When the Thanksgiving plate is crowded with rich dishes, the sides need a little range. These 23 recipes cover creamy casseroles, roasted vegetables, brighter greens, potatoes, beans, and a few dishes with welcome tang or spice. Pick a mix that works with your main course and oven schedule, whether you need a quick stovetop side or a dish that can take its time in the oven.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Under a toasted pecan praline topping, Sweet Potato Casserole combines roasted sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, and eggs for a filling that holds its shape. The recipe takes 1 hour 40 minutes including a short rest and serves eight. Its sweet edge fits beside savory turkey and vegetables without having to double as dessert. Roast the potatoes ahead as the recipe suggests, then finish the casserole when oven space opens up.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Southern Succotash
Corn, lima beans, and green beans give Southern Succotash a useful mix of color and texture on a Thanksgiving plate. Cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, butter, and smoked paprika round out the skillet dish. It takes 18 minutes from start to finish and makes six servings, so it can be one of the last sides cooked. Set it beside a richer casserole when you want vegetables that still feel substantial.
Get the Recipe: Southern Succotash
Honey Roasted Baby Carrots
For a familiar vegetable with a little shine, Honey Roasted Baby Carrots coat baby carrots in honey, olive oil, butter, and garlic powder before roasting. The recipe serves four and takes 45 minutes, with only five minutes of prep. Their lightly caramelized edges work well near turkey or ham, and the simple seasoning leaves room for bolder sides elsewhere on the plate. Double the batch if four servings will be too few.
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Mississippi Mud Potatoes
Cheddar, bacon, and potatoes make Mississippi Mud Potatoes one of the richer choices in this collection. Mayonnaise, sour cream, and green onion build the creamy base, and the recipe bakes in about an hour for eight servings. A small scoop goes a long way beside a lean roast or a platter of green vegetables. This is a useful pick when the meal needs a substantial potato dish that can share the oven with other sides.
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Crunchy & Spicy Fried Okra
A seasoned cornmeal coating gives Crunchy & Spicy Fried Okra its crisp exterior, while cayenne supplies the heat. The recipe uses a pound of fresh okra, takes 25 minutes, and serves four. Fry it close to serving time so the coating stays crisp. It offers a spicy counterpoint to creamy potatoes and sweet casseroles, especially when you want one side that breaks up the softer textures on the Thanksgiving plate.
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Creamed Corn
With fresh or thawed corn kernels in a sauce of butter, flour, milk, and cream, Creamed Corn brings a classic soft side to the meal. It serves six and takes 20 minutes, making it manageable even when the oven is fully booked. The recipe cooks on the stovetop, so it can be finished while roasted dishes rest. Pair it with a tangy or crisp vegetable to keep the plate from leaning too heavily on rich textures.
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Fried Tomatillos
Tart tomatillos gain a golden cornmeal and flour coating in Fried Tomatillos, which comes with a cilantro and jalapeño aioli. The recipe makes four servings in 15 minutes. Their tangy center gives a different note from the usual Thanksgiving vegetables, and the quick cooking time makes them practical for a smaller gathering. Serve them promptly while the coating is crisp, with the sauce on the side for anyone who wants extra heat.
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Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Eggs and half-and-half set Classic Corn Pudding Casserole into a creamy baked side with corn, cheese, onion, and red bell pepper. The recipe takes one hour and serves eight. Chives and thyme bring a savory finish that helps the dish sit naturally beside turkey and gravy. Choose it when you want corn in a sliceable, oven-baked form, then balance its richness with a lemony green vegetable.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes
Butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and baby potatoes roast together in Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes. Rosemary, shallots, and balsamic vinegar add savory and tangy notes. The recipe takes 40 minutes and serves six, giving you three vegetables from one pan. It works especially well when you need variety without preparing three separate dishes. Leave room on the pan so the vegetables can brown rather than steam.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, & Potatoes
Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Lemon juice, fresh dill, and Dijon mustard turn Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill into a brisk side for a heavier Thanksgiving menu. The cauliflower is cooked until tender, then dressed with seasoned butter. It takes 15 minutes and serves four, so it can be prepared near the end of the meal. Spoon it beside a creamy casserole or potatoes when the plate needs a clear, fresh flavor between richer bites.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Roasted Green Beans with Almonds and Lemon
Sliced almonds and lemon juice finish Roasted Green Beans with Almonds and Lemon after the beans roast with olive oil. The recipe takes 20 minutes and serves four. The almonds add crunch without a heavy sauce, while lemon keeps the green beans lively alongside turkey and gravy. This is a straightforward choice if another casserole already supplies the creamy vegetable element of the meal. Roast the beans close to serving for the best texture.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Green Beans with Almonds and Lemon
Funeral Potatoes With Cream Cheese
Frozen hash browns, cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar form the base of Funeral Potatoes With Cream Cheese. Buttered cornflakes add the crisp top. The casserole takes one hour and serves ten, making it a practical potato option for a larger Thanksgiving table. Because it is rich, a modest portion pairs well with simpler roasted vegetables. It also gives you a familiar baked side when mashed potatoes are already spoken for.
Get the Recipe: Funeral Potatoes With Cream Cheese
Smoked Spaghetti Squash
Smoke gives Smoked Spaghetti Squash more character than its short ingredient list suggests. The recipe uses spaghetti squash, olive oil, salt, and pepper; it takes 1 hour 40 minutes and serves four. A pellet smoker handles the cooking, freeing oven space for other dishes. Shred the tender squash into strands and serve it alongside a roast when you want a lighter vegetable with a distinct smoky note.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Spaghetti Squash
Mexican Black Beans
Onion, garlic, cumin, chipotle, lime, and cilantro bring Mexican Black Beans together in just 15 minutes. The recipe serves four and uses a can of black beans, so it is easy to make while the main course rests. Its savory heat and lime finish add contrast to sweeter Thanksgiving sides. This is a useful choice for a table that welcomes a less traditional side and needs a quick stovetop option.
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Roasted Zucchini with Feta
Golden zucchini spears meet shallot, oregano, parsley, and crumbled feta in Roasted Zucchini with Feta. The recipe takes 35 minutes and serves four. Feta brings salt and tang to the roasted vegetables, which helps them hold their own near potatoes and stuffing. Use this as a lighter oven side for a small gathering, especially if the rest of the menu already includes several creamy bakes.
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Cowboy Cornbread Recipe
Bacon, cheddar, corn, and a choice of jalapeño or bell pepper make Cowboy Cornbread Recipe a substantial bread for the Thanksgiving table. The batter bakes in a hot cast iron skillet, giving the edges a crisp finish. It takes 45 minutes and serves eight. Put a square next to turkey or a bean dish when you want bread with enough flavor to stand on its own, even before gravy reaches the plate.
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Ukrainian Potatoes
Fresh dill and finely minced garlic give Ukrainian Potatoes a clear flavor without a heavy sauce. Baby potatoes are boiled until tender, then tossed with butter and oil. The recipe lists 15 minutes total and makes six servings. Serve them hot beside turkey or another roast when you want a potato side that leaves room for gravy, casseroles, and vegetables rather than competing with them.
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Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan
Roasted squash, Parmesan, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder turn Butternut Squash Mash with Parmesan into a savory alternative to another sweet squash dish. Toasted nuts and green onion finish the top. It takes 1 hour 25 minutes and serves four, so plan for its longer oven time. The recipe can be served in the squash shells, making it a good centerpiece side for a smaller holiday meal.
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Oma’s German Potato Salad
Warm Yukon Gold potatoes absorb a dressing of apple cider vinegar, broth, German mustard, and bacon drippings in Oma’s German Potato Salad. Red onion and parsley complete the dish. It takes 35 minutes and serves six. The vinegar cuts through richer Thanksgiving dishes, making this potato salad especially useful if the menu already includes creamy casseroles. Bring it to the table warm, as the recipe recommends.
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Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon
Red cabbage simmers with onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar in Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon. Crisp bacon is folded back in before serving. The recipe takes one hour and serves five. Its tang is especially welcome next to roast meat and potatoes, and it can be made ahead and reheated gently. Choose it when a colorful side with both acidity and savory depth would round out the plate.
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Polenta with Mascarpone
Mascarpone and butter make Polenta with Mascarpone smooth and rich, while shallot, garlic, broth, and Parmesan give it savory depth. The stovetop recipe takes 30 minutes and serves six. Spoon it under sliced roast meat or serve it alongside vegetables that need a creamy base. It offers a change from potatoes without losing the soft, gravy-friendly texture many guests expect at Thanksgiving dinner.
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Cheesy Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole with Crispy Bacon
Broccoli and cauliflower sit in a cheddar and cream cheese sauce in Cheesy Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole with Crispy Bacon. Bacon and a buttery cracker topping add a crisp finish. The recipe takes 1 hour 15 minutes and serves eight. It is a useful larger-group vegetable side when you want a casserole that feels substantial. Pair it with one of the brighter, quicker vegetables here to give the plate more variety.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole with Crispy Bacon
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder season Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes before they cook in the air fryer. The recipe takes 18 minutes and serves four. Their savory spice offers a change from sweet potato casserole, and the air fryer keeps the oven free for bigger dishes. Make them close to serving so the edges stay crisp, then use them to fill a gap on a smaller Thanksgiving plate.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes