23 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes That Make Turkey Feel Like the Side Dish
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Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be all about the turkey, especially when the sides and extras are this good. These easy recipes bring big flavor without piling on extra stress, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time actually enjoying the holiday. From simple classics to new favorites, each dish is designed to impress without the fuss, making turkey feel like the afterthought on your plate.
Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Spinach and artichoke dip in the slow cooker makes entertaining a breeze, and it’s so creamy and cheesy you’ll wonder why you ever stressed about appetizers. With just five minutes of prep and a handful of ingredients, it bubbles away on its own while you focus on everything else Thanksgiving throws your way. By the time it’s ready, you’ll have a warm dip that’s so good, it could easily outshine the turkey.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Chili’s Baked Potato Soup
A big pot of Chili’s baked potato soup feels like the coziest start to a holiday meal, loaded with potatoes, cheddar, bacon, and chives. It’s rich, hearty, and familiar in a way that always gets people talking around the table. When soup this good is served first, even turkey feels like it has to wait its turn.
Get the Recipe: Chili’s Baked Potato Soup
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Parmesan roasted green beans turn a frozen bag of veggies into something crisp, cheesy, and holiday-worthy in under an hour. They’re the side that gets scooped up before you even notice, thanks to the garlicky crunch and golden parmesan finish. It’s a recipe so easy and crowd-pleasing that even the turkey doesn’t seem quite as important.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Honey Mustard Salmon
Honey mustard salmon slides onto the table with glossy, golden glaze and perfectly flaky fish that feels as special as it tastes. The balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors makes it stand out on any Thanksgiving spread. When dinner includes a showstopper like this, turkey can feel like it’s tagging along.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Salmon
Cranberry Chicken Salad
Cranberry chicken salad mixes tender chicken, crunchy pecans, and tart cranberries into a creamy, flavor-packed dish that’s ready in ten minutes flat. It’s a fresh change of pace from the heavy holiday spread, but it still holds its own among the classics. Recipes like this remind you that it doesn’t take a turkey to make Thanksgiving feel complete.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad
Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Cheese and bacon cob loaf comes to the table looking like the star of the show, bubbling with melted cheese, smoky bacon, and tangy sour cream all tucked into a crusty loaf. It’s one of those recipes that feels both nostalgic and fun, and nobody can resist tearing off a piece. When you’ve got a centerpiece appetizer like this, turkey becomes more of a background player.
Get the Recipe: Cheese and Bacon Cob Loaf
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Pot roast in the slow cooker brings together beef, vegetables, and gravy in a way that feels like pure comfort food. It’s hands-off cooking at its best, letting you enjoy tender meat and rich flavors without hovering over the stove. On a holiday table, it’s hearty enough to make turkey feel optional.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots shine bright on the Thanksgiving table, their tender slices coated in a sweet and buttery garlic glaze. The burst of color and flavor makes them just as memorable as any main dish, and they come together in minutes with pantry staples. When vegetables taste this good, nobody’s worrying about turkey.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Bacon Cheddar Dip
Bacon cheddar dip delivers ranch seasoning, crispy bacon, and gooey cheese in just five minutes, making it a fast favorite at any gathering. Served warm or cold, it’s one of those appetizers that vanishes before the turkey has time to hit the table. When everyone’s crowded around a bowl of dip, you know the spotlight has shifted.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheddar Dip
Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Pull-apart garlic bread with gooey mozzarella and golden crust practically begs to be the first thing everyone grabs. It’s simple to make, but the cheese pull alone makes it feel extra special at a holiday table. By the time it’s half gone, you’ll realize it might just be the dish people are talking about long after the turkey’s forgotten.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Garlic Pull Apart Bread
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes bring the kind of creamy, fluffy comfort that makes everyone dive in before the turkey’s carved. The balance of butter, milk, and roasted garlic is so rich and inviting that they feel special enough for a holiday table but easy enough for any weeknight. Once you taste them, you’ll wonder how mashed potatoes ever got labeled a side when they clearly steal the show.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Baked Ham
Baked ham with pineapple delivers juicy meat wrapped in caramelized brown sugar sweetness, all with just three ingredients. It’s simple enough for everyday dinner yet festive enough to anchor a holiday table. When a dish this striking shows up, turkey feels like it’s just along for the ride.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ham
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Bruschetta al pomodoro layers ripe tomatoes, basil, and crusty bread into a fresh bite that feels light yet flavorful. It’s simple and easy to make and brightens up a table otherwise filled with heavy holiday dishes. With starters this good, turkey becomes more of a background player.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Pineapple Cheese Ball
Pineapple cheese ball rolls creamy cheese, pecans, peppers, and juicy pineapple into one sweet-savory appetizer that always gets attention. It looks festive and tastes like something you’d expect at a holiday party, yet it only takes minutes to pull together. By the time guests dig in, nobody’s saving room for turkey.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball
Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Mashed cauliflower potatoes bring creamy comfort to the table with a lighter twist that balances all the rich holiday dishes. Fluffy and garlicky, they’re every bit as indulgent as traditional mash but sneak in extra veggies. With a side this delicious, turkey doesn’t stand a chance of being the star.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Parmesan Potatoes
Parmesan potatoes roast into tender, buttery bites with crispy, cheesy edges that disappear as fast as they hit the table. They’re easy enough to whip up on a weeknight, yet indulgent enough for a Thanksgiving spread. When spuds are this good, it’s no surprise they overshadow the bird.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Cheese Curds
Cheese curds make a fast, cheesy snack that feels festive without any fuss, ready in under 20 minutes. Whether pan-fried or baked, they come out golden and irresistible with just four ingredients. Set out a batch on Thanksgiving and watch them disappear before the turkey is even carved.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Curds
Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
Bacon-wrapped filet mignon makes any meal feel like a special occasion without the steakhouse price tag. The beef is pan-seared in herb butter, wrapped in smoky bacon, then roasted until tender and juicy. With a plate like this, nobody’s missing the turkey centerpiece.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
Potato Skins
Potato skins loaded with crispy bacon, melty cheese, and green onions deliver that perfect mix of crunchy and gooey in every bite. Brushed with butter and garlic, they bake up golden and comforting enough to feel like a main event. When sides taste this good, the turkey is simply background.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins
Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
Bacon and cheddar biscuits come out of the oven cheesy, savory, and golden, the kind of rolls everyone reaches for first. With ranch seasoning, crispy bacon, and sharp cheddar mixed into a simple dough, they bring big flavor to the table with little effort. When baskets of these are passed around, turkey suddenly feels less important.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Slow cooker mashed potatoes keep things stress-free by letting the crockpot do all the work while you enjoy the holiday. Creamy, fluffy, and garlicky, they taste every bit as indulgent as stovetop mash but without the juggling. When a dish makes Thanksgiving that easy, turkey just becomes an afterthought.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Brie Bites
Cranberry brie bites balance sweet-tart cranberry with buttery puff pastry and melty brie for a bite-sized appetizer that looks fancy but takes minutes. The crunchy pecans on top add the perfect finishing touch. Once trays of these come out of the oven, no one’s saving their appetite for turkey.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Brie Bites
Herb Cheese Ball
Herb cheese ball brings creamy, herby flavor to the snack table with just a handful of ingredients and 15 minutes of prep. Rolled in fresh herbs, it’s a festive centerpiece for crackers or veggies that always gets attention. When appetizers show up this tasty, the turkey’s role on the table feels secondary.
Get the Recipe: Herb Cheese Ball
