Food Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas 25 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Easy for us means minimal ingredients and recipes that are ready within an hour. These flavorful sides make the cut and please a crowd. By Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann Jodie Kautzmann is an editor, baker, and confectioner with more than 15 years of experience in content creation, recipe development, and pastry production. She's obsessed with the fine details and ingredients that take dishes from tasty to outright otherworldly. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 3, 2024 Close Photo: Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Though the turkey may be the star of the show, Thanksgiving is nothing without an array of savory side dishes. Save on prep and cook time by choosing easy sides featuring root vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes, and more fall flavors with efficient recipes. Here are our best easy Thanksgiving sides for less stressful holiday hosting. 01 of 25 Harissa Mashed Potatoes Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely For these spicy mashed potatoes, F&W recipe developer Ali Ramee doubles down on smoky harissa flavor by adding it to both the mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and the compound butter that crowns them. Rich and creamy labneh adds a cooling component to the fiery harissa. Get the Recipe 02 of 25 Garlicky Roasted Green Beans with Ginger and Mint Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Earthy charred green beans are paired with the aromatic punches of fresh ginger, garlic, chiles, and mint for a simple yet sophisticated side. Equally delicious served hot from the oven or at room temperature, these will become a regular at your Thanksgiving table. Get the Recipe 03 of 25 Roasted Cauliflower and Romanesco with Dijon Vinaigrette Chris Simpson / FOOD STYLING by MARGARET MONROE DICKEY / PROP STYLING by AUDREY DAVIS This dish of multicolored brassicas is everything you want in a Thanksgiving side. It's as delicious as it is visually stunning, it can be made ahead without losing its vibrancy, and it can be served warm or cold. Bonus: It's naturally both plant-based and gluten-free, so everyone at the table can enjoy it. Get the Recipe 04 of 25 Fennel and Apple Salad with Hazelnuts Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Tender leaves of Boston lettuce, shaved fennel, and tart Granny Smith apples form the foundation of this salad recipe. A zesty Champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey-drizzled vinaigrette flavors this simple yet impressive dish, ideal for your Thanksgiving gathering. Get the Recipe 05 of 25 Creamy Pumpkin Soup Diana Chistruga Silky smooth and delicately spiced, this pumpkin cream soup is one of those fantastic recipes that yields an amazingly delicious dish with very minimal effort — it's table-ready in just 45 minutes. Get the Recipe 06 of 25 Buttermilk Cornbread Victor Protasio Cornbread is relatively forgiving, and this skillet recipe is an amalgamation of best practices across families and generations. Feel free to customize it with add-ins and don't forget to serve it with plenty of butter. Get the Recipe 07 of 25 Shredded Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Ridiculously easy brussels sprouts are coarsely shredded, which gives them an appealing texture, and lightly charred, which enhances their nutty sweetness. A final sprinkle of Parmesan cheese melts into the leaves. Prepare the dish up to two hours in advance. Get the Recipe 08 of 25 Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon James Ransom / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless Baked in a rich, syrupy sauce of melted butter, brown sugar, fresh apple cider, and smoky bourbon until tender, these luscious and earthy sweet potatoes from Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever need nothing more. As Bourdain wrote, “Put those marshmallows away.” Get the Recipe 09 of 25 Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Garlic-and-herb spreadable cheese replaces the usual cream cheese in these mashed potatoes for a wonderfully smooth texture with dots of savory flavor throughout. Get the Recipe 10 of 25 Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer Three kinds of cheese — extra-sharp cheddar, Colby-Jack, and cream cheese — go into this creamy, savory macaroni and cheese recipe, which also gets hints of flavor from fresh bay leaves and dry mustard. Get the Recipe 11 of 25 Caramelized Broccoli with Garlic Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen What's not made better with a bit of caramelization? Chef David Gingrass slowly caramelizes broccoli in a pan rather than in the oven to bring out its sweetness, then enlivens it with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Get the Recipe 12 of 25 Roasted Butternut Squash with Curry Leaves Greg DuPree With its wonderful aromas and strong punch of flavor, this simple squash dish will pique guests' interest. Marash chile flakes, fresh curry leaves, and lime juice create a comforting blend of heat and brightness. Get the Recipe 13 of 25 Buttery Sautéed Mushrooms with Fresh Herbs Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell Thanks to the addition of coconut aminos, extra umami-rich mushrooms make for a succulent, 25-minute side dish. Use your favorite mix of fresh mushrooms here. Get the Recipe 14 of 25 Roasted Carrots Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis Make flavorful, buttery roasted carrots with caramelized edges and creamy-soft interiors in just 20 minutes using only six ingredients. Get the Recipe 15 of 25 Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Gabe Greco Bake these cheesy, creamy potatoes until they're golden brown and sprinkle a few chives on top for an easy side dish that's ready in an hour. You'll want to use your mandoline to cut the potatoes quickly and evenly. Get the Recipe 16 of 25 Cauliflower Salad with Yogurt Sauce and Pomegranate Greg DuPree Food writer Reem Kassis tops crispy fried cauliflower with toasted nuts, pomegranate arils, and lemon-and-garlic-laced yogurt for a holiday-worthy side that comes together in just 35 minutes. Get the Recipe 17 of 25 Brown Butter Parsnip Puree Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell In only half an hour, naturally sweet parsnips are simmered in bay leaf–infused cream until very tender, then pureed in a blender until they take on a silky, mashed potato–like texture. Diced green apples add tart, mouthwatering acidity and crunch, while a drizzle of brown butter lends a pleasant richness. Get the Recipe 18 of 25 Braised Greens with Crispy Garlic and Miso Butter David Malosh Hearty kale and collards take on new life when braised in a miso butter–laced broth and finished with a smattering of crisp garlic slices. The richly flavored greens make a versatile side dish for turkey. Get the Recipe 19 of 25 Lemon-Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce Johhny Miller In this no-cook cranberry sauce, sugar softens the sharpness of the fresh berries while minced ginger adds that tingly holiday flavor. Get the Recipe 20 of 25 Rutabaga, Celery Root, and Potato Gratin Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely In this modern take on a traditional potato side dish, earthy celery root and rutabaga anchor the gratin, which is accented by the salty and umami notes of Parmesan cheese. Get the Recipe 21 of 25 Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli with Cranberry Agrodolce Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Smoky, crisped brussels sprouts and broccoli meet a sweet-tart sauce filled with cranberries, Fresno chiles, and shallots for an elegant side that's table-ready in 30 minutes. Get the Recipe 22 of 25 Red Skin Potato Mash Julia Hartbeck Chopped scallions bring freshness to this rich potato mash. Leaving the skin on the potatoes is not only easier, but it gives this fluffy, creamy dish a nice added crunch, too. Get the Recipe 23 of 25 Roasted Butternut Squash with Spiced Pecans © Paul Costello Chef Marcus Samuelsson tosses tart dried cranberries, toasty berbere-spiced pecans, and roasted butternut squash in an orange dressing for this satisfying medley of textures and flavors. Get the Recipe 24 of 25 Brazilian-Style Collard Greens Anna Stockwell Inspired and adapted from culinary historian and author Jessica B. Harris' recipe, these garlicky collards have added dimension from zesty, jalapeño-spiked sauce. Adjust the heat to your liking by increasing or reducing the chile quantity. Get the Recipe 25 of 25 Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing Eva Kolenko Top Chef winner and host Kristen Kish’s mom came up with this homey two-bread stuffing to please both sides of her family: half from Michigan, where white bread stuffing is essential, and half from Texas, where they demand cornbread. The crowd-pleaser is ready in under an hour. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit