37 EASY Thanksgiving Side Dishes

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!

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving is almost here! The second November starts, my brain switches to Thanksgiving mode. 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 let’s be honest: the true stars of the day are the Thanksgiving side dishes!

From the classics to the more creative and fun, I’ve put together a list of EASY Thanksgiving side dishes that will complete the feast. The last thing we need is complicated dishes to add chaos to the day, so stick to easy Thanksgiving recipes that won’t cause any stress!

Make sure you add these easy Thanksgiving sides to the table!

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

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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 Recipe

Before we get to the easy Thanksgiving side dish recipes, 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.

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes FAQ

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:

• Green Bean Casserole
• Stuffing
• Mashed Potatoes
• Corn
• Cranberry Sauce
• Sweet Potatoes

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 side dishes 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 dishes with cheese?

Give me ALL the cheese. If you want cheese 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 side dishes are the ones that you can make in a crock pot. It’s basically hands off cooking, which I’m a fan of.

You can make these Thanksgiving dishes 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

37 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Here’s a big list of all of my favorite easy Thanksgiving recipes. Find everything you need here and start making that Thanksgiving menu!

1. Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
2. Classic Green Bean Casserole
3. Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
4. Spinach Gratin
5. Honey Glazed Carrots with Ginger
6. Baked Butternut Squash
7. Sauteed Green beans with Molasses
8. Best Herb Roasted Potatoes
9. Sauteed Asparagus with Pancetta
10. Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
11. Crock Pot Potatoes Recipes
12. Brussels Sprouts with Pears, Blue Cheese, & Walnuts
13. Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
14. Creamed Corn Recipe with Bacon
15. Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
16. Homemade Turkey Stuffing Recipe
17. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
18. Make Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe
19. Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
20. Sweet Potato Souffle Cups
21. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter
22. Corn Pudding Recipe
23. Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Bacon & Goat Cheese
24. Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Bacon
25. Bourbon Green Beans with Bacon
26. Garlic Herb Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
27. Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes
28. Cranberry Almond Charred Broccoli Salad
29. Drunken Orange Ginger Carrots
30. Three Cheese Asparagus Gratin
31. Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
32. Cheesy Potato Casserole (Hash Brown Potatoes)
33. Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole
34. Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
35. Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
36. Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower Recipe
37. Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe (2 Flavors!)

Find even more Easy Side Dishes here!

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 more Easy 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. 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!!!

Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cheesy potato casserole, hash brown potato casserole recipe, how to make potato casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 605kcal

Author: Becky Hardin

Cheesy Potato Casserole is the ideal holiday side dish recipe for anyone that loves cheese and potatoes. This hash brown potato casserole recipe is super easy, super cheesy, and topped off with a crunchy potato chip topping!

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Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted – divided
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ½ medium yellow onion diced
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese - divided
• 1 1 lb. 14 oz. package frozen shredded hash browns, partially thawed

Topping:

• 2 cups crushed ruffle potato chips
• ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
• ½ teaspoon Parisien Bonnes Herbes, chives, dill or your favorite dried herb. (optional)

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 or a 2 quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add two tablespoons butter and the oil. Once the butter and oil are hot, add the diced onion and sauté until the onion is translucent and tender.
• In a very large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter, celery soup, mushroom soup, sour cream and 1 cup grated cheese. Add in the sautéed onion (along with the oil & butter).
• Stir well.
• Add the hash browns and mix thoroughly until all ingredients are incorporated.
• Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared dish and cover with the potato chip topping.
• Bake at 350°F for 45-55 minutes or until mixture is hot throughout and bubbly around the edged. The chips will look toasty but shouldn’t be burnt.
• Let rest 5-10 minutes.
• Serve and Enjoy!

To Make Ahead:

• Prepare the potatoes without the topping, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 48 hours. When ready to cook, remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Add the potato chip topping (can also be made ahead) and bake. An additional 5-10 minutes baking time might be needed.

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Nutrition

Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 944mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 24.4% | Vitamin C: 11% | Calcium: 30.1% | Iron: 9.5%