15 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Creamy potatoes, a from-scratch green bean casserole, roasted vegetables, warm breads and fresh fall salads for your holiday table.
The turkey gets the spotlight, but the side dishes are what everyone goes back for. Here are 15 of our favorite Thanksgiving sides, from creamy potatoes and a from-scratch green bean casserole to roasted vegetables, warm breads and two fall salads that bring something fresh to the table.
Many of them can be made a day or more ahead, which frees up the oven when you need it most. Every recipe is pork-free and alcohol-free, so the whole table can enjoy them.
Potatoes
1Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes
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Yukon Gold potatoes mashed with roasted garlic, butter, sour cream and fresh herbs. Make them ahead and keep them warm in a slow cooker, so the stovetop stays free on the day.
Get the recipe2Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
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Thin potato slices baked in a garlic and thyme cream sauce with Gruyère and sharp cheddar until bubbling and golden. Assemble it the day before and bake it when the turkey comes out.
Get the recipe3Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
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Mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon under a crunchy pecan topping. If you add the optional marshmallows, choose gelatin-free ones.
Get the recipeGreen vegetables
4Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
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The holiday classic made from scratch: fresh green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce, topped with homemade crispy fried onions. No canned soup needed.
Get the recipe5Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
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When you need something quick and bright, these crisp-tender green beans with garlic and Parmesan are ready in about 15 minutes.
Get the recipe6Pomegranate Roasted Brussels Sprouts
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Brussels sprouts roasted until crisp at the edges, then tossed with juicy pomegranate seeds. Sweet, savory and very pretty on a holiday table.
Get the recipeRoasted vegetables
7Pomegranate Molasses Roasted Carrots
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Carrots roasted with a tangy-sweet pomegranate molasses glaze, a little cumin and fresh herbs: an easy way to add color to the spread.
Get the recipe8Roasted Honeynut Squash
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Honeynut squash halves roasted with brown butter, maple and thyme, finished with toasted pepitas and a tahini drizzle. The skin is edible, so there's no peeling.
Get the recipeStuffing and rice
9Stuffing Balls Recipe
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All the flavor of classic stuffing (bread, celery, onion, sage and thyme) shaped into balls with crispy edges, which makes serving easy. Add cooked turkey or beef sausage if you like.
Get the recipe10Pomegranate Rice Pilaf
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Fluffy jasmine rice with shallots, fresh mint and pomegranate seeds. A lighter side that can be made a day ahead.
Get the recipeBreads
11Homemade Dinner Rolls
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Soft, golden homemade dinner rolls from a simple yeast dough. They can be made ahead or frozen, so you can bake them days before the holiday.
Get the recipe12Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
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Moist cornbread with a crisp, golden crust, baked in a hot cast-iron skillet. Serve it warm with honey butter.
Get the recipe13Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits
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A fast alternative to yeast rolls: tall, flaky buttermilk biscuits that go from pantry to golden in about 25 minutes.
Get the recipeSalads
14Fall Harvest Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato
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Kale and arugula with roasted sweet potato, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and feta in a maple-apple cider vinaigrette. The sweet potato, pecans and dressing can all be prepped days ahead.
Get the recipe15Kale Pear Salad with Pecans
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Massaged kale with crisp pear slices, toasted pecans and shaved Parmesan in a cider-honey dressing. Fresh and crunchy next to all the rich dishes.
Get the recipePlanning tips
- Pick one dish from each group: a potato dish, a green vegetable, a roasted vegetable, a stuffing or rice, a bread and a salad.
- Make ahead what you can: the scalloped potatoes can be assembled the day before, the mashed potatoes can be held warm in a slow cooker, and the salad dressings keep for days.
- Plan the oven: roast the vegetables and bake the breads while the turkey rests, and keep quick stovetop sides like the garlic parmesan green beans for the last minutes.