32 Thanksgiving sides that cover every craving from creamy to savory
Thanksgiving sides are where the real magic happens on the table. They add flavor, color, and that little something that makes a meal feel complete. Pick a few of these ideas, and suddenly your holiday spread looks complete.
Broccoli With Garlic Sauce and Bacon
This broccoli with garlic sauce is savory, simple, and topped with crispy bacon bits for extra flavor. It’s a quick and budget-friendly side dish that makes eating your greens way more enjoyable. Get the recipe: Broccoli With Garlic Sauce and Bacon
Pumpkin Tomato Soup
Settle in with a warm bowl of creamy pumpkin tomato soup. The rich blend of pumpkin and tomatoes is just what you need when the weather cools down. Get the recipe: Pumpkin Tomato Soup
Kale Salad with Apples
This massaged kale salad is fresh, crunchy, and perfectly balanced with apples, cranberries, toasted almonds, and Pecorino Romano. A lemon Dijon dressing with a splash of apple cider vinegar brings it all together. Get the recipe: Kale Salad with Apples
Mashed Potato Casserole
This mashed potato casserole is pure comfort in every bite, creamy and cheesy with a crunchy panko topping. Crisp bacon and fresh chives add the perfect salty pop and a splash of color. Get the recipe: Mashed Potato Casserole
Cheesy Cauliflower Broccoli Bake
This cheesy cauliflower broccoli bake is the side dish you didn’t know you needed. Loaded with veggies and melted cheese, it’s the perfect comfort food to complement any meal. Get the recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
Roasted Carrots and Asparagus with Tarragon Butter
Time to level up your veggie side dish game with these roasted carrots and asparagus, topped with fresh tarragon herb butter and toasted pistachios. It’s simple, gorgeous, and perfect for any occasion with just a few easy ingredients. Get the recipe: Roasted Carrots and Asparagus with Tarragon Butter
Wild Rice Salad with Beets and Lemon Ricotta
This wild rice salad is colorful, fresh, and packed with beets, blood oranges, wild rice, and greens. Top it with whipped lemon ricotta for a healthy, delicious side or light meal. Get the recipe: Wild Rice Salad with Beets and Lemon Ricotta
Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These roasted sweet potatoes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned with herbs that make them seriously addictive. Simple, flavorful, and guaranteed to steal the spotlight at dinner. Get the recipe: Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Arugula and Sweet Potato Salad with Goat Cheese
You’ll want to bookmark this arugula salad with goat cheese ASAP. Peppery arugula, tangy goat cheese, and roasted sweet potatoes come together for a perfect balance of flavors and textures that works as an appetizer or side. Get the recipe: Arugula and Sweet Potato Salad with Goat Cheese
Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
Sautéed green beans with shallots bring the perfect balance of crisp and savory to any meal. Buttery caramelized shallots take this simple side up a notch, whether it’s a Tuesday night or a holiday spread. Get the recipe: Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
These air fryer baked sweet potatoes come out perfectly fluffy every single time. Quick, foolproof, and an easy way to add a healthy side to any meal. Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Farro and Apple Arugula Salad
This farro salad is fresh, versatile, and packed with crisp arugula, chewy farro, sweet apples, and shaved Parmesan. Tossed in a tangy Dijon vinaigrette, it’s perfect as a nutritious main or a hearty side. Get the recipe: Farro and Apple Arugula Salad
Honeycrisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad
This honeycrisp apple and candied pecan salad is a seasonal showstopper for autumn and Thanksgiving gatherings. Apples, goat cheese, candied pecans, and a maple dressing make every bite fresh and crunchy. Get the recipe: Honeycrisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad
Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
These roasted carrots are as simple as they get, with only 10 minutes of prep time. The sweet and savory honey butter seasoning is so good that everyone will be going back for seconds. Get the recipe: Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet, creamy, and topped with a cinnamon-pecan crumble, this slow cooker sweet potato casserole is pure holiday comfort. Bonus: it frees up oven space for everything else you’re juggling. Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Garlic Butter Corn
This buttery skillet corn is next-level, with fresh garlic vibes and a sprinkle of parmesan on top. It is super easy and works for both a weeknight dish and for a special occasion. Get the recipe: Garlic Butter Fried Corn
Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
This spicy roasted butternut squash with quinoa and dried cranberries brings together warm, balanced flavors that feel right for fall. It works well as a warm salad or a simple gluten-free side dish. Get the recipe: Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
Spinach Pear and Feta Salad
This spinach, pear, and feta salad combines sweet pomegranate arils, earthy walnuts, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. Sweet, tangy, and crunchy, it’s ready in just 5 minutes. Get the recipe: Spinach Pear and Feta Salad
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
This green bean casserole skips the canned soup and goes all in on homemade flavor. With a creamy mushroom sauce and that nostalgic crunch on top, it’s the side dish your holiday table deserves. Get the recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet and spicy roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish. With just the right mix of sweetness and heat, they’re sure to step up your meal. Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
These roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon are literally the easiest thing ever, with just 10 minutes of prep. Crispy bacon, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and a maple Dijon sauce that ties it all together make this side dish an absolute showstopper. Get the recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Maple Glazed Carrots
These maple-glazed carrots are side dish goals. They’ll steal the show at any meal, sweet, spicy, buttery, and perfectly caramelized. Get the recipe: Maple Roasted Carrots
Quinoa Beet Salad
This quinoa beet salad is simple to make but packed with vitamins, minerals, and sweet-savory flavor. Crunchy chopped veggies and a homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette make it a fresh, easy addition to any lunch rotation. Get the recipe: Quinoa Beet Salad
Butternut Squash Risotto
This butternut squash risotto is creamy, savory, and loaded with Parmesan, tender squash, and kale. Perfect as a comforting main or a flavorful side. Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Risotto
Sweet Potato Casserole
This sweet potato casserole is rich, cozy, and topped with the most addictive brown sugar pecan crumble. Make it ahead, bake it later, and watch it disappear fast. Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Instant Pot Beets
Instant pot beets come out perfectly tender every time and cook in a fraction of the time. Quick, easy, and ready to enjoy in salads, smoothies, or soups. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Beets
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This Brussels sprout salad mixes shaved Brussels sprouts, chopped kale, pomegranate arils, avocado, and candied pecans in a bright lemon vinaigrette. Quick to make, it’s perfect for a holiday side or a light lunch. Get the recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Roasted Root Vegetables
These honey-glazed root veggies roast up sweet and golden with just the right amount of caramelization. Carrots, parsnips, and golden beets bring all the color and cozy vibes. They’re easy to throw together and pair well with almost everything. Get the recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables
Koginut Squash Bowl
This squash salad mixes pears, walnuts, toasted buckwheat, wild rice, fennel, goat cheese, and greens in a simple balsamic vinaigrette. It’s basically peak fall on a plate and tastes as good as it looks. Get the recipe: Koginut Squash Bowl
Roasted Beet Salad with Miso Dressing
This roasted beet salad is fresh, colorful, and packed with tender beets, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy hazelnuts. A creamy miso dressing ties it all together, adding a rich, savory-sweet finish to every bite. Get the recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Miso Dressing
Cornbread Casserole
This cornbread casserole is buttery, sweet, and packed with all the corn flavor you could want. It’s the kind of side that steals the show, holiday or not. Get the recipe: Cornbread Casserole
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes come out rich, creamy, and perfectly buttery every time. They’re the kind of classic side that belongs on every table for weeknights or holidays. Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes