15 Thanksgiving Side Dishes (+ Easy Recipes)

Looking for the best Thanksgiving side dishes?

From sweet potato casserole to corn pudding, these 15 sides will leave your guests happy and satisfied.

Sure, turkey is the star of the party, but Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the side dishes.

The holidays are sure exciting, but man, they can be exhausting – especially when you’re the host of the party. 

That’s why, to me, Thanksgiving side dishes shouldn’t just be 100% tasty, but a breeze to make, too.

The less time in the kitchen, the more time to spend with your family and friends! 

If you’re looking for easy holiday recipes, I have you covered. Simple yet delightful, these 15 side dishes will surely get you into the holiday spirit.

15 Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

1. Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Let’s start with a must-have Thanksgiving classic: sweet potato casserole.

Is it a side dish or a dessert? Whatever you want to call it, it’s soul food at its best. 

Brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon give flavor to the sweet potatoes. It’s perfectly sweet, buttery, and spicy. That alone is love at first bite. 

But it gets even better. The roasted pecans add the perfect crunch, and if you want it extra special, go ahead and add marshmallows too!

If this casserole doesn’t get your taste buds tingling, I don’t know what will.

2. Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Creamy dreamy mashed potatoes… ahh. Just saying that made me drool! 

Starchy mashed potatoes infused with milk and butter can’t be beat! Mmm. 

Luscious, velvety, and oh-so buttery, this side dish is guaranteed to steal the spotlight.

These mashed potatoes are so irresistible, you’ll want to eat them every day. They’re so easy to make, too. Just 4 basic ingredients, and you’re all set!

3. Texas Roadhouse Rolls

I can’t imagine Thanksgiving without delicious dinner rolls to sop up all the gravy.

This year, instead of buying from your favorite bakery, why not make them yourself?

With this easy-peasy dinner rolls recipe, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.

They’re incredibly soft, pillowy, and buttery! Best of all, they’re ready to be devoured in no time. 

4. Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a permanent resident on the Thanksgiving table, and for good reason. The perfect balance of sweet and tart makes it the ideal sauce for turkey! 

If you’ve never made cranberry sauce before, you’ll be surprised at how insanely easy it is to make. In fact, all you need are three ingredients: orange juice, sugar, and of course, cranberries.

5. Thanksgiving Stuffing

Looking for the best Thanksgiving stuffing (or dressing) for your bird? Look no further! This recipe is all you need.

Made with bread, mushrooms, celery, onions, and fresh herbs, this stuffing is the stuff of legends. It’s undeniably hearty and packed with goodness.

And the texture? It’s so tender, it almost melts in your mouth. I’m telling you, this stuffing will make your mama proud.

6. French’s Green Bean Casserole

Green beans, onions, mushroom sauce, and cheese baked to golden perfection? This green bean casserole will be your new Thanksgiving favorite.

Combining amazing flavors and textures, this casserole will absolutely knock your socks off. 

Each element is amazing on its own. The green beans are crisp and tender, the sauce is creamy, and the cheese is cheesy. 

But what takes this casserole to another level are the crispy fried onions. Wonderfully sweet and crispy, these onions are so good in the casserole, and on top of it!

7. Easy Creamed Corn

It’s creamy, cheesy, buttery, and bursting with corn. This creamed corn is the sweet and savory side your Thanksgiving dinner is missing.

Another thing I love about this creamed corn is that it’s a snap to make. It’s so easy, in fact, that it’s impossible to mess it up.

8. Honey Roasted Carrots

These honey roasted carrots give a healthy contrast to your Thanksgiving dinner.

But don’t worry – just because they’re good for you doesn’t mean they don’t taste great!

Smothering the carrots in honey and roasting them makes the carrots irresistible. Trust me, even carrot-haters will fall in love with this Thanksgiving side dish. 

And they’re both inexpensive and a cinch to make, to boot! What more can you ask for?

9. Mac & Cheese

It doesn’t matter if it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, weekend, or a weekday – I will have this mac & cheese any time.

I can’t get enough of this mac & cheese recipe. It’s hearty, cheesy, and absolutely drool-worthy. It’s easy to make, too!

It’s so ridiculously delicious that you can’t just have one helping. When serving this for Thanksgiving, be sure to make a huge batch.

10. Buttermilk Biscuits

Flaky, buttery, and sensational, these buttermilk biscuits are a Thanksgiving essential.

Looking for an easy recipe for buttermilk biscuits? Calling for only six ingredients and 35 minutes of your time, this version fits the bill.

And the result? Rich and buttery biscuits that you’ll want to devour for days!

11. Scalloped Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes and onions and ultra-creamy sauce baked to perfection? This casserole will take you to potato paradise.

There is something magical about potatoes and cream. Together, they make the most irresistible comfort food.

Serve these scalloped potatoes, and your Thanksgiving will never be the same. 

12. Candied Yams

Yams are made even sweeter with brown sugar, butter, and warming autumn spices, and baked to perfection. Candied yams are the epitome of sweet Thanksgiving treats.

It’s not just the flavor that will blow you away, but the texture, too. They’re melt-in-your-mouth tender!

13. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

They’re crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and flavorful all throughout. Roasted Brussels sprouts are a nutritious and delightful addition to your Thanksgiving dinner.

They’re a breeze to prepare, as well! Just coat the sprouts with olive oil and your favorite seasonings, and pop them in the oven.

Tasty, healthy, and newbie-friendly, it’s everything you can ask for in a Thanksgiving side dish.

14. Pumpkin Soup

When it comes to Thanksgiving soups, pumpkin is king. Warm, creamy, sweet, and savory – I can eat this pumpkin soup forever. 

This pumpkin soup may be simple, but it sure hits the spot. The secret is sugar pumpkins, roasted to perfection.

Roasting gives the pumpkin an even deeper, more robust flavor!

So don’t be tempted to use store-bought pumpkin puree for this soup. It may be added work, but the result is worth it.

15. Corn Pudding 

This corn pudding casserole is irresistibly sweet, creamy, and simply spectacular.

Every bite of this pudding is bursting with corn! It’s not just perfect for Thanksgiving, but other holidays as well.

And since it’s such a breeze to prepare, you can also have it any day of the week.