Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Impress

Looking for the best Thanksgiving side dishes to complement your turkey? While the turkey may steal the spotlight, we all know it’s the side dishes that everyone looks forward to! Whether you’re into classics like creamy mashed potatoes or want to try something new, I’ve put together 25 amazing Thanksgiving side dish ideas to inspire your holiday table.

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Fall Salad with Apple and Feta

This fall salad with apple and feta brings a crisp, flavorful contrast to rich Thanksgiving dishes, highlighting the season’s best produce. Serve it with mashed sweet potatoes or green bean casserole for a well-rounded festive plate.

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom

Think about gravy, but better! This is my go-to sauce to serve with any meat, and I can guarantee that it marries impeccably with Thanksgiving turkey. For perfect consistency, add more broth and some heavy cream.

Kidney Bean Salad

This salad is a true attention-catcher! It is loaded with bright colors – red beans, tomatoes, red pepper, purple onion, carrot, and corn. The dressing is simple and kind of refreshing, so it is perfect to pair with a heavy-duty Thanksgiving dinner.

Prosciutto Melon Mozzarella Salad

A rhapsody of flavors never looked this good! This combination of ingredients is immaculate – arugula, melon, mozzarella, and prosciutto. Your taste buds will be happy as the salad hits all the spots: sweet, tangy, salty, and savory.

Zucchini Fries

If you’re seeking some low-calorie but still delish side dish – this one is for you. Coat zucchini fries in bread crumbs, parmesan, egg, and spices for the crunch, and toss them in the air-fryer. Simple, yet effective!

Stracciatella Pesto Pasta

Mac and cheese for Thanksgiving is a staple, but here is a terrific variation on the theme. This pasta will satisfy even the most demanding palates, as it is 5-star restaurant-worthy! Pistachios and prosciutto sprinkled on top simply round the flavor.

Caramelized Onion Bread

I can’t imagine any festive dinner without bread. I made this one last winter and never stopped making it since. Simple bread is amazing, but test out this with caramelized onion and garlic, plus parmesan – YUM!

Stracciatella Salad with Walnuts

I love this salad combination so much! It pairs stracciatella cheese, pears, asparagus, and walnuts, making a unique bite that will blow your mind. It is most definitely unusual but worth trying.

Maple Glazed Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Rainbow carrots are my favorite vegetables, so they must be on this list. This recipe is flawless, as they go particularly well with maple syrup and some umami flavor. Don’t forget to garnish them right before serving, as that really brings out all their flavors.

Honey Mustard Potatoes

When I say these potatoes are loaded with flavor, I truly mean it! Mustard and honey pair flawlessly, bringing out the texture of baby potatoes – creamy in the middle and crispy outside. 

Parmesan and Gruyere Potato Gratin

One more potato recipe is inevitable, as that’s everyone’s favorite side. I love gratins, and this one is incredibly cheesy and crispy on top. Gruyere and parmesan cheese plus turkey are an unbelievable combination!

Smashed Sweet Potatoes 

If you haven’t tried these already, don’t wait any longer! The recipe requires just a few ingredients. It is simple, but still flavorful!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are an inevitable side for Thanksgiving dinner, but sometimes changing things a bit is just what you need. This mash has a unique taste because of cinnamon and fresh thyme in the recipe, but it still pairs perfectly with turkey.

Brussels Sprouts with Glazed Fruits

If you want to wow your guests, serve them this rhapsody of flavors. It is a perfect fall/winter side dish, caramelized to perfection. Brussels sprouts, bacon, pecans, and dried cranberries are a surprisingly smashing combination!

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

If you love Brussels sprouts but you’re not a fan of sweet-savory combinations, here is another recipe. Coat halved vegetables with olive oil seasoning, garlic, and parmesan and roast until golden brown and heavenly aromatic.

Cheese Spinach Casserole

There is no Thanksgiving without a good old casserole. This one is amazing to make in advance, as it stores very well. Just mix up spinach and cheese, sprinkle bread crumbs on top, and toss it in the oven. 

Cabbage Steaks

I’m not sure if I made anyone mad by calling these cabbage slices steaks, but bear with me just a little bit. This is a superb side dish option that pairs with any meat you’re serving, and it is simple to prepare as cabbage and spices are everything you need.

Cabbage Rolls

This side dish requires a good portion of time, but the good news is – it stores amazingly! Cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, lentils, mushrooms, and spices in tomato sauce will be the hit and probably overshadow the main dish!

Mujadara

Rice is a logical choice to serve with meat, but this one has a special Middle Easter twist. It combines rice, black lentils, crisped-up onions, and spices. You will get a rich, aromatic bite that everyone will want the recipe for!

Shirazi Salad

This salad is like the twin sister of pico de gallo salsa, so you can choose whatever. It is super refreshing and juicy – just what you need, along with meat and hearty dishes. Chop it in advance and season just before serving so it stays crispy.

Caribbean Coleslaw

Think regular coleslaw but with a twist and much more flavor! The new amazing additions are mango, nuts, Caribbean hot sauce, and a few more little things. I 100% recommend it!

Frijoles Negros

A traditional Cuban black beans side dish has a truly authentic taste. The secret of this creamy heaven is in the cooking process and seasoning. You can use both fresh and canned beans for this one!

Elote

Mexican street corn is the only fun you need on your Thanksgiving table! I prefer grilled corn, but you can boil them, as well. Smother them in mayo, sour cream, lime juice, chili, cilantro, lime, and cotija cheese, and enjoy the special taste!

Roasted Cauliflower in Green Herb Sauce

If you like chimichurri, don’t skip this recipe. The first step is using all the greens you have on hand to blend fresh sauce, then coat cauliflower in it. Roast it until golden on top and soft inside. 

Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables

A sheet tray loaded with multicolored vegetables is a quick yet effective side dish option. My favorite combination is this exact one: zucchini, eggplant, red onion, garlic, pepper lemon, cherry tomatoes, and kalamata olives.

Quinoa Salad

This salad is one more bright-flavored option. It marries quinoa, tomatoes, arugula, cucumbers, mint, feta, pine nuts, chickpeas, and amazing Italian salad dressing. I love the texture combination – soft, crispy, and juicy!

Hey chef! Thank you for all of these awesome recipes! Can’t wait for Thanksgiving to show off!