89 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That’ll Outshine the Turkey
Thanksgiving side dishes are what turn a good holiday meal into an unforgettable one. Sure, roast turkey is the centerpiece, but the true stars are the family favorites that round out the holiday feast.
This year let our guide to the best Thanksgiving side dish recipes help you plan a menu everyone will rave about. From staples like our superstar cranberry sauce recipe and Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes to emerging favorites like sour-cream-and-onion mashed potatoes and fried sweet potato tempura, there’s something here for every palate. You’ll also find plenty of Thanksgiving vegetable sides like gratins and salads to keep non-meat eaters feeling full and festive.
Whether you’re craving balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts, cornbread muffins fresh from the oven, make-ahead options to ease day-of stress, or a last-minute Thanksgiving salad, these recipes ensure no one leaves hungry.
The list below is divided into sections for easier browsing. Scroll on for potato side dishes, followed by stuffings and dressings, sweet potatoes and squash, vegetable side dishes, creamy and cheesy things, holiday-worthy salads, breads and rolls, and cranberries and other sauces.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman1/89Ultra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes
This is one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for good reason. There are no tricks, no toppings, and no bold ingredient choices. Just potatoes, heavy cream, garlic, rosemary, butter, salt, and pepper—creating the creamiest and silkiest version of this comfort food classic.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen2/89Potatoes au Gratin
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski3/89Burnished Potato Nuggets
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Styling by Molly Baz4/89Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Walnut Dressing
We don’t really need to sell the crispiest-ever smashed potatoes. But this version deserves a hype man. They boast the ultimate umami dressing made of walnuts, anchovies, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by JoJo Li5/89Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potatoes
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco6/89Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
Old-fashioned scalloped potatoes are good, full stop. But when they are fully loaded like a baked potato–with scallions, sour cream, cheddar, and bacon–they’re exponentially better.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng7/89Cacio e Pepe Rösti
The classic Roman cacio e pepe pasta meets Swiss hash browns in this impressive side—and by that, we mean it can be sliced into elegant wedges, bringing civility to a plate otherwise occupied by blobs and scoops.
Bobbi Lin8/89Duchess Baked Potatoes
If you’ve ever asked if mashed potatoes can be more, the answer is yes. The recipe is this one. The texture is like that of a twice-baked potato.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio9/89Crispy Potatoes With Bay and Scallions
Photo by Chelsie Craig10/89Mashed Baked Potatoes With Chives
A sheet pan isn’t typically used for making mashed potatoes, but baking the potatoes—something you can do ahead—rather than boiling them is a game-changer.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Jillian Lehner, Prop Styling by Emilie Fosnocht11/89Creamy Yukon Golds With Crispy Potato Skins
This twist on the classic Thanksgiving potato dish will have you saving your potato peels from their usual destiny, the compost bin. Instead, transform them into a crunchy, salty garnish.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne13/89Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
If you always feel rushed, this make-ahead Thanksgiving recipe is a lifesaver. This mashed potatoes recipe can be prepared two full days in advance without compromising the supremely velvety results.
