaw.
  • Quinoa Salad.
  • Baked Beans.
  • Pickled Red Onions.
  • Gallo Pinto.
  • Spaetzle.
  • Deviled Eggs.

What is the best side dish in the world? ›

30 best side dishes
  • Cauliflower cheese.
  • Epic summer salad.
  • Quick kimchi.
  • Roasted carrots.
  • Easy pilau rice.
  • Ultimate roast potatoes.
  • Giant couscous & tomato salad with zhoug-style dressing.
  • Best ever macaroni cheese.

What is the favorite Thanksgiving dish in the US? ›

Mashed potatoes are the front-runner to be on the most plates this Thanksgiving. Turkey no longer reigns supreme. Findings showed that over half of the United States would be content to only have sides on their holiday plates and 67% of Americans prefer side dishes to the main entrée!

What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, to the point that Thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called "Turkey Day." Alexander Hamilton proclaimed that "no citizen of the United States should refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day", and Benjamin Franklin had high regard for the wild turkey as an ...

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 5913

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.