Ready to spruce up your Thanksgiving menu this year? I know tradition is a big part of Thanksgiving, but even a little twist on the classics can bring your Holiday meal from boring to exciting in a flash!
Here’s the quintessential list for keeping it fresh: 31 side dish recipes for Thanksgiving 2024. From potatoes, mac and cheese, veggies, and soups, to gravies, sauces, and dips, it’s all here in one place.
Whether it’s just you, or a table full of family members, there’s power in having nostalgic, homecooked, memory-inducing foods that simultaneously fill your heart and your tummy, with or without the Thanksgiving turkey.
While Thanksgiving means a lot of different things to different people, these exciting Thanksgiving side dish recipes are all dishes that make me feel at home—wherever my plate might be.
Green Tip: Did you know that of the billions of pounds of food wasted annually, it is estimated that 50% of it happens in our homes? One of the best ways to reduce food waste is to properly store, reheat, and consume leftovers!
Every Side Dish Recipe You Need This Thanksgiving 2024
Potato Dishes
1. Boursin Mashed Potatoes
The herbed cheese in these Creamy Boursin Mashed Potatoes takes them up a notch infusing flavor and extra creamy texture into your favorite starchy side dish.
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2. Maple Sweet Potato Casserole
This 5-Ingredient Maple Sweet Potato Casserole maximizes the caramel and vanilla flavors of maple syrup and the natural sweetness of the potatoes to bring bold taste with just a few ingredients!
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3. Roasted Garlic and Feta Mashed Potatoes
These Roasted Garlic and Feta Mashed Potatoes are creamy and fluffy with the perfect amount of salt and garlic to amp up each bite.
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4. Truffle Mashed Potatoes
These Truffle Mashed Potatoes are creamy and elegant, with truffle oil to bring extra earthy umami and tons of aromatic flavor.
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5. Twice-Baked Mashed Potatoes
These Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes takes creamy mashed potatoes and bakes them with cheese and green onions for the ultimate potato side dish.
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6. Roasted Honey Gold Potatoes
Beautifully golden brown with crispy edges and perfectly seasoned, these Roasted Honey Gold Potatoes make the most delicious side dish!
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7. Pan-fried Potatoes and Onions
These Pan-Fried Potatoes and Onions are perfectly tender and golden-brown, and require just a frying pan and 30 minutes!
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Mac and Cheese
8. The Cheesiest Indulgent Mac-n-Cheese
The easiest and cheesiest one-pot mac and cheese recipe to make the kid in you rejoice. With its extra creamy sauce, and bubbly, golden brown top, you'll be hard-pressed not to mutter "mmmm" with every single bite.
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9. Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
This Easy Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese takes creamy macaroni and cheese and infuses it with the rich and comforting flavors of pumpkin.
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10. Vegan Truffle Mac and Cheese
Comfort food has a whole new meaning when it’s vegan and packed with nutrients! This Vegan Truffle Mac and Cheese is elevated, creamy as ever, and downright delicious.
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11. Creamy Brie & Gouda Mac and Cheese (No-Bake!)
What’s the best cheese combo for homemade mac and cheese? It’s brie and gouda, for sure! This extra-creamy stovetop brie mac and cheese recipe is a different and delicious twist on classic mac and cheese. Ready in 30 minutes!
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Vegetable Sides
12. Everything Bagel Stuffing
This unique take on a Thanksgiving classic makes this Everything Bagel Stuffing a delicious enough side dish to eat all year round!
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13. Green Bean Casserole with Secret Ingredient
This Green Bean Casserole utilizes a secret ingredient to boost the natural flavors of your traditional Thanksgiving favorite for a whole new dinner sides experience.
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14. Roasted Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
These Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts are roasted to perfection with a flavor punch that's perfectly balanced between sweet and savory.
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15. Caprese Asparagus
This recipe for sheet pan caprese asparagus brings roasted asparagus to the next level by topping it with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese, bursting cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Ready in just 30 minutes, this twist on caprese salad makes for a delicious side dish.
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16. Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes
The perfect simple side dish, this Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes recipe uses simple ingredients to bring out the natural flavors of the vegetables.
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17. Roasted Broccoli and Carrots
This recipe for simple Roasted Broccoli and Carrots is the easiest way to bring out the natural flavors of the vegetables and get the perfect texture.
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18. Stovetop Creamed Asparagus with Parmesan
This Creamed Asparagus recipe will make this veggie side dish the star with crisp and tender asparagus smothered in delicious, creamy Parmesan sauce.
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Gravies and Sauces
19. Brandy Cranberry Sauce
This Easy Brandy Cranberry Sauce is simple to make, boasting the perfect balance between tangy and sweet and a subtle hint of floral brandy.
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20. Mushroom Gravy
This Vegan Mushroom Gravy is thick, flavorful, and versatile, made in just 30 minutes and one pot to enhance any dinner plate.
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21. Shallot Cream Sauce
This thick and rich Shallot Cream Sauce is a delicious and easy way to add moisture and flavor to any dish! Great over veggies, fish, meat, and even on pasta or rice!
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Dips
22. Buffalo Ranch Hummus
This healthy Buffalo Ranch Hummus is quick, easy, and bursting with flavor, making it the most delicious dip or spread.
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23. Grape Tomato Confit
Learn how to use a simple French cooking method to preserve your fresh tomatoes and turn them into a succulent, out-of-this-world delicious, and versatile tomato confit. Only 5 ingredients required!
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24. Arugula Basil Pesto
This Arugula Basil Pesto packs such a powerful punch of flavor and freshness. All you need is a food processor, 5 fresh ingredients, and 5 minutes and you’re off and running!
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25. Cream Cheese Pumpkin
This Cream Cheese Pumpkin is a combination of cream cheese and cheddar, perfectly seasoned and coated in pumpkin seeds for a festive and savory appetizer.
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26. Sweet Potato Hummus
This Creamy Sweet Potato Hummus is the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and nutty with a hint of citrus served cold as a dip or delicious spread.
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Soups
27. Autumn Squash Soup
This Autumn Squash Soup is creamy and velvety, perfectly balanced between savory, and sweet, and incorporates tons of real veggies for depth of flavor. Only one pot required!
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28. Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup with Parmesan
This Roasted Garlic Tomato Soup has the creamiest texture and deep flavors from real roasted tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and thyme. Simple ingredients, simple to make, and always delicious!
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29. Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
This Roasted Sweet Potato Soup is the creamiest soup to cozy up with, perfectly balanced between savory and sweet, with aromatic Fall spices.
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30. Carrot Pumpkin Soup
This Carrot Pumpkin Soup is the cozy Fall soup you need, with nutrient-dense carrots and pumpkin accompanied by aromatic spices, coming together in under an hour and in just one pot.
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31. Vegetarian French Onion Soup
This flavor-packed Vegetarian French Onion Soup is filling, comforting, and downright delicious while being completely meatless!
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Thank you for checking out my list of side dish recipes for Thanksgiving 2024. Whether your gathering is large or small, there is something here that will knock the socks off those at the dinner table. And if you’re still unsure where to start, here’s one of my annual family favorites, Pumpkin Baked Mac and Cheese.
Every Side Dish Recipe You Need This Thanksgiving 2024, including this Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
PIN Print RATEFreshen up your Thanksgiving dinner with my favorite sides, including this Easy Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, which takes creamy macaroni and cheese and infuses it with the rich and comforting flavors of pumpkin.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces macaroni (or any short pasta)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
- 16 ounces cheddar cheese (I used sharp cheddar)
- 15 ounces pumpkin puree (15 oz = 1 can pumpkin puree)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ ounce fresh sage (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook your macaroni al dente according to the instructions on the packaging.
- To a large pot over medium heat, add the butter and flour. Form a roux by heating and whisking until the butter is melted and it is combined with the flour.
- Add the milk and whisk to combine.
- Set aside about ½ cup of cheese for the top and add the rest along with the pumpkin puree, garlic powder, nutmeg, and black pepper. Continue to heat and stir until cheese is completely melted and you have a thick sauce.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to a 9×13-inch oval or rectangular casserole dish and top with the cheese you set aside.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then turn your oven up to broil. Watch closely and remove when the top starts to brown.
- Garnish with fresh sage (optional) and serve hot.
Pro Tips
- This pumpkin mac and cheese is best reheated in the oven at 350°F for 20-30 minutes. Add the portion you want to reheat to an oven-safe dish with a splash of milk, cover, and place on the top rack.
Did you make this recipe?Leave a comment and let me know what you think! And if you really enjoyed it, help power this website and buy me a coffee!
