The 98 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Fill your plate with our tastiest sides, from classic mashed and sweet potatoes to green beans, roasted vegetables and cranberry sauces bearing unique flavors.

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Truffled Cheese Mash

Using creamy sottocenere cheese lends richness and subtle truffle flavor without being cloying or overwhelming.

Get the Recipe: Truffled Cheese Mash

Aunt Chelle's Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

The combination of sharp cheddar, Gouda and American cheeses will make your guests melt, and it might just upstage the turkey.

Get the Recipe: Aunt Chelle's Three Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Asparagus and Bacon

It's important to eat your vegetables during a gluttonous Thanksgiving meal, but that doesn't mean you can't wrap them in bacon.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus and Bacon

Broccoli Saute

Tia Mowry's simple recipe comes together quickly and gets a fresh zap of flavor from lemon zest.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli Saute

Crispy Hasselback Potatoes with Rosemary, Sage and Garlic

Garlicky herb-lemon butter gets in every nook and cranny of accordion-cut potatoes, rendering them super crispy and flavorful.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Hasselback Potatoes with Rosemary, Sage and Garlic

Grilled Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans, Pomegranates and Blue Cheese

With slightly melted blue cheese and crunchy pomegranates and pecans on top, these brussels sprouts will be gobbled up fast.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans, Pomegranates and Blue Cheese

Parmesan Peas

If you suddenly find out a few more guests are showing up to dinner, this dish will be your savior. Just grab a bag of frozen peas, some butter, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and shallots for a side in 15 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Parmesan Peas

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

Take a break from baked and mashed potatoes and try some flavorful, roasted, multicolored baby taters instead.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Baby Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ellie Krieger coats red-skinned sweet potatoes with honey and lemon juice (the acid brings out their natural sweetness) before roasting them in a 350-degree oven.

Get the Recipe: Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Tomato Vegetable Casserole

Potatoes and yams are turkey day staples, but Giada De Laurentiis' casserole transforms them in a fresh, creative way. Adding other veggies like tomatoes and zucchini will satisfy vegetarians as a main course or carnivores as a side dish.

Get the Recipe: Tomato Vegetable Casserole

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Combine two Thanksgiving favorites, sweet potatoes and cornbread. Slathering it in butter is not optional.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Brown Butter Green Beans with Hazelnuts

When you're sick of run-of-the-mill green bean casserole, try Tia's toasted hazelnut and brown butter version. It goes from pan to table in 20 minutes flat.

Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Green Beans with Hazelnuts

Honey-Roasted Carrots with Sesame Seeds

Not only are these carrots super-flavorful and good for you, but they also make for a gorgeous, colorful table centerpiece.

Get the Recipe: Honey-Roasted Carrots with Sesame Seeds

Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes

Kelsey Nixon's no-fuss potatoes are simply mashed with half-and-half and sour cream for subtle tang. Chopped chives infuse the spuds with mellow onion flavor.

Get the Recipe: Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes

Alton's Cranberry Sauce

If you're more of a purist when it comes to your cranberry sauce, you'll love Alton Brown's take on the simple classic, packed with whole cranberries and sweetened with honey.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce

Funeral Potatoes (Utah Potato Casserole)

In spite of the sad name, this hash brown casserole will make everyone smile. With garlic, onions and melted cheese, you can't go wrong.

Get the Recipe: Funeral Potatoes (Utah Potato Casserole)

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Bacon, Mustard and Walnut Vinaigrette

Michael Symon infuses these sprouts with subtle smokiness by whisking bacon fat into his tangy honey mustard vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Bacon, Mustard and Walnut Vinaigrette

Herb-Roasted Squash

Laura Calder roasts butternut squash simply, giving it earthy flavor with fresh thyme and bay leaves. Large kosher salt crystals add extra texture and a satisfying bite.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Squash

Balsamic-Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Fancy up your Brussels with crispy pancetta and a balsamic vinegar glaze to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Justine's Cheesy Buttermilk Garlic Mash

Garlic, cheese and chives? Yep, these potatoes will disappear fast.

Get the Recipe: Justine's Cheesy Buttermilk Garlic Mash

Sweet Potato Salad

Kelsey roasts diced sweet potatoes alongside pears and beets until they all are soft and caramelized. Tossed in a zippy vinaigrette, this simple side dish can be made in just one hour.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Salad

Stovetop Green Bean Casserole

Alex Guarnaschelli makes this classic casserole in a cast-iron skillet, starting with a creamy homemade mushroom base instead of canned cream of mushroom soup. Hers is boosted with cayenne pepper and Dijon mustard, then covered with crispy fried shallots.

Get the Recipe: Stovetop Green Bean Casserole

Pickled Root Vegetable Salad

A mandoline is the optimal tool for slicing this colorful collection of beets, parsnips and sweet potatoes into super-thin rounds. Kelsey pickles the vegetables in cider vinegar with mustard and celery seeds before serving them with goat cheese for a doubly tangy side dish.

Get the Recipe: Pickled Root Vegetable Salad

Spice-Roasted Colorful Carrots

Brown sugar, chili powder and cumin make a sweet-spicy-smoky rub that would taste good on any vegetables, but Justine Simmons loves it on carrots in particular.

Get the Recipe: Spice-Roasted Colorful Carrots

Southern Style Candied Yams with Gingersnap Crunch

Sweet and sticky — the way indulgent holiday sides should be — these candied yams are topped with crunchy, spicy gingersnap cookies, full of wintry flavor.

Get the Recipe: Southern Style Candied Yams with Gingersnap Crunch

Creamed Pearl Onions

Buy frozen pearl onions –– they're peeled, eliminating the prep work from this dish (and keeping your sanity intact).

Get the Recipe: Creamed Pearl Onions

Oven-Dried Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Intensify the earthy flavor of sweet potatoes by baking them twice. A touch of sherry and brown butter adds depth to the dish.

Get the Recipe: Oven-Dried Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mac and Cheese Carbonara

Bobby Flay sources five different cheeses for this hybrid pasta dish, including the Parmigiano-Reggiano that traditionally accompanies carbonara. By melding the gooey richness of baked mac and cheese with savory cubes of pancetta, the best of two comfort foods is combined.

Get the Recipe: Mac and Cheese Carbonara

Redder Than Red Cranberry Sauce

Ruby red cherry brandy gives this cranberry sauce — chockfull of just-burst berries — its impossibly dark hue.

Get the Recipe: Redder Than Red Cranberry Sauce

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Cheese

The secret to Giada's delicious mashed potatoes? Mozzarella. It melts beautifully and adds a creamy texture to every bite.

Get the Recipe: Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

Sweet Potato Casserole

A rich, nicely spiced sweet potato filling is topped with crunchy brown sugar streusel for an irresistible side dish that'll become a family favorite.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Buttermilk Biscuits

When made with buttermilk, as in this classic Southern recipe, biscuits are light, flaky and rich with flavor — perfect for sopping up extra gravy or slathering with butter.

Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits

Best Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd

A classic country mash means two things: unpeeled potatoes and plenty of butter. Take time when running the russets through a food mill so they remain tender and fluffy.

Get the Recipe: Best Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes for a Crowd

Jewel Roasted Vegetables

Roast beets, carrots and Brussels sprouts form a rainbow-colored vegetable dish that's as enticing as the stuffing, cranberry sauce and other bread-based sides.

Get the Recipe: Jewel Roasted Vegetables

Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas

Surprise guests and satisfy lovers of the sweet with a mash containing sweet potatoes and bananas. The fruit adds an unusual sweetness, perfectly matched by a brown sugar and crumbled pecan crust.

Get the Recipe: Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Honey

Cranberry Salad

Kelsey's Thanksgiving-inspired spin on ambrosia salad is the ultimate make-ahead side. Blended cranberries tint the sweet mixture of pineapple, marshmallows and whipped cream, giving the salad vibrant color as it chills. Top with pomegranate arils for a final tangy punch.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Salad

Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

This highly rated recipe form Alton Brown tops green beans with crispy, breaded onions, a lightly creamy sauce and earthy mushrooms.

Get the Recipe: Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Individual Thanksgiving Stuffing Muffins

Transforming sausage-studded stuffing into savory muffins ensures everyone gets a taste of the classic side... and its coveted crunchy topping.

Get the Recipe: Individual Thanksgiving Stuffing Muffins

Red, white and blue mashed potatoes

Red potatoes, blue cheese and heavy cream (the white), along with crispy bacon, make this an American dish worthy of a celebration. Allow your dairy ingredients to come to room temperature by taking them out of the fridge an hour in advance.

Get the Recipe: Red, White and Blue Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Acorn Squash

Acorn squash takes a sweet turn when brushed with brown-sugar butter, drizzled with amaretto liquor and topped with crumbled cookies before being roasted. Fragrant sage leaves balance out all the sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Acorn Squash

Traditional Mashed Potatoes

A potato ricer and plenty of butter are the secrets to Michael Voltaggio's silky-smooth mashed potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Traditional Mashed Potatoes

Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Shiitake mushrooms add earthiness to Sunny's creamy vegetable casserole. Cooked rice and broccoli add heft to the cheddar-Monterey cheesy goodness.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole

Cranberry Citrus Dressing

Michael Chiarello uses undertones of vanilla and orange to balance out this unusual cranberry sauce's sweetness with freshly ground black pepper and a touch of Dijon mustard.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Citrus Dressing

Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Gabriele's mashed potatoes start with a soffrito of onions and pancetta, and they are finished off with a combination of olive oil and hot milk (no butter needed).

Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil and Pancetta

Grandma's Candied Yams

You may see a whole stick of butter and two cups of brown sugar in this decadent recipe, but the grandma who made it calls it "love."

Get the Recipe: Grandma's Candied Yams

The Ultimate Potato Gratin

If you're looking for a cheesy potato recipe, Tyler's gratin, containing cabbage, bacon, chives and plenty of Parmesan, is just the crispy, crunchy and flavorful side to complete your meal.

Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Potato Gratin

Green Beans With Mushrooms and Shallots

Assorted mushrooms and shallots make the perfect accompaniment for fresh, snappy green beans.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Mushroom and Shallots

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Alton Brown's smashed sweet potatoes recipe is easy to make and loaded with flavor. You'll love the spicy and sweet combo, too.

Get the Recipe: Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Though green beans take first billing in this recipe's title, the homemade croutons — infused with thyme, rosemary and chives, and crusted with Parmesan cheese — are the real stars.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Rapid Rolls

Think you don't possibly have the time that baking fresh bread requires? Kelsey's rapid rolls take less than an hour to prepare and will use up only 20 minutes of your oven time.

Get the Recipe: Rapid Rolls

Stuffed Squash

You might expect the stuffing that peeks out of this acorn squash to be bread-based, but get ready for Alton's surprise: Each squash is baked with a satisfying filling of ground pork, rice, spinach and toasted pine nuts.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Squash

Roasted Cauliflower

Cumin seeds and panko breadcrumbs give roasted cauliflower exotic spice and crunchy texture.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower

Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole

Somewhere between side dish and dessert, this easy casserole is layered with thick rounds of sweet potatoes, yams and Red Delicious apples that soak up a citrus-spiked cinnamon and honey glaze.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Ree is not messing around with her spuds. To ensure creaminess, she uses butter, cream cheese, heavy cream and milk – and the results are stick-to-your-ribs unforgettable.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Garlic Roast Potatoes

Feeding a crowd this holiday season? Roast three pounds of potatoes with a little more than a head of garlic, olive oil and salt for a foolproof, flavorful side.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Roast Potatoes

Haricots Verts with Rosemary

Tender, thin green beans tossed with rosemary and lemon-infused olive oil are the perfect complement to your roasted Turkey and mashed potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Haricots Verts with Rosemary

Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Honey and Cinnamon

Sugar and spice make these sweet potatoes quite nice and fit for serving at the holiday meal. A simple drizzle of oil, honey and cinnamon readies these taters for roasting, and a half hour later, they're ready to be enjoyed.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon

Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Tyler's chunky garlic-flavored mashed potatoes are balanced out by just a few sprigs of fresh thyme and a couple spoonfuls of chives.

Get the Recipe: Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Fresh Corn Spoon Bread Puff

Part spoon bread and part souffle, this cornbread is a crowd-pleaser, whether you're serving it family-style or in individual portions. It's best served puffy and hot from the oven.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoon Bread Puff

Slow Cooked Brussels Sprouts

After browning the Brussels sprouts in oil to bring out their flavor, Dave simmers them in butter and chicken stock so they become perfectly soft and tender.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooked Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Cauliflower

This cauliflower (one of Michael Symon's favorite go-to sides) gains savory notes from white anchovy and capers and crunchy texture from toasted pine nuts.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower

Broccoli Casserole

Packaged Ramen gives this casserole a touch of crunch and just enough seasoning to transform broccoli into something decadent.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Double Potato Mash

Nigella's simple mash recipe calls for sweet and white potatoes and subtly spicy ground mace. By finishing the dish with freshly ground white pepper, she gives the spuds an extra kick.

Get the Recipe: Double Potato Mash

Cranberry, Apple and Ginger Chutney

For a chunkier take on cranberry sauce, try this cranberry and apple chutney, given tang and spice with apple cider vinegar and ginger.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry, Apple and Ginger Chutney

Green Beans With Mustard

Spicy mustard and freshly ground cumin seeds give green beans a kick, while pine nuts and almonds add sweet, nutty flavor.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Mustard

Roasted Baby Potatoes With Herbs

A tablespoon of herbs de Provence adds French flair and just enough flavor to roasted red and white potatoes.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Baby Potatoes with Herbs

Brussels Sprouts, Kale and Celery Root Gratin

This flavorful, textured gratin made with Brussels sprouts and kale is more craveable than its healthy marquee ingredients would imply. Skip the ham to make this side vegetarian.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts, Kale and Celery Root Gratin

Lemon Herb Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes

Try a lighter mash with a ton of sunny Mediterranean flavor. The leftovers are great for stuffing into piquillo peppers — and did we mention that they're vegan?

Get the Recipe: Lemon Herb Olive Oil Smashed Potatoes

Parmesan Crumb Coated Brussels Sprouts

These crunchy, panko-coated Brussels sprouts can be prepared a day ahead then cooked through while the turkey rests.

Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crumb Coated Brussels Sprouts

Cranberry-Orange Sauce

Orange juice and orange zest add citrus notes and brightness to this cranberry sauce, which would pair well with lemon-scented turkeys and fall fruit salads.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Sauce

Rustic Mashers

Great mashed potatoes hate recipes. Learn Alton Brown's ratio that ensures perfectly mashed potatoes every time.

Get the Recipe: Mashers

Kelsey's Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese, topped with crispy bacon and fresh parsley, is cooked in a cast-iron skillet for an all-over crispy crust and an oozing, cheesy center.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese

Pecan and Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Aida tops perfectly roasted sweet potatoes with a spiced maple syrup sauce and crunchy, toasted pecans.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Spiced Maple Sauce

Sweet Corn Bread Pudding

This sweet, moist skillet bread pudding turns savory with the addition of Parmesan cheese and fragrant thyme and rosemary.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Corn Bread Pudding

Laura Calder's French Potatoes

These French baker's-style potatoes might sound fancy, but the recipe calls for little more than butter, onions, some beef stock and fresh thyme.

Get the Recipe: Pommes De Terre a la Boulangere: Potatoes a la Bakery

Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Biscuits

For rolls that can stand up to the diverse flavors in your Thanksgiving meal, try Kelsey's savory bacon, Cheddar and chive biscuits.

Get the Recipe: Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Biscuits

Roasted Vegetables

Your kitchen will come alive with the smells of oregano, rosemary, thyme and basil when this medley of vegetables is roasted with the fragrant herbs.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips and Brussels Sprouts

Artichoke Gratinata

Though it sounds fancy, this dish consists of artichokes baked with breadcrumbs and a melted grated cheese topping: a comforting casserole that cooks in only 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Artichoke Gratinata

Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Alton purees cranberries, orange juice and ginger ale to create a smooth-as-can-be cranberry sauce.

Get the Recipe: Tart Cranberry Dipping Sauce

Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomato Corn Muffin

Giada's corn muffins are moist and delicious, thanks to buttermilk and sour cream, and have satisfyingly chunky texture in every bite due to whole corn kernels.

Get the Recipe: Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomato Corn Muffin

Sweet Potatoes

Just a tablespoon of Szechuan peppercorns gives Roger Mooking's sweet potatoes enough of a spicy kick to make them a standout side.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Mushroom Casserole

We're not sure what we find more enticing about this recipe — the potatoes and parsnips tangled in spinach, baked eggs and cheese or the simply roasted mushroom medley that serves as the casserole's topping.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Mushrooms, Parsnip, Potatoes and Spinach Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Not your typical cream-of-mushroom-soup casserole, this dish lets the green beans shine through by topping — not smothering them — with crispy fried onions.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Chipotle Sweet-Potato Spoon Bread

This moist Southern spoon bread is made even sweeter with the addition of mashed sweet potatoes, and then it is given a spicy kick with chipotle peppers and adobo sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chipotle Sweet-Potato Spoon Bread

Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta

Giada infuses Brussels sprouts with the flavors of pancetta, garlic cloves and chicken broth in a large skillet.

Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Asian-Spiced Butternut Squash

Butternut squash gets an exotic Asian spin with Chinese five spice, a mixture of fennel seeds, Szechwan pepper, star anise, cloves and cassia, which is the Chinese equivalent to cinnamon.

Get the Recipe: Red Cooked Butternut Squash

Balsamic and Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts already benefit from a crisp, caramelized exterior. When they’re topped with balsamic and salty Parmesan, however, they become even more sweet and savory.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic and Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes

This five-star side dish recipe from Bal Arneson infuses cauliflower and sweet potatoes with the strong flavors of ginger, coriander, cumin and turmeric.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Sweet Potatoes

Cranberry Relish with Pears and Walnuts

The tartness of vinegar makes this relish a little bit savory, which is not only good with turkey but even better in your leftovers sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Relish with Pears and Walnuts

Macaroni and 4 Cheeses

By using part-skim ricotta and low-fat milk, Ellie Krieger shaves calories off her mac 'n' cheese recipe without taking away flavor.

Get the Recipe: Macaroni and 4 Cheeses

Pumpkin Cornbread

Made with pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg, these nicely spiced cornbread muffins taste like fall, served up in 3-ounce doses.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Cornbread

Green Beans with Blood Oranges

A reliable make-ahead side, this dish holds up well for an hour when kept at room temperature until ready to serve, making room on your stovetop for other dishes.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Blood Orange and Tangerine Dressing

Sweet Almond Milk Couscous

Mark Bittman's sweet and nutty couscous recipe is complemented by citrus zest and some earthy spice.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Almond Milk Couscous

Pumpkin Patch Mash

Why use a potato when you can make Spike Mendelsohn's Pumpkin Patch Mash? Brown sugar pairs great with pumpkin, and don't miss his secret ingredient: pumpkin pie spice.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Patch Mash

Honey Glazed Carrots

Slather baby carrots in a sticky sheen of butter, honey and lemon juice for a colorful and quick-cooking side dish.

Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

"Grateful" Crescent Rolls with Homemade Butter

Dress up that tube of crescent roll dough with homemade butter. Better yet, keep the kids entertained by making them shake it up in a Mason jar — two birds, one stone.

Get the Recipe: "Grateful" Crescent Rolls with Homemade Butter

Cornbread

Tangy buttermilk, crisp whole corn kernels and honey will change everything you know about cornbread.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread

Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Fried Shallots

Make celebration-worthy mashed potatoes by pulling in golden roasted garlic and a hot milk-butter mixture, then finishing ‘em off with perfectly crisp shallots.

Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Fried Shallots