Let’s be honest, when it comes to Thanksgiving, the turkey gets way too much credit. Sure, it’s the headliner, but the real magic happens on the side of the plate. The sides are where flavor, nostalgia and creativity collide, and let’s face it, they’re what most of us go back for when we “just need a little more.”
So grab your stretchy pants and a fork, because we’re digging into the best Thanksgiving side dishes in America.
Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
1. Mashed Potatoes, The Unshakeable Classic
Mashed potatoes are the Beyoncé of Thanksgiving sides, creamy, dependable, and impossible not to love. Every family has their version, whipped with cream cheese, smoothed out with heavy cream or loaded with butter you can practically see glistening on top.
They’re not flashy, but they’re essential. Without them, gravy would just be a sauce looking for meaning.
If you want to take them from “good” to “don’t talk to me, I’m eating,” roast a few cloves of garlic and mash them in. Garlic mashed potatoes are the kind of comfort food that makes you forget your cousin’s political rants at the table.
2. Stuffing, The Ultimate Comfort Carb
Whether you call it stuffing or dressing, depending on which part of the country you’re from, this one is pure holiday gold. It’s the dish that lets you taste the season, herbs, onions, celery, maybe a little sausage if you’re feeling bold.
There’s no wrong way to do it, but people will die on their regional stuffing hills. In the South, cornbread dressing reigns supreme, golden, buttery, and baked until the edges are crisp. Up North, you’ll find more traditional bread-based versions, sometimes featuring oysters. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
It’s a flavor hug in a casserole dish, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.
3. Sweet Potato Casserole, Dessert Masquerading as a Side
Sweet potatoes are that overachiever who somehow got invited to both dinner and dessert. When topped with toasted marshmallows, this dish looks like it belongs in a bakery window. Some folks swap the marshmallows for a brown sugar and pecan crumble, which, frankly, is just as sinful.
It’s rich, sweet, and unapologetically extra, the diva of the Thanksgiving spread. It’s also the one dish that makes everyone secretly grateful for elastic waistbands.
4. Green Bean Casserole, The Controversial Classic
Green bean casserole divides families faster than Monopoly. Some people can’t imagine a Thanksgiving without it, others would rather eat anything else. But love it or hate it, it’s a legend.
First created in 1955 by a Campbell’s Soup employee, yes, really, this humble dish combines green beans, cream of mushroom soup and those glorious crispy fried onions on top. It’s retro, it’s creamy, and it has survived more than half a century of food trends. That’s staying power.
5. Cranberry Sauce
That tart, ruby-red burst cuts through all the richness and keeps your taste buds from falling into a butter coma. Whether you’re loyal to the canned version, with those iconic ridges, or make it from scratch with orange zest and cinnamon, cranberry sauce is Thanksgiving’s palate cleanser. It’s like the zippy best friend who keeps the group chat interesting.
6. Mac and Cheese, The Modern Favorite
Once upon a time, mac and cheese was a casual weekday comfort food. Now, it’s climbed the Thanksgiving ranks and claimed its spot next to the heavy hitters. And honestly, it earned it.
A good baked mac, with its crispy breadcrumb topping and molten cheese pull, can silence a crowded room. The South has long considered it a holiday staple, and the rest of the country is finally catching up.
If you bring mac and cheese to the table, just know, you’re everyone’s favorite guest.
7. Rolls, The Quiet MVP
Soft, fluffy dinner rolls don’t get enough love, but they’re the glue that holds Thanksgiving together. They mop up gravy, cradle leftover turkey, and serve as an emergency utensil when you’re too lazy to reach for a fork.
Bonus points if they’re homemade, but even the store-bought kind can be magic when they’re fresh out of the oven and slathered with butter.
The Final Thanksgiving Scoop
Every family has their Thanksgiving non-negotiables, but the beauty of this holiday is that it’s built on tradition and a little chaos. Maybe your aunt insists on jellied cranberry sauce while your friend swears by truffle mac and cheese. There’s room for everyone at the table.
So whether you’re team stuffing or team sweet potato casserole, remember this, the turkey may take center stage, but it’s the sides that steal the show. And honestly, that’s the way it should be.
Pass the potatoes, please.
What do others think? The experts at Southern Living asked their readers, who picked Southern Cornbread Dressing as their favorite side. Taste of Home loves Green Bean Casserole. What’s not to love?
Check out Alternative Fix’s Thanksgiving weather roundup here.