50 Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Whether you're seeking classic Thanksgiving recipes or something totally new, you're sure to love one (or more!) of these 50 Thanksgiving side dishes.

Can we agree that Thanksgiving side dishes are the best part of the holiday meal? No offense to roast turkey and pumpkin pie, but the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other sides are what I look forward to most. I’m sharing 50 of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes below. They include all the classics (think green bean casserole and dinner rolls) as well as inventive veggie sides, crowd-pleasing potatoes, and more. If you’re still planning you holiday menu, check them out! You’re sure to find some recipes you love. Our Best Classic Thanksgiving Sides Best Stuffing Based on my mom’s classic recipe,…

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Twice Baked Potatoes

Learn how to make twice baked potatoes! They have crispy skins and a rich, creamy mashed potato filling. Melty cheddar cheese takes them over the top.

Twice baked potatoes are a potato lover’s dream. They combine all the best parts of a baked potato and mashed potatoes into one delicious side dish. These twice baked potatoes have crispy skins and a rich and creamy filling. With a layer of melty cheddar cheese on top, they’re the definition of comfort food. Twice baked potatoes are just that—baked twice. First, you’ll bake the potatoes whole. Then, you’ll slice them in half, scoop out the soft flesh, and mash it to create the rich filling. Add the filling back to the potato skins, top with cheese, and bake again.…

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Sweet Potato Casserole

Without question, this is the best sweet potato casserole recipe I've tried! Smooth and creamy sweet potatoes are topped with a savory pecan crumble.

This sweet potato casserole recipe is one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes. Instead of topping it with mini marshmallows, I cover it in a crisp pecan crumble. I love how this nutty, savory topping balances the creamy sweet potato filling. It’s delicious…and it tastes like it belongs at dinner, not dessert. 🙂 This recipe is great for the holidays because the ingredients are super simple (ALDI shoppers, you can get all of them there!) and you can make it ahead. Prepare the filling and topping up to 2 days in advance, and store them separately in the fridge until the…

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25 Best Thanksgiving Appetizers

Kick off your holiday feast with these easy Thanksgiving appetizers! They include fun, festive ideas like stuffed mushrooms, baked brie, and more.

If I’ve learned one thing from hosting Thanksgiving over the years, it’s this: Thanksgiving appetizers are essential. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve served a holiday meal 30 minutes or an hour (or two) later than planned because my roasted beets were still rock-hard or the water for my mashed potatoes took longer than expected to boil. In those moments, Thanksgiving appetizers save the big day. They tide over hungry guests until it’s time to sit down to dinner, keeping everyone’s spirits up and the atmosphere light. I’m sharing my 25 best Thanksgiving appetizer ideas below. They include a simple cheese…

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These mashed sweet potatoes are a delicious sweet and savory side dish! Perfect for the holidays, they're easy to make with 7 simple ingredients.

If mashed sweet potatoes have never made an appearance on your dinner table, now’s the time to change that. They’re just too delicious to not have in your side dish rotation, especially in the fall. These mashed sweet potatoes have a beautifully creamy texture, and I season them with salt, pepper, and a little maple syrup to create a rich flavor that’s part savory, part sweet. But maybe best of all, this mashed sweet potato recipe is SO easy to make! It calls for 7 ingredients, and the stove takes care of most of the work for you. It’s a…

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Baked Brie

This baked brie recipe is a perfect holiday appetizer. The rich, gooey, melty cheese is guaranteed to wow guests...but it couldn't be simpler to make!

This baked brie recipe is about to become your favorite party appetizer. Rich, gooey, and decked out with flavorful toppings, it looks impressive and tastes delicious. This baked brie will absolutely wow guests. But I’ll let you in on a secret—baked brie is quick and easy to make. It’s as simple as popping a wheel of cheese in the oven and baking until it’s melty and soft…which takes 10 minutes or less! Effortless and elegant, this baked brie recipe is perfect for the holidays or any festive occasion. Put your personal spin on it by playing with the garnishes on top.…

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Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Learn how to make the best mashed potatoes with this easy recipe! Rich, creamy, and flavorful, they're always a crowd-pleasing side dish.

I can’t share a mashed potatoes recipe without mentioning my husband Jack. He LOVES homemade mashed potatoes, specifically ones that are rich, creamy, and flavorful. I’ve made plenty that he’s liked in the past (see these garlic mashed potatoes and these Instant Pot mashed potatoes). But last year, I finally made the potatoes he’d been waiting for: ones loaded up with butter, milk, and sour cream. I’m not kidding when I say that these are the best mashed potatoes I’ve tried. They’re ultra-rich and blissfully creamy, and the sour cream gives them a delicious tangy kick. They’re easy to make…

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Roasted Green Beans

Learn how to make oven roasted green beans! Tender, caramelized, and ready in 15 minutes, they're a fresh, easy, and delicious side dish.

Let’s make roasted green beans! These tender, caramelized beauties roast in just 15 minutes in the oven, so they’re a perfect veggie side dish for busy weeknights. Topped with flavorful garnishes like lemon zest, toasted almonds, and/or Parmesan cheese, they fit right in on a holiday table too. To be totally honest, when I have fresh green beans on hand, my first instinct isn’t usually to roast them. Blanched and sautéed green beans are my typical go-tos. But a few weeks back, I was making a frittata for dinner. With the oven already on, I figured I might as well roast…

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Homemade Ranch Dressing

This homemade ranch dressing recipe is SO much better than store-bought! Creamy, rich, and tangy, it's delicious as a dip, on salads, and more.

Our kiddo loves this homemade ranch dressing…and honestly, I do too! It has a delicious creamy texture and tangy, savory flavor. Keep it on the thicker side to use as a dip with veggies, or thin it out to drizzle over salads and pizzas (if ranch on pizza happens to be your thing). This ranch dressing recipe calls for simple ingredients, which make it taste SO much better than any store-bought ranch dressing I’ve tried. It has a rich sour cream base (Greek yogurt works too!), and seasonings like dried dill and garlic powder add bold flavor. Fresh lemon juice gives it…

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Oven Roasted Potatoes

These oven roasted potatoes are a delicious, easy side dish for any meal! They're crispy on the outside, creamy inside, and full of bright, bold flavor.

These oven roasted potatoes are a delicious, easy side dish. They’re simple enough to make on weeknights and flavorful enough to add to a holiday dinner. No matter when you serve them, they’ll be a hit. Here’s why: Crispy outsides. The potato skins puff and crisp up in the oven. Creamy middles. The crispy skins give way to creamy centers, so each bite of these roasted potatoes has an amazing mix of textures. A zesty dressing. While they’re still warm, I toss the potatoes with a zingy vinaigrette made with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme. It…

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21 Fall Salad Recipes

We'll be making these fall salad recipes all season long! Simple and delicious, they're filled with autumn produce like apples, arugula, and more.

A fall salad is my favorite way to show off the season’s best produce. Summer’s tomatoes and sweet corn may be gone, but spicy arugula, crisp apples, sweet potatoes, squash, and more are here in abundance. What better way to enjoy them than in a colorful autumn salad with a zippy dressing? I’m sharing some of my best fall salad recipes below. They include hearty grain salads that pack up well for lunch as well as simple side salads that can accompany any dinner. I hope you try a few this fall! In a season that’s known for cozy soups and baking…

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A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.