Planning your Thanksgiving menu? These easy Thanksgiving side dishes have something for everyone. From creamy potatoes and seasonal vegetables to fresh salads, homemade gravy and cranberry sauce. With plenty of make-ahead options and easy recipes that won’t take over your oven, these side dish recipes will help make your Thanksgiving meal a little less stressful.
Potato Side Dishes
From creamy mashed potatoes to cheesy gratins and crispy roasted potatoes, these easy potato side dishes are perfect for your Thanksgiving table. With plenty of make-ahead options, there’s something here to suit every holiday menu.
Cheesy Twice Baked Mashed Potato Casserole
This indulgent mashed potato casserole is loaded with flavor and topped with golden melted cheese. Make it ahead of time for easy Thanksgiving entertaining.
Made with just four ingredients, these roasted garlic mashed potatoes are quick to prep and packed with flavor. A simple crowd-pleasing addition to your holiday table.
These perfectly portioned potato gratins make an impressive addition to Thanksgiving dinner. Easy to prep ahead, they're ideal when you're entertaining a crowd.
This air fryer potato gratin is quicker to cook than the traditional oven-baked version. It's a delicious way to save precious oven space on Thanksgiving Day.
Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, these roast potatoes are flavored with garlic, herbs and Parmesan for an easy holiday side everyone will love.
Sweet potatoes and squash are perfect for adding some color and seasonal flavor to your Thanksgiving table. From creamy and cheesy to roasted and caramelized, these easy sides are full of delicious fall flavors.
Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Light and fluffy, these whipped sweet potatoes are a simple savory alternative to traditional sweet potato casserole and can be made ahead for Thanksgiving dinner.
Layers of tender sweet potato are baked with cheese and bacon for an indulgent twist on classic dauphinoise. A great make-ahead side for the holiday table.
Caramelized on the outside and beautifully tender in the middle, these fondant sweet potatoes are seasoned with garlic and herbs for an impressive Thanksgiving side.
Maple syrup and thyme add the perfect balance of sweet and savory to this easy roasted butternut squash. A colorful fall side that's perfect for Thanksgiving.
Add some color to your Thanksgiving meal with these easy vegetable side dishes. From Brussels sprouts and glazed carrots to slow cooked red cabbage, there are plenty of tasty ways to get some veggies on your holiday table.
Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries
Ready in just 15 minutes, these sautéed Brussels sprouts with cranberries are a quick and colorful addition to your Thanksgiving table, with no oven needed.
These colorful carrot and green bean bundles look impressive but are surprisingly easy to make. Prep them ahead for fuss-free Thanksgiving entertaining.
Smoky bacon and tender Brussels sprouts make an irresistible holiday side. Cooking them in the air fryer keeps things quick and frees up valuable oven space.
Sweet maple syrup and tangy Dijon mustard give these roasted carrots loads of flavor. An easy seasonal side that pairs perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner.
Balance out those rich and indulgent Thanksgiving favorites with something a little lighter. These fresh and flavorful sides are easy to make and a great way to add some color and texture to your holiday spread.
Creamy Brussels Sprout Slaw
Crunchy Brussels sprouts are tossed with orange, pecans and cranberries for a colorful festive slaw. Quick to prepare and easy to make ahead for Thanksgiving.
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without plenty of gravy and cranberry sauce! Whether you prefer rich homemade gravy or a sweet and tangy cranberry sauce, these easy recipes are the perfect finishing touch for your holiday meal.
Bacon Dripping Gravy Recipe
Put those flavorful bacon drippings to good use in this easy homemade gravy. Rich and savory, it’s a delicious addition to turkey, mashed potatoes and all your Thanksgiving favorites.
Let the slow cooker do the work with this rich onion gravy. Make it ahead and keep it warm for serving, while leaving valuable stovetop space free on Thanksgiving Day.
Made from scratch with caramelized red onions, this savory vegetarian gravy is a great option for meat-free guests and pairs perfectly with your favorite holiday sides.
Port and fresh orange give this homemade cranberry sauce a rich, festive flavor. It’s quick to make and can be prepared ahead of time for easy holiday entertaining.
Made with just three ingredients, this simple cranberry sauce combines brown sugar and cinnamon for a warm, seasonal twist on the Thanksgiving classic.
Make what you can ahead of time. Cranberry sauces, gravy, salads and many potato dishes can be prepared ahead. You don’t have to cook everything on Thanksgiving Day!
Think about oven space. Your turkey is likely to take up most of the oven, so mix in stovetop, slow cooker and air fryer side dishes to make cooking everything at the same time much easier.
Mix up the textures and flavors. Alongside rich potato dishes and gravy, add some fresh vegetables or a lighter salad to balance out your Thanksgiving meal.
Plan your reheating. Check which dishes can be kept warm or reheated easily, and work backwards from when you want to serve dinner. This will help you avoid having everything ready at once, or nothing ready at all!
Whether you’re planning a traditional Thanksgiving menu or trying something a little different this year, I hope these easy Thanksgiving side dishes make planning your holiday meal a little easier!
