Thanksgiving planning gets tricky when the main dish is still up in the air or several are sharing the table. These 23 sides cover a useful range, from smoky vegetables and simple corn to potatoes, rice, salad, and casseroles. You can choose a few that suit turkey, ham, or another centerpiece, with options for fresh, creamy, and crisp textures.
Smoked Mac & Cheese
At the center of a generous holiday spread, Smoked Mac & Cheese brings creamy cheddar, Gouda, and cream cheese together with macaroni. A bacon, panko, and Parmesan crumb topping adds a crisp finish after the pan spends time in an electric smoker. The recipe makes 10 servings and takes 2 hours 20 minutes. Pair it with turkey, ham, or smoked meat when a rich pasta side belongs on the table.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac & Cheese
Creamed Corn
Silky sauce and tender kernels make Creamed Corn a familiar choice beside a holiday roast. The 20-minute recipe combines corn with milk, cream, butter, and flour, and fresh or thawed frozen kernels both work. Its mellow flavor fits alongside savory turkey or ham, while the creamy texture gives the plate something different from crisp vegetables and salads, rounding out the menu.
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Smoked Tomatoes
A little smoke gives Smoked Tomatoes a savory edge that stands out beside a classic roast. Roma tomatoes are halved, seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, then smoked for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Serve the tender tomatoes alongside turkey, beef, or a meatless main, or spoon them onto a plate where fresh vegetables would otherwise be missing.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomatoes
Shirazi Salad
Fresh, bright flavors bring balance to a table of rich holiday dishes, and Shirazi Salad is ready in 10 minutes. Finely diced Roma tomatoes, English cucumber, and red onion are tossed with lime juice, olive oil, mint, parsley, and dill. Set it beside roast turkey or a hearty vegetarian main for a cool, crisp option among warm sides at the buffet.
Get the Recipe: Shirazi Salad
Air Fryer Corn on The Cob
Golden kernels and a little seasoning make Air Fryer Corn on The Cob an easy side to fit around many mains. Four ears are coated with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then air fried for a total of 20 minutes. The simple flavors work beside turkey, ham, or grilled dishes, and each person can take a whole ear without needing a serving spoon.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Corn on The Cob
Baked Spanish Rice
For a hearty side with a cheesy top, Baked Spanish Rice combines rice, canned tomatoes, bacon, onion, garlic, and green bell pepper. Cheddar is added for a savory finish, and the recipe takes 45 minutes to make six servings. It gives a holiday plate a filling grain option beside roasted poultry, ham, or another main that could use a mild, savory partner.
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Smoked Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Fluffy russet potatoes become a substantial side in Smoked Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes. Their filling uses heavy cream, butter, bacon, green onions, and cheddar, with the cheese divided between the mixture and topping. Smoking adds a deeper note, so these potatoes pair especially well with turkey, ham, or another centerpiece that shares the same smoky flavor for a hearty holiday plate.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Spaetzle
Soft, homemade dumplings offer a change of pace from potatoes in Spaetzle. The dough uses milk, eggs, flour, salt, and butter, with a one-hour rest before cooking; total time is 1 hour 20 minutes. Serve the tender pieces with roast turkey or beef and let them catch the savory juices, giving the plate a simple, hearty base with a familiar European touch.
Get the Recipe: Spaetzle
Smoked Cauliflower
A whole head of cauliflower takes on a smoky finish in Smoked Cauliflower, with butter, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper adding flavor. The recipe takes 40 minutes, making it a vegetable side with a more substantial presence than a plain steamed option. Slice it at the table beside turkey, ham, or another main that benefits from a smoky vegetable.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cauliflower
Roasted Kohlrabi with Parmesan
Crisp edges and a savory cheese finish make Roasted Kohlrabi with Parmesan a distinctive vegetable side. Cubed kohlrabi is tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, grated Parmesan, and parsley, then roasted for 30 minutes after five minutes of prep. It sits comfortably beside a roast or casserole and gives guests a fresh vegetable option with a golden, savory surface too.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Kohlrabi with Parmesan
Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon
Cool sour cream and smoky bacon meet tender baby red potatoes in Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon. Green onions and chopped dill add a fresh note, while the 30-minute total time makes it practical for a crowded holiday schedule. Spoon it beside turkey, ham, or a baked main when you want a potato dish with a tangy, creamy finish.
Get the Recipe: Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon
Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
Cutting corn into ribs gives Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs a playful shape that is easy to serve with several mains. The 20-minute recipe coats corn with butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, parsley, Parmesan, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Their savory, buttery finish pairs with turkey or ham, while the handheld pieces add variety to a table of casseroles and spoonable sides.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Garlic Corn Ribs
Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
A small bowl of Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin can round out a holiday plate before the main course. The 30-minute soup uses canned pumpkin, onion, garlic, stock, and heavy cream, with nutmeg and cinnamon for gentle seasoning. It makes four servings and can be offered as a warm starter alongside any centerpiece, especially when the meal needs a lighter first course.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
Chef Jenn’s Warm German Potato Salad
Tangy dressing and warm potatoes give Chef Jenn’s Warm German Potato Salad a savory place on the holiday table. Yukon Gold potatoes are paired with bacon, red onion, apple cider vinegar, broth, German mustard, and parsley. The recipe takes 35 minutes and makes six servings. Its vinegar-based flavor works well beside roasted turkey, ham, or other rich mains that benefit from a sharper side.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Warm German Potato Salad
Crunchy & Spicy Fried Okra
Crisp cornmeal coating gives Crunchy & Spicy Fried Okra a crunchy contrast to soft casseroles and mashed sides. Fresh okra is cut into rounds, coated with cornmeal, cayenne, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, then fried in peanut or vegetable oil. The 25-minute recipe brings a Southern-style vegetable to the table, where it can accompany turkey, ham, or a hearty bean main.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy & Spicy Fried Okra
Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli
A bubbly casserole makes serving a crowd straightforward, and Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli combines fresh broccoli with cooked white rice, cheddar, and cream cheese. Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and Dijon mustard season the mixture, which takes 55 minutes and serves eight. It can sit beside turkey or ham, or provide a substantial option for guests choosing a meatless plate.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Rice Casserole with Fresh Broccoli
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Small cubes turn sweet potatoes into an easy-to-portion side in Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes. The 18-minute recipe seasons them with cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cooking oil before air frying. Their lightly spiced flavor fits next to turkey, ham, or a savory casserole, and the cubes are easy to add to plates with limited room.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Bacon Fried Corn
Sweet kernels and crisp bacon give Bacon Fried Corn a savory, skillet-style place among the sides. The 15-minute recipe uses corn, chopped bacon, garlic, green onions, paprika, parsley, salt, and pepper. It works beside roast turkey or ham, and its quick stovetop preparation can free the oven for the centerpiece and other baked dishes during the final kitchen push too.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn
Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Smoky skins and a seasoned butter topping set Smoked Sweet Potatoes apart from the usual baked potato side. The recipe starts with whole sweet potatoes, oil, salt, and pepper, then adds compound butter made with chipotle in adobo, garlic, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Serve one alongside turkey, ham, or grilled meat when you want a sweet potato with a smoky, gently spicy finish.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Sauerkraut with Apples & Bacon
Tart cabbage meets a touch of sweetness in Sauerkraut with Apples & Bacon. The baked mixture includes chopped bacon, yellow onion, diced apple, drained sauerkraut, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and water. That sweet-sour balance offers a lively counterpoint to rich turkey, ham, or pork, and it brings a different flavor profile to a spread already filled with creamy and cheesy dishes.
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Carrots au Gratin
A creamy baked vegetable side with a crisp topping, Carrots au Gratin pairs tender baby carrots with a velouté sauce and spicy crumbs. Butter and shallot form part of the sauce, while the recipe’s topping adds a little heat. It takes 30 minutes total, so it can join turkey, ham, or a vegetarian centerpiece as a savory, colorful casserole-style dish.
Get the Recipe: Carrots au Gratin
German Kohlrabi
Cream sauce gives German Kohlrabi a tender, mellow finish, while garlic and onion powder season the dish. Kohlrabi is cooked with butter, flour, milk, salt, and pepper, and the recipe takes 15 minutes total. Serve it beside roast turkey, ham, or another main when you want a vegetable side that feels at home among traditional gravy and potatoes or another sauce.
Get the Recipe: German Kohlrabi
Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Soft, savory custard makes Classic Corn Pudding Casserole a natural fit for a holiday buffet. The recipe combines corn, eggs, half-and-half, Fontina or Swiss cheese, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, chives, and thyme. It takes 1 hour and serves eight, so it can anchor the side dishes beside turkey or ham while offering a creamy alternative to plain corn at the holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole