18 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

Food & Wine Editors

Updated on October 11, 2023

Creamy Parsnips with Brown Butter Gravy and Green Apples — 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 18

Buttermilk Cornbread

Victor Protasio

Cornbread is relatively forgiving, and this skillet recipe is an amalgamation of best practices across families and generations.

02 of 18

Roasted Carrots

Roasted Carrots — Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Micah Morton / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis

Make flavorful, buttery roasted carrots in 40 minutes with six ingredients.

03 of 18

Lemon-Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce

Lemon-Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce — Johhny Miller

A quick whirl in a food processor is all it takes to make this fresh-tasting sauce in 40 minutes — no cooking required.

04 of 18

Shredded Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

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. Finished with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, which melts into the leaves, these can be prepared up to two hours in advance.

05 of 18

Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes

Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes — Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

These mashed potatoes are a speedy, nearly effortless dish thanks to a flavor-packed special ingredient: a garlic-and-herb-flecked spreadable cheese. For a colorful variation, use purple Peruvian potatoes instead of Yukon Golds.

06 of 18

Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese

Southern Style Mac n Cheese — Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer

Three types of cheese go into this creamy, savory macaroni and cheese recipe, which gets layers of flavor from fresh bay leaves and dry mustard.

07 of 18

Caramelized Broccoli with Garlic

Caramelized Broccoli with Garlic — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Slowly caramelize broccoli to bring out its sweetness, then enliven it with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of crushed red pepper. You can scale this recipe to serve more guests as needed.

08 of 18

Roasted Butternut Squash with Curry Leaves

Roasted Butternut Squash with Curry Leaves Recipe — Greg DuPree

With its wonderful aromas and strong punch of flavor, this simple squash side dish will pique guests' interest.

09 of 18

Sautéed Green Beans with Toasted Benne Seeds

Sauteed Green Beans with Toasted Benne Seeds — Kelly Marshall

Cookbook author and chef Alexander Smalls toasts benne seeds, or white sesame seeds, before stirring them into the beans to add layers of toasty, nutty flavor that permeate the whole dish in 15 minutes flat.

10 of 18

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes — Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Gabe Greco

Bake these rich, creamy potatoes until they are golden brown and add a few chives on top to make this easy side dish in an hour.

11 of 18

Buttery Sautéed Mushrooms with Fresh Herbs

buttery sautÃ©ed 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.

12 of 18

Brown Butter Parsnip Puree

Creamy Parsnips with Brown Butter Gravy and Green Apples — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

In a half 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 adds tart, mouthwatering acidity and crunch, while a drizzle of brown butter lends a pleasant richness.

13 of 18

Brazilian-Style Collard Greens

Brazilian 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.

14 of 18

Rutabaga, Celery Root, and Potato Gratin

Root vegetable gratin — Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Rutabaga and celery root bring an earthy depth and an engaging, subtle sweetness, giving a classic gratin a flavorful lift. Classic gratins lean on heaps of Gruyère; here, robust Parmigiano-Reggiano cuts in with more intense flavor, accentuating the root vegetables instead of smothering them.

15 of 18

Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli with Cranberry Agrodolce

Brussels and Broccoli Agrodolce — Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

A quick, high-temperature oven roast yields crispy, golden brown brussels sprouts and almost-charred, smoky broccoli. Tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce studded with tart cranberries, the vegetables become an elegant side dish.

16 of 18

Red Skin Potato Mash

Red Skin Potato Mash — Julia Hartbeck

This mashed potato recipe is for when you don't want to be bothered with the potato peeler. Keeping the skin intact gives this fluffy, creamy potato mash a nice added crunch, and it can be made earlier in the day and kept warm.

17 of 18

Braised Greens with Crispy Garlic and Miso Butter

Braised greens with crispy garlic and miso butter — David Malosh

Hearty autumn greens take on new life when braised in a miso butter–laced broth. The richly flavored greens make a versatile side dish for turkey.

18 of 18

Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing

Kish Family Two-Bread Stuffing — Eva Kolenko

Top Chef winner Kristen Kish’s mom came up with this 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.

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