Easy Side Dishes are the key to a perfect Thanksgiving feast. Cook up the turkey and make sure you add these easy Thanksgiving side dish recipes to the table!
Table of Contents
- Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Essential Kitchen Tools
- Ingredients List
- Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
- What are the most common side dishes for Thanksgiving?
- What side dishes can I make ahead of time?
- How many Thanksgiving sides should I make?
- What are some easy Thanksgiving side ideas with cheese?
- What are some sides for vegetarians?
- Can I make Thanksgiving sides in a slow cooker?
- What are some healthy Thanksgiving side dishes?
- What kind of bread should I make on Thanksgiving?
- 60+ Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes
- Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
- Best Potato Side Dishes
- More Thanksgiving Side Ideas
- What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
- Thanksgiving Guides
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is almost here! As soon as November starts, my brain switches to Thanksgiving mode. Of course you’re going to make the turkey, but we all know the true star of the day is the side dishes!
From the classic Thanksgiving side dish recipes to the more creative and fun sides, I’ve put together a list of recipes that will complete the feast. The last thing we need is complicated dishes to add chaos to the day, so stick to easy Thanksgiving side dishes that won’t cause any stress!
Make room for the mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, veggies, and everything else you need to pile onto your plate next to the turkey!
Essential Kitchen Tools
Make sure your kitchen is ready for the big holiday feast by getting all the right tools and equipment you’ll need beforehand.
- Cookware Set
- Baking Trays
- Casserole Dish
- Mixer
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Kitchen Utensil Set
- Skillet
- Saucepan
- Stock Pot
- Knife Set
- Cooling Rack
- Serving Bowls
- Food Processor
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients List
Before you start cooking the Thanksgiving sides, make sure you stock up on all the necessary ingredients. This is not a full list, but these are some of the things most of you will be using on the big day.
- Turkey
- Potatoes
- Olive Oil
- Typical spices and seasonings
- Sweet Potatoes
- Green Beans
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cheese
- Bacon
- Flour
- Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Butter
- Mushrooms
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- French Fried Onions
- Garlic
Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Before we get to the easy Thanksgiving side dishes, I want to share my favorite ways to make the turkey. It’s the center of the feast so we want it to be GOOD but we also want it to be EASY.
I shared the step by step recipe and ALL of my best tips for roasting a turkey. So you can make the PERFECT roast turkey for Thanksgiving this year.
If the traditional turkey isn’t for you, here are some other easy recipes you can try:
- Instant Pot Turkey
- Smoked Turkey Breast
- Garlic Butter Roast Turkey Breast
- Slow Cooker Turkey
- Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
- Easy Thanksgiving Turkey
What are the most common side dishes for Thanksgiving?
There are a few classic Thanksgiving side dishes that most people expect to see on the table. Of course you don’t have to stick to the traditional recipes, but adding a few classics to the menu will keep everyone happy!
What side dishes can I make ahead of time?
I LOVE make ahead recipes for Thanksgiving! With all of the side dishes on the menu, the kitchen is absolute chaos before the feast. Anything you can make ahead of time will make the whole holiday cooking process much smoother.
Some of the recipes that usually save the day by saving time are my Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Make Ahead Yeast Rolls, and my Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe!
How many Thanksgiving sides should I make?
When it comes to Thanksgiving side dishes, more is better! We’ve got tons and tons of people to feed here, and the last thing anyone wants is to run out of food.
There’s no math or science involved in this answer, but I’m just gonna make a suggestion: 5 side dishes is a good minimum, but I wouldn’t be opposed to having up to 10 options.
The larger your guest list is, the more sides you’ll need. I mean, we’re all expecting to live off of leftovers for a week after, right? No skimping!
What are some easy Thanksgiving side ideas with cheese?
Give me ALL the cheese. If you want cheesy side dishes for Thanksgiving, then I’ve definitely got you covered. I think you can add cheese to anything, but these are my favorites.
- Three Cheese Asparagus
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- Creamed Corn with Parmesan and Mascarpone
- Brussels Sprouts Gratin
- Cheesy Cornbread Drop Biscuits
- Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
What are some sides for vegetarians?
If you’re a vegetarian, Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for you to fill up on delicious side dishes! There are so many on the table, you definitely won’t go hungry. A lot of the recipes on this list are vegetarian-friendly, but here are some favorites.
- Green Bean Casserole
- Creamed Spinach Casserole
- Sauteed Green Beans
- Brussels Sprouts with Pears, Blue Cheese, and Walnuts
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Can I make Thanksgiving sides in a slow cooker?
My favorite easy side dishes are the ones that you can make in a crock pot. It’s basically hands off cooking, which I’m a total fan of.
- Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Crock Pot Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter
- Creamy Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Recipe
What are some healthy Thanksgiving side dishes?
If you want to keep things on the healthier side this holiday season, you still have plenty of amazing options. You might have to skip the cheese-filled dishes, but there are so many veggie-heavy recipes to make! You can even add in some salads and simple roasted vegetables.
Here are a few ideas:
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Lemon Grilled Asparagus
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Mashed Cauliflower Recipe
- Spicy Broccoli
What kind of bread should I make on Thanksgiving?
You’ve got the turkey, you’ve got the side dishes, and you’ve prepared the desserts for later. But Thanksgiving needs bread too! Try some of these recipes:
- Garlic Cheese Bread Roll Ups
- Buttermilk Spoon Bread
- Homemade Crescent Rolls
- Beer Bread Muffins
- Cheesy Garlic Cornbread Drop Biscuits
- Oatmeal Rolls
- Dinner Rolls from Scratch
- Hawaiian Rolls with Garlic Butter
- Savory Monkey Bread Pull Apart Rolls
60+ Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Here’s a BIG list of all of my favorite easy Thanksgiving side dish recipes. Find everything you need here (potatoes, classics, stuffing, veggies, and more) and start making that Thanksgiving menu!
Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes
The most classic side dishes to serve at your Thanksgiving or holiday feast!
Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
All the veggie sides you need for Thanksgiving, from green beans and carrots, to corn, brussels sprouts, and broccoli (often covered in cheese).
Best Potato Side Dishes
These recipes will satisfy all your mashed potato, sweet potato, and every kind of potato needs.
More Thanksgiving Side Ideas
Once you get the classics, the veggies, and the potatoes checked off your list, try some of these other fun and unique side dish ideas!
Browse ALL of our Easy Side Dishes here!
What to Do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Okay, now let’s talk about those leftovers…after the big day, you probably have a refrigerator FULL of Thanksgiving leftovers. With all those side dishes, it’s really no surprise. But I like to think of it as meal prepping…no cooking for a week, just open the fridge and grab some more turkey and potatoes!
While it’s easy to just reheat a plate full of a few dishes, if you do want to get creative, you can combine everything to make a whole new recipe.
- My favorite thing to make is this Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla. It’s made with turkey, sage, and cranberry sauce. YUM.
- Another fun recipe is this Turkey Wild Rice Soup.
- Or try this Turkey Noodle Soup.
Now that you’ve got your menu set and all your easy Thanksgiving side dishes in hand, it’s time to get excited for the big feast. I know I’m counting down the days until I can eat all of the delicious food and I’m so excited. Happy Holidays!
Thanksgiving Guides
All the guides, tips, and recipes you need for the perfect Thanksgiving!
thanks for your meal happy thanks giving too!
You too!!!
The Apple Pie Brie looks “fabulous”! Also love the brussel sprouts and asparagus recipes! I will definitely be trying these!
Thanks Yvonne! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love all these ideas! I’ve been meaning to make that moscow mule since you posted it!
It hits the spot!
What a perfect round-up! Loving all of these recipes!
Thanks Michelle, Happy Thanksgiving!
Is it bad that I want them all?
No, not bad at all! Ha thank you Cathy!
So many great recipes here, I want to try each and every one of those cocktails! I’m bookmarking this post to give many of these recipes a try , first up will have to be that Apple Pie Brie – YUM!!
Thank you Joanie!
Simple is great for Thanksgiving. Great post, and very helpful!
Thanks Lori!
All of these dishes will create one gorgeous and delicious holiday dinner! Love love love!
Thanks so much Anna!
What a great round up! Can’t wait to eat, haha!
Thanks so much Stephanie!
These all look FABULOUS! The Pumpkin Pie Chimichangas?? Yowza!
Thank you so much Cathy!