47 Easy Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make in Less Than an Hour

Save time—and your sanity—in the kitchen with these simple sides.

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Updated on March 15, 2024

easy-thanksgiving-sides-realsimple — Photo:
Christopher Testani

As far as we’re concerned, Thanksgiving sides are the best part of the menu, but offering a wide array to accommodate everyone's favorites, not to mention juggling everything on your burners and oven racks, can pose a challenge. This year, go easy on yourself by choosing easy Thanksgiving side dish recipes with minimal fuss.

We compiled a bunch of tried-and-true recipes—from standards like creamy mashed potatoes and sweet-tangy cranberry sauce to out-of-the-box options like tender roasted eggplant and a colorful citrus salad—and all come together in less than an hour. Many are suitable for making ahead, take minimal (if any) oven or stove time, or promise easy cleanup. Relax, you've got this!

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Herb-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Herb-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes — Marcus Nilsson

If you’re not wed to mashed potatoes, may we suggest roasted potatoes? With no mixing or mashing, these herby, garlicky fingerlings roast in about 30 minutes and taste amazing with everything.

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Grilled Honeynut Squash Salad

Grilled Squash salad with miso mustard dressing — Christopher Testani

This colorful salad will be the star of your Thanksgiving table. The dressing—which doubles as the marinade for the grilled honeynut squash and napa cabbage—is made from apple cider vinegar, white miso, brown mustard, and maple syrup. There's plenty of contrast in flavors, ranging from sweet and tangy to smoky, making every bite symphonic. Radicchio and pepitas give the toss a good crunch.

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Double Cranberry and Apple Sauce

Double Cranberry and Apple Sauce — Greg Dupree

This homemade cranberry sauce is easy to make and can be ready in just half an hour with a few simple ingredients: cranberries, apples, maple syrup, and salt. If you don't have time on Thanksgiving day, make it up to a week in advance and store it in the fridge.

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Green Bean and Celery Salad

1123fea-sesame-green-bean-and-celery-salad — Greg Dupree

Tangy and fresh, this salad will complement the savory dishes on your Thanksgiving table. The green bean, celery, and apple base is elevated with a light apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey dressing.

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Citrus Spice Cranberry Sauce

citrus-spice-cranberry-sauce-recipe-tout-realsimple — Christopher Testani

Homemade cranberry sauce is delicious, but canned cranberry sauce jazzed up with citrus and spices is just as great. This Thanksgiving recipe calls on cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and orange to elevate a humble can of cranberry sauce to a warmly spiced, autumnal condiment.

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Make-Ahead Holiday Salad

Make-Ahead Holiday Salad — Greg DuPree

With a base of Brussels sprouts and kale, this salad gets better with time as the greens absorb the honey-mustard vinaigrette, so it’s a great side to prepare in advance. Just hold off on adding the toasted hazelnuts and croutons until right before serving so they don’t get soggy.

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Creamy One-Pot Mashed Potatoes

7 Mashed Potato Mistakes Everyone Makes — Greg DuPree

If you’re in need of a reliable mashed potato recipe, look no further than this creamy number, which calls for the trinity of half-and-half, butter, and sour cream. The best part is it only takes 20 minutes of hands-on, and cleanup is easy-peasy.

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Brussels Sprouts Salad

Brussels Sprouts Salad — Heami Lee

This beautiful autumnal salad is full of color and texture, thanks to radicchio, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans. To make ahead, store the Brussels sprouts mixture and dressing in separate airtight containers and combine 30 minutes before serving.

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Creamed Spinach Casserole

creamed spinach casserole — Christopher Testani

We’re big fans of a supermarket shortcut, and this spinach casserole recipe takes advantage of store-bought, herb-and-garlic goat cheese like Boursin. Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers on top for a crunchy, golden topping.

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Brown Sugar-Glazed Baby Turnips

Brown SugarâGlazed Baby Turnips — Danny Kim

Best in the fall and winter, these baby turnips are delightful with a buttery brown sugar glaze and can be cooked in a single skillet on the stovetop. For a charming, rustic look, keep a sprig of the turnip tops intact.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta

Top View of Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta Served in a White Bowl on Top of Blue Fabric, with Metal Spoon and Small Metal Bowl of Peppered Oil to the Left — Anna Williams

Brussels sprouts and pancetta are a match made in heaven, and this recipe yields extra crispy, caramelized sprouts. Easy to prepare ahead of time and reheat, it’s a great option for the holidays. Before serving, sprinkle with lemon zest to contrast with the dish’s earthy, savory flavors.

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Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette

Green Beans With Bacon Vinaigrette — Gentl & Hyers

Green beans are a Thanksgiving side go-to, and this rendition with whole-grain mustard, bacon, and shallots is extra punchy and crave-worthy. This low-maintenance recipe can be made at the last minute and doesn’t take up any coveted oven space.

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Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries

Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries in a Brown Bowl — Gentl + Hyers

Incorporate cranberries into your Thanksgiving menu in a new way with this earthy, satisfying rice pilaf that features dried cranberries, a variety of mushrooms, parsley, and tarragon. When it isn’t a holiday, this pilaf is also wonderful as a weeknight vegetarian main.

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Beet-Radicchio Salad

beet radicchio salad — Christopher Testani

This vibrant, seasonal salad with beets, radicchio, and oranges will brighten your holiday table and excite your palate. To save time, buy packaged and pre-cooked beets instead of cooking your own.

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Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

cheddar mashed potatoes — Christopher Testani

For this recipe, buy prepared mashed potatoes and dress them up with the cheese of your choice (we like sharp white cheddar), sour cream, and whole-grain mustard. You’ll be left with a luxurious-tasting, cheesy mash, and your guests will never know you took a shortcut.

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Bourbon-Cranberry Compote

Bourbon-Cranberry Compote — Gentl & Hyers

This cranberry compote couldn’t be simpler to make, but tastes elegant and adult thanks to a hearty splash of bourbon. Don’t toss the leftovers, which we recommend spreading on turkey sandwiches or serving alongside vanilla ice cream.

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Molasses and Chile Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Spicy Molasses-Roasted Sweet Potatoes — Caitlin Bensel

Jalapeño and stone-ground mustard balance the potatoes’ sweetness in this sheet pan recipe. Roasted in a hot oven, these sweet potato wedges are ready in about 20 minutes.

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Honey-Butter Creamed Corn

Honey-Butter Creamed Corn Recipe — Antonis Achilleos

How can you go wrong with any recipe that starts with "honey-butter"? The secret to this sweet-savory side is that half the corn-onion-cream mixture is pureed in the blender and added back, resulting in a thick, chunky dish that warms your heart.

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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes — Victor Protasio

Bet we had you at "make-ahead"! The beauty of this—besides the fact it's mashed potatoes—is that you can make and refrigerate it up to 3 days ahead. Another advantage is you don't have to wait until the last minute to find out if your mashed is too runny or lumpy.

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Spinach and Artichoke Quinoa Casserole

Spinach-Artichoke Quinoa Casserole — Antonis Achilleos

If you're the rebellious type or one who shuns tradition in favor of the unexpected, this recipe's for you! Reminiscent of that creamy spinach-and-artichoke-dip appetizer, this vegan dish is loaded with hearty quinoa in a cashew butter and almond milk base and then finished with a crunchy potato chip topping.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans — John Kernick

This Thanksgiving recipe dresses up plain old Brussels sprouts without extra fuss. Simply add pecans to the sprouts as they roast to elevate an everyday dish to special occasion status.

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Miso Roasted Radishes

Miso-Roasted Radishes — Greg DuPree

If you think the only thing to do with a radish is to slice it atop a salad, think again! Roasting gives radishes a texture similar to roasted potatoes, and this recipe coats them with a punchy Asian-inspired treatment that'll wow your guests.

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Loaded Sweet Potatoes With Coconut and Kale

Loaded Sweet Potatoes With Coconut and Kale — Victor Protasio

Surprise your guests with this sweet potato treatment they never saw coming! A citrusy twist of lime and grapefruit juice, along with coconut milk, will take their taste buds to a tropical island. The best part is that these potatoes cook in the microwave, freeing up valuable oven real estate.

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Swiss Chard With Chickpeas and Couscous

Swiss Chard With Chickpeas and Couscous — John Kernick

"Nutritious" isn't something you look for in a Thanksgiving side, but this recipe delivers nonetheless. And it's not all business: Raisins lend a sweet chewiness and roasted pine nuts provide a nutty, crunchy topping.

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Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce Recipe — Caitlin Bensel

This recipe takes a traditional Thanksgiving staple and gives it a Middle Eastern spin. It treats roasted butternut squash to a thin, pourable, tahini-based sauce laced with honey, garlic, and soy sauce. A topping of pepitas, sesame seeds, and cilantro brings a tasty crunch and lovely color to this company-worthy dish.

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Green Bean Salad with Crispy Bread Crumbs

Green Bean Salad with Crispy Bread Crumbs — Greg DuPree

If you're tagged to take a dish to Friendsgiving, this green bean salad would be a good one. To make it a day ahead, cover and chill the dressing and cooked beans separately. Store the breadcrumb mixture in an airtight container at room temperature. To serve, bring the beans and dressing to room temperature, toss, and then top with breadcrumbs.

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Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese

Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese — Caitlin Bensel

Here's a way to get your kids to eat their greens at Thanksgiving without the coaxing. Mozzarella, Parmesan, and evaporated milk combine for a rich, creamy base. Even better, everything cooks in one skillet on the stove for less than 30 minutes, saving you cooking and cleanup time—and freeing up the oven.

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Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds

Roasted Eggplant With Miso and Sesame Seeds — Antonis Achilleos

Eggplant for Thanksgiving: Why isn't this already a thing? This recipe tops roasted eggplant rounds with an Asian-inspired sweet-spicy miso sauce. After a quick broil and sprinkle of sesame seeds and scallions, each bite delivers a deliciously melted center with a slight nutty crunch.

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Spanakopita Creamed Spinach

Spanakopita Creamed Spinach in a white bowl — Jennifer Causey

This recipe is a traditional Thanksgiving side with a Greek accent. It's based on spanakopita—a savory spinach-and-feta pie enveloped in crispy phyllo. Ditch the crust and you have a decadent, silky, rich side dish worthy of a food-focused holiday.

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Pomegranate Dressing

pomegranate dressing — Christopher Testani

It's hard to find a stuffing recipe that qualifies for our ready-in-under-an-hour list, but this one does. A package of frozen mirepoix (chopped celery, onion, and carrots) and store-bought bread cubes give you a head start. Last-minute additions of apricots, pomegranate arils, and pine nuts give this stuffing a nutty, fruity finish.

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Every-Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego

Every-Citrus Salad with Almonds and Manchego Recipe — Caitlin Bensel

Looking for something bright and fresh for your Thanksgiving table? This salad packed with in-season citrus certainly fits the bill. Far from your everyday fruit salad, this one adds punchy radicchio and is dressed with an orange juice-based concoction made with shallots, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard.

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Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Baked Potato Blue Background — Joy Skipper/Getty Images

If your guests are expecting that sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, we doubt they'll be disappointed to see this dish instead. Prep is so easy: just one baking sheet, four ingredients, 5 minutes to prep, and 45 minutes to cook. Make the toppings your own: Try maple syrup or brown sugar, cinnamon, and freshly grated orange zest.

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Maple Roasted Vegetables

Maple-Roasted Vegetables — Grace Elkus

Easy prep and cleanup? Check. Fall flavors? Check. Uses ingredients on hand? Check. This Thanksgiving-worthy recipe dresses up carrots and Brussels sprouts with a maple-syrup-and-olive-oil coating, resulting in beautifully caramelized vegetables that everyone will love.

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Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes

Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes — Chris Court

Just when you think we've listed every possible twist for mashed potatoes, here's one that goes back to basics. It adds just butter, sour cream, and whole milk (and salt and pepper, of course) to boiled potatoes to create this gravy-ready staple.

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Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Mustardy Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple — Roland Bello

Leafy kale, roasted sweet potato chunks, and crunchy apple slices make this salad a celebration of fall flavors. Dressed in a tangy mustard vinaigrette and topped with roasted almonds and shaved pecorino, it delivers a medley of flavors and textures in every bite.

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Buffalo Cauliflower With Yogurt Ranch

For this recipe for buffalo cauliflower with yogurt ranch, Cauliflower florets are roasted for a healthier take on the bar snack favorite, and then tossed with a buffalo sauce spiked with just a touch of butter. — Victor Protasio

This recipe takes a cauliflower side dish from bland to mind-blowing. Taking cues from the popular chicken-wing treatment, this recipe coats cauliflower with your favorite Buffalo-style hot sauce, and then cools things down with a Greek-yogurt-based finish.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes

Roasted Brussel Sprouts Recipe and Grapes — Gentl & Hyers

Brussels with grapes? Roasted grapes? We wondered about that too, but once you try this combo, you won't want to roast Brussels sprouts without them. If you need more convincing, this dish requires just one baking sheet, pantry staples, and 35 minutes, start to finish.

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Zucchini and Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Zucchini and Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes — Greg DuPree

This year, instead of stuffing a turkey, try stuffing your sweet potatoes! The microwave helps make quick work of this dish, which features a Southwestern-inspired bean mixture of zucchini, onion, and cayenne capped with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.

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Roasted Garlic Potatoes

Garlic-Roasted Potatoes — Greg DuPree

This roasted potato recipe is simple yet classic. It's a one-sheet side that cooks for 45 minutes at 375 degrees F, so it's likely to get along well with other oven mates. What's better, there's no peeling, no mashing, and no mess!

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Everything Dinner Rolls

everything dinner rolls — Christopher Testani

If making homemade dinner rolls for Thanksgiving is a non-starter, this is the perfect stand-in. Starting with your favorite frozen dinner rolls, brush the tops with honey butter, sprinkle with everything seasoning (store-bought or make your own), and then bake to golden brown. The result is a gorgeous sheen, a touch of sweetness, and a fancy finish worthy of a special occasion.

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Carrot and Parsnip Slaw

Carrot and Parsnip Slaw — Danny Kim

Easy prep, one bowl, and make-ahead are just a few of the many traits that make this side a must-have for Thanksgiving. With its yogurt-and-lime-based dressing, this fresh, vibrant slaw will stand out among a field of rich, heavy options on the table.

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Cheesy Potato and Pancetta Bake

Cheesy potato and pancetta bake on tabletop with serving spoon. — Victor Protasio

This decadent side uses pancetta to elevate an everyday layered potato dish to new heights. Pancetta—a salt-cured pork-belly meat similar to bacon—mingles with sautéed onions in a creamy white wine sauce to blanket sliced potatoes and fontina cheese. You'll certainly want to serve this more than once a year.

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Crispy Roasted Sliced Mushrooms

Crispy Roasted Mushrooms — Danny Kim

Any combo of seasonal mushrooms works well for this super-simple, one-sheet, two-step recipe: 1. Toss, and 2. Roast. Sprigs of thyme roast with the mushrooms to lend a deep, herby flavor, but don't forget to save a few fresh ones for a garnish.

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Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash

Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash in a blue bowl — Jonny Valiant

Don't let "risotto" put you off this dish. Despite its finicky reputation, you stir this risotto for just 7 minutes, and then it finishes cooking in the oven. As you probably figured, this recipe calls for barley instead of rice, giving it a heartier bite. Add fresh baby spinach, Parmesan, and butter just before serving for a creamy, dreamy, one-skillet side.

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Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad

This pasta salad will satisfy all of your savory cravings. Get the recipe for Real Simple's Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad. — Greg DuPree

If you have room on your Thanksgiving table for pasta salad, this mayo-free version should be the one. Tender eggplant, briny kalamata olives, salty feta cheese, and fresh tomatoes join pasta in a red wine vinaigrette. Make it ahead to free up your stove and oven for the rest of your meal.

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Garlicky Green Beans With Pine Nuts

Garlicky Green Beans With Pine Nuts — Mikkel Vang

This recipe upgrades green beans from plain to polished with the addition of sautéed garlic and toasted pine nuts. This simple staple takes just 15 minutes, start to finish, and is a welcome addition to a traditional Thanksgiving menu.

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Rosemary-Roasted Golden Beets and Carrots

Rosemary-Roasted Beets and Carrots — Con Poulos

If you have a guest that isn't a fan of beets, this dish just might turn them. You'll certainly be a fan of this easy, one-sheet side. Just toss the ingredients and roast for 30 minutes or until tender.

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