A quiet weeknight is a useful time to find out which Thanksgiving sides need more oven space, seasoning adjustments, or advance prep. These 17 picks span crisp salads, casseroles, potato dishes, breads, vegetables, rice, and a soup for a warm first course. Try one recipe at a time, and note how much active work and oven time it takes. That gives you a clearer plan for the holiday meal before guests arrive.
Broccoli Salad
A crisp, make-ahead option, Broccoli Salad pairs raw florets with smoky bacon, red onion, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds. The creamy dressing uses mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar, balancing sweet, tangy, and savory notes in one bowl. Chill it for at least an hour so the broccoli takes on the dressing. It gives you a useful trial for checking how a cold side fits beside richer holiday dishes.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole
For a sweet side with a crunchy top, Sweet Potato Casserole takes about 85 minutes and serves eight. The filling combines cooked sweet potatoes, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and butter, while chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter make the streusel. Mini marshmallows are optional. Testing it on a weeknight lets you judge the sweetness and see how its oven time fits around other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
A basket of Buttery Cheddar Biscuits brings a savory bread option to the menu, with a 30-minute total time and 12 biscuits per batch. Cheddar and fresh thyme go into a buttermilk dough, and melted butter is brushed over the tops after baking. The recipe can be served alongside casseroles or soup. A trial run also shows whether you want to bake them close to dinner or prepare them ahead.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
Eggplant Casserole
Layered and easy to portion, Eggplant Casserole takes about 45 minutes and serves six. Eggplant is combined with marinara, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, and basil for a meatless dish with a browned, cheesy finish. Make it during a quiet evening to check the portion size and how it shares oven space with other sides. It offers a different texture from the rice and potato casseroles on this list.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole
Deviled Eggs
A platter of Deviled Eggs adds small, chilled portions that can be made in about 22 minutes. Eight extra-large eggs yield 16 halves, filled with yolks blended with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon, thyme, and warm spices. Cranberry marmalade and pecans finish each piece. The unusual topping makes this a helpful recipe to test before the holiday, when you can adjust the garnish and piping ahead of serving.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs
Cornbread Casserole
Soft in the center with a golden edge, Cornbread Casserole takes about 40 minutes and serves six. The batter brings together flour, cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, and sweet corn, with butter and a little sugar in the mix. Try it with a weeknight supper to decide whether its texture works better beside gravy or a saucier main dish. The short bake makes it a practical candidate for a holiday oven schedule.
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Casserole
French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Thin potato layers turn creamy beneath a browned cheese top in French Dauphinoise Potatoes, which takes about 65 minutes and serves eight. Heavy cream, whole milk, Dijon mustard, garlic, and thyme season the potatoes before cheddar is scattered over the top. A practice bake helps you gauge the time needed for tender slices and bubbling edges. It is a richer potato choice to weigh against other casseroles on the table.
Get the Recipe: French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Dense Bean Salad
Colorful and hearty, Dense Bean Salad combines chickpeas and pinto beans with bell peppers, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta, and parsley. A lemon dressing with olive oil, Dijon, maple syrup, garlic, and oregano coats the vegetables and beans. Letting it rest gives the dressing time to mingle. This cold side offers a useful contrast to the baked dishes and can be prepared ahead of the holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Dense Bean Salad
Ham and Potato Casserole
A substantial pan for a holiday spread, Ham and Potato Casserole takes about 70 minutes and serves six. Diced russet potatoes and cooked ham bake in a creamy sauce made with milk, broth, flour, onion, and garlic powder, with shredded cheese and parsley to finish. Testing it at dinner gives you a chance to check the balance of ham and potatoes and plan around its oven time.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
A familiar holiday side gets a cheesy finish in Green Bean Casserole, which takes about 55 minutes and serves six. Green beans bake with cream of mushroom soup, milk, and shredded cheddar, while crispy onions add crunch on top. Make a test batch to check the texture of the beans and the amount of topping you prefer. It also gives you a clear read on oven space for casserole day.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Mexican Rice
Fluffy grains and a tomato base make Mexican Rice a straightforward option that takes about 35 minutes and yields eight servings. Long-grain rice is toasted, then cooked with blended tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, and chicken broth. Fresh cilantro finishes the pot. A quiet-night test lets you see how the rice pairs with your planned mains and whether it can be held warm while other sides finish.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Rice
Zucchini Casserole
A browned panko topping gives Zucchini Casserole a crisp contrast to its tender vegetable center. Zucchini and onion are mixed with eggs, cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning, then baked for about an hour; the recipe serves six. Trying it before Thanksgiving helps you check how much liquid the zucchini releases and how the casserole cuts into portions. It adds a vegetable-forward bake among the richer potato and cheese dishes.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Casserole
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
For a first course or a small side portion, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup takes about an hour and serves six. Roasted squash is blended with onion, garlic, curry powder, vegetable broth, and coconut milk, with red pepper flakes for a little heat. A practice batch helps you settle the seasoning and decide how the soup will fit into a menu already filled with baked sides. It can also be made ahead and reheated.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Wild Rice Casserole
Earthy mushrooms and cooked wild rice form the base of Wild Rice Casserole, which takes about 70 minutes and serves six. Garlic, sweet onion, mozzarella, parsley, and fried shallots round out the bake, adding creamy and crisp elements. Use a trial dinner to check how its texture holds after baking and whether the shallots stay crisp. It is a hearty alternative to potatoes when you want another grain on the Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Casserole
Savory Sausage Balls
Bite-size and easy to pass around, Savory Sausage Balls combine Italian sausage, buttermilk pancake mix, onion, cheddar, and salt. The baked pieces come with a tangy lemon sauce made with garlic, lemon juice and zest, maple syrup, soy, and a little cornstarch. Testing them ahead lets you decide whether to serve the sauce for dipping or spoon it over the batch. They can round out a side spread as a savory nibble.
Get the Recipe: Savory Sausage Balls
Twice Baked Potatoes
Crisp skins hold a creamy cheddar filling in Twice Baked Potatoes, a make-ahead option that takes about 1 hour 45 minutes and serves eight. The baked russets are scooped and mixed with butter, sour cream, mayonnaise, egg, green onions, and cheese, then returned to the skins for a second bake. The recipe can be assembled ahead, giving you a chance to plan its longer oven window before Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potatoes
Honey Glazed Carrots
A glossy pan of Honey Glazed Carrots takes about 20 minutes and serves six, adding a quick vegetable side to the trial menu. Sliced carrots are simmered until just tender, then coated with honey or maple syrup, butter, brown sugar, and salt until the glaze thickens. Make them on a weeknight to find your preferred sweetness and slice size. Their stovetop preparation can also free the oven for casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots