10 Traditional Thanksgiving Day Side Dishes for Your Holiday Dinner

Planning Thanksgiving dinner? These traditional Thanksgiving side dishes include familiar favorites like homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and cranberry sauce.

You don’t need dozens of complicated recipes to put together a delicious holiday meal. Sometimes the best Thanksgiving day side dishes are the ones everyone looks forward to year after year.

Here are 10 easy, family-friendly recipes to help you plan your Thanksgiving dinner without making things more complicated than they need to be.

1. Homemade Stuffing

Homemade stuffing is one of those classic Thanksgiving side dishes that deserves a spot on the holiday table. It’s comforting, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with roast turkey and gravy.

Get the Homemade Stuffing Recipe →

2. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving essential! Making them in the Instant Pot helps free up space on the stovetop when you’re juggling the rest of your holiday dinner.

Get the Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe →

3. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

If you’re looking for something a little different from regular mashed potatoes, this loaded mashed potato casserole is a delicious option.

It’s rich, cheesy, and full of comforting flavors. It’s also a great way to give leftover mashed potatoes a second life.

Get the Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe →

4. Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is a traditional Thanksgiving favorite, and this easy version uses just five ingredients!

It’s a simple way to add a little sweetness to your holiday dinner without spending hours preparing another side dish.

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe →

5. Garlic Lemon Parmesan Green Beans

Thanksgiving dinner needs a few vegetables, too!

These garlic lemon Parmesan green beans are a flavorful alternative to heavier casseroles. Fresh green beans are cooked with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese for a delicious holiday side dish.

Get the Garlic Lemon Parmesan Green Beans Recipe →

6. Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Skip the canned cranberry sauce and make your own with just four simple ingredients!

This homemade cranberry sauce uses less sugar than many traditional recipes, allowing the sweet and tart cranberry flavor to shine through.

It’s an easy Thanksgiving side dish that can be prepared ahead of time.

Get the Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe →

7. Cranberry Sauce With Orange and Cinnamon

If you enjoy a little citrus flavor with your cranberries, this cranberry sauce with orange juice is another delicious option.

The orange adds a bright flavor that pairs wonderfully with turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving foods. It also pairs well with the cranberries, this is my favorite one to make every year!

Get the Cranberry Sauce With Orange Juice Recipe →

8. Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash

Sweet potatoes and butternut squash are two delicious fall vegetables that fit right into a Thanksgiving dinner.

This Instant Pot recipe is a convenient way to prepare a seasonal vegetable side dish while keeping your oven available for the turkey and other holiday favorites.

Get the Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash Recipe →

9. Sweet Coleslaw

Not every Thanksgiving side dish needs to be served hot!

This sweet coleslaw adds a refreshing crunch to a meal filled with warm, rich comfort foods. It’s a nice addition to the holiday table, especially if your family enjoys a combination of hot and cold side dishes.

Get the Sweet Coleslaw Recipe →

10. Homemade Mac and Cheese

Homemade mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving favorite in many households, and it’s easy to understand why!

Creamy, cheesy pasta makes a comforting side dish that pairs well with turkey, stuffing, and all your other holiday favorites.

Get the Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe →

How Many Side Dishes Should You Make for Thanksgiving?

You don’t need to prepare all 10 recipes for one Thanksgiving dinner!

For a smaller gathering, three or four side dishes may be plenty. Larger gatherings often benefit from more variety, especially when guests have different favorites.

A simple way to plan your menu is to choose:

• One potato dish, such as mashed potatoes or sweet potato casserole.
• One traditional favorite, such as stuffing.
• One vegetable side dish, such as green beans or butternut squash.
• One additional family favorite, such as mac and cheese or coleslaw.
• Cranberry sauce to serve alongside the turkey.

Choose the recipes your family enjoys most, and adjust the quantities based on how many people you’re serving.

Tips for Making Thanksgiving Side Dishes Easier

Prepare what you can ahead of time. Cranberry sauce is a great make-ahead option, and some casserole ingredients can be prepared in advance.

Use your Instant Pot. Making mashed potatoes or vegetables in the Instant Pot helps keep the stovetop and oven available for other dishes.

Don’t make too many similar sides. You don’t necessarily need mashed potatoes, loaded mashed potato casserole, and multiple sweet potato dishes unless your family really loves them!

Plan your cooking schedule. Decide which dishes need the oven, which can be cooked on the stovetop, and which can be prepared before Thanksgiving Day.

More Thanksgiving Dinner Planning Help

Need help organizing the rest of your holiday meal? Check out these helpful guides:

• Thanksgiving Dinner Checklist for planning your holiday menu and preparations.
• Thanksgiving Cooking Schedule to help organize what to prepare and when.
• How Long Are Thanksgiving Leftovers Good For? for storing and enjoying your holiday leftovers safely.

Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Dinner!

The best Thanksgiving side dishes don’t have to be complicated. Whether your family loves traditional stuffing and mashed potatoes or prefers mac and cheese and sweet coleslaw, the important thing is serving food everyone enjoys.

Pick a few favorites from this collection, plan ahead where you can, and enjoy spending more time around the table and less time worrying about what’s cooking.

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