Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes are the key to a perfect holiday feast. Cook up the turkey and make sure you add these easy Thanksgiving recipes to the table!
Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is almost here! As soon as November starts, my brain switches to Thanksgiving mode (let’s be honest, as a food blogger it starts long before November!). All I think about is all the good food I’m going to cook and EAT. Of course you’re going to make the turkey, but we all know the true star of the day is the Thanksgiving side dishes!
From the classic Thanksgiving recipes to the more creative and fun sides dishes, I’ve put together a list of EASY Thanksgiving sides that will complete the feast. The last thing we need is complicated dishes to add chaos to the day, so stick to easy Thanksgiving dishes that won’t cause any stress!
Make sure you add these easy Thanksgiving side dishes to the table this year! From the classic to the creative, these sides are a must for the holiday!
Find ALL the recipes you need with my Easy Holiday Recipes E-Book. Over 130 recipes from appetizers to side dishes to desserts and more!
Essential Kitchen Tools for Thanksgiving
Make sure your kitchen is ready for the big feast by getting all the right tools and equipment you’ll need.
- 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
Essential Thanksgiving Ingredients List
Before you start your cooking, make sure you stock up on all the necessary ingredients to make your Thanksgiving recipes. 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
Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes
Before we get to the easy Thanksgiving side dishes, I want to share my favorite way to make Thanksgiving turkey. It’s often the hardest and most stressful part of the holiday feast, and I hate that. I want it to be simple! So I love using this easy turkey breast recipe made in an Instant Pot. That’s right, Instant Pot Turkey! So easy, and it gives you time to focus on those sides.
Or try our Smoked Turkey Breast, Garlic Butter Roast Turkey Breast, Slow Cooker Turkey, or the Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast.
Thanksgiving Sides
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!
The most common side dishes for Thanksgiving are:
What Thanksgiving side dishes can you make ahead of time?
I LOVE make ahead recipes for Thanksgiving! With all of the Thanksgiving recipes 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.
Two of the recipes that usually save the day by saving time are my Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes 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.
Five side dishes is a good minimum on Thanksgiving, but I wouldn’t be opposed to having up to 10 options. The larger your guest list is, the more side dishes. 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 easy Thanksgiving 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
- All of the potatoes!
- Sauteed Green Beans
- Brussels Sprouts with Pears, Blue Cheese, and Walnuts
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Can I make easy Thanksgiving side dishes in a slow cooker?
My favorite easy Thanksgiving 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.
You can make these Thanksgiving recipes in a slow cooker:
- Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Crock Pot Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter
- Slow Cooker 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 sides dishes, and you’ve prepared the desserts for later. But Thanksgiving needs bread too! Try some of these Thanksgiving bread recipes:
- Garlic Cheese Bread Roll Ups
- 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
62+ Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Here’s a BIG list of all of my favorite easy Thanksgiving side dish recipes. Find everything you need here and start making that Thanksgiving menu!
EASY Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Easy Thanksgiving Desserts
No holiday is complete without dessert! There are so many amazing desserts to choose from, like cookies, pies, cakes, and more. But Thanksgiving is ALL about the pie. Here are my favorite easy Thanksgiving pie recipes:
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Butterscotch Pie Recipe
- Crock Pot Pecan Pie
- Homemade Sweet Potato Pie with Walnut Topping
- French Silk Pie
- Skillet Carrot Cake
- Lemon Bars
- Chocolate Pecan Pie
Find a full list of all our favorite Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes 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 check here to get some more Thanksgiving leftovers ideas.
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 alllllll of the delicious and easy Thanksgiving recipes and I’m so excited. Happy Holiday!!!
You too!!!
thanks for your meal happy thanks giving too!
Thanks Yvonne! Happy Thanksgiving!
The Apple Pie Brie looks “fabulous”! Also love the brussel sprouts and asparagus recipes! I will definitely be trying these!
It hits the spot!
Love all these ideas! I’ve been meaning to make that moscow mule since you posted it!
No, not bad at all! Ha thank you Cathy!
Thanks Michelle, Happy Thanksgiving!
What a perfect round-up! Loving all of these recipes!
Is it bad that I want them all?
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Thanks so much Anna!
Thanks Lori!
Thank you Joanie!
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!!
Simple is great for Thanksgiving. Great post, and very helpful!
All of these dishes will create one gorgeous and delicious holiday dinner! Love love love!
What a great round up! Can’t wait to eat, haha!
Thank you so much Cathy!
These all look FABULOUS! The Pumpkin Pie Chimichangas?? Yowza!
Thank you Jessica, means a lot coming from you!
You must think like me :) Thanks Maris!
Thank you so much Miryam!
I like the way you think :)
HA! Yeah I need to make some healthier options :)
Pretty sure I just gained all my extra Thanksgiving weight reading/looking/ogling this post.
Soooooo I wish I could have one of every single dish! Especially the cocktails :)
Holy wow, all these recipes are making me super hungry. I wish I could have some of these on my thanksgiving table. What a great collection.
I would like every single one of these cocktails!
This whole round up is insanely beautiful and everything looks amazing! I need one of those apple cider moscow mules STAT!!!
I wish we could drink some together!
Oh man… everything looks so dang good! Is it Thanksgiving, yet??
AND that Apple Cider Mimosa is happening for damn sure!