48 Delicious Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Try This Year

By BH&G Holiday Editors
Updated August 20, 2020
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Credit: Andy Lyons
Spice up Thanksgiving traditions by adding new twists to classic Thanksgiving side dishes. The indispensable Thanksgiving recipes are all here—including mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and stuffing—but each dish features an unexpected and delicious spin.
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Spicy Green Bean Casserole

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Fresh string beans meet jalapeno peppers, minced garlic, and onion in this flavorful green bean casserole recipe. Chicken broth and cream balance out the spice, while a thick layer of bread crumbs adds a light crunch.

Buy It: White Oval Casserole ($19, The Home Depot)

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Mashed Red Potatoes with Feta and Kale

Credit: Andy Lyons
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With bits of crumbled bacon and crushed red pepper, these kale-filled cheesy mashed potatoes give your Thanksgiving dinner a flavorful upgrade. Balance the zesty flavors with extra spoonfuls of sour cream and butter for your creamiest mashed potatoes yet.

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Gluten-Free Harvest Rice Stuffing

Credit: Andy Lyons
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The walnut and cranberry pork is the uncontested highlight of this easy Thanksgiving stuffing recipe. Butternut squash, green apples, and cranberries are simmered together for a light sweetness that offsets the meat, while parsley and sage tie the mouthwatering flavors together.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

Credit: Con Poulos
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With its rich, sweet taste and crunchy crumb topping, this casserole combines six pounds of sweet potatoes for your new favorite side dish. Fresh cranberries sprinkled atop the lightly golden casserole gives creamy potatoes an extra sweetness.

Buy It: Willow Drive Rectangular Baker ($45, Macy's)

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Pomegranate-Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Blaine Moats
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This vibrant Thanksgiving side recipe adds fresh flavors to your holiday spread. Dress up spiralized sweet potato ribbons with cardamom, mint, and pomegranate.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you do not have a spiralizer, thinly slice potatoes, then cut into narrow matchsticks.

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Salt-Roasted Beets with Tehina Sauce

Credit: Andy Lyons
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For a twist on your classic beet dish, this tahini sauce provides a delicious, nutty infusion. Top the roasted beets with mint leaves to balance the beet's earthiness while adding an extra hint of freshness.

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Grilled Broccoli and Orzo

Credit: Andy Lyons
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This healthy (and delicious) dish takes only 35 minutes from start to finish. Grill seasoned broccoli until crisp, then layer with garlic-orange orzo. Toss crunchy pine nuts and fresh Parmesan cheese on top to finish off this side dish.

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Sage-Embossed Fingerling Potatoes

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Fresh sage adds a sweet and savory flavor to your potato bites. Lightly coat fingerling potatoes with olive oil and hickory smoked salt, then press a sage leaf against the potato. They'll be a light golden-brown after just 15 minutes.

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Green Beans with Shallots, Thyme, and Shiitake Mushrooms

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Sauteed mushrooms and seasoned shallots make this green bean dish a savory side perfect for any holiday dinner. Don't have shallots? Substitute garlic in this 100-calories-per-serving dish.

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Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Con Poulos
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Fresh chives and garlic add a savory taste to these smooth and creamy potatos. Our homemade mashed potato recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish, making your mashed potato side dish something you don't need to stress over.

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Creamy Corn Casserole

Credit: Con Poulos
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The secret to this perfectly crunchy and creamy casserole? Mix cream-coated corn with crushed saltine crackers. The best flavor comes from the fried chopped sage and roasted sweet peppers, so add liberally.

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Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Gouda and Crispy Pancetta

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Pancetta adds a bacon-like twist to our extra-creamy mashed potato recipe. Add Gouda or mozzarella cheese for smooth, melty flavor.

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Glazed Onion Foil Pack

Credit: Andy Lyons
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To trap the flavor into your veggies, cook them in foil. These sweet, carmelized onions pair perfectly with stuffing or potatoes, and they only take 15 minutes of prep time.

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Twice-Baked Pesto Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Cheesy twice-baked potatoes are back and better than ever! We've added savory pesto—mix it in or drizzle it on top for garlicky basil flavor.

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Ancho Pomegranate Caramelized Acorn Squash

A splash of pomegranate molasses gives this spicy squash a sweet side. For pretty Thanksgiving dinner presentation, top the squash with fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds.

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Blue Cheese-Garlic Potatoes

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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What could be better than mashed potatoes, you ask? How about our tangy, spicy twist on the classic Thanksgiving recipe, which features creamy blue cheese and smoky red pepper flakes. Crushed garlic adds a savory spin to this new holiday side dish favorite.

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Blistered Green Beans

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Roast your green beans in a super hot oven this Thanksgiving season—the elevated temperature will leave them perfectly charred and smoky. Balance the depth of their flavor with a smattering of pistachios and fresh orange zest.

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Savory Collard Greens

Credit: Andy Lyons
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This easy Thanksgiving side dish recipe will teach you how to love collard greens (really!). Instead of bacon, we're using pancetta as a crispy topping—no mushy forkfuls here.

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Caramelized Onion and Capocollo Rye Stuffing

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Sweet caramelized onions contrast salty chopped capocollo in this unusual Thanksgiving stuffing recipe. When that salty-sweet combo teams up with the subtle bite of rye bread and amber beer, you get a rich layered flavor that's worth ditching tradition.

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Brined Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Credit: Brie Passano
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Soaking your Brussels spouts in a salt brine infuses them with flavor before cooking. Finish this easy holiday side dish with grainy mustard and a drizzle of olive oil.

Buy It: Cast Iron Skillet ($22, Target)

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Lemon-Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Turn your top-notch Thanksgiving mashed potatoes into a showstopping side dish with just a sprinkle of bold flavors, such as capers, lemon peel, and fresh parsley. The potatoes are cooked with garlic before mashing for an even more intense layer of flavor.

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Brown Butter Brussels Sprouts and Apple

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Crisp-tender Brussels sprouts, sweet apple slices, and toasted walnuts? Your Thanksgiving table won't know what hit it! We took this standard vegetable side dish a step further with in-season ingredients and trendy veggies to make a wow-worthy Thanksgiving side.

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Medley of Roasted Root Vegetables

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Roasting is one of the easiest ways to draw out the natural sweetness of root vegetables. Make the most of your faves (we love beets, carrots, potatoes, and turnips) with a simple herbed olive oil dressing.

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Flash-Braised Vegetable Medley

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Perfectly cooked veggies are as easy as getting ingredients in the pan. Melt butter in a large skillet, toss in veggies, add wine, finish with chicken broth, and serve with lemon wedges.

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Chimichurri-Tossed Mushrooms with Hazelnuts

Credit: Con Poulos
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Forget your old roasted mushroom recipe. Give this fresh no-cook Thanksgiving salad a try and we guarantee you won't be disappointed.

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Creamy Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Chia Chong
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Our rich and creamy rosemary mashed potatoes come with an unexpected secret: white chocolate! The mild addition melts into the potatoes, adding a subtle sweetness and an oh-so-luscious texture.

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Chardonnay-Glazed Carrots

Credit: Reed Davis
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Verjuice, an acidic juice made from unripe grapes, adds a fresh twist to this classic Thanksgiving side dish. It gives a sweet-tart flavor similar to but less sharp than vinegar.

Thanksgiving Side Dish Tip: Look for verjuice at your local specialty grocery store or from an online seller.

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Double-Corn Corn Bread Stuffing

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Try our take on traditional Thanksgiving stuffing. With both hearty corn bread and off-the-cob kernels, the holiday side offers twice as much feel-good flavor. Red onion, baby spinach, and crushed red pepper help balance corn's cozy-sweet flavor.

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Browned Butter Fennel Gratin

Credit: Andy Lyons
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This Thanksgiving, indulge in a rich and creamy gratin. Sweet onion and fennel bake with luscious brown butter and Gruyere cheese until golden and bubbly.

Buy It: Oval Gratin Dish, ($10, Sur La Table)