Our most popular Thanksgiving side dishes
Let’s be real! Thanksgiving side dishes make the meal! Think of all those colorful hues—such as red cranberry sauce, deep-orange sweet potato casserole, and golden baked acorn squash. Some of us could JUST have a dinner of sides. Here are our editors’ picks for favorite side dishes—plus, some vegetarian options and a couple of historically inspired dishes!
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Sides
Sure, there’s the turkey. But what excited us about the Thanksgiving meals are those autumn harvest side dishes; their colors, textures, and flavors just meld together like no other meal! Listed below are some of our favorite side dish recipes. We’d suggest you select four to five favorites and create a menu (with or without the bird)!
Cornbread Stuffing
Credit: Sam Jones/QuinnBrien
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Maple-Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Plain, baked sweet potatoes are great; this way of preparing them is sublime, especially alongside that cranberry sauce!
Credit: Elena Veselova/Shutterstock
Pecan-Crusted Sweet Potato Casserole
Since we’re such big fans of sweet potatoes, here’s another option! The classic sweet potato casserole with pecans adds great crunch and texture and is a reader favorite.
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Basic Cranberry Sauce
Our basic cranberry sauce recipe has a perfect balance of sweet and tart. For something a little more creative, try our Chai-Spiced Orange-Cranberry Sauce.
Credit: Anna Shepulova/shutterstock
Maple Squash Casserole
Our other favorite winter vegetable is squash! From acorn to butternut, this is another way to add orange warmth to the plate. Similar in texture to a sweet potato casserole, our Maple Squash Casserole can be made with any winter squash. We used a combination of delicata and butternut squash to create a slightly sweet and nutty dish.
Baked Acorn Squash
A second winter squash option is acorn squash, which lends a golden autumn hue. When baked, this gift from the garden has a tender, mouthwatering taste, especially when enhanced with a bit of butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup. And everyone loves the squash boats!
Credit: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock
Green Bean Casserole
For greens, we always enjoy the classic green bean casserole; it simply fits well with all the other sides. Here, you’ll find a lighter homemade version that ditches the canned soup component.
Credit: Sam Jones/QuinnBrein
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Shallots and Bacon
If you’re not into green beans, how about seasonal Brussels sprouts? This roasted Brussels sprouts, bacon, and shallot dish is our favorite, but if you don’t want to use up the oven, try our Easiest Brussels Sprouts recipe (in a large sauté pan).
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Mashed Potatoes With Chives
Mashed potatoes are non-negotiable for many folks on Thanksgiving. Here’s a recipe with chives to add a tangy flavor and some interest. For other potato options, see our recipes for Cheesy Potatoes, Stuffed Mashed Potatoes, and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
Credit: Sam Jones/QuinnBrein
Fall Harvest Squash Rolls
It’s time for bread rolls! These fall harvest squash rolls are always a hit! People are surprised when they learn they’re made from squash.
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Spiced Carrot Biscuits with Salted Caramel Butter
Or are you looking for something different yet still delicious? Try these tasty carrot biscuits, which won third place in our 2014 Recipe Contest!
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Vegetarian Dishes
Curried Butternut Squash and Rice
This colorful butternut squash and rice recipe showcases the flavor of fall’s harvest in an easy yet deeply satisfying vegetarian (and vegan) meal.
Credit: Sergey Fati/Shutterstock
Sweet Potato Lentil Coconut Curry
This Sweet Potato Lentil Coconut Curry is hearty, warming, colorful, and adaptable!
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese
An entry in our Old Farmer’s Almanac Reader Recipe Contest, this Macaroni and Cheese uses pumpkin for a seasonal twist!
Credit: Koss13/Shutterstock
Two Historically Inspired Sides
The first Thanksgiving probably didn’t include many of our classics today, such as cranberries or mashed potatoes. (Read more in Why We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving.) They were more likely to have chestnuts, squash, corn, and beans on hand, not potatoes, so we have included some historically inspired side dishes for something different!
Classic Succotash
It’s pretty likely the Pilgrims and the Wampanoags ate this dish, which features a mix of beans and corn. The word succotash comes from Wampanoag msíckquatash, meaning “boiled corn kernels.” Try this homemade succotash with lima beans, corn, and bacon.
Credit: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock
Chestnut Croquettes
At the time of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, there were undoubtedly chestnuts in the forest. This recipe for Chestnut Croquettes is simple and makes a lovely accompaniment to turkey or goose.
Goose leg with croquette and orange sauce. Credit: Ryzhkov Photography/Shutterstock
So, which sides strike your fancy? Please tell us below!
More Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas
- Don’t forget about starters! Browse our best Thanksgiving appetizer recipes.
- And what about the “big bird”? See seven ways to cook the turkey (plus more side dish recipes).
- Finally, dessert! We’re big bakers here at the Almanac. See our Thanksgiving pies.
Catherine Boeckmann
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Having lived in South Florida then in New England. I have had many different experiences of what a Thanksgiving Dinner should be. Here's my idea of what a dinner should be: all those different side dishes all belong in a pie. As for the turkey, it belongs in a pot pie. So have dessert first. There's apple pie too. With hand cranked ice cream...
The last two recipes you showed looked the best, the succotash and the goose. I like plain and simple for a meal, it's just so much easier to prepare. We used to butcher a goose every year for Christmas dinner at my in-laws. It was my father - in- laws favorite, and you better not try to put your fork into the tail because that was his. I think it took me at least three hours to pluck those geese, but man were they good. I would make an orange dressing and stuff the bird with it. Good times.
Do you have any CHILD FRIENDLY recipies? something that doesn't come from mars? vitamins are important, however if it tastes like crap, all those vitamins will end up in the trash. Children have much more sharp taste buds, hence foods taste stronger to them. This is why 70yr olds and 5 yr olds do not like the same foods. Is there any way recipies can be shared that are for anyone less than 70?
This is a classic Thanksgiving meal. Many children enjoy orange “sweet” potatoes as well as mashed potatoes and some poultry. Macaroni and cheese is another favorite side.
The first thanksgiving was in Newfoundland in 1578.
