25 Essential Thanksgiving Sides

When it comes to Thanksgiving, the star of the dinner table is usually turkey, but what really makes the meal unique is the fixin's — the abundance of varied side dishes surrounding it. To help you host a wonderful holiday dinner with the most delicious food, we rounded up 25 of the best Thanksgiving sides. On our list, you'll find some of the most widely searched for accompaniments to Thanksgiving turkey, including delicious regional specialties. We included all of the classics, like candied yams, green beans, creamed spinach, sweet potatoes, several stuffing variations, and of course cranberry sauce.

If you're not a huge fan of cranberry sauce, a seasonal apple sauce is the perfect alternative for your menu.

For the Apple Sauce recipe, click here.

If you're looking for a simple Thanksgiving side look no further. For this recipe all you have to do is pierce the potatoes and brush them with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt, then bake them at 350 degrees F for an hour. You can garnish baked potatoes with cheese, cooked broccoli florets, bacon, or sour cream.

For the Classic Baked Potato recipe, click here.

The holidays are a busy time, and while it might be tempting to cut corners and bake biscuits out of the tin, they're not hard to make and are worth doing from scratch. This is a simple buttermilk biscuit recipe that all of your guests will adore. You can also add pumpkin or sweet potato purée to the biscuit batter for a whole new recipe.

For the Southern Style Biscuit recipe, click here.

Candied yams go perfectly with turkey, ham, and stuffing. They're a must-have on your Thanksgiving dinner table.

For the Candied Yams recipe, click here.

For Thanksgiving, make this simple corn pudding recipe with corn, lime juice, butter, and paprika.

For the Corn Pudding recipe, click here.

On many Thanksgiving tables, corn bread is considered a basic. If you're making this year, try it with no sugar... If you want a twist on this classic recipe you can always add zucchini or bacon.

For the Tennessee Corn Bread recipe, click here.

Granny Smith apples, chestnuts, and homemade cornbread combine to make a memorable and delicious stuffing. And it's vegan, too. While store-bought cornbread is convenient, there's nothing quite like homemade. — Vicky Cohen

For the Apple-Chestnut Cornbread Stuffing recipe, click here.

Creamed corn goes perfectly with Thanksgiving turkey.

For the Creamed Corn recipe, click here.

This popular vegetable preparation goes great with turkey, but if you're serving a turkey alternative on Thanksgiving, it's also great with lamb or roasted chicken. You can even stuff creamed spinach inside portabella mushrooms and bake for a tasty Thanksgiving appetizer.

For the Creamed Spinach with Nutmeg recipe, click here.

Homemade cranberry sauce is easier than you think; combine cranberries, cranberry juice, sugar, and orange zest to make a simple and tasty condiment for your turkey.

For the Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe, click here.

Don't just boil your carrots for your next dinner party; glaze them. This recipe uses honey, butter, and an orange peel to infuse the carrots with a bright and rich flavor. — Bobby Benjamin

For the Citrus and Honey Glazed Carrots recipe, click here.

Glazed pearl onions are a must-have side dish for Thanksgiving. The recipe is a simple one, with great results.

For the Glazed Turnips with Pearl Onions and Brown Butter recipe, click here.

This classic green bean casserole is a holiday favorite and is sure to be a crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving and all year-round. — Butterball

For the Green Bean Casserole recipe, click here.

Green beans almondine is the perfect holiday party side dish. Still-warm haricots verts are cooked until crisp-tender and tossed with an aromatic oil and a garnish of crunchy, nutty toasted almonds. It's the ultimate comfort food. — Allison Beck

For the Green Beans Almondine recipe, click here.

Many Thanksgiving feasts include  macaroni and cheese. This year, make yours with organic ingredients — organic pasta, organic whole milk, and organic flour. Your guests will enjoy a hearty and filling side and they won't even notice that it's better for them than the standard version.

For the Organic Macaroni and Cheese recipe, click here.

Thanksgiving sides  make the meal. And garlic mashed potatoes, whether they are served on Thanksgiving or not, are a delicious, homey side. All of your friends and family will rave over this super creamy, super flavorful Thanksgiving garlic mashed potato recipe. Add or subtract as much garlic as you like to match your personal preference. — Lauren Gordon

For the Thanksgiving Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe, click here.

Oysters add depth of flavor and moisture to a traditional stuffing recipe.

For the Herbed Oyster Stuffing recipe, click here.

If you're putting out holiday appetizers and want to add something to the array, put out the Parker House rolls and butter.

For the Parker House Rolls recipe, click here.

This is a simple preparation of Brussels sprouts with delicious results. If you want to serve a twist on this classic recipe, you can add shallots, bacon, or pancetta.

For the Oven-Roasted Brussel Sprouts recipe, click here.

The magical attribute of butternut squash is its inherent sweetness. When roasted, butternut squash's natural sugars caramelize, intensifying its flavor, and turning this humble vegetable into something sublime. The sage leaves and unpeeled garlic cloves that are roasted along with the squash slices bring additional layers of flavor to this otherwise unfussy dish. — Viviane Bauquet

For the Roasted Butternut Squash with Garlic and Sage recipe, click here.

This is one of the simplest Thanksgiving sides that you can make. For a change of pace you can also make a salad with the roasted potatoes by tossing green beans and potatoes in vinaigrette.

For the Roasted Potatoes recipe, click here.

Roast your favorite vegetables in a 400 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes for a wonderful Thanksgiving side dish. This recipe combines cauliflower, broccoli, and eggplant with cider and coriander.

For the Roasted Vegetables with Cider and Coriander recipe, click here.

This stuffing recipe calls for one pound of lean ground turkey sausage. Adding sausage and vegetables to your stuffing will amplify the flavor.

For the Herbed Sausage Stuffing recipe, click here.

Serving scalloped potatoes as a Thanksgiving side is ideal  if you like to plan ahead because you can make this dish the night before the big day.

For the Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes recipe, click here.

Cinnamon adds a touch of warmth and spice to these roasted sweet potatoes. — Emily Jacobs

For the Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon recipe, click here.