53 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That’ll Outshine the Turkey

Like brown-butter brussels sprouts with gochujang, green bean salad with Parmesan dressing, our best-ever mashed potatoes, and more reasons to rebrand the holiday “Sidesgiving.”Photo by Chelsie Craig, Styling by Molly BazThanksgiving side dishes turn a good holiday dinner into an unforgettable one. Roast turkey may be the centerpiece, but family-favorite sides make the feast feel complete.Classics usually include mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans and/or brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and a basket of warm rolls or biscuits—but there’s plenty of room on the table for something unexpected.Use this guide to build a balanced spread, with a mix of rich and comforting, fresh and green, and bright and tangy dishes. Start with stalwarts like our ultra-creamy BA’s Best Mashed Potatoes and Easiest Cranberry Sauce, then round things out with newer favorites like sweet-and-spicy mixed squash, zingy green bean salad, or Old Bay cheddar biscuits. Short on time or oven space? Plenty of these Thanksgiving sides can be made ahead or cooked on the stovetop. Whatever's missing from your Thanksgiving menu, you’ll find a recipe to fill the gap here.Potato recipesStuffing and dressing recipesSweet potato and squash recipesBrussels sprouts, green beans, and moreCasseroles and gratinsSaladsBreadsCranberry sauce and other condimentsPhotograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina AllenClassic Potatoes au GratinThis classic Thanksgiving side dish is all about the details: Starchy russet potatoes turn tender in gently simmered cream, while plenty of Gruyère melts into a bubbling, golden top. Keep an eye on the broiler for the perfect finish.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin WayneMake-Ahead Mashed PotatoesPrepare these supremely velvety mashed potatoes up to two days ahead, then reheat when the Thanksgiving countdown gets real.Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen KaminskiBurnished Potato NuggetsBehold, your new standard for roasted potatoes: puck-size oven fries with creamy insides and unimaginably crunchy exteriors.Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarcoLoaded Scalloped PotatoesOld-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 LengCacio e Pepe RöstiCacio e pepe pasta meets Swiss rösti in this sliceable potato showstopper, loaded with black pepper and plenty of savory cheese.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko TakahashiSimple-Is-Best StuffingThis enduring favorite goes out to all those whose Thanksgiving table isn’t complete without an herb-infused, chicken-brothy, crusty bread–based stuffing. We see you; we’re here for you.Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth PakradooniSausage-and-Herb StuffingBreakfast sausage is a cheat code to luscious stuffing packed with classic sage flavor. Fennel seeds, thyme, and parsley add aromatic depth. It doesn’t need turkey gravy, but we wouldn’t stop you from a long pour.Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie StrangioCornbread and Salami DressingPicture this: A buttery hunk of cornbread and a slice of salty salami, both skewered on a fork with a piece of turkey and doused in gravy. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving bite.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl JonesOne-Skillet Mushroom Cornbread StuffingThis gluten-free stuffing bakes all the familiar aromatics right into the cornbread batter for a result that’s crunchy, craggy, and deeply savory.Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl JonesCrispy Black Rice and Chinese Sausage DressingCombine nutty black rice with Chinese pork sausage, maple syrup, peanuts, and Fresno chiles for a sweet-savory, gluten-free stuffing alternative with serious flavor.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth PakradooniAlmost-Classic Sweet Potato CasseroleThis nostalgic sweet potato casserole gets a crisp, buttery layer of cornflakes and neat rows of marshmallows on top. Underneath, the potatoes bake into a light, soufflé-like base.Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonRoasted Sweet PotatoesRoast these sweet potatoes simply with salt and pepper, or dress them up in three ways, like Parmesan-herb or maple-glazed.Joe joined the Bon Appétit team in 2022 after climbing the editorial ranks for a few years at Condé Nast’s other food publication, Epicurious. As the senior SEO editor, he works to make sure Google loves all of BA’s cooking stories just as much as you do. Look for his ... Read More