These seven Thanksgiving side dishes cover the whole plate: something sweet, something green, something cheesy, something bright, and something cold and creamy.
Each one links to the full tested recipe, so you can plan your menu from one page.
1
Tender sweet potatoes simmer on the stove in a brown sugar and cinnamon glaze, so your oven stays free for the turkey. Make them a day ahead and reheat them gently.
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Prefer them baked? Try my Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes.
2
These braised collard greens simmer low and slow in a savory pot likker until they're meltingly tender. Soy sauce, smoked paprika, and molasses give them the depth you'd usually get from smoked turkey, with no meat in the pot.
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Want them with smoked turkey? Try my Pressure Cooker Collard Greens.
3
This Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe is the only baked macaroni cheese recipe you will need. It's the combination of different cheeses that makes this a crowd favorite.
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4
Southern Green Beans are a savory, slow-simmered side dish made with fresh green beans, smoked turkey necks, and bold Cajun seasoning. Tender, flavorful, and deeply comforting, this melt-in-your-mouth classic is perfect for Sunday dinners, holiday feasts, or any time you want to serve a true Southern favorite.
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5
Jamaican steamed cabbage is a family favorite. Extra veggies add crunch, the Scotch bonnet pepper adds a touch of heat, along with a burst of fresh thyme.
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6
This homemade cranberry sauce is made from scratch with 5 simple ingredients and takes about 15 minutes on the stove. It's an essential side for your Thanksgiving or holiday dinner, and it's easy to make ahead.
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7
Creamy and tangy, with yellow mustard, dill relish, and chopped boiled eggs. It chills for at least an hour before serving, so make it the night before and it's one less thing to do on Thanksgiving Day.
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Plan Your Oven and Stovetop
- Oven: mac and cheese.
- Stovetop: candied sweet potatoes, collard greens, green beans, steamed cabbage, and cranberry sauce.
- Pressure cooker option: green beans.
- Served cold: potato salad.
Which Sides Can I Make Ahead?
- Candied sweet potatoes: make them a day ahead and reheat gently on the stovetop.
- Collard greens: store them in their pot likker in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Mac and cheese: assemble it 1 to 2 days early, then bake it on the day.
- Cranberry sauce: let it cool completely, then refrigerate.
- Potato salad: refrigerate it overnight.
Check each recipe for its full make-ahead and storage notes.
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