42 Best Thanksgiving Savory Side Dish Recipes and Menu Ideas

It’s not all about the turkey! This year, try one of these 42 Best Thanksgiving Savory Side Dish recipes from some of the top food bloggers in the country! These delicious side dish menu ideas are guaranteed to make you forget the turkey. And, I hope you will give one or more of them a place of honor on your Thanksgiving table!

Are you looking for the best and most delicious Thanksgiving side dishes? How about yummy Thanksgiving side dishes that you can make ahead of the big day? And, would you like Thanksgiving side dish recipes that feature easy step-by-step directions as well as gluten-free, keto, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan options? Well, you are in the right place!

Choose from reimagined Thanksgiving classics plus traditional and non-traditional choices, and new twists on old favorites with these 42 best-of-the-best Thanksgiving savory side dish recipes.

Ultimate Blue Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin – Grits and Pinecones

Are you looking for a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving? How about something just a little different from traditional mashed potatoes? Well, hold on to your Pilgrim hat because Blue Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin will rock your world.

Roasted Root Vegetables (Coconut Milk and Macadamia Nuts) – Viktoria’s Table

I can eat only this for Thanksgiving, and I can even skip the pie! Because this dish tastes like dessert and a side dish at the same time. It’s addictive, I warn you!

Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes – Grits and Pinecones

Check out this easy recipe for Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes and find out how to make everyone’s favorite side dish, delicious and decadent, homemade mashed potatoes in 15 minutes.

Sausage and Apple Stuffed Honeynut Squash – Garden in the Kitchen

Sweet Honeynut squash stuffed with sausage, apple, dried cranberries, crunchy celery, and aromatic herbs! Butternut Squash lovers, there is a new hottie in town! Meet the Honeynut Squash, a hybrid variety that is a cross between a butternut and buttercup squash. This mini-sensation has a sweeter profile and is favored for its small, individual serving size and rich flavor!

Grown-Up Green Bean Casserole – Pudge Factor

Are you tired of the mandatory cream of mushroom soup Green Bean Casserole? If so, you should try this Grown-up Green Bean Casserole. It’s easy to make and delicious! What’s even better is that this Grown-up Green Bean Casserole is a cinch to make, can be made ahead of time, and reheats beautifully.

Maple Glazed Sauteed Green Beans and Carrots with Proscuitto and Walnuts – Whole Food Bellies

This delightful maple-glazed sauteed green beans and carrots side dish comes together in one skillet and makes the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. Great to serve as a side during the Holidays or to spruce up your Sunday dinner. The Maple adds a lovely hint of sweetness alongside with the saltiness of the prosciutto that guarantees everyone will be coming back for seconds.

Easy Parmesan Potatoes Au Gratin – Grits and Pinecones

This recipe for Easy Parmesan Potatoes Au Gratin is irresistibly delicious and the perfect special occasion side dish. With thinly sliced, tender Russet potatoes, nestled in a thick and decadent cream sauce and nutty parmesan cheese, this thoroughly indulgent side dish might edge out your entrée and become the star of the show!

Sweet and Savory Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts-Pass Me Some Tasty

These sweet and savory pan-roasted brussels sprouts are NOT the sprouts you heard about as a kid from the previous generations who had to eat them plain, boiled, and waterlogged with maybe just a pinch of salt. These sprouts are dreamy and packed with a flavor profile that will have you asking for a second helping.

Ultimate Broccoli Cheese Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

When you see a recipe with the name Ultimate Broccoli Cheese Casserole, you expect it to be pretty spectacular. This delicious recipe for broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers and loaded with cheesy goodness lives up to its name!

Cranberry Apple Leek Whole Grain Stuffing – SharonPalmer

This Cranberry Apple Leek Whole Grain Stuffing is just the thing you need for your holiday table, Sunday night dinner, or comfort food plant-based meal. Based on whole plants, including fresh cranberries, apples, leeks, pecans, and rustic whole-grain bread, it’s easy to put together.

Make-Ahead Broccoli Rice Casserole- Pudge Factor

This creamy and cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is a delicious make-ahead side dish for your Thanksgiving or anytime feast. It contains just a few ingredients and is a snap to make.

Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds – marisamoore.com

Swap this healthy green bean recipe for traditional green bean casserole on your Thanksgiving table this year. It’s brimming with healthy fats, fiber, and flavor!

Cranberry, Apple, and Orange Sauce- Grits and Pinecones

No Thanksgiving Dinner is complete without Cranberry Sauce, and boy do I have a doozy of a recipe for you today. This easy, make-ahead, homemade cranberry sauce with oranges and apples is out of this world delicious and deserves a place of honor on your Thanksgiving table.

Baked Squash with Apples and Cranberries- Nirvana Cakery

For this recipe, I’ve used blue Hokkaido squash as I had some at home, but any squash would easily work. I’ve seen this recipe being often used with Acorn squash cut in half. You could also use two smaller ones instead of one, keep in mind that it does need to sit nicely on the tray to keep the apple and cranberry mix in. Enjoy it as a part of a festive meal.

Bourbon Glazed Carrots and Pumpkin with Brown Sugar – Sprinkles and Sprouts

Everyone loves glazed carrots, but when you add pumpkin into the mix, this easy side dish becomes something extra special. The veggies are glazed with bourbon, brown sugar, and butter, so simple to make and loved by the whole family. The kids will love these with their turkey this Thanksgiving.

Southern Candied Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans – Grits and Pinecones

Often called nature’s candy, easy baked Southern Candied Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans is a rich combination of flavors and textures. With sliced sweet potatoes, topped with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, sweet creamy butter, and roasted or candied pecans, there is something for everyone.

Easy Make-Ahead Zucchini Gratin – Pudge Factor

A gratin is a dish topped with a golden browned crust of breadcrumbs and/or melted cheese. In France, gratins are generally made with potatoes. This Easy Make-Ahead Zucchini Gratin is an amazing deviation that will have you coming back for more!

Spicy Cauliflower with Figs – Savory Spin

Cardamom pods, whole cloves, onions, ginger, and garlic go into making this Spicy Cauliflower with Figs an invitingly aromatic dish to add to your Thanksgiving/Holiday table!

Thanksgiving Kale- The Merchant Baker

The leaves are tender from cooking and full of flavor from a pan sauce that becomes almost like a glaze. I remember remarking to my husband that this kale tasted like Thanksgiving with its sweet cranberries and savory onions and garlic; thus, it became known as “Thanksgiving Kale.”

Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing – Grits and Pinecones

There are so many things to love about Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing and, in addition to the taste which is divine, it’s virtually effortless to make. Both the cornbread and the dressing can be made well ahead of the big day and frozen so that all you have to do is pop it in the oven.

Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Kristine’s Kitchen Blog

This Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe is an easy side dish for Thanksgiving or any meal! With garlic and a maple balsamic glaze, these Brussels sprouts are baked in the oven until tender and crispy. Plus, suggestions for other ways to flavor your Brussels sprouts.

Southern Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes – Grits and Pinecones

Southern Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth tender potatoes, baked in an ultra decadent and cheesy bechamel sauce. These easy to make creamy scalloped potatoes make an incredible side dish for holidays and special occasions, and even your pickiest eaters will love them.

Mashed Rutabaga with Nutmeg- Pinch Me I’m Eating

Mashed rutabaga is delicious; naturally, sweet low-carb Thanksgiving side dish made even better with a little nutmeg. You won’t want to go back to potatoes!

Southern Sweet Onion Casserole – Grits and Pinecones

Just in time for Thanksgiving, this easy Southern Sweet Onion Casserole is the best side dish ever! Caramelized sweet onions, Vidalia if you can find them, are meltingly tender and paired with buttery, crunchy Ritz crackers, sour cream, and cheese, this decadent onion casserole melts in your mouth!

Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic, Lemon, and Parmesan – Curry Trail

Sauteed green beans with garlic and parmesan are the simplest side dish you can make for Thanksgiving dinner. Sauteing green beans brings out all its flavors, and with garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese, it makes it a great compliment to any meal.

Easy Cheesy Potato and Onion Au Gratin – Pudge Factor

Easy Cheesy Potato and Onion Au Gratin is deliciously creamy and a real show stopper. It’s a simple side dish that takes minutes to put together but is packed with cheesy goodness. What’s even better is that it can be made ahead of time and leftovers, if any, are just as good the next day. Who could ask for more?

Terry’s Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping – Grits and Pinecones

Terry’s Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is the stuff legends are made of. It’s indescribably delicious and decadent beyond measure. It will have your family or guests clamoring for more. And, it’s the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter.

Cranberry Pecan Pretzel Salad – The Gunny Sack

This Cranberry Pecan Pretzel Salad recipe with cranberry sauce, sugared pecans and pretzels is perfect for holiday dinners from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon and Pecans – Grits and Pinecones

Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with Bourbon and Pecans is a rich combination of flavors and textures that is sure to draw rave reviews from everyone. This is a lighter version of the classic recipe for sweet potato casserole with pecans most folks expect to see on Thanksgiving.

And, it has a fun twist, a touch of bourbon, a quintessential southern libation.

Brussels Sprouts with Pinenuts and Parmesan – Vintage Kitty

Easy Brussels Sprouts with Pinenuts and Parmesan is a go-to fall recipe. It’s fast, contains just a handful of ingredients, and is perfect for any meal, from a weeknight supper to holiday get-togethers.

Easy Southern Homemade Turkey Gravy – Grits and Pinecones

It’s all about the gravy on Thanksgiving, and this easy and delicious Southern Homemade Turkey Gravy recipe is foolproof. This make-ahead gravy recipe is also a perfect base for giblet gravy, and you can substitute chicken stock for turkey stock to make chicken gravy.

Garlic Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower Recipe – The Schmidty Wife

If you are looking for the best cauliflower mash recipe out there look no further. This Garlic Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower Recipe is easy to make, healthy, and delicious! The perfect side dish to go with any meal.

Broccoli Potato Casserole- An Italian In My Kitchen

This fast and easy creamy Broccoli Potato Casserole is the perfect side dish. Three layers of broccoli, potatoes, a creamy sauce, and a sprinkling of Parmesan will make this delicious bake a family favorite.

Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin – Grits and Pinecones

Easy Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin is the perfect rich and creamy, but low-carb side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner or any dinner when you want to treat your family or guests to something special! It’s a true crowd pleaser!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash- Happy Kitchen Rocks

The best balsamic-maple roasted Brussels sprouts with butternut squash, pecans, cranberries, and avocado roasted garlic dressing. Ultimate healthy vegan Thanksgiving side dish ready in just 40 minutes!

Southern Cheesy Corn Pudding – Grits and Pinecones

Southern Cheesy Corn Pudding is a beloved traditional holiday and pot-luck dinner side-dish in the South! If you like corn, and you like cornbread, you will love this decadent and creamy corn casserole recipe.

Sweet Potato Rolls- Impeckable Eats

In the shadows of super trendy pumpkin lies the sweet potato. A classic Thanksgiving favorite that remains somewhat of an underdog yet a staple fall root veggie. I want to think it is slowly gaining in popularity – and not just in the format of a French fry. Sweet potatoes are versatile and fun to bake in many different forms. These bread rolls are a soft treat and a great way to get two dishes from one batch of mashed sweet potatoes (or a great way to use up leftovers).

Southern Sweet and Sour Green Beans – Grits and Pinecones

Southern Sweet and Sour Green Beans with smokey bacon, crunchy water chestnuts, and sweet onions, tastes just like its name! It’s also definitely one delicious and easy green bean recipe, which deserves a place of honor in your repertoire of “go-to” recipes for green beans.

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Apples, Nuts, and Cranberries – Foodal

Stuffed acorn squash makes a delicious meal or side dish paired with turkey or chicken. You can use a combination of any of your favorite ingredients from savory to sweet to compliment your meal.

Green Bean Pie with Ritz Cracker Crust – Grits and Pinecones

Move over traditional Green Bean Casserole and make room for a new show-stopping side-dish for your holiday table, savory Green Bean Pie with a Ritz Cracker Crust.

Crispy Brussel Sprouts – Bessie Bakes

The trick to making brussels sprouts a vegetable that you CRAVE is all in the outer leaves that fry up in a shallow pan and taste like flavorful potato chips!

Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries – Grits, and Pinecones

My easy, make-ahead, low-carb wonder, Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad with Cranberries is a healthy holiday side-dish favorite. This colorful salad is full of crisp broccoli and cauliflower, sweet/tart cranberries, and crunchy pistachios. It’s equally at home on an elegant Thanksgiving dinner table or at a covered dish neighborhood potluck.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? You know those sides that if they weren’t on the table someone would make a fuss?

This post isn’t about getting rid of those sacred sides. What it is about is adding another “soon to be a favorite” side dish this year. So, how about it; which one will you choose?

Need even more Thanksgiving recipes or menu ideas? Check out these roundup posts:

And, because Christmas isn’t far behind, I thought you might be interested in these Christmas recipe roundup posts:

★ If you make any of these recipes please leave a comment. I would love to know how you liked it!

Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

*This post was originally published November 16, 2016. Republished on November 2, 2019, with the addition of 23 new recipes.