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Thanksgiving is a highly anticipated food-centered holiday. Besides gathering with family and friends, it’s a time to celebrate food.
While the turkey is arguably the center of attention of the holiday menu, there is much more to the gathering than the turkey.
While a perfectly roasted turkey always takes center stage at Thanksgiving, the truth is that having a good assortment of side dishes is key.
And the best Thanksgiving side dishes can often outshine the turkey.
For those who are turkey adverse or want more to their holiday spread, these tailored side sides will perfectly complement the main dish.
Whether it be creamy mashed potatoes or buttery dinner rolls, no one will be looking at the bird in the middle of the table. Also, the centerpiece would be lonely without a table full of casseroles, sauces and easy side dishes.
Scroll below for the best go-to Thanksgiving side dishes to make this holiday season.
Fluffy potatoes with sour cream just screams “comfort food” and is the perfect accompaniment to any protein on the Thanksgiving table.
The tangy flavor of the sour cream cuts down on the richness of the potatoes.
Deliciously rich and creamy, with fragrant garlic and paper thin potatoes that melt in your mouth.
Creamy au gratin potatoes are an elegant dish that will certainly please your guests.
Similar to an au gratin dish, but the potatoes have a garlic flavor, as well as three different kinds of cheeses are used, including Parmesan cheese.
Who knew a deconstructed loaded baked potato, mixed perfectly with sour cream, cheddar cheese and bacon, then restuffed into crispy potato skins would taste so good?
Thin slices are made crosswise, almost completely, through the potato. The evenly spaced slices allow for cheese, herbs and butter to be stuffed into them.
They will be a welcome addition to the Thanksgiving menu.
Making a sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving is as easy as pie! The finishing touch is the homemade marshmallow topping.
This meringue is so light and fluffy and perfectly complements the sweet potatoes.
For those who crave something sweet, these sweet potatoes are topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel.
This side dish comes together in a few minutes.
Be sure to finish off with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Crispy roasted brussels sprouts don’t need much embellishment—they’re good with just olive oil, salt, and pepper—but a splash of balsamic vinegar and drizzle of honey take them up a notch.
These will be one of the best side dishes to serve this holiday season.
The ultimate cold weather salad that’s full of flavor and texture.
This brussels sprout salad is made with shredded brussels sprouts, apples, pomegranate, bacon, pecans and feta cheese, all tossed in a sweet and savory dressing.
The bright colors will be a great addition to the Thanksgiving dinner table.
This green bean recipe features buttery toasted almonds, crispy shallots and a squeeze of lemon juice.
This dish magically comes together in one skillet.
Fresh green beans are the star of the show here, which are ever-so-briefly cooked in order to preserve their crisp texture and bright flavor.
Feel free to dice and fry up some bacon, or add extra cheese to this casserole.
This is one of the easiest side dishes to make that comes together in minutes.
It is a crowd pleaser with lots of garlic, parmesan, and black pepper.
Bites of creamy sweet corn plus garlic, bacon, and cheese throughout this side dish will leave your company wanting more.
The best Thanksgiving sides wouldn’t be complete without mac n’ cheese.
Loved by all ages, this is a dish that will never lose its appeal.
This delicious comfort food recipe is really simple to make and the bacon can be cooked up ahead of time to make it even quicker.
Is there anything better than a freshly-baked pan of homemade dinner rolls?
Don’t be overwhelmed – these dinner rolls can be ready to go in just one hour!
Serve them warm right out of the oven with homemade honey butter for a dinner roll that’s melt in your mouth good.
Don’t fret – these rolls are equally as delicious served at room temperature. These are the perfect addition to the meal.
Soft, buttery and fluffy – these biscuits come together in one bowl.
Add different mix-ins based on preference!
Chopped bacon, dill, rosemary, shredded cheese are a few of the many options to enhance the flavor.
This sweet honey cornbread is tender and comes out perfectly with the golden brown crusty edges.
It is the perfect complement to the hearty protein served at a Thanksgiving meal.
This rich sausage and herb stuffing relies on store-bought stuffing cubes, which eliminates the step of slicing and drying out the bread.
If you are in a time crunch, this favorite side dish is for you.
This amazing homemade mushroom stuffing recipe is filled with flavor from fresh herbs and melted cheese that will have you going back for seconds.
It will certainly be a Thanksgiving staple.
This homemade cranberry sauce uses fresh cranberries with the perfect amount of sugar, orange zest, and cinnamon for a deliciously sweet side dish.
Opt for frozen over fresh spinach for this dish.
Creamed spinach can vary a lot, and it’s a matter of personal preference if you want a thicker or thinner sauce.