Thanksgiving Side Dishes: 10 Thanksgiving Dinner Sides

Traditional Thanksgiving side dishes incorporate foods and ingredients that are popular or in season in the fall. Here are ten of the most common:

1. 1. Bread: Thanksgiving dinner is generally a very bready meal. From dinner rolls with brown butter to heaping portions of wild rice, bread-based ingredients are ubiquitous in Thanksgiving recipes for appetizers and side dishes.
2. 2. Brussels sprouts: This vegetable side dish is nutrient-rich and provides a bright green counterbalance to meats, gourds, and veggies of a more autumnal color palette. These come in handy on their own or as part of a Brussels sprouts salad.
3. 3. Cheese: You might come across melted, tangy cheddar cheese or viscous cream cheese during the course of a Thanksgiving meal. Cheesy potato dishes are especially common.
4. 4. Corn: This harvested vegetable serves as a classic fixture of Thanksgiving traditions and dinners. Corn casserole, corn pudding, and cornbread stuffing all make ample use of this maize-like ingredient.
5. 5. Fresh herbs: Plenty of different types of herbs can spice up Thanksgiving side dishes. Look for recipes that call for roasted garlic, chives, and other zesty ingredients.
6. 6. Onions: Shallots, leeks, scallions, onions, and other alliums might show up as ingredients in multiple different side dishes and savory casseroles. You can use brown sugar to sweeten up sautéed and caramelized onions to use in savory or sweet dishes.
7. 7. Potatoes: These root vegetables serve as the baseline ingredient in numerous Thanksgiving side dishes. You can serve a baked potato on its own, thinly sliced, or serve crispy Hasselback potatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, or cheesy scalloped potatoes to accompany a main turkey course.
8. 8. Roasted carrots: Use roasted vegetables such as carrots as a naturally sweetened treat for your holiday table. Alternatively, serve carrots without heating them if you prefer a crunchier texture.
9. 9. Sauce: Dressings, glazes, and sauces are common elements of a Thanksgiving dinner. You can use balsamic vinaigrette, sour cream, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and cranberry sauce as supplements to the side dishes and the meal as a whole.
10. 10. Yams: Sweet potatoes—or yams—can complement the savory texture of regular potatoes as a side dish. These veggies are naturally sweet, and sweet potato casserole is a common side dish to see on Thanksgiving tables.

You can incorporate trademark fall flavors into your Thanksgiving meal plans with these ten side dishes:

1. 1. Buttermilk biscuits recipe: Get a sheet pan ready to bake these buttery, crispy treats. Serve them alongside the main course or put them on the table ahead of time as your dinner guests arrive. Try out this homemade buttermilk biscuit recipe.
2. 2. Cheesy potato gratin recipe: Combine Gruyère and Parmesan cheese with potatoes in this layered casserole dish. Learn how to make au gratin potatoes.
3. 3. Cornbread recipe: Forgo or supplement typical dinner rolls by making your own classic cornbread. Try this cornbread recipe, and keep in mind you can swap out all-purpose flour for almond flour for a gluten-free alternative.
4. 4. Cranberry sauce recipe: This sauce is practically synonymous with the holiday itself, and it’s an easy side dish for Thanksgiving dinner if you’re looking for a fruity, sweet treat before dessert officially hits the table. Learn how to make a classic cranberry sauce.
5. 5. Creamy mashed potatoes recipe: The creamy texture of mashed potatoes can complement the flavors of your other Thanksgiving dishes well. Try this mashed potatoes recipe or try making vegan mashed potatoes.
6. 6. Green bean casserole recipe: Add fresh green beans to cream of mushroom soup and fried onions for a stratified and satisfying side dish. Give this classic green bean casserole a try.
7. 7. Mac and cheese recipe: You can easily customize a cheesy macaroni pasta dish to satisfy your personal taste preferences. Potential mix-ins or toppings include bacon, peas, and bread crumbs, plus you can try a variety of pasta shapes and cheese blends. Try Wolfgang Puck’s homemade mac and cheese recipe.
8. 8. Roasted beets recipe: These root vegetables are naturally sweet treats—they can contain up to twenty-two percent sugar. Learn how to cook beets for a simple Thanksgiving side dish.
9. 9. Roasted butternut squash recipe: You can make this easy Thanksgiving side dish in a multitude of ways, and you can swap out the main gourd itself if you wish—for instance, you can trade a butternut squash for an acorn squash. Learn how to cook and roast butternut squash.
10. 10. Thanksgiving stuffing recipe: You can use this comfort food to stuff your roast turkey, which will enhance the flavor of both foods in advance of mealtime. Try making this savory and soft turkey stuffing recipe.

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