5 Star Reader Comment
Thanks for the recipes! I’ve been cooking more thn usual and am in need of new recipes.Yours are just what I’ve been looking for.
Lisa
The Countdown Is On!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I’m already giddy thinking about all the good things to come. Over the years, I’ve cooked more than my fair share of Thanksgiving dinners, and I’ve learned that success comes in the planning. A little bit of prep makes all the difference in keeping the day joyful instead of stressful.
So if you’re organizing your menu, making lists, or just dreaming about your favorite dishes, I’ve gathered my very best Thanksgiving side dish recipes right here — along with helpful tips and planning strategies that’ll make your holiday cooking easier than ever.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Donya’s Tips
- I like to create my menu early, mark which dishes can be made a day or two before, and get a jump on anything that reheats beautifully. Casseroles, salads, and roasted vegetables are all perfect for prepping in advance — and honestly, many taste even better after the flavors have had time to blend.
- Make sure you have reliable kitchen timers and instant-read thermometers on hand.
Make Ahead Side Dishes That Save Time
One of the smartest things I’ve ever learned is to make ahead whenever possible. Thanksgiving morning runs a whole lot smoother when a few of your sides are already prepped and ready.
Southern Green Beans and Potatoes
My classic Southern Green Beans and Potatoes recipe is all about cozy, down-home goodness. It’s got fresh string beans, tender red potatoes, and just the right touch of savory bacon, all cooked in butter and a rich broth. This comfort food side dish is a can’t-miss favorite at any holiday or Sunday supper table.
Southern Fried Corn Recipe
Buttery, Fried Corn is a classic Southern side dish that's a pure delight. It's simple, made in minutes with fresh corn, and is destined to shoot to the top of the list of your favorite recipes after the first time you make it!
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
Get ready to experience the ultimate comfort food with a delightful Southern twist in this easy-to-make baked potato casserole recipe. Packed with all the flavors and textures of loaded baked potatoes, this dish is sure to satisfy even the heartiest appetites.
Southern Candied Yams
Candied yams are a classic holiday side dish that's an outstanding addition to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, but they are also terrific to serve year-round. Sweet potatoes cooked with brown sugar, butter, and warm spices are the star of the show and downright irresistible!
Crock Pot Creamed Corn
Rich, creamy Crock Pot Creamed Corn, with a hint of sweetness, might be the ultimate side dish. It's easy to make since the slow cooker does all the work! Free up your stove top or oven space during the holidays or busy weeknights with the Crock Pot.
One Pot Mushroom Rice
Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole
Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole with caramelized onions and a buttery cracker crust is a fall recipe that's absolutely incredible! It's perfect for Thanksgiving but it's so good you'll want to make it all year long.
Easy Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Broccoli casserole that’s creamy and cheesy in the center with a buttery, crunchy topping is a family favorite and perfect for any covered dish supper.
Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce
Crock Pot Applesauce flavored with brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg is so delicious. It's an incredibly easy recipe because the slow cooker does all the work! Once you taste homemade applesauce, you'll never buy the stuff from the store again.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with a light, fluffy filling topped with toasted pecans are the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish! Made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and just the right amount of sour cream, these potatoes are special enough for any holiday meal yet easy enough to make for weeknight supper.
Salads Deserve A Place On The Table
It might surprise you, but I always include at least one fresh salad on my Thanksgiving menu. A crisp, colorful salad brings a welcome brightness to the table, balancing all those rich, buttery dishes we love.
Easy Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia Salad is a classic recipe that's hard to resist. Make with pineapple, cherries, oranges, coconut, pecans and grapes all wrapped up in fresh whipped cream and marshmallows, is a fruit salad that dreams are made of!
Simple Green Bean Salad
This clean and simple recipe is ideal served as a side dish for a weeknight meal and is always welcome on a holiday buffet.
Classic Waldorf Salad (Crunchy And Fresh)
This Classic Waldorf Salad combines crisp apples, juicy grapes, crunchy celery, and toasted walnuts in a smooth, creamy dressing perfect for serving any time of the year. Whether you're making it for lunch, as a side dish, sharing it at a potluck, or during the holidays, this traditional recipe is always a favorite.
Classic Creamy Pea Salad
Sweet peas, bacon, cheese, and onion, tossed in a vibrant creamy dressing, this sweet and savory salad recipe is a fantastic choice for cookouts, potlucks, and holiday buffets.
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This crunchy, savory, smokey, sweet Fresh Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is anything but boring! It's a delicious year-round side dish that's simple to make and great to serve as leftovers for lunch.
Southern Potato Salad
With tangy mustard and hard-boiled eggs, this Southern Potato Salad is the perfect easy side dish for family gatherings and a must for holiday celebrations. Loaded with a flavor and a creamy texture, after just one bite, you'll know why this cherished recipe is a crowd favorite!
Carrot Apple Salad Recipe
Carrots and apples take center stage in this fresh salad that's so easy to make! Carrot Apple Salad is a classic, feel-good recipe perfect for serving in the Fall or whenever you need a pop of bright flavor. It's the ideal side dish for busy weeknight meals and is great for family get-togethers.
Broccoli Apple Salad
Fresh broccoli, apples, cheese and a light, bright dressing made into one awesome salad. There’s a reason why this broccoli salad is a favorite at covered dish suppers and holiday celebrations!
Cranberry Pecan Slaw
Take your coleslaw to a whole new level with sweet, tangy cranberries and crunchy pecans. Mix in an apple and some savory, green onions then toss them all in a creamy dressing for a dish that will be a favorite at any gathering!
Southern Grape Salad
Delicious Grape Salad is amazingly fresh, sweet, and creamy with an irresistible crunchy topping! Served as a side dish or a dessert, this easy-to-make recipe is always a favorite at the holidays, potluck suppers, or when you're entertaining.
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 the one day each year when the recipes passed down from family really shine — the ones scribbled on index cards and tucked inside old cookbooks. This collection includes both timeless favorites and new ideas, so you can build a table that feels like your family and tells your story.
Southern Pineapple Casserole
Pineapple Casserole is a classic, Southern dish, that's sweet, savory, and has a buttery topping that makes it totally addictive! Served as a side dish for the holidays or as a dessert, this surprising recipe brings together contrasting flavors and textures, making it incredibly delicious.
Best Creamed Spinach Recipe: Fresh and Easy
Creamed Spinach is a quick, comforting, and absolutely delicious homemade side dish. It's easy to make with simple ingredients, whether pulling together a last-minute weeknight meal or hosting unexpected guests. This recipe brings out the classic, rich flavors of creamed spinach in a lighter, fresher way and is perfect for adding a little extra flair to any meal!
Creamy Southern Deviled Eggs
Extra creamy deviled eggs are a classic, crowd pleasing appetizer and a must for any southern holiday celebration. This deviled egg recipe is simple to make with no-frills or fancy extras. They are the perfect finger food for holidays, parties and gatherings anytime of the year.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Beautiful, glazed carrots with honey and butter are easy to make yet special enough to make a statement on any holiday table! They are so hard to resist, you'll make them all year round.
Easy Shells And Cheese
This take on classic Shells and Cheese is easy to make and requires just 6 main ingredients. To really elevate this cheesy dish, top it with my toasted breadcrumbs mixture.
Southern Style Green Beans
Tender, flavorful, and steeped in tradition, Southern Style Green Beans are a down-home delight that's easy to make! Fresh green beans cooked with bacon and just the right amount of seasoning is the perfect side dish for any meal.
Roasted Butternut Squash With Bacon
Butternut Squash roasted with fresh thyme and maple syrup is a sweet and savory side dish that's so easy to prepare! This simple dish is taken to a whole new level with a sprinkle of smokey bacon for an incredible holiday side dish or served at a weeknight meal.
Easy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Beautiful, perfectly cooked Scalloped Potatoes are a classic that you'll fall in love with after just one bite! Tender, thinly sliced potatoes are baked in a rich, creamy sauce for a side dish that's excellent to serve alongside any main course and is a must-make for the holidays.
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are out of this world delicious! With just four simple ingredients and the magic of the air fryer, this easy to make recipe will be your new favorite way to cook this yummy veggie.
Orange Cranberry Sauce
Easy to make Orange Cranberry Sauce is bursting with bold, bright flavors! Fresh cranberries sweetened with honey and maple syrup make this an outstanding no-sugar recipe to serve with turkey or ham.
Skillet Cinnamon Apples
Simple, easy Skillet Cinnamon Apples makes an amazing side dish, or dessert and is perfect for breakfast. Sauteed in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon your favorite fall apples are turned into a decedent creation that's hard to resist!
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with a light, fluffy filling topped with toasted pecans are the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish! Made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and just the right amount of sour cream, these potatoes are special enough for any holiday meal yet easy enough to make for weeknight supper.
Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Casserole
Full of deep, rich flavor, Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Casserole takes comfort food to a whole new level! This simple recipe is excellent served alongside grilled steak, pork, and fish or anytime you’re craving a luscious, flavor-packed side dish.
Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus
Perfectly roasted asparagus, with crispy tips that are tender on the inside, is what you get with this easy recipe! Prepared with just 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the oven, this fantastic side dish is ready to serve.
Easy Squash Casserole Recipe
Squash Casserole is a classic Southern side dish that's pure perfection! Beautiful yellow squash is layered into a cast iron, topped with a crunchy, cheesy crust, and then drizzled with a light butter sauce to create an irresistibly flavorful dish everyone will love.
Ingredients I Keep On Hand For Holiday Cooking
Before the big day arrives, take a quick inventory of what’s already in your pantry and what you’ll need to pick up from the store. Having the basics on hand saves time when the kitchen starts humming.
Here are the ingredients I like to keep ready for Thanksgiving week:
- Chicken or vegetable stock
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- A mix of herbs and seasonings
- Fresh garlic
- Carrots, potatoes, corn, green beans, and sweet potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Butter, milk, and half-and-half
- Chocolate chips (for sweet little treats or quick cookies!)
- Pecans
These staples are the foundation for nearly every classic Southern side dish — from casseroles and roasted vegetables to creamy mashed potatoes and decadent desserts.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
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:
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, taking a break from cooking is nice. 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:
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Happy New Year!
Bring a Little Southern Soul Into Your Kitchen
GET THIS FREE GUIDE: My go-to recipes to kick off the New Year right!
Ms. Donna I Absolutely Love Your Recipes & Follow You Daily- Do You have your Southern Recipes For Collard Greens or Turnip Greens as a Thanksgiving Side( it’s a Family Tradition for Our Family & I have Lost The Passed Down Recipe due to the Passing of my Mother) and What about Your Best Recipe for Southern Mashed Potatoes? Please
Thank you so much for your kind words — that truly means a lot! 💛 And yes, I do have my Collard Greens recipe on the blog! It’s a great fit for Thanksgiving and full of that classic, slow-simmered flavor.
I don’t currently have a mashed potatoes recipe posted, but it’s definitely something I’ve had in mind — so stay tuned! In the meantime, I hope the greens bring a little bit of that cherished family tradition back to your holiday table.
~Donya
Thanks for the recipes! I’ve been cooking more thn usual and am in need of new recipes.Yours are just what I’ve been looking for.