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    Framed Cooks ยป Recipes ยป Side Dishes

    Thirteen Must-Try Thanksgiving Side Dishes!

    Published: Nov 7, 2024 ยท Modified: Nov 1, 2025 by Kate Morgan Jackson ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท Leave a Comment

    Delight your guests with these thirteen mouthwatering Thanksgiving side dishes! From cream cheese stuffed biscuits to a cheesy cauliflower casserole, there’s something for everyone at your holiday table.

    Thanksgiving table decorations.

    We are all pretty set when it comes to the main attraction on our Thanksgiving tables (hey there, turkey!), but along with the stuffing, we need to make sure we are breaking out ALL the scrumptious side dishes!

    So here come thirteen of our time tested (and reader-loved) side dishes that guarantee there will be something for everyone at your holiday table!

    #1: Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Cheesy cauliflower casserole on a wooden counter.

    Holy cow – this is delish! I added four pieces of cooked thick cut bacon and sautéed some garlic cloves and added that to the sauce. Put a little extra black pepper on top and wow, it turned out great! And the aroma!!!! Wowzers!!! ~ Cathy

    Think of this as macaroni and cheese with tender cooked cauliflower playing the part of the pasta! You can customize this all different ways (check the comments on the recipe for SO many great ideas!) or have it as its original cheesy self!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #2: Roasted Butternut Squash With Feta Cheese

    Roasted butternut squash with feta cheese in a bowl.

    Your recipe here, with the feta and pistachios, is going on my table this weekend. I was going to roast one up anyway, so this is going to make it fancy food!  ~ Teresa

    This easy recipe for roasted butternut squash with feta is perfect all year round, but especially for Thanksgiving.  Sweet squash, tangy feta cheese, all tossed with a honey lemon dressing that pulls it all together.

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #3: Baked Mashed Potatoes

    Baked mashed potatoes in a casserole.

    I made this tonight and it was amazing! I added bacon and some cheese on top at the very end and let it melt over it, but the potatoes themselves were amazing. I will be keeping this recipe on hand for the future! :) ~ Sara

    Get ready to take your mashed potato game to the next level with this recipe for Baked Mashed Potatoes. The crispy crust will have everyone asking for seconds!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #4: Carrot Mashed Potatoes

    Carrot mashed potatoes in a bowl.

    This brings back memories for me from childhood. Whenever we had pot roast or stew with both potatoes and carrots, we’d always put them on our plate, mash them together, add butter, salt and pepper. This is a great side dish version! ~ Paula

    Want to jazz up your mashed potatoes? Adding some carrots to the mix adds some extra flavor and lightens up this dish a little. Double win!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #5: Carrots with Thyme

    Carrots with fresh thyme on a white plate.

    Carrots and Thyme…a match made in carrot heaven! Use them together all the time (although, I occasionally will use dill in place of the thyme.) And, I like my carrots roasted instead of steamed, but, either way you will have a delicious side dish! ~ Jeannie

    Speaking of carrots…are you looking for the simplest side dish in the entire world? YOU’VE FOUND IT. This simple mixture of sweet carrots with a little butter and fresh thyme is quick and easy and scrumptious!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #6: Mashed Fall Vegetables

    Mashed fall vegetables in a bowl.

    This is a perfect Thanksgiving side! Different than the usual sides, which can get boring. And bacon always makes everything tastier! ~ Reagan

    You can also get all your favorite fall veggies – carrots, potatoes, butternut squash – into one scrumptious side…which leaves more room for that chocolate chess pie on the dessert table!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #7: Whipped Cauliflower

    Whipped cauliflower in a bowl.

    I added some garlic salt and it tastes sooooo good! ~ Allison

    Once you try this easy recipe for whipped cauliflower you might just forget all about mashed potatoes…it’s that delicious!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #8: Skillet Corn

    Buttered skillet corn in a bowl with a spoon.

    This was so easy to make and I love that I can use frozen corn too. Went perfect with steak! ~ Susie

    Love corn? You’ll love this skillet corn recipe! Creamy, buttery, a little bit toasty and packed with flavor, it’s the perfect addition to any meal, and it makes a fun surprise dish on your Thanksgiving table.

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #9: Chopped Brussels Sprouts with Feta

    Chopped brussels sprouts with feta cheese.

    SOLD! ~ Mindy

    I know not everyone is Team Brussels Sprouts, but when you roast them up and add some feta cheese, you can recruit some Sprouts Believers (which is why I love that brief comment on this recipe so very much!). Trust me, you want these on your Thanksgiving Table!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #10: Cheesy Southern Spoonbread

    Cheesy Southern spoonbread on a dishtowel.

    Yummy-ness! I may take some creative liberties with the recipe and add some fresh corn kernels to the mix. And maybe just a bit of your beloved bacon, just for fun. :) ~ Teresa

    This easy recipe for cheesy Southern spoonbread is a cross between a cornbread and a custard, and is perfect alongside your turkey or ham…maybe with some gravy drizzled on top? YUM.

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #11: Cream Cheese Stuffed Biscuits

    Cream cheese Stuffed Biscuits on a cooling rack.

    I made these for Thanksgiving and I thought a fight might break out for the last one. LOVED! ~ Kim

    Two ingredients are all you need to make these completely addictive, creamy-cheesy warm biscuits. And you know you HAVE to have biscuits on the Thanksgiving table!

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #12: Cheesy Vegetable Pasta

    Easy cheddar vegetable orzo in a bowl.

    Yum! I love orzo, this is a perfect combination of flavors :) ~ Nutmeg Nanny

    Orzo pasta, some fresh vegetables and a little cheddar cheese make a perfect side dish, especially for the kiddos at the Thanksgiving table.

    GET THE RECIPE!

    #13: Sheet Pan Focaccia

    Baked focaccia in sheet pan with parchment.

    This recipe is so reliable – the bread comes out GREAT every time! The perfect side for a pasta dish. Love this! ~ Mal

    This recipe for sheet pan focaccia is so incredibly easy you will find yourself making this buttery Italian bread on the regular! It makes a full sheet pan of bread so it is perfect for your Thanksgiving crowd.

    GET THE RECIPE!

    So there you have it…our lucky thirteen nominees for Best Side Dishes On A Thanksgiving Table! I hope you try a couple (or all thirteen!) and let me know how they turn out for you!

    Love, Kate 💖💖

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