We’ve put our most-loved, five-star recipes for Thanksgiving side dishes into one spot! This is THE list to help you round out your Thanksgiving 2021 menu.
Some people may think that Thanksgiving dinner is all about the turkey, but for me? My plate is there for the side dishes! Comforting and delicious sides are the real star of the Thanksgiving day show. We’ve pulled together all of our fan favorite side dishes to make it easy for you to fill out your Thanksgiving menu. Happy cooking!
How many side dishes should I have for Thanksgiving?
There really is no such thing as too much food on Thanksgiving (yay for leftovers!), so we always recommend folks err on the side of more food on the big day. For a small gathering, we recommend you at least have:
- 1 potato side dish
- 1 vegetable side dish
- 1 batch of bread/rolls
- 1 or 2 other side dishes (like cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, or a Thanksgiving salad)
But think of that as the bare minimum! Thanksgiving is really a time to have fun in the kitchen and enjoy the art of cooking with your family. Bring in your family favorite recipes, serve the traditional foods, and maybe even explore some new ideas (from this list, perhaps!).
Wholefully Protip
Most Thanksgiving side dishes freeze beautifully, so get to cooking! You can always freeze up any leftovers you don’t get to for a fun Thanksgiving redux later on.
Can you make Thanksgiving sides ahead of time?
Yes! You can make some of your favorite sides entirely in advance, and you can partially prep even more of them ahead of time. I always prep our bread rolls at least the day before so that I can just pop them in the oven on the big day.
Okay, on to the recipes!
Classic Thanksgiving Side Dishes
There are a few side dishes that are always at our Thanksgiving dinners: rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing. Here are some of our takes on the classics:
Easy Buttery Yeast Rolls
Fresh Green Bean Casserole from Scratch 
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
Grain-Free Thanksgiving Stuffing
Chunky Cranberry ApplesauceThanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes
While I do love me some carb-tastic dishes with my turkey (looking at you, crockpot mashed potatoes), I always like having a handful of vegetable dishes in our Thanksgiving spread. They add a welcome burst of color and fresh flavor to the plate. Here are some of my favorites:
Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Beets with Balsamic Glaze 
Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Walnuts
Southern Style Green Beans and Potatoes
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Blender Pumpkin Bisque
Rosemary Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Parsnips, and Carrots
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and BaconThanksgiving Salads
If you want some super fresh flavors on turkey day, consider adding a salad to your menu. These three are filled with seasonal ingredients:
Cranberry Apple Pecan Salad
Spinach Pomegranate Salad
Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad with Maple VinaigretteOther Side Dish Favorites
Round out your Thanksgiving offerings with one of these fall-tastic recipes:
Roasted Apple and Pumpkin Farro Salad
Cheese Board
Parmesan and Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash Basmati Rice
Homemade Canned ApplesauceLooking for more Thanksgiving recipes?
We’ve got you covered for all things turkey day:
- Turkey Brine: The key to the best turkey you’ve ever tasted? A dry brine! We show you how to do this incredibly easy step to elevate your bird.
- Sheet Pan Thanksgiving: Just cooking for 2 or 4 this Thanksgiving? No worries, we have an easy-peasy sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner that is perfect for small gatherings.
- Thanksgiving Cocktails: We are officially declaring 2021 the year of the holiday cocktail. This is our list of the best drinks to serve on Turkey Day.
