From creamy mashed potatoes to savory stuffing and everything in between, this collection of the best Thanksgiving side dishes has you covered! Each recipe is easy to make and sure to impress your family and friends.
For even more holiday inspiration, check out Easy Recipes for Thanksgiving and make your holiday meal one to remember. Don’t forget to grab the FREE Turkey Cooking Charts at the bottom of the post.

Thanksgiving Side Dishes at a Glance
What You’ll Find: Easy, crowd-pleasing side dishes perfect for your holiday table.
Why You’ll Love Them: Simple ingredients, make-ahead options, and guaranteed flavor.
Perfect For: Thanksgiving dinner, Friendsgiving, or any fall feast.
Time-Saver Tip: Plan your menu early and check out What to Make for a Thanksgiving Potluck for easy dishes that travel well and can be prepped ahead of time.
👉 Hosting Thanksgiving? Grab my Simple Thanksgiving Digital Cookbook—filled with classic recipes, time-saving tips, and printable guides to make planning and cooking your holiday meal stress-free and delicious.
Table of Contents
- Thanksgiving Side Dishes at a Glance
- How Many Side Dishes Should You Have for Thanksgiving?
- How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Easier
- Indulge in Flavor, Not Ads - Get Your Ad-Free Digital Cookbook Today!
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Essential Kitchen Tools
- Get the Turkey Thawing and Roasting Cheat Sheets for Stress-Free Holiday Cooking
- LOVE these recipes? SAVE them for Later!
- Ranch Flavored Carrots
- Company Mashed Potatoes | Walking on Sunshine Recipes
- Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
- Sugar Snap Pea Casserole
- Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe
- Southern Cornbread Dressing - A Family Tradition by April Lee for Platter Talk
- Loaded Cauliflower Au Gratin Keto Recipe
- Lazy Slow Cooker Sweet Corn Spoonbread
- Sausage Stuffing Dressing
- Instant Pot Acorn Squash
- Family Favorite Green Bean Casserole
- Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Garlic Butter Bread Rolls
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole From Scratch
- 15 Minute Mustard Green Beans
- Recipe FAQ's
- 💬 Comments
How Many Side Dishes Should You Have for Thanksgiving?
For most families, Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without a generous variety of side dishes. Here are a few helpful guidelines to plan your menu:
- Plan for at least four to six different sides if you’re hosting a traditional holiday meal. (For my family, I usually prepare eight!!!)
- Include a mix of favorites such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, corn pudding, mac and cheese, carrots, or cornbread stuffing.
- For a large group, it’s always better to make a few extra sides so there’s plenty of variety for everyone.
- Choose recipes that can be prepared a day or two ahead of time to save time and reduce stress on Thanksgiving Day.
The recipes below include plenty of ideas to help you build your perfect Thanksgiving menu.

How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Easier
Here are a few helpful tips to make Thanksgiving dinner run smoothly and stress-free:
- Plan your menu early, including appetizers, sides, the turkey, and desserts. This helps you shop efficiently and avoid last-minute stress. For extra guidance, use my Thanksgiving Planner to stay organized.
- Create a schedule for your Thanksgiving prep, from planning your grocery list and shopping early to timing when each dish goes in the oven.
- Prepare dishes in advance. Cranberry sauce can be made up to three days ahead, and pie crusts can be frozen two weeks before you need them.
- Ask family and friends for help. My sister always brings the pies, and my sister-in-law brings her sweet potato casserole. All this helps make the day so much easier!
- Set the table ahead of time. I like to set mine two days before Thanksgiving. Check out a few of my easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece ideas for inspiration!
- Need more help? Check out my post on Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- 9x13 Aluminum Pans: Disposable aluminum pans make cleanup quick and easy. They’re perfect for baking, reheating, or transporting dishes to family gatherings and potlucks.
- Food Warming Mat: A convenient way to keep multiple dishes warm before serving. The adjustable temperature settings make it perfect for buffets or holiday dinners.
- Triple Slow Cooker Buffet Server: Great for keeping side dishes like mashed potatoes, green beans, and gravy warm during dinner. Each pot has its own temperature control and lid rest, making serving effortless.

👉 Explore the full collection...
My Essential Kitchen Tools
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Get the Turkey Thawing and Roasting Cheat Sheets for Stress-Free Holiday Cooking
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Company Mashed Potatoes | Walking on Sunshine Recipes

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Sugar Snap Pea Casserole

Cauliflower Mashed Potato Recipe

Southern Cornbread Dressing - A Family Tradition by April Lee for Platter Talk

Loaded Cauliflower Au Gratin Keto Recipe

Lazy Slow Cooker Sweet Corn Spoonbread

Sausage Stuffing Dressing

Instant Pot Acorn Squash

Family Favorite Green Bean Casserole

Easy Sweet Potato Casserole

Garlic Butter Bread Rolls

Fresh Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

15 Minute Mustard Green Beans

Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
According to a 2024 survey by Campbell's, the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in America is stuffing or dressing, which overtook mashed potatoes for the top spot this year.
According to a 2024 survey by Instacart and The Harris Poll, some of the least popular Thanksgiving side dishes among Americans include cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and roasted autumn vegetables. In one poll of more than 4,000 people, green bean casserole was the top side dish respondents said they liked the least.
You can keep side dishes warm before serving by using slow cookers, warming trays, or insulated food carriers. If you’re serving a large meal, a triple slow cooker buffet server works perfectly for keeping mashed potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables at the right temperature. You can also use a food warming mat or cover dishes with foil and place them in a low oven (around 200°F) until it’s time to eat.



















Wendy Sondov says
ALL of your features made me hungry! So many delicious things to put on the Thanksgiving menu!
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
Wow, lots of inspo for Thanksgiving Dinner here! My family practically forces me to make the same sides every year, but I'm going to unleash a few of these beauties. After all, what will they do: FIRE ME?!
Lois says
Thanks for visiting!!!
Jenna says
Thank you Lois, you've got me in the mood for Thanksgiving!
Lois says
Thanks for joining again this week Jenna! I'm ready for turkey with all the trimmings too!
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting. I love sharing with your readers and always find inspiration here. Have a blessed week! #OverTheMoon #ThursdayFavoriteThings
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says
Hello, Lois. I hope you are having a good time! Thanks a bunch for hosting this week! x
Lois says
Thanks for joining the party!