If rolls are already covered, choosing a Thanksgiving side that adds a different flavor or texture can be a challenge. These 23 options include casseroles, potato dishes, vegetables, salads, bread, and cranberry sauce, with both quick additions and slower bakes. There are familiar holiday choices alongside lighter, brighter dishes, so you can pick something that complements the host’s menu. Each one can be brought to share beside turkey or another holiday main.
Cornbread Casserole
A golden top and soft, spoonable center make Cornbread Casserole easy to carry to a Thanksgiving table. It serves six in 40 minutes, with cornmeal, sweet corn, buttermilk, and cheddar in the mix. Its familiar flavor fits beside turkey and green vegetables, while the casserole format travels well to a potluck. Bring it when the host already has rolls covered and needs another shareable side.
Get the Recipe: Cornbread Casserole
Waldorf Salad
Cool crunch brings a refreshing pause between rich holiday dishes, and Waldorf Salad takes just 10 minutes to make six servings. Apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts or pecans are tossed with a lightly sweet lemon dressing. It adds crisp fruit and a no-oven option to the Thanksgiving spread. Keep it chilled until serving and place it beside heavier casseroles or roasted vegetables for contrast.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
A creamy, golden bowl of Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese gives the side table a hearty option beyond traditional potatoes. The recipe makes eight servings and takes 1 hour 15 minutes, combining macaroni, butternut squash, milk, and mature cheddar. The squash adds a mellow sweetness to the cheesy pasta. Bring it for guests who want a filling side that can sit alongside turkey, vegetables, or cranberry sauce.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Avocado Deviled Eggs
Silky filling and a fresh green color make Avocado Deviled Eggs stand out on a crowded appetizer and side table. Six servings take 22 minutes, with hard-cooked eggs, avocado, cilantro, Greek yogurt, and lime. Their small portions are easy to pass around before dinner or serve beside a larger meal. They bring a creamy, tangy choice to Thanksgiving when the oven is already busy with other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Deviled Eggs
Roasted Broccoli
Crisp tips and tender stems give Roasted Broccoli a simple, savory role among richer Thanksgiving sides. The recipe serves four and takes 28 minutes, seasoning broccoli with olive oil and garlic, with Parmesan to finish. Its roasted edges pair naturally with buttery potatoes and casseroles. Bring a platter when the host needs a vegetable side that is familiar, easy to portion, and welcome beside turkey or another main dish.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Broccoli
Colcannon
Creamy potatoes threaded with green spinach make Colcannon a comforting side with a little color on the plate. It serves six in 40 minutes and combines russet potatoes, spinach, green onions, butter, and cream. The mash works with turkey, roast meats, or other holiday mains, and can be served from one bowl at the table. Bring it when plain mashed potatoes feel too expected but a familiar texture is still welcome.
Get the Recipe: Colcannon
Pumpkin Soup
A warm bowl of Pumpkin Soup makes a gentle first course before the Thanksgiving sides arrive. The batch serves eight and takes about an hour, with pumpkin, carrots, onion, and vegetable stock, finished with crème fraîche or pumpkin seeds. Its smooth texture offers a lighter opening alongside a generous meal. Bring it in a covered pot or insulated container when the host can serve soup before the main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup
Baked Sweet Potato
A tender interior and soft skin make Baked Sweet Potato a straightforward side for a busy holiday meal. Four potatoes take about 47 minutes, then can be finished with butter, salt, pepper, and chives. Guests can add their own toppings, which keeps the dish easy to serve. Bring it when you want a simple vegetable option that pairs well with turkey, green beans, or a richer casserole.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato
Rice Pilaf
Fluffy grains with tart cranberries and crunchy almonds make Rice Pilaf more festive than plain rice. It serves six in 35 minutes, using long-grain rice, butter, onion, vegetable broth, and dried cranberries. The pilaf fits beside turkey and vegetables without adding another creamy dish to the menu. Pack it warm in a covered bowl or casserole carrier, then set it out when guests are ready to serve themselves.
Get the Recipe: Rice Pilaf
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Caramelized edges and smoky bacon give Brussels Sprouts with Bacon a savory place on the Thanksgiving table. Four servings take 35 minutes, with Brussels sprouts, bacon, olive oil, and a tangy balsamic finish. The roasted vegetables balance creamy casseroles and potatoes, adding a crisp bite to the meal. Bring them in a covered dish and serve warm alongside turkey or ham while the bacon is still crisp.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Grape Salad
A chilled bowl of Grape Salad adds a creamy, sweet contrast to savory holiday plates, and it takes about five minutes to assemble 12 servings. Red and green grapes are coated with cream cheese, sour cream, and vanilla, then topped with brown sugar and nuts. It needs no oven space and can be kept cold until the meal. Bring it when the table could use a cool fruit side between hearty dishes.
Get the Recipe: Grape Salad
Cheese Grits
A smooth, savory bowl of Cheese Grits brings Southern comfort to a Thanksgiving menu. Six servings take about 40 minutes, combining grits and chicken broth with butter, garlic seasoning, and sharp cheddar. The creamy texture pairs well with roasted turkey, ham, or vegetables, and it gives guests a hearty alternative to potatoes. Bring it warm in a covered dish when the meal needs another spoonable side.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Grits
Roasted Whole Cauliflower
A browned whole head makes Roasted Whole Cauliflower an eye-catching centerpiece among the sides. It serves four and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes, with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and lime bringing flavor to the vegetable. Slice it into wedges at the table and serve with turkey or other roasted dishes. It gives the spread a substantial vegetable option for guests looking beyond another casserole.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Whole Cauliflower
Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes
Golden edges and a warmly spiced finish make Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes easy to scoop beside a holiday main. Four servings take 40 minutes, with cubed sweet potatoes tossed in olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. The small pieces offer more browned edges than a whole baked potato and bring color to the table. Serve them next to turkey or a green vegetable when the menu needs a sweet-savory side.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes
Buttery Garlic Bread
A crisp crust with a soft center makes Buttery Garlic Bread a welcome addition to a Thanksgiving spread, even when rolls are already taken care of. It serves six in 25 minutes, using a French loaf, softened butter, garlic, and parsley. Slice it for easy sharing beside soup, casserole, or turkey. Bring it when the host wants a savory bread option with a garlicky finish rather than another basket of dinner rolls.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Garlic Bread
Corn Fritters
Crisp little rounds give Corn Fritters a warm, savory place beside Thanksgiving casseroles and roasted vegetables. The recipe makes six servings in 35 minutes, mixing corn with flour, milk, egg, and green onions. Their lightly sweet flavor works with turkey while the browned edges add a different texture to the plate. Bring a batch in a covered container and serve them warm as a shareable side.
Get the Recipe: Corn Fritters
French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Thin potato layers softened in cream make French Dauphinoise Potatoes a rich side for a holiday meal. The recipe serves eight and takes 1 hour 5 minutes, with potatoes, heavy cream, milk, garlic, thyme, and cheddar. Its tender layers pair well with turkey or roasted vegetables, while the browned top adds texture. Bring it when the host wants a substantial potato dish that can be cut into neat portions.
Get the Recipe: French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Stuffing Balls
Crisp outside and tender inside, Stuffing Balls turn leftover stuffing into easy-to-pass portions. The recipe makes eight servings in about 30 minutes, using prepared stuffing and an egg to hold the mixture together. They suit Thanksgiving because the familiar herb-seasoned flavor comes in a tidy, shareable shape. Bring them when you have stuffing on hand and want a side that can be served alongside turkey, gravy, or cranberry sauce.
Get the Recipe: Stuffing Balls
Honey Glazed Carrots
A glossy sweet finish gives Honey Glazed Carrots a bright, easy-to-serve place on the Thanksgiving table. Six servings take 20 minutes, with sliced carrots coated in honey, butter, and brown sugar. Their tender bite and light sweetness balance salty or creamy dishes without crowding the plate. Bring them when the host needs a vegetable side that works for both children and adults and fits beside turkey or ham.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Cauliflower Rice
Light and fluffy, Cauliflower Rice adds a quick vegetable side for guests who want something less rich. Four servings take about 16 minutes, using finely chopped cauliflower with olive oil, salt, and pepper, plus optional herbs. It pairs easily with turkey, gravy, or a creamy casserole and brings another vegetable to a plate full of starches. Prepare it close to serving time and offer it warm beside the heartier dishes.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Rice
Green Bean Casserole
Creamy sauce and a crisp onion topping make Green Bean Casserole a familiar holiday side with enough richness for the feast. Six servings take about 55 minutes, combining green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and cheddar beneath crispy onions. It fits beside turkey and potatoes, and the casserole dish is easy to pass around. Bring it when the host wants a classic vegetable bake on the Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
A tart, bright spoonful of Cranberry Sauce cuts through the richer flavors on a Thanksgiving plate. It takes 15 minutes and makes about two cups, simmering cranberries with orange juice, zest, sugar, and a little vanilla. Serve it chilled or at room temperature beside turkey, stuffing, or roasted vegetables. Bring a small jar or bowl when you want a simple addition that adds color and a fruity contrast to the meal.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Potato Casserole
A crunchy pecan top and soft center make Sweet Potato Casserole a classic addition to a Thanksgiving spread. It serves eight and takes 1 hour 25 minutes, layering sweet potatoes with a brown-sugar topping, pecans, and optional marshmallows. The sweet finish pairs well with savory turkey, stuffing, and green vegetables. Bring it when the host needs a substantial side that can be spooned straight from its baking dish.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole