35 Best Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas for a Crowd
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Thanksgiving side dishes really know how to steal the spotlight, don’t they? They perfectly complement the main event—the turkey—and bring a delightful mix of flavors and textures to your holiday spread.
In this roundup, you’ll discover a bunch of recipes that keep the Thanksgiving spirit alive, from your must-have creamy mashed potatoes and tangy cranberry sauce to a few adventurous dishes like balsamic-glazed Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole with a pecan crunch, and herb-roasted veggies.
And for those who love to mix things up, there’s plenty of room to experiment with these recipes. Whether you’re catering to vegan friends or gluten-free family members, there’s something here for everyone.
Looking for more Thanksgiving ideas? Try these Thanksgiving dessert recipes next.
Tips for Winning at Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Seasonal Vibes: Lean into those classic fall flavors. Think pumpkins, squash, apples, and all those hearty root veggies.
Spice Things Up: Don’t shy away from tossing in some fresh herbs, spices, and other aromatics to make each dish pop. Sometimes, tweaking an old classic can really liven up the table.
All Are Welcome: Adapt recipes as needed so everyone can dig in, no matter their dietary needs.
Plan Ahead: Knock out some of the prep work early. Trust me, your future self will thank you when you’re not stuck in the kitchen all day.
Texture Talk: Keep your guests guessing with a mix of smooth, crunchy, creamy, and crispy offerings.
Potluck Style: If you’re hosting, why not make it a potluck? Ask guests to bring their favorite side dish. It’s a great way to share the load and try new things!
Image Credit: tastesoflizzyt
Grandma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing has stood the test of time. This buttery, savory, melt-in-your-mouth stuffing is the best stuffing recipe around!
This is a long-time family recipe for simple and savory turkey stuffing. Bake it in the oven or in the turkey! You’ll love this best turkey dressing or homemade stuffing recipe either way!
Get the full recipe from: Tastes Of Lizzy T
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Loaded with apples and fresh cranberries, this Apple Cranberry Sauce is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving spread, delicious and easy! The best part of this Apple Cranberry Sauce is that it is ready in less than 15 minutes!
The addition of cinnamon, rosemary, and orange is an unexpected and unique flavor enhancer to this recipe. It adds pops of flavor from all angles and works so well together.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Creamy, flavorful and absolutely delicious, these Creamy Mashed Potatoes are a delish side dish for the holidays, weekdays, or just because! You will fall in love with this easy recipe.
They are easy, tasty, and absolutely wonderful. This is a great easy recipe and one that will surely become a menu staple once you give them a try.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Creamy, rich, and packed with that amazing garlic flavor, garlic cream cheese mashed potatoes are a delicious side dish that are easy enough for weeknight dinners but delicious enough for the holidays.
These easy mashed potatoes are the ultimate sidekick to your favorite main dishes. It makes an amazing Thanksgiving side dish, especially for a potluck!
Get the full recipe from: On My Kids Plate
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Italian sausage stuffing is packed full of savory herbs, crunchy pecans mixed into tender bread. This delicious side dish is packed full of flavor, and is one of our must-make dishes for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner.
This stuffing is full of savory flavor and is worth adding the extra spices for the perfect stuffing alongside any turkey recipe.
Get the full recipe from: On My Kids Plate
Image Credit: delicioustable
Let your palate take a welcomed break with a few bites of a fresh cranberry relish along with your Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. It has a light fresh taste, a little bit of a crunch, and less sugar than a traditional cranberry sauce.
You just need a handful of ingredients for the best cranberry relish. It is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving dinner or a Christmas feast.
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Image Credit: thesoccermomblog
These tender carrots with a subtly sweet glaze made with ginger ale are absolutely delicious. Ginger ale carrots are made with only 3 simple ingredients.
It is very easy to make and it is the perfect side dish. It will quickly become one of your favorite easy side dish recipes!
Get the full recipe from: The Soccer Mom Blog
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
Creamed Corn is made from simple ingredients, including frozen or canned sweet corn, milk, butter, and cream cheese. An easy side dish perfect for the holidays and family dinners, you can learn how to make this delicious homemade recipe on the stovetop or slow cooker.
Creamed corn is the favorite side dish recipe, versatile and delicious, it is a must-have side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and special steak dinners.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
These Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes are filled with perfectly cooked sweet potatoes, tender butternut squash, butter, and a hint of sweet maple syrup.
Healthier than regular mashed potatoes and low in carbs, enjoy these silky smooth mashed sweet potatoes with lunch, dinner, or as an easy vegetarian and gluten-free holiday side dish.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: xoxobella
Sheet pan parmesan roasted carrots with garlic make a delicious side dish for all kinds of entrees. The natural sweetness of carrots is showcased by the creamy, salty parmesan cheese and buttery, as well as hints of garlic, rosemary and fresh parsley.
Everyone at the dinner table will love crispy parmesan carrots. Their sweetness appeals to the younger members of the family and it’s a great way to get them to eat cooked carrots.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: xoxobella
Crispy Tik Tok stacked potatoes make a delicious side dish. The crispy potatoes are stacked and seasoned with delicious ingredients like oregano, garlic, and parmesan cheese. This is one of the crunchiest potato dish recipes you’ve ever tried.
A flavorful alternative to mashed potatoes, this Tik Tok potato recipe goes well with any kind of main dish and tastes wonderful as an appetizer, too.
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: agratefulmeal
These Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are super crispy, crunchy, and easy to make. They’re a great side dish for any meal!
You can serve them with anything, but they would make a great Thanksgiving side dish or as part of your Christmas dinner.
Get the full recipe from: A Grateful Meal
Image Credit: walkingonsunshinerecipes
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries is an amazing dish to add to your Thanksgiving menu this year. Made with cubes of butternut squash roasted with cranberries, feta cheese and honey, this dish is healthy, flavorful, and sure to please everyone at the table.
Plus, it’s easy to prepare, so you can focus on enjoying your holiday festivities. It’s also a healthy option that will help balance out heavier Thanksgiving side dishes.
Get the full recipe from: Walking On Sunshine Recipes
Image Credit: dashfordinner
This easy recipe for Roasted Rosemary Potatoes is a simple, satisfying recipe that works for any occasion. They are the perfect side dish for a dinner party, holiday dinner, or even weekly meal prep!
If you love crispy roasted potatoes, you’re going to adore this delicious side dish. It’s made with fresh, simple ingredients, which allow the flavors of your main dish to take center stage.
Get the full recipe from: Dash For Dinner
Image Credit: simplystacie
Roasted Root Vegetables are an easy and healthy side dish to dress up your dinner table. Carrots, fingerling potatoes, and sweet potatoes come together in one incredible dish.
You could eat this recipe as a meal on its own, but it makes more sense to serve them as a side dish. They’d be yummy paired with some roast beef, chicken or even pork tenderloin.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: simplystacie
This delicious Crockpot Cranberry Pecan Stuffing is loaded with celery, onions, cranberries and pecans to make the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. You can keep the oven free for your other holiday recipes!
Cranberry stuffing with pecans is the perfect combination of savory with a hint of sweetness. This easy slow cooker stuffing will be a hit at all your holiday meals.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: ihearteating
Classic candied sweet potatoes! This simple recipe bakes right in the oven – no need to boil the sweet potatoes. This classic candied sweet potato recipe is so easy to make! The sweet potatoes bake up nice and tender, and the sweet, buttery glaze is delicious!
There is minimal prep with this recipe. The oven does almost all the work, and there’s no pre-boiling necessary.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: ihearteating
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze turn Brussels sprouts into a show-stopping side dish with just a few simple ingredients. This tasty side dish is sure to become a Thanksgiving dinner staple!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze are a delicious but simple side dish. The dish has a lovely balance of bitter, sour, sweet, and salty.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: crayonsandcravings
Enjoy these Copycat Cracker Barrel Fried Apples anytime you get a craving for this sweet side dish from your favorite restaurant! Perfectly spiced, tender, sweet, with a thick sauce. These fried apples go with everything, especially during apple season when the fruit is at peak flavor.
Serve them over pancakes for breakfast. Enjoy them as a delicious side dish with pork chops, chicken or turkey. Pour a batch into a pie crust to make the easiest apple pie ever.
Get the full recipe from: Crayons And Cravings
Image Credit: cinnamonandsageco
Balsamic Roasted Vegetables make the perfect addition to any dinner entree. The caramelized balsamic flavor is a great way to dress up all those veggies, providing you with not only a healthy side dish, but also a delicious one.
Another convenience this recipe offers is how versatile it can be. Many vegetables pair well with balsamic. This allows you to choose whatever is in season at the moment, or any veggies you already have and need to use up!
Get the full recipe from: Cinnamon And Sage Co
Image Credit: cinnamonandsageco
With crunchy pecans and a little bit of sweet brown sugar, these Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes will be your new favorite side dish at dinner. Whether you’re making a casual weeknight dinner or planning your holiday meals, you will want these delicious potatoes on the table.
These Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes are the perfect addition for any holiday meal and are easy enough to make for a large crowd. You can easily double or even triple the recipe depending on how many people you are cooking for.
Get the full recipe from: Cinnamon And Sage Co
Image Credit: livingchirpy
This Homemade Cranberry Sauce is a perfect, fresh side dish that isn’t just ideal for holidays, it’s a great fit for many dinners! The tart sweetness of cranberry sauce is a great contrast for hearty, savory dinners.
It’s super easy and simple to make, so you will still have plenty of time to focus on your other sides and main dishes on Thanksgiving. In less than 30 minutes you will have a batch whipped up!
Get the full recipe from: Living Chirpy
Image Credit: livingchirpy
These Carrot Fries are baked with olive oil to a crisp perfection and the always tasty ranch seasoning, make the perfect Thanksgiving side dish.
This is an incredibly simple recipe that only takes 4 ingredients and a few steps. You can whip up a whole batch easily and snack away! You’ll never find an easier way to get carrots in your kids’ diet!
Get the full recipe from: Living Chirpy
Image Credit: hoteatsandcoolreads
These air fryer glazed carrots make the perfect affordable, vegetarian friendly, healthy dish. The combination of honey, fresh rosemary and carrots lead to a burst of nutrients. Antioxidants, iron, zinc, fiber, and potassium just to name a few. Helping your immune system and blood flow.
These simple roasted Air Fryer Rosemary Honey Glazed Carrots are such an easy side dish. They’re affordable, quick and a family favorite.
Get the full recipe from: Hot Eats And Cool Reads
Image Credit: hoteatsandcoolreads
Simple and flavorful sheet pan Roasted Rosemary Parmesan Sweet Potatoes are a wonderful side dish for any fall or winter meal! Only 7 easy ingredients and little prep to make these cheesy herb potatoes!
These Rosemary Parmesan Sweet Potatoes are great for any day of the week, and they also go with any holiday meal if you’re looking for something new and different.
The parmesan and rosemary add so much flavor to each bite. If you have leftovers, they reheat well either in the microwave or oven.
Get the full recipe from: Hot Eats And Cool Reads
Image Credit: persnicketyplates
Oven-baked potato wedges – potato wedges coated in a vibrant lemon and herb seasoning, then oven-roasted for a crispy outside and fluffy inside! They are easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and you don’t even have to peel them.
The lemon and herb seasoning gives them a bold flavor that is perfect for any occasion. Potato wedges are versatile – you can change up the seasoning to suit your taste or even add in some cheese for a cheesy flavor.
Get the full recipe from: Persnickety Plates
Image Credit: ​persnicketyplates
Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious, super rich, five cheese baked mac and cheese recipe. This copycat steakhouse recipe is fancy enough to serve to guests for holidays, but so delicious, you’ll want to make this easy baked mac and cheese recipe every day!
This baked mac and cheese recipe will be the star of the show. It’s creamy and comforting and worth every calorie.
Get the full recipe from: Persnickety Plates
Image Credit: healthygreenkitchen
These cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes are a great seasonal side dish and a way to enjoy more antioxidant-filled sweet potatoes in your cooking . Wonderfully elevated with sweet ingredients and savory deliciousness, these aren’t your typical roasted sweet potatoes.
Cinnamon and a drizzle of honey bring out the sweetness in these tubers while garlic, thyme, and pepper add a savoriness you didn’t know you needed. Together, they offer a complex flavor that will have your taste buds dancing.
Get the full recipe from: Healthy Green Kitchen
Image Credit: healthygreenkitchen
If you love roasted Brussels sprouts or cauliflower, you’re going to fall head over heels for this recipe. Combining Brussels sprouts with cauliflower florets brings out the nutty goodness of both vegetables in a way you don’t get when they’re served alone.
The real key to this recipe’s deliciousness is in the overnight marinade. By mixing the cut vegetables with fresh rosemary, garlic, onion powder, lemon, and olive oil and letting them sit overnight, you give the veggies a chance to absorb all those delicious flavors.
Get the full recipe from: Healthy Green Kitchen
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
Indulge in the nostalgia of this classic Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, a comforting blend of creamy soup, mayo, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for holidays or Sunday suppers, this dish is a timeless favorite that brings warmth and familiarity to the table.
It’s simple yet satisfying combination of ingredients creates a dish that is sure to evoke memories of cozy gatherings and delicious homemade meals.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing With The Nolands
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
These Caramelized Carrots have a tender texture with an almost candy-like glaze. They are an easy dish for Thanksgiving. They are always gobbled down with enthusiasm.
This classic side dish recipe is wonderful with ham, mashed potatoes, and other fixings for the holidays. They are super easy to make when you may have other dishes that require more time and effort.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing With The Nolands
Image Credit: scarlatifamilykitchen
These easy sauteed green beans with bacon and shallots are the perfect side dish for any meal. Tender crisp green beans are mixed with crispy bacon and thinly sliced shallots with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
This sautéed green beans recipe with bacon is a simple side dish, but it packs a ton of flavor. It would be a side dish for either a weeknight dinner or holiday meal. Plus, it’s only made using 6 ingredients!
Get the full recipe from: Scarlati Family Kitchen
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
This is a delicious and healthy Air Fryer Green Beans recipe. It’s easy to make and perfect for a quick side dish.
Fresh Green Beans in the Air Fryer are crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. Serve them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any night during the week.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks And Fun
Image Credit: ​​foodfolksandfun
This Sweet Potato Soufflé recipe is the best way to eat sweet potatoes. It’s creamy and has a buttery pecan streusel topping. This creamy and decadent dish features a buttery pecan streusel topping, adding a delightful crunch to the velvety sweet potato base.
Known for its rich flavors and heartwarming appeal, this soufflé is a beloved side dish that has stood the test of time, passed down through generations as a must-have at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks And Fun
Image Credit: poshplate
This Sautéed Brussel Sprouts recipe is ridiculously delicious. It’s loaded with garlic, Parmesan cheese, pecans, almonds, and crispy bits of turkey. This is the kind of side dish to take to any Thanksgiving gathering.
It contains familiar ingredients like parmesan cheese and turkey, yet the walnuts and thin-sliced almonds give the perfect elegant touch.
Get the full recipe from: Posh Plate