Pressynex
Celebrities

53 Thanksgiving Side Dishes That'll Outshine the Turkey

| 5 min read
Cooking

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.”
Smashed potatoes piled on a platter with yogurt sauce on the bottom and a walnutandherb dressing spooned over the top.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Styling by Molly Baz

Thanksgiving 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.

Jump ahead
  • Bowl of mashed potatoes with a pat of butter.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman
    1/53

    BA’s Best Mashed Potatoes

    This is one of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for good reason. Yukon Golds, heavy cream, garlic, rosemary, and plenty of butter make for an exceptionally silky mash.

    View Recipe
  • Gratin of potatoes shingled and topped with melted Gruyere and Parmesan in a casserole dish on a wooden surface.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    2/53

    Classic Potatoes au Gratin

    This 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.

    View Recipe
  • Golden baked sausage and herb stuffing with crisp edges in a 13x9 dish.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni
    9/53

    Sausage-and-Herb Stuffing

    Breakfast 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.

    View Recipe
  • Overhead view of cornbread dressing with cubes of cornbread and chopped salami.
    Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
    10/53

    Cornbread and Salami Dressing

    Picture 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.

    View Recipe
  • Sweet Potato Casserole in an oval pan with diagonal stripes of cornflakes and baby marshmallows over top with a piece...
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni
    13/53

    Almost-Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

    This 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.

    View Recipe
  • Roasted sweet potatoes in a blue bowl on a yellow tablecloth.
    Photograph by Victoria Jane, Food Styling by Mallory Lance, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon
    14/53

    Roasted Sweet Potatoes

    Roast these sweet potatoes simply with salt and pepper, or dress them up in three ways, like Parmesan-herb or maple-glazed.

    View Recipe
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
Senior SEO Editor, Cooking
Kate Kassin writes about the latest restaurant openings and snacks we’re obsessed with and helps oversee projects like Best New Restaurants from conception to execution. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in international relations, French and Francophone studies, and Hispanic studies, she dabbled in restaurant operations before joining the team at ... Read More
Editorial Operations Manager
Explore Bon AppétitThanksgivingSideEntertainingHolidays