A collection of the BEST Thanksgiving side dishes, from classics like corn casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and traditional stuffing to modern riffs on favorite recipes like sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole.
Its November 12th, and while Im over the moon about the fact that there is now Christmas music available on satellite radio, we still have another holiday to tackle before we begin decking the halls and Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away!
While Christmas has my heart as far as holidays go, Thanksgiving is my very favorite food holiday there is nothing better than hitting the couch on Thanksgiving evening in a total food coma. While turkey is always front and center of the dinner spread, I prefer to take a small piece and fill my plate with a variety of side dishes (and of course leave room for dessert).
(If you ARE interested in turkey, then you should check out how we make ours >> How to Deep Fry a Turkey)
I have SO MANY Thanksgiving recipes here on the site, but I narrowed down my very favorite side dishes for you today. Ill be back later this week with a list of my favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes, so stay tuned!
[You can find ALL of the turkey day recipes that are on the site here >>Thanksgiving Recipes.]
Now, on to those side dishes!
Aunt Vickis Corn & Mixed Vegetable Casserole
My aunt has made this for as many Thanksgivings as I can remember its a super simple veggie casserole that comes together quickly (and no one can resist that Ritz cracker crust!).
Broccoli Casserole (From Scratch!)
Growing up, my Aunt Rene would routinely contribute a broccoli casserole to my grandmas Sunday dinner spread, and everyone gobbled it up. Once I was older, I tackled making a homemade version with fresh broccoli, fresh mushrooms, a homemade cream sauce and bread crumb topping.
Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Gratin
Anyone who scoffs at Brussels sprouts will go back for seconds when you combine them with bacon and a creamy sauce, and top them with a bread crumb crust. This has been a huge Thanksgiving hit with my family.
Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Cranberries & Pine Nuts
Everyone clamors for this riff on Brussels sprouts they are pan-fried and combined with crispy pancetta, dried cranberries and toasted pine nuts. Tons of different flavors and textures, which makes for a fantastic side dish.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Some families do dinner rolls, some do cornbread, and some do biscuits. If you fall into the latter category, then you will absolutely love these incredibly fluffy and flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Cheesy Corn Casserole (From Scratch!)
A supremely cheesy corn casserole that is made with absolutely no packaged ingredients or canned corn, which amounts to loads of fresh flavor thats a welcome change from traditional corn casseroles.
Cornbread
If you fall into the cornbread camp for your gravy-mopping duties, let me introduce you to my most favorite cornbread recipe. It comes together quickly and bakes up perfectly every single time. Smear it with butter and mop away!
Cornbread Muffins
Maybe cornbread muffins are your jam? I made these years ago to go with a pot of chili and fell in love immediately. Great for individual portions and you can make them mini-sized if youd like, too!
Creamed Corn Casserole
The epitome of corn casseroles. Only six ingredients, a bowl and a spoon are all you need to whip up this easy casserole. Dont expect to find any leftovers when you serve up this classic!
Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls
If you want something a little bit different than regular dinner rolls, these cloverleaf rolls totally fit the bill. They are soft and fluffy, yet sturdy enough to not totally disintegrate when theyre smeared with butter and are sopping up leftover gravy on the plate. Important!
Cranberry-Walnut Rolls
Such a festive spin on traditional dinner rolls! This easy yeast dough is studded with dried cranberries and toasted walnuts, shaped into rolls, sprinkled with sugar and baked until golden brown. Serve with regular butter, orange-infused butter, or even apple butter!
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Truth be told, it wasnt until a few years ago when I found out that macaroni and cheese was a big Thanksgiving side dish. We never had it in our family on Thanksgiving growing up, but I totally understand the appeal. I mean, cheesy carbs are what its all about, right!? And this crock pot mac and cheese version frees up stove and oven space, and you can scale it up to serve a crowd if you need to!
Easy Hashbrown Casserole
While were on the subject of cheesy casserole side dishes, once you take a bite of this cheesy hashbrown casserole (and find out how easy it is to make!), youll wonder why it hasnt been on every holiday menu of yours since the beginning of time.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
I have been making this cranberry sauce every single Thanksgiving for the past eight years. It is more a chutney-style cranberry sauce than a jellied or super saucy version, and it is DELICIOUS. Such bright and light flavors thanks to apple, orange and lemon zest!
Grape Salad
This new-to-me recipe also ranks highly for many as a Thanksgiving side dish mainstay. I love the fresh fruit, creamy dressing, and crunchy nuts. It will definitely add some different flavors and textures to your Thanksgiving table!
Green Bean Casserole (From Scratch!)
Green. Bean. Casserole. Is there anything that screams of Thanksgiving more than this casserole? Originally consisting of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and canned fried onions, this classic gets a from-scratch re-make. Fresh green beans, fresh mushrooms in a homemade cream sauce, and a homemade bread crumb topping that is mixed with those french-fried onions because, lets be honest, they are GOOD (but you can substitute your own crispy fried shallots if youd like!).
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Buttery, flaky crescent rolls made totally from scratch! I love to fill up a bread basket with these beauties.
Mashed Sweet Potato Brle
A fun spin on sweet potatoes they are mashed with butter and a little bit of seasoning, then topped with chopped walnuts and baked. The dish is then sprinkled with brown sugar and broiled until it is bubbling. Grab a spoon and crack through that beautiful brown sugar crust!
Perfect Mashed Potatoes
These are THE BEST mashed potatoes! As in, I need to quadruple the recipe every year because everyone goes totally nuts over them and they all want to take some home to have with the leftover turkey. They are supremely creamy, perfectly seasoned, and you can make them in the morning and keep them warm in the slow cooker until dinnertime. Total win!
Pineapple Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
My favorite riff on sweet potato casserole right here fresh sweet potatoes are cooked and mashed with butter, tons of seasonings, bourbon and crushed pineapple, then baked and topped with homemade marshmallow creme and broiled until beautifully browned.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette
This is a longtime favorite in our family, and if youre looking to add salad to your Thanksgiving menu, this is totally the version I would recommend! Its not overly filling, but you get all of those warm traditional flavors carried right through the salad. And that apple cider vinaigrette? Sublime!
Sausage, Apple & Sage Stuffing
This sausage and apple stuffing is made with Challah bread, flavored with sage, and bakes up wonderfully moist with a crisp top and crisp corners. It has risen in the ranks among stuffing recipes, and my husband now declares this one his very favorite.
Sausage Cornbread Stuffing
A Thanksgiving must in our family! There is something so insanely good about that combination of cornbread and sausage, and I load up on it year after year.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Pecans
I made this a couple of years ago and nearly everyone asked for the recipe after dinner; its a lighter, fresher way to serve Brussels and many people who claim to not like Brussels sprouts will gobble this up!
Sweet Corn Spoon Bread
This riff on the popular JIFFY corn casserole includes an extra egg, which gives this version a creamy, almost souffle-like consistency.
Sweet Potato Gratin with Gruyere
I first made this sweet potato gratin nearly 10 years ago and it still gets massive rave reviews whenever it shows up on the table. The sweet potatoes are wonderfully tender, and its perfectly creamy and cheesy. Always a huge hit!
Traditional Bread Stuffing
Last but certainly not least is perhaps the most iconic of all Thanksgiving side dishes the traditional stuffing. Sauted onion and celery are flavored with poultry seasoning (sage, marjoram, thyme is there a smell more Thanksgiving that that trio?!), mixed with cubed bread, chicken stock and eggs, and baked until golden brown.
TELL ME! What is your hands-down, all-time favorite Thanksgiving side dish?!
The post 27 Thanksgiving Side Dishes The Ultimate List! appeared first on Brown Eyed Baker.