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Home » Side Dish Recipes

Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes (Updated for 2024)

Published: Nov 4, 2024 by Marye

Collage of Thanksgiving side dishes with text overlay for Pinterest.

What would the holidays be without all of those side dish recipes we all love? Here are some of our favorite Southern Thanksgiving side dishes - I'm sure you'll find a few to add your own holiday table!

First published November 10, 2020. Last updated November 4, 2024 to add recipes and update information.

Collage of Thankgiving side dishes with title text.
Table of Contents
  • Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms
  • Southern Candied Yams
  • Creamed Onions
  • Creamed Spinach
  • Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing
  • Jiffy Cornbread Casserole
  • Au Gratin Potatoes
  • Mom's Green Bean Casserole
  • Baked Mac & Cheese
  • Cinnamon Spiced Apple Rings
  • Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • Pineapple Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Collard Greens
  • Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Loaded Green Bean Casserole
  • Cloverleaf Rolls
  • Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 💬 Comments

There's nothing like a traditional Thanksgiving feast filled with Southern comfort foods.

Turkey is surrounded by the best side dishes from creamy casseroles to fluffy mashed potatoes. Piles of fluffy dinner rolls and buttery squares of homemade cornbread are balanced precariously on the edge of the heaping plate.

Nearby there's a countertop or sideboard that's home to every sweet dessert from apple pie and gooey pecan pie to creamy sweet potato or pumpkin pies.

Sometimes there's all of them and more. Here are some of my favorite Southern side dish recipes for Thanksgiving. They're bound to be a hit with your family, too.

Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Overhead view of brussels sprouts in a serving dish.

Recipe: Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Cranberries, bacon, and Brussels sprouts are roasted to perfection in a sweet maple glaze. So easy and SO good!

Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Overhead view of caramelized onions and mushrooms for feature image.

Recipe: Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms

The rich, sweet taste of caramelized onions pairs beautifully with the earthy flavor of mushrooms in this delicious side dish.

Southern Candied Yams

Closeup of yams being served.

Recipe: Candied Yams

Southerners are notorious for having a sweet tooth the size of Texas and these candied yams are the perfect example of just how sweet we like it.

Creamed Onions

Closeup of a bowl of creamed onions.

Recipe: Creamed Onions

Enjoy this classic creamed onions recipe, enhanced with a touch of sage for that nostalgic flavor just like Mom's! It’s the ideal side dish for Thanksgiving or any cozy, comfort meal.

Creamed Spinach

Overhead view of a plain bowl of creamed spinach.

Recipe: Creamed Spinach

I love this easy side dish - whether or not I'm following a low-carb eating plan! It's the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner because it's rich and delicious! PLUS, it takes just minutes to make, and it's gluten-free!

Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing

Closeup of a serving of cornbread dressing.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing

It's just not Thanksgiving without Southern cornbread dressing! I love this easy recipe because it's made in the slow cooker so it doesn't use up premium oven space. It comes out SO light and fluffy, too!

Jiffy Cornbread Casserole

Cornbread casserole seen from the top.

Recipe: Jiffy Cornbread Casserole

Crispy crust and a creamy, gooey interior - this Jiffy cornbread casserole is a southern classic! 5 minutes of prep time - and you can make it ahead. That's what makes it one of the best Thanksgiving recipes ever!

Au Gratin Potatoes

Casserole dish of. cheesy au gratin potatoes on a table.

Recipe: Au Gratin Potatoes

Make these easy, cheesy potatoes right on top of the stove then add them to a casserole dish and brown the top at the last minute - or skip that part. A delicious Thanksgiving side dish that everyone loves.

Mom's Green Bean Casserole

Closeup overhead view of finished green bean casserole.

Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

This easy green bean casserole recipe with crispy friend onions has been popular for decades because it's so darn easy! It's one of those classic dishes that will probably be around forever.

Baked Mac & Cheese

Serving of gooey macaroni and cheese being removed from the dish.

Recipe: Mac & Cheese

It's just not a holiday table without the macaroni and cheese on it! Creamy and full of cheddar cheese - this is everyone's favorite.

Cinnamon Spiced Apple Rings

Closeup of red apple rings.

Recipe: Cinnamon Apple Rings

Sweet and spicy, these cinnamon apple rings are so pretty on the relish tray! They're a great addition to the Thanksgiving menu but you'll want to make them a couple of days ahead of time for the best color.

Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

Close up of sweet potato crunch casserole with a serving removed from dish.

Recipe: Bourbon Sweet Potato Crunch

Creamy, rich, and sweet! No Southern meal is complete without this traditional sweet potato casserole! This has the addition of bourbon and is then topped with pecan praline. SO unbelievably good you may want to keep it all to yourself.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Side view of a white bowl of mashed potatoes.

Recipe: Mashed Potatoes

These super creamy mashed potatoes can be made ahead of time and frozen.

They're the ultimate comfort food and you can't do Thanksgiving dinner without them.

Pineapple Casserole

A crunchy topped casserole with a serving spoon in it.

Recipe: Pineapple Casserole

This classic Southern side dish is unknown in much of the United States. It's a delicious combination of sweet and savory that deserves its place on the Thanksgiving table.

Slow Cooker Collard Greens

Serving collard greens from the slow cooker.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Collard Greens

This is the absolute easiest way to make southern collard greens with ALL the flavor. They don't get slimy or over-cooked. So good.

Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole

Overhead view of sweet potato pineapple casserole with cranberries and pecans.

Recipe: Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole

If you're looking for a sweet potato side dish that's not as sweet as the traditional recipe you'll love this tangy, tropical version!

Loaded Green Bean Casserole

Closeup of the casserole showing the creamy sauce.

Recipe: Loaded Green Bean Casserole

All of the goodness of classic green bean casserole but, y'all, with so. much. more! Green beans, crispy bacon, & extra creamy, cheesy sauce (with the extra richness of cream cheese) takes this over the top.

Cloverleaf Rolls

Freshly baked cloverleaf rolls in a muffin tin.

Recipe: Cloverleaf Rolls

If it's Thanksgiving you'll need some hot, fresh rolls and these vintage cloverleaf rolls are the perfect addition to that plate!

Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

Overhead view of sweet potato dinner rolls in a bowl.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

Light and fluffy with just a hint of sweet potato and a honey-cinnamon butter glaze? Yes, please! These rolls disappear fast.

💭 Things to know

  • Get all hands on deck - everyone can do something when it comes to Thanksgiving side dish prep! The littles can wash vegetables, pull herb leaves off stems, and other small chores that free up the bigs to do the more challenging stuff.
  • My mother is probably rolling over in her grave but I like to keep it all easy and that means the fewer dishes to wash the better. Use disposable serving dishes, paper plates, and paper napkins and leave the fancy china in the cupboard - you deserve to enjoy the day, too.
  • Don't be afraid to round out your holiday side dish game with prepared items from your favorite deli.
  • Have a vegan coming to dinner? Roast some veggies with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt.
  • Family potluck? Make your recipes in aluminum pans that can be thrown away. No worries about losing your favorite casserole dish.

If you're doing a big potluck you might want to read up on how to keep those side dishes and casseroles warm.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

More Legendary Southern Side Dish Recipes

  • Closeup overhead view of the macaroni salad in a bowl with a spoon in it for serving.
    BBQ Macaroni Salad
  • Overhead view of pickles in a white bowl
    Sweet Heat Refrigerator Pickles
  • Overhead view of skillet with finished cabbage in it. Feature image.
    Creamed Cabbage
  • A crunchy topped casserole with a serving spoon in it.
    Pineapple Casserole

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

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Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

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NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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