Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes: 15 Simple Recipes for the Holiday

The turkey may be the centerpiece, but ask anyone what they really come to the table for and the answer is the easy Thanksgiving side dishes. Creamy mashed potatoes, buttery stuffing, sweet potato casserole, those pillowy rolls — the sides are the heart of the holiday plate, and they’re where you can relax because most of them are genuinely simple.

This is your complete guide to 15 easy Thanksgiving side dishes, from the non-negotiable classics to a few fresh favorites. Many can be made ahead so your oven (and your sanity) survives the big day. Save this list and build your perfect Thanksgiving menu.

How to plan your Thanksgiving sides

A stress-free Thanksgiving is all about balance and timing. A few simple rules:

• Pick 4–6 sides, not ten. A couple of starches, a green vegetable, a bread and something sweet covers the whole plate.
• Mix oven and stovetop. Your oven is busy with the turkey, so lean on a few stovetop or make-ahead sides to avoid a traffic jam.
• Make ahead where you can. Many sides keep safely for a few days in the fridge — just check safe cold-storage times. Cranberry sauce, casseroles and rolls can all be prepped a day or two early.
• Balance rich and fresh. Pair creamy casseroles with a crisp roasted vegetable so the plate doesn’t feel heavy.

15 easy Thanksgiving side dishes

Here’s the full lineup — the classics everyone expects plus a few easy crowd-pleasers.

1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Creamy, buttery and the heart of the Thanksgiving plate. You’ll need: potatoes, butter, milk or cream, garlic, salt. How: Boil potatoes until tender, mash with warm butter, milk and roasted garlic, and season well.

2. Green Bean Casserole

The classic everyone expects — creamy beans with crispy fried onions. You’ll need: green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, fried onions. How: Mix beans with soup and milk, top with fried onions, and bake at 350°F until bubbly and golden.

3. Easy Stuffing

Buttery, herby and golden — no Thanksgiving is complete without it. You’ll need: bread cubes, butter, onion, celery, broth, sage. How: Sauté onion and celery in butter, toss with bread, herbs and broth, and bake until crisp on top.

4. Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet, cozy and topped with pecans or marshmallows. You’ll need: sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, pecans or marshmallows. How: Mash roasted sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar, top with pecans, and bake until golden.

5. Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots

Sweet, sticky, caramelized carrots that are almost entirely hands-off. You’ll need: carrots, honey, garlic, butter, thyme. How: Toss carrots with honey, garlic and butter, and roast until caramelized.

6. Soft Dinner Rolls

Pillowy, buttery rolls for mopping up every last bit of gravy. You’ll need: flour, yeast, milk, butter, sugar. How: Make a soft dough, let it rise, shape into rolls, and bake until golden; brush with butter.

7. Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Bright, tangy and so much better than the can. You’ll need: cranberries, sugar, orange juice. How: Simmer cranberries with sugar and orange juice until they burst and thicken; cool before serving.

8. Creamy Mac and Cheese

Rich, cheesy comfort the kids (and everyone else) fight over. You’ll need: macaroni, cheddar, milk, butter, flour. How: Make a cheese sauce, toss with cooked pasta, top with more cheese, and bake until bubbly.

9. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Crispy, caramelized and even sprout-skeptics love them. You’ll need: Brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt, balsamic. How: Halve sprouts, toss with oil and salt, and roast at 425°F until crispy; finish with balsamic.

10. Corn Casserole

Sweet, moist and spoonable — a potluck favorite. You’ll need: corn, creamed corn, cornbread mix, sour cream, butter. How: Stir everything together and bake until set and golden on top.

11. Garlic Butter Green Beans

A fresh, fast side — crisp-tender beans in garlic butter. You’ll need: green beans, butter, garlic, salt. How: Blanch or steam beans, then toss in garlic butter until coated and glossy.

12. Cheesy Garlic Bread

Buttery, cheesy and the first thing to disappear from the table. You’ll need: bread, butter, garlic, mozzarella, parsley. How: Spread garlic butter on bread, top with cheese, and bake until golden and bubbly.

13. Scalloped Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. You’ll need: potatoes, cream, butter, cheese, garlic. How: Layer sliced potatoes with cream and cheese, and bake until tender and golden.

14. Maple Roasted Vegetables

A colorful, cozy medley with a touch of maple sweetness. You’ll need: carrots, squash, Brussels sprouts, maple syrup, olive oil. How: Toss vegetables with oil and maple, and roast until caramelized.

15. Cornbread

Golden, slightly sweet and perfect with butter and honey. You’ll need: cornmeal, flour, milk, egg, butter, sugar. How: Mix the batter, pour into a pan, and bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Make-ahead Thanksgiving sides

Take the pressure off the big day by prepping these ahead:

• 1–2 days ahead: cranberry sauce, and the assembled (unbaked) green bean, sweet potato and corn casseroles.
• The morning of: peel and cube potatoes (keep in cold water), and shape the dinner rolls.
• Reheat smart: mashed potatoes reheat beautifully with a splash of warm milk and butter.

Frequently asked questions

Your Thanksgiving table, sorted

With these easy Thanksgiving side dishes, the hardest part is deciding which ones to make. Pick a few classics, add a fresh favorite, prep what you can ahead, and enjoy a holiday that’s more about the table than the stress. And when the next holiday rolls around, we’ve got you covered with easy Christmas dinner ideas and a batch of easy Christmas cookies.