45 Side Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is upon us and I agreed to handle everything but the turkey this year at a family celebration. I’m trying to stay true to the flavors expected from Thanksgiving recipes but also throw in my own flare (and acknowledge that the time-old green bean casserole isn’t my favorite dish). Don’t disown me (or the side dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner below). I’m just saying we each have our own favorites and dislikes on the holiday table!

45 Side Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner

Since our family gathering isn’t at our house, I don’t have to worry about decor, but don’t think I’m not still scheming Thanksgiving table ideas for future years. Those pumpkins and adorable napkin rings. Ok, I’m getting distracted. Thanksgiving dinner sides dishes, Luci. FOCUS!!

How Many Side Dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner

This is a bit of a loaded question. I think it depends on what you’re going for. I would rather 3-4 types of side dishes made with plenty for large side servings of each. I also really like some of these recipes leftover.

Other people might prefer 7-8 side dishes with everybody able to try a little bit of everything.

No matter which you choose, just think about how much you need to make for each. If you’re doing the fewer in greater quantity route, plan for at least 1 serving of each recipe per person. You’ll likely still have some leftovers. Make more if you want more leftover.

If you opt for the more variety in less quantities, you might think about a ½ serving per person with few leftovers. Again, make more if you want more leftover.

What Are Some Good Side Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner

Arugula Pear Salad

A delicious and seasonal recipe, this arugula pear salad will be beautiful in your Thanksgiving spread. Made with a maple black peppercorn vinaigrette, everyone will be going back for seconds on this one. Make the dressing ahead of time (up to 2 days) and then assemble!

Purple Cabbage Coleslaw

Coleslaw is the perfect crunch and veggie with many traditional holiday table foods. Made with a citrus vinaigrette this purple cabbage coleslaw will also be great with any leftover turkey sandwiches!!

Baked Butternut Squash

A family favorite in our home, baked butternut squash is a simple (with few ingredients) recipe everyone will love. Think cinnamon apples as a sweet counterpart on your dinner plate, but with yummy winter squash! bake the squash in halves, cubed, or make it ahead of time to have a puree with the toppings (easily reheated)!

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Don’t just think of soup for the leftovers, a delicious light soup is yummy with turkey and biscuits. Tuscan white bean soup is perfect in any portion size that works for your Thanksgiving Dinner. This is also a great option if you have vegetarian or vegans at your table (but everyone will love it)! You can make the soup 1-2 days beforehand (omit the kale). Warm on the stove and add the kale in to wilt just for the last minute before serving!

Purple Carrot Recipes

Switch things up a bit with one of these purple carrot recipes! Cook them according to your favorite orange carrot recipe or try something new like a miso glaze carrot salad! you can also combine various colors of carrots in a dish (look for ‘heirloom’ carrots to get the range in colors).

Crispy Polenta

Served as an appetizer or in place of the time-old mashed potatoes, crispy polenta sticks are DELICIOUS! Serve with a marinara dip or on their own to sop up the gravy on everyone’s plate!

Golden Beet Salad

Everyone will be asking about this golden beet salad. Made with tri-color quinoa, golden beets, and fresh spinach, this plate is full of color and flavor. A great side dish with some protein and nutrients – and loads of flavor!!

Focaccia Rolls

Another favorite of mine are these focaccia rolls. Think focaccia bread but in individuals rolls. We love topping ours with everything bagel seasoning, but you can top them with butter/salt, cheese, or another favorite seasoning blend!

Broccoli Potato Soup

A slightly heavier side dish for thanksgiving dinner is this vegan broccoli potato soup. You can skip a number of dishes with a heartier soup like this. Served with sliced or toasted sourdough bread, your turkey, and enjoy the ease of your holiday spread.

Rice Cooker Recipes

Don’t forget your rice cooker can do some of the heavy lifting too (because the ovens and stovetops are always filled to the max). Make a delicious spiced rice or parmesan risotto – all easy rice cooker recipes to help you on Thanksgiving Day!

Greek Cornbread

The cornbread recipe you didn’t know you needed. Greek cornbread is your favorite cornbread topped with feta cheese, honey, fresh lemon zest, and fresh time – the BEST side dish for your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Kale Quinoa Salad

One of the best recipes I’ve ever made, this kale quinoa salad is somehow more magical that each of its parts. Tossed with roasted butternut squash (roast the day before), dried cranberries and feta or goat cheese. It’s also delicious leftover, so make enough!

Pea Soup

This recipe screams to be made beforehand and served warm or cold. Vegan pea soup is lighter than you think and it’s a great palette cleanser or side dish for your yummy Thanksgiving Turkey dinner!

Make Ahead Grilled Veggies

Thanksgiving requires planning and prepping. Whether you’re bringing a side dish or making the whole meal, these make ahead veggies hors d’oeuvres are a great dish for your spread. Grilled veggies are full of flavor and can easily be served cool or at room temp – a perfect side dish that comes together and cleans up quickly on the big day!

Orange Vinaigrette

A simple one here. Make your favorite salad and toppings (or buy a mix) and make your own orange vinaigrette – sans all the preservatives and unnecessary sugars. Homemade dressings are actually quite easy to make and really take a dish to the next level!!

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

The dish that will make a beet lover out of your all (it did for us). Beet salad with goat cheese starts with steamed beets (precooked or made ahead of time). Slice them and top with honey, goat cheese, orange zest, and pistachios. The most amazing way to eat beets!!

Prosciutto & Broccoli

The combination you didn’t know you were missing, prosciutto wrapped broccoli is a yummy appetizer and side dish. The saltiness of the prosciutto will also taste wonderful with turkey and traditional side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner!

Jalapeño Cheddar Polenta

Jalapeño cheddar polenta is another tasty one to add some pizazz to your dinner table without adding work. Polenta comes together easily and quickly (start it after the turkey is out of the oven). Add in cheddar and pickled jalapeños and watch as everyone raves about this new addition to your recipe collection!!

Beets with Orange Slices

Another great beet dish that’s very little work. beetsBeets with Orange Slices is unexpectedly delicious. Simply top with olive oil and chopped pistachios. Can use regular or baby beets for this recipe!

Wild Rice Pilaf

A delicious, lighter starchy side dish to mashed potatoes. Wild rice pilaf has toasted pecans and sautéed sweet potatoes. A delicious mix of veggies, rice, and seasonings.

Persimmon Salad

We all need more persimmons in our lives. Persimmon salad is a great way to enjoy them. The fresh, seasonal fruit adds color, sweetness, and crunch. Paired with a honey walnut dressing, it’s sublimely delicious! Persimmons can be expensive at the grocery store. Check out locals farmers markets, or ask around in your neighborhood (possibly in your Buy Nothing group) for others trying to offload their harvest!

Kale Farro Salad

Farro is a nutty whole-grain that’s yummy. I like to get the 10-minute farro from trader Joe’s! For the kale farro salad, add a light dressing drizzle, dried apricots, yellow onion, and crumbled feta cheese for a great side dish (and a leftover option)!!

Roasted Rainbow Carrots

This unexpected dish will be a fun one for everyone. Roasted rainbow carrots (also called heirloom carrots) are topped with a peanut curry sauce that’s packed with flavor but not spicy!! It’s a great dish to add some fun to your spread!!

Spinach Pasta Salad

looking for that right something that’s different but not too out of the ordinary? Try spinach pasta salad. Made with orzo, peas, spinach or kale, and chickpeas. Easily made ahead and delicious on the side of your Thanksgiving dinner.

Brie Cranberry Crostini

Take your traditional cranberry sauce and make it a side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. Brie cranberry crostini are a fun bite-sized treat. Make your cranberry sauce from scratch (shown in recipe) or use your favorite canned version!

Sweet Potato & Parmesan Cups

These sweet potato appetizer cups are a perfect dish to take to a Thanksgiving dinner. Small phyllo dough cups are filled with sweet potato, parmesan, and pecans for a delectable treat. Perfect to eat before the big meal or as an alternative to the traditional sweet potato side dish.

Swiss Chard w. Ginger

That 15-minute side dish for Thanksgiving you’ve been looking for. Swiss chard with ginger is a yummy and healthy dish to add to your Thanksgiving dinner menu. lay it under your turkey on the serving platter or serve it on its own.

Winter Fruit Platter

I know it’s fall and you’ll soon seen this recipe is called a Christmas fruit platter, but it really is the perfect offering for Thanksgiving. Sliced seasonal fruit, sugared cranberries and a cinnamon coconut cream make this a great offering. Serve it before during or, lest I say it, for dessert!

Curry Spiced Potatoes

Potatoes might seems boring, but they’re anything but in this curry spiced potatoes recipe. Inspired by a favorite restaurant in London and Edinburgh, this homemade take on the Dishoom dish is a flavor-packed option for your Thanksgiving side dish selection!!

Grape Broccoli Salad

Roasted broccoli is my secret weapon for getting people to actually enjoy vegetables. This grape broccoli salad recipe takes that to the next level. Mix roasted broccoli, onions, and grapes for an easy vegetable side dish. The sweet, strong, and familiar flavors blend beautifully. And all mixed with a lemon vinaigrette!!

Appetizer Ideas

How To Choose Side Dishes For Thanksgiving Dinner

Vegetable, Vegetables, Vegetables

One of my biggest frustrations at most holiday meals is the lack of vegetables. And, no, I don’t count green bean casserole of candied yams because they’re smothered in other flavors (though yummy and favorites). Try to add a delicious salad or a simple roasted vegetable. These are also less time-consuming and lighter to eat.

Balance Flavors

I love delicious side dishes, but they can’t all be unique and/or packed with flavor. Pick a variety of intensities. One that’s sweet. One that’s starchy. One that’s crunchy. And multiple veggie-focused side dishes!

Balance Time for Cooking

Many dishes require the same appliance or require assembly at the same time in your prep. Think about what can be made ahead of time (partially or fully). And when/where will you cook everything. Your oven can only hold som many dishes (and let’s definitely bring up the varying temperatures needed). Sometimes that “must-have” dish can wait for another day so the whole meal can come together.

Plan Layout

Just like planning out your cooking time/space, you also want to think about the serving layout. What dishes will be for which recipes. And what about serving spoons/forks (our kitchen’s weakness).

Get Help!

Whether it’s drinks, having someone set the table, or just delegating cooking jobs to people, take on the help. Everyone will be happy about it!!

Thanksgiving Cocktail Ideas