A collection of the BEST Thanksgiving side dishes, from classics like corn casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, and traditional stuffing to modern riffs on favorite recipes like sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole.

A collage of four side dish recipes with text in the middle.

It’s November 12th, and while I’m over the moon about the fact that there is now Christmas music available on satellite radio, we still have another holiday to tackle before we begin decking the halls… and Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away!

While Christmas has my heart as far as holidays go, Thanksgiving is my very favorite food holiday… there is nothing better than hitting the couch on Thanksgiving evening in a total food coma. While turkey is always front and center of the dinner spread, I prefer to take a small piece and fill my plate with a variety of side dishes (and of course leave room for dessert).

(If you ARE interested in turkey, then you should check out how we make ours >> How to Deep Fry a Turkey)

I have SO MANY Thanksgiving recipes here on the site, but I narrowed down my very favorite side dishes for you today. I’ll be back later this week with a list of my favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes, so stay tuned! 

[You can find ALL of the turkey day recipes that are on the site here >> Thanksgiving Recipes.]

Now, on to those side dishes!

Aunt Vicki’s Corn & Mixed Vegetable Casserole

My aunt has made this for as many Thanksgivings as I can remember… it’s a super simple veggie casserole that comes together quickly (and no one can resist that Ritz cracker crust!).

Get the recipe here!

Broccoli Casserole (From Scratch!)

Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole - A homemade recipe for chicken, broccoli and rice casserole made completely from scratch with a cheesy cream sauce and topped with buttered breadcrumbs. | browneyedbaker.com

Growing up, my Aunt Rene would routinely contribute a broccoli casserole to my grandma’s Sunday dinner spread, and everyone gobbled it up. Once I was older, I tackled making a homemade version with fresh broccoli, fresh mushrooms, a homemade cream sauce and bread crumb topping.

Get the recipe here!

Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Gratin

Anyone who scoffs at Brussels sprouts will go back for seconds when you combine them with bacon and a creamy sauce, and top them with a bread crumb crust. This has been a huge Thanksgiving hit with my family.

Get the recipe here!

Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Cranberries & Pine Nuts

Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Cranberries & Pine Nuts - A perfect Thanksgiving side dish! | browneyedbaker.com

Everyone clamors for this riff on Brussels sprouts – they are pan-fried and combined with crispy pancetta, dried cranberries and toasted pine nuts. Tons of different flavors and textures, which makes for a fantastic side dish.

Get the recipe here!

Buttermilk Biscuits

A plate of buttermilk biscuits stacked together.

Some families do dinner rolls, some do cornbread, and some do biscuits. If you fall into the latter category, then you will absolutely love these incredibly fluffy and flaky buttermilk biscuits.

Get the recipe here!

Cheesy Corn Casserole (From Scratch!)

This is my best cheesy corn casserole yet - tons of corn flavor and super cheesy! Perfect for holiday side dishes or summer picnics.

A supremely cheesy corn casserole that is made with absolutely no packaged ingredients or canned corn, which amounts to loads of fresh flavor that’s a welcome change from traditional corn casseroles.

Get the recipe here!

Cornbread

Squares of cornbread on a piece of parchment paper.

If you fall into the cornbread camp for your gravy-mopping duties, let me introduce you to my most favorite cornbread recipe. It comes together quickly and bakes up perfectly every single time. Smear it with butter and mop away!

Get the recipe here!

Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread Muffins made with tons of cornmeal are fluffy and moist - perfect with a bowl of chili! | https://www.browneyedbaker.com/cornbread-muffins/

Maybe cornbread muffins are your jam? I made these years ago to go with a pot of chili and fell in love immediately. Great for individual portions and you can make them mini-sized if you’d like, too!

Get the recipe here!

Creamed Corn Casserole

A serving of cheesy creamed corn casserole on a round plate.

The epitome of corn casseroles. Only six ingredients, a bowl and a spoon are all you need to whip up this easy casserole. Don’t expect to find any leftovers when you serve up this classic!

Get the recipe here!

Cloverleaf Dinner Rolls

If you want something a little bit different than regular dinner rolls, these cloverleaf rolls totally fit the bill. They are soft and fluffy, yet sturdy enough to not totally disintegrate when they’re smeared with butter and are sopping up leftover gravy on the plate. Important!

Get the recipe here!

Cranberry-Walnut Rolls

Such a festive spin on traditional dinner rolls! This easy yeast dough is studded with dried cranberries and toasted walnuts, shaped into rolls, sprinkled with sugar and baked until golden brown. Serve with regular butter, orange-infused butter, or even apple butter!

Get the recipe here!

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

A bowl of creamy crock pot mac and cheese.

Truth be told, it wasn’t until a few years ago when I found out that macaroni and cheese was a big Thanksgiving side dish. We never had it in our family on Thanksgiving growing up, but I totally understand the appeal. I mean, cheesy carbs are what it’s all about, right!? And this crock pot mac and cheese version frees up stove and oven space, and you can scale it up to serve a crowd if you need to!

Get the recipe here!

Easy Hashbrown Casserole

Using a serving spoon to take a scoop of hashbrown casserole out of the pan.

While we’re on the subject of cheesy casserole side dishes, once you take a bite of this cheesy hashbrown casserole (and find out how easy it is to make!), you’ll wonder why it hasn’t been on every holiday menu of yours since the beginning of time.

Get the recipe here!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I have been making this cranberry sauce every single Thanksgiving for the past eight years. It is more a chutney-style cranberry sauce than a jellied or super saucy version, and it is DELICIOUS. Such bright and light flavors thanks to apple, orange and lemon zest!

Get the recipe here!

Grape Salad

A bowl of grape salad topped with brown sugar and pecans.

This new-to-me recipe also ranks highly for many as a Thanksgiving side dish mainstay. I love the fresh fruit, creamy dressing, and crunchy nuts. It will definitely add some different flavors and textures to your Thanksgiving table!

Get the recipe here!

Green Bean Casserole (From Scratch!)

A pan of green bean casserole with a corner scooped out.

Green. Bean. Casserole. Is there anything that screams of Thanksgiving more than this casserole? Originally consisting of canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and canned fried onions, this classic gets a from-scratch re-make. Fresh green beans, fresh mushrooms in a homemade cream sauce, and a homemade bread crumb topping that is mixed with those french-fried onions because, let’s be honest, they are GOOD (but you can substitute your own crispy fried shallots if you’d like!).

Get the recipe here!

Homemade Crescent Rolls

These homemade crescent rolls are flaky, buttery and easier than you'd think. They are the perfect accompaniment to any holiday meal! | https://www.browneyedbaker.com/homemade-crescent-rolls/

Buttery, flaky crescent rolls made totally from scratch! I love to fill up a bread basket with these beauties.

Get the recipe here!

Mashed Sweet Potato Brûlée

A fun spin on sweet potatoes – they are mashed with butter and a little bit of seasoning, then topped with chopped walnuts and baked. The dish is then sprinkled with brown sugar and broiled until it is bubbling. Grab a spoon and crack through that beautiful brown sugar crust!

Get the recipe here!

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes placed on a rustic wooden background.

These are THE BEST mashed potatoes! As in, I need to quadruple the recipe every year because everyone goes totally nuts over them and they all want to take some home to have with the leftover turkey. They are supremely creamy, perfectly seasoned, and you can make them in the morning and keep them warm in the slow cooker until dinnertime. Total win!

Get the recipe here!

Pineapple Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole

Pineapple-Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole with Homemade Marshmallow Creme Topping | https://www.browneyedbaker.com/pineapple-bourbon-sweet-potato-casserole

My favorite riff on sweet potato casserole right here – fresh sweet potatoes are cooked and mashed with butter, tons of seasonings, bourbon and crushed pineapple, then baked and topped with homemade marshmallow creme and broiled until beautifully browned.

Get the recipe here!

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

This is a longtime favorite in our family, and if you’re looking to add salad to your Thanksgiving menu, this is totally the version I would recommend! It’s not overly filling, but you get all of those warm traditional flavors carried right through the salad. And that apple cider vinaigrette? Sublime!

Get the recipe here!

Sausage, Apple & Sage Stuffing

Sausage, Apple & Sage Stuffing made with Challah bread. | https://www.browneyedbaker.com/sausage-apple-sage-stuffing/

This sausage and apple stuffing is made with Challah bread, flavored with sage, and bakes up wonderfully moist with a crisp top and crisp corners. It has risen in the ranks among stuffing recipes, and my husband now declares this one his very favorite.

Get the recipe here!

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing

Sausage Cornbread Stuffing by @browneyedbaker :: www.browneyedbaker.com

A Thanksgiving must in our family! There is something so insanely good about that combination of cornbread and sausage, and I load up on it year after year.

Get the recipe here!

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon and Pecans

Tossing brussels sprouts salad with bacon, pecans and Parmesan cheese.

I made this a couple of years ago and nearly everyone asked for the recipe after dinner; it’s a lighter, fresher way to serve Brussels and many people who claim to not like Brussels sprouts will gobble this up!

Get the recipe here!

Sweet Corn Spoon Bread

Sweet Corn Spoonbread | browneyedbaker.com

This riff on the popular JIFFY corn casserole includes an extra egg, which gives this version a creamy, almost souffle-like consistency.

Get the recipe here!

Sweet Potato Gratin with Gruyere

I first made this sweet potato gratin nearly 10 years ago and it still gets massive rave reviews whenever it shows up on the table. The sweet potatoes are wonderfully tender, and it’s perfectly creamy and cheesy. Always a huge hit!

Get the recipe here!

Traditional Bread Stuffing

Traditional Bread Stuffing - A must-make for any Thanksgiving dinner! | browneyedbaker.com

Last but certainly not least is perhaps the most iconic of all Thanksgiving side dishes Рthe traditional stuffing. Saut̩ed onion and celery are flavored with poultry seasoning (sage, marjoram, thyme Рis there a smell more Thanksgiving that that trio?!), mixed with cubed bread, chicken stock and eggs, and baked until golden brown.

Get the recipe here!

TELL ME! What is your hands-down, all-time favorite Thanksgiving side dish?!