19 Thanksgiving Sides So In Demand, They Deserve Their Own Holiday

Let’s be honest, the sides are the real reason everyone shows up to Thanksgiving dinner. From creamy, cheesy casseroles to buttery rolls and perfectly roasted veggies, they’re the dishes that make you go back for seconds and maybe thirds. These recipes aren’t just extras, they’re what make the meal special and could easily steal the show.

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Cranberry chicken salad adds a burst of freshness to the Thanksgiving spread with its mix of juicy chicken, tangy cranberries, and crunchy pecans. The creamy dressing ties it all together, making it one of those dishes that keeps everyone hovering near the table. It’s easy to make, festive to serve, and the perfect way to balance out all those rich holiday sides.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad

Honey Glazed Carrots

Honey-glazed carrots bring a sweet, buttery shine to the table that brightens up any Thanksgiving feast. The tender carrot slices, coated in a glossy honey-garlic glaze, taste like pure comfort with a touch of elegance. They’re simple to make yet feel special enough to deserve a spot beside the main event.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

Chili’s Baked Potato Soup

Chili’s baked potato soup brings that cozy restaurant comfort right to the Thanksgiving table, and no one will complain about seconds. Each spoonful is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with all the best toppings, crispy bacon, melted cheddar, and fresh chives that make it feel extra special. It’s the side that steals attention from the turkey without even trying.
Get the Recipe: Chili’s Baked Potato Soup

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Parmesan roasted green beans take a humble veggie and turn it into a show-stealer worthy of its own celebration. The crispy edges, garlicky aroma, and cheesy coating make them completely irresistible, even to the veggie skeptics. They’re simple, elegant, and add that perfect pop of green to a Thanksgiving plate loaded with comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes are the buttery, creamy, can’t-skip classic that everyone fights for at Thanksgiving dinner. The subtle garlic flavor adds just enough richness to make every bite feel luxurious without being heavy. It’s the side dish that anchors the meal and makes everything else taste better by association.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits

Bacon and cheddar biscuits are the kind of bread side that turns dinner into an event. Each biscuit is buttery, cheesy, and loaded with smoky bacon bits that make them completely irresistible. Warm from the oven, they’re the side everyone reaches for first, and the one you’ll wish you doubled the batch of.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits

Parmesan Potatoes

Parmesan potatoes are the crispy, golden gems that always disappear before you can blink. Each bite delivers buttery softness inside a cheesy, crunchy crust that feels like the best kind of indulgence. Whether you dip them in sour cream or eat them straight from the pan, they’ll quickly become a new holiday essential.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes

Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Mashed cauliflower potatoes are the modern twist that fits right in with Thanksgiving’s classic lineup. Creamy, flavorful, and guilt-free, they’re light enough to balance out a heavy plate without sacrificing taste. It’s the side dish that quietly wins over skeptics one spoonful at a time.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Buttermilk drop biscuits are the no-fuss comfort food that deserves a permanent spot on the Thanksgiving table. Golden and tender with that classic tangy flavor, they come together in minutes, no kneading, no rolling, just pure buttery bliss. They’re the perfect warm companion for gravy, soup, or anything else you’re piling on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Mashed Potato Waffles

Mashed potato waffles turn leftovers into the star of the show with their crispy edges and buttery, golden centers. Each bite tastes like Thanksgiving comfort reinvented in the best possible way. They’re fun, clever, and just fancy enough to make your holiday breakfast or brunch feel special.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Waffles

Braised Cabbage

Braised cabbage transforms a humble veggie into something deeply flavorful and worthy of holiday attention. Slow-cooked until tender with just the right touch of seasoning, it brings warmth and heart to the Thanksgiving spread. It’s rustic, comforting, and the kind of side dish that quietly wins everyone over.
Get the Recipe: Braised Cabbage

Roasted Broccolini

Roasted broccolini adds a bright, fresh balance to all the rich holiday flavors crowding the Thanksgiving plate. Cooked until just crisp with olive oil and garlic, it delivers simple, elegant flavor without any fuss. It’s the side that looks sophisticated but takes almost no effort, a true Thanksgiving win.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Broccolini

Green Beans Almondine with Bacon

Green beans almondine with bacon is the upgraded version of the green bean dish everyone secretly looks forward to. The buttery crunch of almonds, smoky bacon, and a hint of lemon come together for a side that feels both classic and fresh. It’s a dish that fits right in at a fancy dinner or a cozy family feast.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans Almondine with Bacon

Cabbage Apple Salad

Cabbage apple salad brings a refreshing crunch to the Thanksgiving lineup, cutting through all the rich, heavy dishes with ease. The mix of crisp cabbage, sweet apples, and a tangy dressing makes it both light and vibrant. It’s that much-needed pop of color and flavor that brightens up any holiday plate.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Apple Salad

Surprise Potatoes

Surprise potatoes might be the sleeper hit of the Thanksgiving table, simple, cheesy, and wildly delicious. Made with frozen hashbrowns, creamy sauce, and a melty topping, they’re the definition of comfort in a casserole dish. It’s the side everyone fights for seconds before realizing how easy it was to make.
Get the Recipe: Surprise Potatoes

Grape Salad

Grape salad is that retro classic making a major comeback, sweet, creamy, and a little unexpected. Juicy grapes coated in a smooth dressing and topped with brown sugar and pecans create a side that doubles as dessert. It’s light, refreshing, and guaranteed to spark nostalgic smiles at the Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Grape Salad

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Cheesy zucchini casserole sneaks in some veggies while bringing serious flavor to the Thanksgiving spread. Layers of tender zucchini, gooey cheese, and savory crumbs bake together into bubbly perfection. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing side that bridges the gap between comfort food and wholesome eating.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Potato Skins

Potato skins might be a game-day favorite, but they more than earn their place on the Thanksgiving side table. Crispy shells filled with gooey cheese, smoky bacon, and a sprinkle of green onions make every bite feel indulgent and festive. They’re fun, shareable, and guaranteed to disappear before the gravy even cools.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins

Perfectly Fluffy Carrot and Cheddar Soufflé

Perfectly fluffy carrot and cheddar soufflé takes something as simple as carrots and turns it into a showstopper. The creamy, cheesy interior and golden top make it look fancy enough for the holidays but approachable enough for any cook. It’s an elegant, comforting dish that feels like the kind of side your grandmother would’ve made to impress everyone.
Get the Recipe: Perfectly Fluffy Carrot and Cheddar Soufflé