The turkey gets most of the attention, but the sides take up most of the table and most of the oven. Here are 38 of my Thanksgiving side dishes in one place, from mashed potatoes and stuffing to casseroles, vegetables, and rolls. Five of them cook in the slow cooker, so they won’t need any oven space.
If you’re making Thanksgiving sides in the slow cooker this year, my Slow Cooker Cookbook has 39 recipes in one place. It’s a digital download, so you can print it or keep it on your phone or iPad.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Pick what’s still missing from your menu: potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, casseroles, vegetables, or rolls. Each recipe links to the full post with ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Mashed and Baked Potatoes
1
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
These Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes are super easy to make, really creamy, and full of great flavor. They're awesome for holidays, special dinners, or just because you want something good to eat. We've even got tips for making them ahead of time and reheating, so they're perfect for busy days too!
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2
Boursin Mashed Potatoes
Ultra creamy Boursin Mashed Potatoes infused with rich and flavorful garlic and herb creamy cheese. These mashed potatoes are buttery and fluffy like a cloud.
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3
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
The best mashed potatoes come from the crockpot! Crock pot mashed potatoes are so easy to make, and all you need is a few simple ingredients.
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4
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
These cheesy scalloped potatoes are rich, creamy, and comforting. Thinly sliced potatoes and onions are baked in a velvety cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar and Gruyère.
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5
Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
Crockpot cheesy potatoes with shredded hash browns, a homemade cheddar sauce instead of canned soup, and a buttery cornflake topping added just before serving. Serve with holiday ham, roast turkey or meatloaf.
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6
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Cheesy Twice Baked Potato Casserole is loaded with cheese and bacon and will be the perfect side dish for the holidays or any special meal.
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Stuffing, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce
7
Stuffing Recipe
This is the classic traditional stuffing recipe that everyone loves! It's so simple, easy, and delicious – a must on everyone's Thanksgiving dinner table.
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8
Sausage Stuffing
Easy sausage stuffing is made with toasted bread, Italian sausage, buttery aromatics, fresh herbs, and stock. Make it ahead and then bake just before serving!
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9
Crock Pot Stuffing
Easy Slow Cooker Stuffing that is buttery, custardy, and delicious! Cooking stuffing in the Crockpot will free up some oven space, and it's a great make ahead recipe too.
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10
Mushroom Bread Pudding
A savory vegetarian stand in for stuffing, with mushrooms, celery and fresh sage, thyme and rosemary baked into cubed bread.
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11
Turkey Gravy
This smooth, flavorful turkey gravy is made with the rich juices from your roast or slow cooker turkey. Using a fat separator ensures a silky texture, and you can adjust the consistency easily with more or less stock.
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12
Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Here's my basic homemade cranberry sauce that you can either make traditional and jammy, or make a whole berry cranberry sauce instead. It's not overly sweet, just a little bit tart, and it's super flavorful thanks to my 2 secret ingredients that make all the difference!
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13
Cranberry Salsa
Fresh and spicy Cranberry Salsa is the best holiday appetizer, made with tart cranberries, spicy jalapenos, and just 5 other ingredients.
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Thanksgiving Casseroles
14
Creamy Green Bean Casserole
You can make a delicious, homemade green bean casserole using fresh ingredients and no cans for your holiday meal. It’s so much better made from scratch.
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15
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
Crockpot Green Bean Casserole is the perfect recipe for the holidays! Save space in the oven and let your crock pot do all the work!
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16
Sweet Potato Casserole
A traditional sweet potato casserole with a smooth, creamy filling, and a pecan and brown sugar streusel topping is perfect for a classic thanksgiving meal.
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17
Broccoli Casserole
This creamy, cheesy broccoli casserole made from scratch and with fresh broccoli will be your new favorite side dish. Fresh Broccoli Casserole is everyone’s favorite.
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18
Asparagus Casserole
Asparagus Casserole is a creamy veggie bake featuring fresh asparagus and mushrooms baked in a garlic cheese sauce, with a crispy topping.
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Vegetable Sides
19
Green Bean Almondine
A bright, buttery side of crisp-tender green beans tossed with toasted almonds, shallot, garlic, and fresh lemon. This is quick enough for weeknights and elegant enough for holidays. The lemon juice and zest lift the flavors and keep everything tasting fresh.
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20
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Tender brown sugar-glazed carrots cooked over the stovetop in just 15 minutes! The carrots are simmered in a rich buttery brown sugar sauce until they're tender and nice, and then sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley. Perfect to accompany any meal, and makes a great side for your holiday dinner!
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21
Honey Roasted Parsnips
Golden, sweet, and perfectly caramelized, these honey roasted parsnips are an easy side dish for weeknight dinners or holiday meals. With just a few ingredients, they roast up tender inside and crisp on the edges.
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22
Roasted Root Vegetables
Classic oven roasted root vegetables is an easy and healthy side dish that you can add to any meal. Make it to serve at a weeknight meal, or at your holiday table!
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23
Roasted Acorn Squash
Here's the easiest and simplest method to roast acorn squash in the oven! Roasted acorn squash is deliciously smooth, flavorful, and creamy. And makes a wonderful side dish to any meal.
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24
Carrot Souffle
This easy Carrot Souffle Recipe is made with pureed carrots, butter, sugar, and eggs. It's a simple and delicious side dish for any occasion.
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Mac and Cheese, Corn and Salads
25
Creamed Corn
Make this easy classic creamed corn from scratch, and never buy canned again! Creamed corn is a simple and tasty Southern side dish, perfect to serve at the Holidays or your next summer BBQ!
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26
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Dry elbow macaroni cooks directly in the slow cooker with whole milk, evaporated milk, sharp cheddar, and Velveeta for a creamy mac and cheese with no boiling required. Start checking the pasta at 90 minutes. It holds on WARM for up to 1 hour, so it works on a holiday buffet.
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27
Velveeta Mac and Cheese
Velveeta Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and flavorful, just like mac and cheese should be. This easy side dish is simple to make, comforting, and delicious.
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28
Stovetop Mac and Cheese
This easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe is made fresh, from scratch, and is ready to eat in about 15 minutes. You won't need to buy boxed mac and cheese again!
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29
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
This creamy pumpkin mac and cheese combines tender elbow macaroni with a smooth pumpkin sauce made with two kinds of cheddar. Crisp sage breadcrumbs add a buttery, savory topping that works well with the rich cheese sauce.
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30
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Creamy goat cheese, tangy apples and cranberries, and crunchy nuts pair beautifully with thinly shaved brussels sprouts to create a delicious and impressive Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad.
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31
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with toasted pecans, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and creamy avocado is an easy, healthy, delicious side dish.
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Rolls and Bread
32
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Soft, buttery, homemade crescent rolls bake up golden brown with a fluffy interior that is impossible to resist! This recipe makes a large batch of 24 light and tender dinner rolls that will be perfect for family dinners, special occasions, or a holiday spread.
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33
Texas Roadhouse Rolls
Learn how to make fluffy, soft, pillowy, and buttery Texas Roadhouse Rolls with this simple, step-by-step copycat recipe. You will never need to miss this bread again.
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34
Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe
These soft and fluffy dinner rolls are ready in just 40 minutes from start to finish. Perfect for busy weeknights or holiday meals, they require minimal effort and deliver maximum comfort.
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35
Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
Sweet potato dinner rolls are lightly sweetened and enriched with mashed sweet potato and honey. These soft and fluffy rolls bake up golden brown with a tender crumb.
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36
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
Use your bread machine to take the guesswork out of making dinner rolls! These bread machine dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and flavorful thanks to the addition of eggs, butter, and milk.
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37
Buttermilk Biscuits
Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits flaky, buttery, and easy to make from scratch! They're so much more delicious than any pre-made canned version!
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38
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Sweet Potato Cornbread is an easy and delicious twist on a classic recipe. Mashed sweet potato makes a moist, light, springy cornbread.
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For the turkey itself, follow my guide on how to cook a perfect Thanksgiving turkey.
Thanksgiving Sides FAQ
How many side dishes do you need for Thanksgiving?
For 8 to 10 people, plan on four to six. A potato dish, stuffing, a green vegetable, something sweet like sweet potato casserole, and rolls will cover it. If you’re feeding more than 12, add a second potato dish or a salad.
Which Thanksgiving sides can be made ahead?
Cranberry sauce keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days and gravy for up to 4. The twice baked potato casserole can be assembled 2 days ahead, the sausage stuffing can be made ahead and baked just before serving, and the crescent rolls can be shaped and frozen before baking.
How do you keep side dishes warm when the oven is full?
Use your slow cooker. Five of the sides here cook in one, and the Crockpot Mac and Cheese holds on warm for up to an hour. Casseroles can come out of the oven first and sit covered in foil while the turkey rests.
What is the most popular Thanksgiving side dish?
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole are the classics on most Thanksgiving tables. If you only have time for three, start with those.
Can you freeze Thanksgiving side dishes?
Some of them. The crescent rolls can be shaped and frozen before baking, so they can be done well before the day. Storage is different for every dish, so check the notes in each recipe.
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