It’s the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes that truly make the meal. So for your next turn as host, try our traditional stuffing recipe, cranberry compote, sweet potatoes, and more Thanksgiving side dishes to impress guests. These holiday eats are so delicious you’ll be inspired to make them all year.
Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Scott Little
It’s no surprise that this is one of our Test Kitchen’s most popular recipes ever. Mashed potatoes are a staple among traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, and this version is so delicious we could eat enough to make it the main course! Not only is it creamy and full of robust garlic, but our secret ingredient (chicken broth) adds a whole extra level of flavor.
Buttered Stuffing with Mushrooms
Blaine Moats
Thanks to its crispy edges and softer center, this traditional Thanksgiving stuffing recipe is ideal for those who prefer both dry stuffing and moist bread-based stuffing. A full pound and a half of mushrooms pump up the umami factor, while a handful of fresh herbs and splash of white wine brighten the flavors.
Classic Dinner Rolls
Andy Lyons
These no-knead, light-as-air Thanksgiving rolls are buttery brown on the outside and tender on the inside. The best part about this traditional Thanksgiving side dish recipe is: It’s delicious as part of your holiday feast and tastes great split and toasted the next day, too. Just add leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing for a post-turkey-day sandwich.
Bacon-Mushroom Twice-Baked Potatoes
Jacob Fox
These potatoes are even more stuffed than you’ll be after dinner! This Thanksgiving side dish is dressed up for the holiday with garlic, mushrooms, sour cream, bacon, and Swiss cheese. Garnish the spuds with fresh chives just before serving for a bit of color and a hint of onion flavor.
Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
Kritsada Panichgul
With a creamy cheese sauce and golden-brown crusty topper, our holiday mac and cheese recipe is so good that you’ll want to eat it up yourself. (We’re sure tempted!) Our best tip for this baked and bubbly traditional Thanksgiving side dish: Shred your cheeses yourself before melting for the richest, most luscious sauce. Pre-shredded cheeses just don’t melt the same. Plus, you can make and serve it all in the same dish!
Bourbon and Cider Pan Gravy
Carson Downing
Whether gravy is technically a side dish is up for debate, but it’s a must-have for any traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This one is seasoned with drippings from the roast turkey (if you’re not serving turkey this year, you can still make it without!) along with bourbon or apple cider.
New England Cranberry-Orange Relish
Con Poulos
For all lovers of traditional Thanksgiving cranberry recipes, we’ve got a side dish just for you! Tangy cranberries and sweet oranges combine to make this classic relish. Spoon it atop your entrée or spread it on rolls. Come Black Friday, try it as a topping for waffles or pancakes.
Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Jason Donnelly
All other side dishes for Thanksgiving will now need to defend their turf on the table—there’s competition for a new favorite Thanksgiving vegetable recipe. Just five ingredients turn these sprouts into the perfect complement to the rest of your Thanksgiving menu. First, they’re caramelized, bringing out an unexpected sweetness to the entire traditional Thanksgiving vegetable side dish.
Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas
Andy Lyons
This recipe proves that veggie side dishes for Thanksgiving don’t have to be boring. Roasting the carrots, sweet potatoes, and red potatoes in this hearty recipe boosts their fall flavors. Simply drizzle the traditional Thanksgiving side dish with our homemade rosemary-brown sugar dressing and add the chickpeas before sliding the dish in the oven.
Scalloped Russet and Sweet Potatoes
Constatine Poulos
Scalloped potatoes are another traditional Thanksgiving side dish, but this year we’re giving you permission to get creative with it. Think outside the box by using a combination of russet and sweet potatoes. It’s a great way to incorporate new flavors while pleasing guests expecting traditional dishes.
Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This sweet potato mash is flavored with goat cheese and topped with crunchy nuts. Half-and-half and butter is our secret to making each bowl rich and creamy.
Cranberry-Marshmallow Sweet Potato Casserole
Con Poulos
For many of us, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving dinner without sweet potato casserole. So put a twist on the classic side dish by baking individual sweet potatoes and topping them with brown sugar and dried cranberries.
Party Potatoes
Grant Webster
This cheesy potato casserole is always the first to go at our Thanksgiving dinner. And for good reason! It’s loaded with cheddar cheese and sour cream, then topped with a crunchy corn flake mixture.
Honey-Roasted Air-Fryer Butternut Squash
Jacob Fox
Butternut squash is our favorite winter squash because of its creamy texture and sweet flavor. Here, we’re cooking it in the air fryer with dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, and crumbly gorgonzola cheese.
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Rachel Marek. Food Styling: Annie Probst
Crisp golden roasted potatoes are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish for roast turkey or ham. Baking the potatoes with butter and Parmesan cheese ensures they’re creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
Broccoli Salad
Carson Downing
A classic broccoli salad is a total crowd pleaser. Your Thanksgiving guests will love the combination of crisp bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds. You can make it up to 24 hours before serving.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
Jake Sternquist
Bring a taste of your favorite restaurant to Thanksgiving. This copycat casserole includes everything you love about the Cracker Barrel classic including hash brown potatoes, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
Bourbon-Pecan Stuffing
Kritsada Panichgul
Switch up the classic Thanksgiving stuffing recipe by adding in a dash of bourbon. Sprinkle the top with pecans, celery, and onion to give the warm and hearty dish a satisfying crunch.
Classic Corn Bread
Carson Downing
Warm, buttery corn bread is a beloved, Southern, holiday dish. Choose to make skillet corn bread, corn bread muffins, or even corn bread on a stick. Add in sweet fruit or spicy chiles—the choice is up to you!
Sheet-Pan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
Carson Downing
This pumpkin mac and cheese recipe is baked on a sheet pan, so each bite is the perfect combination of creamy cheese and crispy topping. If you’re serving vegetarian guests at Thanksgiving, leave the crispy bacon out of the recipe.
Cinnamon Apples
Jake Sternquist
Not all Thanksgiving side dishes need to be sweet! A bowl of these spiced cinnamon apples is a great topping for the turkey or ham. They’re delicious on their own, but we like to double the batch and serve them for breakfast the next day with yogurt and granola.
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
Rachel Marek
This creamy mushroom soup makes a delicious Thanksgiving side dish. Unlike canned condensed soup, this version is light and creamy. Be sure to serve plenty of homemade rolls on the side.
Kissing Biscuits
Jake Sternquist
These Southern-style biscuits bake in a squash dish. This helps create the perfect balance of crispy golden-brown tops and fluffy centers. Serve this Thanksgiving bread recipe with butter and jam.
15-Hour Potatoes
Rachel Marek. Prop Styling: Addelyn Evans
This traditional Thanksgiving side dish takes a bit of prep time, but the results are worth it. Each bite is tender, crispy, and ideal for dipping in our homemade horseradish sour cream.