Confused about what will make your Thanksgiving side dish roster this year? Cut the guesswork out & curate the perfect spread from this killer round-up!
When the time comes to think about what will be on your Thanksgiving table, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Often, it’s a delicate balance of choosing between the classics and a couple of new and exciting recipes to try. To help you dream up the perfect Thanksgiving menu for your family and friends, I’ve gathered all of my favorites in one easy-to-read list. Let the planning begin!
What about Thanksgiving desserts? If you’re lost on what sweets you want to cap your feast with, check out this handy roundup on the 10 Best Thanksgiving Desserts.
A Guide on Essential Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Before we dive into our favorite side dishes, let’s chat about what makes a “traditional” Thanksgiving dinner. There’s a few usual suspects, but everyone’s spread looks a little different depending on their culture and taste buds. As a Ukrainian family, we often have a mix of Ukrainian or Ukrainian-inspired dishes at our feast. As long as you have a couple of classics on the table, feel free to include whatever you’re craving and don’t be afraid to try a new spin on some of your favorite sides!
- Bread: From fluffy buttermilk biscuits to white dinner rolls, having a carb to sop up the gravy and make mini turkey sandwiches with is key.
- Potatoes: Most people opt for classic mashed potatoes or a cheesy, oven-baked gratin. If one potato dish isn’t enough on Turkey Day, feel free to make a sweet potato casserole, too!
- Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, green beans, and roasted carrots are perhaps the most classic choices, but acorn squash, butternut squash, and cauliflower are all in season too!
- Cranberry Sauce: A nice, tart cranberry sauce is the perfect citrusy complement to all the fatty, decadent, and hearty dishes on the table. Plus, it’s perfect for those day-after leftover turkey sandwiches!
- Gravy: A solid gravy made of turkey drippings is a must-have. There’s nothing like drizzling the gravy all over your heaping plate of goodies. Why limit the creamy goodness to just mashed potatoes, anyway?
15 Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Choose From
1. Homemade Stuffing
One of the sides that I absolutely must have on the table is stuffing. Use any bread you have (homemade or store-bought), add in some cut veggies, chicken broth, and fresh herbs and spices and you’ve got the tastiest homemade stuffing! I love pouring a dollop of gravy on top for an even more decadent bite.
2. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
This casserole is my personal favorite to serve for Thanksgiving. My mom’s classic version uses mashed potatoes, then bakes them this way. It’s “next-level” good! Plus, you can prep this up to two days in advance, which makes Thanksgiving day (and dinner) even easier!
3. Ukrainian Pampushky (Garlic Bread)
If you’re looking for dinner rolls with a garlic and herb flavor, these are for you. For easy prep, make a large batch up to three days ahead of time and store them on the counter. Right before the festive dinner, reheat the pampushky in the oven with a slather of garlic oil to really bring out the flavor.
4. Mushroom Gravy
Every year when my family gathers, there’s bound to be a new recipe or two in the mix. But when it comes to gravy, I know it’s always going to be my sister’s mushroom gravy. It’s a family tradition, so there’s no way we’re changing this one out anytime soon!
5. Pear Walnut Salad
Fruity, nutty, and covered in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette — this salad complements the carbs and protein of Thanksgiving dinner so well. Plus, it adds so much lovely green color to the table!
6. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These super savory mashed potatoes are perhaps the most essential of all Thanksgiving side dishes. They don’t skimp on flavor or texture — rather they bring out the inner garlic-lover in everyone!
7. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
This is a second-favorite of mine when it comes to fruity/green salads. It is tossed with toasted pine nuts and pomegranate seeds, and topped with a sweet and tangy honey-lemon dressing. Mmmmm!
8. Scalloped Potatoes
If you’re all into make ahead options, these potatoes are perfect for it! Funny enough this is actually the first meal that I made for my in-laws, but I didn’t cook them long enough so the potatoes ended up raw. Oops! Follow the recipe and I promise you won’t make my mistake!
9. Roasted Carrots & Parsnips
This veggie dish will add color and nutrients to the table with less than 15 minutes of prep. When it comes to a big festive dinner, simple and fast recipes like this are the way to go!
10. Quick Mac and Cheese
As tempting as boxed mac and cheese is, there’s no need to reach for it when you can make this homemade version instead. If you’ve got picky kids who may not touch anything else on the table, I guarantee they will eat this right up!
11. Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto
Plain oven-roasted asparagus is common to the festive table, but wrap it in prosciutto and you’ve got a new version that will WOW everybody. To be honest, the pictures speak for themselves at how delicious these are!
12. Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms
This may be a new one to some of you, but it’s actually been a reader’s favorite for over 10 years now! I’m not kidding when I say it’s turned many “mushroom-haters” into “mushroom-lovers.”
13. Buttery Garlic Green Beans
These four-ingredient green beans take less than 15 minutes from start-to-finish. There’s a reason why green beans are popular for this holiday, and my guess is it’s because of how quick and easy they are to make.
14. Steak Bruschetta
I love having an appetizer/finger sandwich option on my dinner table. Since the majority of the meal is focused around turkey, I like serving up these beef mini sandwiches for a little bit of protein variety.
15. Roasted Cabbage Wedge Salad
This wedge salad is my mom’s specialty for Thanksgiving. Even though I know how to make it, they taste even better when they come from my mom’s kitchen. Cold, tender, and tangy makes a great final complement to your dinner!
More Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Smoky Bacon Macaroni and Cheese – Decadent bacon mac and cheese
- Deviled Eggs – Creamy with a little bit of tang, this side is a classic
- Garlic Herb Butter – To slather onto those fluffy homemade rolls
- How to Boil Corn on the Cob – Simple boiled corn on the cob
- Uzbek Plov (One-Pot Recipe) – Rice pilaf with lamb
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