This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These easy Thanksgiving side dishes deserve a little extra room on your plate! From buttery homemade biscuits and creamy mashed potatoes to cheesy casseroles and honey roasted carrots, this collection is full of delicious ideas for your holiday table. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner or bringing a dish to Friendsgiving, you’ll find something here to serve alongside the turkey.
Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Everyone Will Want Seconds Of
Choose a comforting classic, try a new vegetable side dish, or let the Crock Pot handle the potatoes while you make room in the oven. Just don’t be surprised if someone asks you to bring the same dish next year!
Pin this now to save it for later
Pin It NowButtery Biscuits and Cornbread for Thanksgiving
1. Butter Swim Biscuits
Golden edges, soft centers, and plenty of butter make these homemade biscuits hard to resist. The dough bakes right in melted butter, giving you a cozy bread basket addition without rolling or cutting out individual rounds. Serve them warm alongside your Thanksgiving favorites, and save one for soaking up that last little bit of gravy.
Get the Butter Swim Biscuits recipe.
2. Cornbread Cupcakes
If you love a little sweetness with your savory holiday sides, these Cornbread Cupcakes belong on your menu. Cornbread mix and cake batter come together for a soft, fluffy bite, while cinnamon butter melts over the warm tops. They’re a fun Thanksgiving bread option for anyone who always reaches for the sweet cornbread first!
Get the Cornbread Cupcakes recipe.
Thanksgiving Potato Side Dishes
3. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
These are the mashed potatoes to make when you want every spoonful to taste rich, buttery, and wonderfully creamy. Yukon Gold potatoes combine with cream cheese, sour cream, and heavy cream for a comforting side that pairs beautifully with turkey and gravy. Add a little melted butter on top, and you’ve got a holiday classic worth passing around twice.
Get the Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes recipe.
Making mashed potatoes for a crowd? This electric potato peeler is worth a look when you have a big batch of potatoes to prep.
4. Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Need a Thanksgiving side dish that leaves more room in the oven? These Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes layer sliced potatoes with garlic, cream, cheddar, and Parmesan for a cheesy side that cooks in the slow cooker. The potatoes turn tender as they soak up the rich sauce, making this a delicious option when you’re juggling several holiday dishes.
Get the Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes recipe.
5. Sour Cream and Onion Party Potatoes
The crunchy topping is your first clue that these aren’t ordinary cheesy potatoes! Diced hash browns and French onion dip bake into a creamy casserole topped with sour cream and onion potato chips. It’s a playful addition to Thanksgiving dinner with familiar flavors and a buttery crunch. The recipe also includes a prep-ahead option to help with holiday planning.
Get the Sour Cream and Onion Party Potatoes recipe.
These mixing bowls with lids and grater attachments are a handy find for mixing casserole ingredients and organizing your holiday prep.
6. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
For a potato side with crisp edges and tender centers, try these Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes. Baby red potatoes are tossed with garlic, herbs, and Parmesan, then baked until deliciously golden. They’re a lovely choice when you want something different from mashed potatoes, with plenty of savory flavor to complement your Thanksgiving turkey or holiday ham.
Get the Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes recipe.
Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes and Casseroles
7. Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
Give a traditional Thanksgiving favorite an extra helping of flavor with cheese and bacon! This green bean casserole combines a creamy sauce with tender green beans, melted cheese, crispy fried onions, and crumbled bacon. You still get that familiar holiday comfort, plus a savory topping that makes every scoop a little more exciting. Add this one to your list if green bean casserole is a must at your table.
Get the Green Bean Casserole with Bacon recipe.
8. Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Sweet honey and savory bacon make these Brussels sprouts a delicious addition to a Thanksgiving spread. The sprouts cook until tender with browned edges, then get a drizzle of honey to finish. Choose the stovetop or air fryer method to suit your kitchen setup. It’s an especially handy vegetable side when the oven is already full of casseroles.
Get the Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Planning to use the air fryer method? Take a look at this countertop air fryer oven for your holiday kitchen.
9. Roasted Baby Carrots
These Roasted Baby Carrots bring gorgeous color and a little sweetness to your holiday plate. Honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter coat the carrots as they roast into a tender vegetable side. With baby carrots keeping prep simple, this is an easy Thanksgiving recipe to add when you want another vegetable without a lot of chopping.
Get the Roasted Baby Carrots recipe.
10. Cheesy Garlic Baked Green Beans
Fresh green beans get a delicious upgrade with garlic, Parmesan, and melted mozzarella. These Cheesy Garlic Baked Green Beans give you a vegetable side with plenty of flavor and an irresistible cheesy finish. If you want to serve green beans a different way this Thanksgiving, this recipe is a great place to start. You’ll also find an air fryer option in the recipe notes.
Get the Baked Green Beans recipe.
11. Squash Casserole
Tender yellow squash, a creamy cheddar filling, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping make this casserole pure comfort food. That crisp topping adds just the right contrast to the soft squash underneath. It’s a cozy addition to your Thanksgiving side dishes, especially if you love a vegetable casserole with plenty of cheese and a golden, crunchy finish.
Get the Squash Casserole recipe.
More Comforting Thanksgiving Sides
12. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Five kinds of cheese make this Baked Macaroni and Cheese worthy of a spot on your holiday menu. Tender elbow macaroni is coated in a rich cheese mixture and baked until the edges are golden and bubbly. It’s a hearty Thanksgiving side for the pasta lovers at your table, with the kind of cheesy goodness that makes a second scoop tempting.
Get the Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
13. Stick of Butter Rice
Just four ingredients turn a simple rice side dish into something rich and savory. Long-grain rice bakes with French onion soup, beef broth or consommé, and butter, soaking up the flavor right in the baking dish. With only a few minutes of prep, this is a practical addition to Thanksgiving dinner when you want another comforting side without a long ingredient list.
Get the Stick of Butter Rice recipe.
Thinking ahead to leftovers? These freezer portion containers make it easy to divide suitable dishes into smaller portions for another meal.
14. Crockpot Stuffing
Thanksgiving stuffing just got a little easier! Seasoned bread cubes, onion, celery, garlic, and Italian seasoning soak up savory chicken stock and butter as they cook in the slow cooker. This easy Crockpot Stuffing brings those cozy holiday flavors to the table while leaving your oven available for turkey, casseroles, and pies. Add it to your Thanksgiving menu when you want a classic side with simple prep.
Get the Crockpot Stuffing recipe.
How to Choose Your Thanksgiving Side Dishes
A delicious Thanksgiving menu doesn’t need every recipe on this list. Start with the dishes your family looks forward to, then add something new to keep the meal fun.
- Choose a potato favorite. Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes are a classic pick, while Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes bring a different texture.
- Add vegetables with variety. Pair a creamy casserole with Roasted Baby Carrots or Bacon Brussels Sprouts.
- Include a bread option. Try Butter Swim Biscuits for a buttery bite or Cornbread Cupcakes for something sweeter.
- Plan around your oven space. Choose dishes that use different appliances so everything doesn’t need to bake at once.
- Bring a dish that suits the gathering. Check each recipe’s yield and equipment before choosing your contribution to Friendsgiving or a family potluck.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
Which Thanksgiving sides can I prepare ahead?
Sour Cream and Onion Party Potatoes can be assembled ahead without the chips and butter, which are added before baking. The Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole with Bacon posts also include make-ahead freezing guidance. Visit the individual recipes for their preparation and reheating instructions.
What Thanksgiving sides can I make without using the oven?
Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes cook in the slow cooker, and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes use the stovetop. Bacon Brussels Sprouts include stovetop and air fryer methods, giving you several ways to keep oven space available.
Whether you’re filling your own Thanksgiving table or bringing a favorite dish to share, these recipes offer plenty of ways to make the meal memorable. Save your favorites now so they’re easy to find when it’s time to plan the holiday menu!
