Thursday, November 6, 2025

25 Favorite Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving sides

If there’s one thing we all know to be true about Thanksgiving, it’s this: the turkey may technically be the main event, but the sides… the sides are where the magic lives. Creamy, savory, crispy-topped, buttery, veggies and carbs piled high on a plate – that’s the Thanksgiving energy we’re all really here for. 🧡

This collection brings a mix of cozy classics and a few fun twists — because sometimes Thanksgiving calls for tradition, and sometimes it calls for a little zhuzh. And the best part? So many of these dishes are naturally vegetarian, which means the people at your table who pass on the turkey will still be fully living their best Thanksgiving life. Think fluffy potatoes, saucy green beans, pillowy gnocchi, warm and toasty breads, and salads that actually feel exciting.

These are the sides that make the feast feel extra special. Let’s plate ’em up!


The Very Best Thanksgiving Sides

Green Bean Casserole in a bowl.

Green Bean Casserole

This Green Bean Casserole is a Thanksgiving classic! Fresh green beans in a silky, rich sauce speckled with gruyere and shallots – plus crispy onions on top, of course!

11 reviews / 5 average
Sweet potato casserole in a dish.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping

That crunchy brown sugar topping will give you life! An absolute must for the Thanksgiving table for me!

64 reviews / 4.8 average
Beet salad in bowls.

7-Layer Beet Salad

This 7-Layer Beet Salad is a fall stunner! Studded with cooked beets, supremed oranges, chopped pistachios, creamy truffle ricotta, and a bit of fresh mint. So fresh, so good!

23 reviews / 4.9 average
Bacon and brussels sprouts salad with almonds.

Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

Hands down, my favorite salad to serve on Thanksgiving! Thinly shaved brussels sprouts, chopped bacon, and a light citrus dressing.

32 reviews / 4.7 average
Favorite corn casserole in a dish.

Everybody’s Favorite Corn Casserole

Bursty bites of cream-style corn and sweet corn plus garlic, bacon, and cheese throughout – so you know it’s really, really good!

37 reviews / 4.7 average
Roasted brussels sprouts on a sheet pan with cranberries and walnuts.

House Favorite Roasted Brussels Sprouts

We eat these all the time, but they are especially excellent for Thanksgiving! Speckled with bright bursts of cranberries and nutty walnuts.

42 reviews / 5 average
Mashed potatoes in a bowl.

The Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

The perfect way to give yourself some stove space! Mashed Potatoes made in the Instant Pot! So creamy, so fluffy, and SO GOOD.

77 reviews / 4.7 average
Roasted carrots with yogurt and pistachios.

Roasted Carrots with Honey and Garlic Yogurt Sauce

These beauties need to be on your table! Deeply roasted rainbow carrots, swizzles of tangy garlicky yogurt sauce, a golden drizzle of honey, and festive pistachio crunches on top.

17 reviews / 4.9 average
Kale caesar salad on a plate with sweet potato fries.

Avocado Kale Caesar Salad

Kale, avocado, and crunchy seeds drenched in a quick creamy avocado caesar dressing that can easily be made vegan, too.

73 reviews / 4.9 average
Roasted broccoli with bacon and cheese.

Liz’s Roasted Broccoli Salad

Another roasted veggie winner! Bright lemon, crisped-up bacon, tangy feta, and crispy roasted broccoli.

56 reviews / 5 average
Pumpkin gnocchi in a sage butter sauce.

Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce

So incredibly pillowy and delicious and feels just right for a holiday. Topped with a 5 ingredient sage garlic butter sauce that will blow your mind.

36 reviews / 4.6 average
Simple green salad in a bowl.

Simple Green Salad

Every table needs a Simple Green Salad! Fresh spring greens drizzled with a maple balsamic dressing and sprinkled with whatever crunchies your salad-loving heart desires.

27 reviews / 4.9 average
Sweet potato gnocchi in a bowl with broccoli rabe.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Love this one as a vegetarian main or side for the big day! It’s sweet, rich, buttery, and filling.

84 reviews / 4.5 average
Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan with cranberries and gochujang butter.

Brussels Sprouts with Gochujang Butter

Roasted brussels, but elevated! Shredded roasty brussels sprouts flecked with toasted walnuts and bites of plumped dried cranberries, and blanketed with a luscious sheen of gochujang garlic butter sauce.

52 reviews / 4.9 average
Baked mac and cheese in a casserole dish.

Baked Mac and Cheese

This Baked Mac and Cheese is cheesy on the inside, crispy on the outside, heavy on the OMG yum factor.

8 reviews / 5 average
Kale apple salad in a bowl with crispy shallots.

Kale Apple Salad with Crispy Shallots

Love this salad so much! Kale, brussels sprouts, rosemary cashews, apples, fried bread cheese, crispy shallots, and crisp apple maple dressing!

6 reviews / 5 average
Green beans on a plate with avocado caesar dressing.

Avocado Caesar Green Beans

Grab a bag of green beans, blitz up a quick avocado caesar, toast some panko, and let’s go! My kids love this one!

19 reviews / 4.9 average
Brussels and kale caesar in a bowl with croutons.

Brussels & Kale Caesar with Cheezy Garlic Croutons

Papery-thin shreds of brussels sprouts and chopped kale, tossed with a creamy, garlicky, avocado-based vegan caesar dressing, topped off with the most addicting cheezy garlic croutons.

19 reviews / 5 average
Baked bread on parchment.

Miracle No Knead Bread

This is SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD and ridiculously easy to make. The perfect thing to bring along to a holiday gathering. Crusty outside, soft and chewy inside.

584 reviews / 4.8 average
Cranberry salsa in a bowl.

Gingery Cranberry Salsa

This is my favorite holiday app! Cranberry Salsa that is finely textured, juicy, zippy, fresh, and sweet, with a little fire from the jalapeño.

13 reviews / 4.9 average
Arugula salad with wild rice and sweet potatoes.

Roasted Sweet Potato, Wild Rice, and Arugula Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato, Wild Rice, and Arugula Salad: served with a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.

23 reviews / 5 average
House favorite garlic bread.

House Favorite Garlic Bread

Skip the rolls and make fresh garlic bread! French bread, butter, fresh garlic, garlic powder, Parmesan, and parsley. It’s so simple and so ridiculously good.

22 reviews / 5 average
Autumn glow salad in a bowl with apples.

Autumn Glow Salad with Lemon Dressing

Lots of good stuff happening here! Roasted cauliflower, sweet potato, grains, and apples. YUM.

61 reviews / 4.9 average
Kale salad with parmesan and breadcrumbs.

Toasted Bread and Parmesan Kale Salad

This is THE BEST Kale Salad! Lots of shredded kale, Parmesan cheese, homemade breadcrumbs, and a lemon olive oil dressing. So simple, SO GOOD.

16 reviews / 5 average
Kale salad with pomegranate, cheese, walnuts and wild rice.

Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta

Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad, with walnuts and Feta cheese and a simple homemade dressing. Another favorite holiday salad!

49 reviews / 4.8 average

More Holiday Recipes and Resources

If you’re looking for more than just sides, here are some of my favorite holiday and Thanksgiving dinners, desserts, brunch recipes, and more!

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