35 Easy Side Dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner

Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes – From green bean casserole to mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, find stand-out Thanksgiving side dish recipes from Eatwell101! These side dishes are a snap to fix and cook, and will leave you plenty of time to focus on more important tasks. Enjoy!

by Nina L. Palmer

Nina L. Palmer

Nina Palmer is a recipe developer and editor for Eatwell101 since 2013. She is passionate about food and culture and specializes in sweet recipes, desserts, baking, as well as developing editorial content.

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Updated Mar 8, 2026

1. Extra-Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Silky-smooth and delicious, these creamy mashed potatoes make the perfect side for any occasion.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Instant Pot Creamy Brussels Sprouts (2-Minutes )

Creamy and savory, this side dish with Instant Pot Brussels sprouts and bacon is outstanding all on its own!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Green Bean Casserole with Bacon and Parmesan

A delicious green bean casserole recipe with a creamy parmesan sauce and crispy bacon. This green bean casserole is the perfect side for a festive meal!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Balsamic Glaze

Enjoy a nutrient-rich side dish with these roasted brussels sprouts coated with an amazing honey balsamic glaze.
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

5. Roasted Sweet Potatoes

This roasted sweet potatoes recipe makes for a quick easy side for any occasion. You'll never wan to make roasted sweet potatoes differently!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

6. Sage Butternut Squash Gratin

Our easy butternut squash gratin is a simple and elegant side dish you'll make again and again.
Cooking time: 35 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. Quick Collard Greens with Bacon

Sautéed collard greens with bacon, and garlic is the perfect side dish for any occasion. If you're in for a light lunch, these collards greens are also a must!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

8. Garlic Butter Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

These crispy roasted potatoes with garlic parmesan, and bacon are the perfect side for any of your meals
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

9. Easy Pumpkin Risotto

Our easy pumpkin risotto recipe is so rich and flavorful you’ll want to find any excuse to make it again and again. This pumpkin risotto is ready in 35 minutes and sure to please everyone!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. Bacon Cabbage Recipe

Fried cabbage recipe with bacon, onion, and garlic is a simple, quick, and delicious meal! You'll love the smoky, savory flavors of bacon paired with sautéed cabbage!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Sauteed Green Peas and Bacon

These sauteed green peas with bacon are both a fancy side dish and a quick main course. Try the green peas and bacon recipe for a quick lunch that's naturally low-carbs and gluten-free.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato with Balsamic Honey Glaze

Crunchy, bitter-sweet and delicious! This tasty side-dish is a must for the holidays or any time this fall.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. Honey Bacon Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes are glazed with a delicious honey bacon sauce. This is the best roasted potatoes recipe to serve with your favorite steak, pork chops, or roast chicken!
Cooking time: 40 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

14. Roasted Carrots with Asparagus

Roast carrots and asparagus together on a sheet pan for an easy side dish that pairs with any main course. Plus, it's an effortless option if you're busy prepping a large Holiday dinner.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

15. Sautéed Snow Peas with Garlic

Sautéed snow peas make for a delicious side dish or a healthy snack before dinner!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

16. Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

These sautéed sweet potato cubes are a perfect vegetarian side dish for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or even Holidays!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

17. Simple Butternut Squash Steaks with Garlic Butter

Butternut Squash Steaks with Garlic Butter is a quick and easy side dish for a weeknight or a holiday gathering.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

18. Cheesy Bacon Asparagus Bake

Make this cheesy bacon asparagus bake tonight and enjoy a no-stress, zero-effort side dish everyone will ask for seconds!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

19. Lemon Garlic Butter Green Beans Skillet

Lemon Garlic Butter Green Beans Recipe - This green beans and wax beans recipe is perfect for a Holiday dinner.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

20. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potato Cakes

These potato cakes make for a super easy side dish, light dinner or lunch!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

21. Cinnamon-Honey Glazed Carrots

Sweet and rustic - An easy and quick side dish everyone will rave about.
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

22. Thanksgiving Apple Sage Stuffing

Apple sage Thanksgiving stuffing is so crisp and moist at the same time - Your guests will literally stuff themselves!
Cooking time: 75 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

23. Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

This Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe is silky-smooth, simple and delicious side dish perfect for weeknight meals or holidays.
Cooking time: 6 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

24. Creamy Brussels Sprouts Gratin

This Brussels sprouts gratin make for an easy and luxurious side dish that will turn everyone into Brussels sprout addicts.
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

25. Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots

These oven roasted carrots are the perfect side for a weeknight meal or a holiday crowd.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

26. Loaded Mashed Cauliflower Casserole

Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

27. Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon

This sautéed green beans recipe makes an awesome addition to any holiday table or weekend feast.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

28. Pan-Roasted Brussel Sprouts in Maple Garlic Butter

Incredibly quick and easy to make... and truly addictive!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

29. Cheesy Green Beans Casserole

This green beans casserole recipe is a delicious side dish to enjoy for a casual dinner.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

30. Baked Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Squash

This four cheese baked spaghetti squash is a shockingly good alternative to Alfredo pasta
Cooking time: 50 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

31. Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Honey Glaze

This gorgeous vegetable side is a real keeper.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

32. Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Butter Sauce

This roasted cauliflower is crisp on the outside, melting in the inside — Your new favorite way to eat cauliflower!
Cooking time: 40 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

33. Fried Gnocchi with Garlic & Parmesan

Comfort food at its finest! This easy skillet gnocchi recipe takes only 15 mins to make and is perfect for weeknight dinners.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

34. Grilled Corn with Garlic and Parmesan

This grilled corn recipe is perfect as a side for your barbecue parties, or as salad for a quick lunch on the go!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

35. Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes Carrots and Zucchini

These roasted vegetables make a great savory side dish that pairs well with just about anything. Try our roasted potatoes, carrots, and zucchini recipe today!
Cooking time: 40 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

Did you make one of these Thanksgiving side dishes? Please share on your social media using our hashtag #eatwell101!

Tips for better Thanksgiving side dishes

• You don’t have to make all your Thanksgiving sides yourself. Picking up a couple of high-quality side dishes from the grocery store (hello Whole Foods and Fresh Market!) is a good idea because it gives you fewer things to juggle with.
• Buying pre-cut veggies will be helpful. Pre-chopped butternut squash, as well as halved Brussels sprouts, ensure quick preparation and less mess on your kitchen counter!
• Peel your potatoes in the morning or several hours in advance when making mashed potatoes. Put them in a bowl of cold water, cover, and refrigerate. Put a piece of bread in the water, and the potatoes won’t discolor. Make the mashed potatoes in advance and reheat them, adding more butter and cream. You can also keep them warm in a slow-cooker.
• Some casserole-type Thanksgiving side dishes, such as sweet potato gratins, can be assembled the day before baking.
• If you don’t have a lot of oven space, use the outdoor grill. It’s like having an extra oven! You can cook the turkey on the grill and use your oven for side dishes or do the opposite if you feel more comfortable. A toaster oven can be helpful, plus it’s cheap and doesn’t take much counter space.