62 Must-Have Thanksgiving Casseroles For Your Holiday Feast

Everyone knows we're at the table for the casseroles.

By

Kimberly Holland

Updated on November 1, 2023

Broccoli-Cheese Casserole — Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Who doesn't love a good Thanksgiving casserole? More than any other time of year, Thanksgiving is a holiday that skillfully celebrates the art of homemade casseroles. We're not just talking about the classic green bean casserole or famous mac and cheese, either. These are the homemade recipes that Mama guards with her life and are only learned through an illegible scribble on an old receipt or by graciously helping out in the kitchen. Hold these coveted recipes tightly because everyone will want your delicious secrets.

Made with everyone's favorite seasonal vegetables and flavors, these dishes are guaranteed to be an instant hit at Thanksgiving dinner. This Thanksgiving, make some memories in the kitchen by cooking these delectable casseroles and then enjoying them with your loved ones. You better leave plenty of room on the table for these classic Southern recipes.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Old-School Green Bean Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This classic green bean casserole is ready in under an hour. Guests will be thrilled to see this traditional side as part of the spread and even more delighted once they try it. The secret? We nixed classically used cream of mushroom soup in favor of homemade mushroom cream sauce.

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Macaroni Pudding

Macaroni Pudding — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

We know that mac and cheese is an automatic must-have on the Thanksgiving table, but allow us to tempt you with this Macaroni Pudding recipe. Classic mac and cheese's creamier, richer cousin, this pudding is packed with a delicious abundance of cheese—3 cups of sharp cheddar per batch.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

finished scalloped corn casserole after toasting cracker topping — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There's no shucking required to enjoy corn in casserole form with this recipe that makes use of the frozen variety. You'll know it's ready to take out of the oven when the cracker topping is golden brow in color.

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes — Emily Laurae

A classic casserole that is topped with a delicious combination of cornflakes, pecans, and marshmallows. With all of these sweet ingredients, this dish is the perfect combination of smooth, creamy, and crunchy textures.

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Stovetop Broccoli Casserole

Southern Living Stovetop Broccoli Casserole in a dish to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

If you want to serve a broccoli casserole on Thanksgiving but won't have room in the oven for another dish, opt for this stovetop version that still delivers the same flavor. And yes, it still has a crunchy cracker topping.

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Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Southern Living Sweet Potato Casserole with a lightly torched meringue topping — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This wholesome take on the classic sweet potato casserole is just as good—but without the brown sugar, pecan, and marshmallows on top, it has much less sugar.

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Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese

Southern Living Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese in the baking dish ready to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Creamy fontina cheese and two layers of Colby Jack make everyone's favorite side dish extra delicious. Whether your guests need a gluten-free side or not, this is one great dish.

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Shoepeg Corn Casserole

Southern Living Shoepeg Corn Casserole in the dish ready to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

When it comes to Thanksgiving menu planning, it's always a good idea to choose a few dishes that can be prepped in advance and this casserole is a great addition for that reason. The base can be prepared in advance and frozen until it's time to bake.

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Classic Cornbread Dressing

Classic Cornbread Dressing — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This old-school cornbread dressing recipe starts with your favorite skillet cornbread. Make this dressing up to a month in advance and store it frozen to avoid those pre-Thanksgiving preparation jitters.

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Cranberry-Apple Casserole

Cranberry-Apple Casserole — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This fruity casserole can be served as a side dish, a dessert, or both! No matter which you choose, it will be a crowd-pleaser.

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Cabbage Casserole

Southern Living Cabbage Casserole in the dish to serve with a serving scooped out — Will Dickey

With all of the heavy casseroles on the table, this casserole offers a lighter yet still delicious side dish that's packed with veggies. In fact, it calls for 10 cups of cabbage.

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Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole

Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Much like pineapple casserole, this recipe proves that cheese and fruit are a decadent combination when baked up in a casserole dish. We recommend serving it warm.

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Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown Casserole — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Potato casserole just got a whole lot better with diced hash brown potatoes. Although this dish is sometimes called a "Funeral Casserole," we think it deserves a spot at Thanksgiving too.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole — Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Switch up your traditional sweet potato casserole by adding thinly sliced potatoes for a crispy texture. This dish is smothered in a creamy brown sugar sauce that makes it perfectly tender and sweet.

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Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole — Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Our Test Kitchen said this two-potato recipe makes the "fluffiest mashed potato casserole of all time." We owe this to two types of starchy potatoes, browned butter, and white cheddar.

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Macaroni Corn Casserole

Macaroni Corn Casserole — Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Two classic sides come together in one dish to create one delicious casserole. And of course, there's not just one but two types of cheese on the ingredient list.

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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The best of both worlds, this sweet potato casserole is topped with a Parmesan-herb streusel to give it a savory flavor. Day-old sourdough bread is the trick to a tasty topping with pecans.

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Creamed Greens Casserole

Creamed Greens Casserole — Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Even the pickiest eaters will eat their greens with this cheesy casserole recipe. Two power flavor duos collide in this recipe: kale and collards, plus cream cheese and fontina. You'll love it.

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Corn Pudding Casserole

Corn Pudding Casserole — Courtney West

This savory dish is a cheesy delight on the Thanksgiving table. Use fresh or frozen corn to complement fontina or Swiss cheese—the choices are yours, and the results will be delicious.

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Baked Mac and Cheese With Bacon

Southern LIving Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon ready to serve — Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Bacon is the cherry on top of the ideal comfort food on Thanksgiving. Kids and adults alike will eat this new mac and cheese recipe.

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Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

With the busy holidays, we'll take any recipe with the words "make-ahead" in the name. Bring this dish together up to three days early and rejoice in the brown sugar and rolled oats topping come Thanksgiving dinner.

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Baked Corn Casserole

Baked Corn Casserole — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

This cornbread-corn pudding hybrid will make a fun addition to the sideboard. Pureed corn, plus sour cream and Monterey jack cheese, make sure that this casserole is far from lacking in both flavor and texture.

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Mashed Potato Casserole

Mashed Potato Casserole — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

The family will love the breadcrumb and crispy fried onion topping on this dreamy mashed potato casserole. Underneath the topping though, Yukon potatoes and Swiss cheese offer a delightfully tangy take on mashed potatoes.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Southern Living Old School Squash Casserole with a serving scooped out onto a plate with a fork — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Even if you're not a squash lover, you will be coming back for seconds with this tasty buttery dish. It's a staple for a reason—creamy sauce and crunchy cracker topping will prove why.

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Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole — Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This cheesy potato casserole pairs delightfully well with homemade gravy. It's decadent enough to impress holiday guests, but also easy enough to whip up on a weeknight.

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Aunt Grace's Best Cornbread Dressing

Aunt Grace's Famous Cornbread Dressing — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Travel editor Valerie Luesse shares her Aunt Grace's Best Cornbread Dressing recipe—which Luesse calls "silky smooth and ultra-moist." To make the deal even sweeter: This recipe serves best when made in advance.

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Leeks

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks — Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This fresh green bean casserole is topped with crunchy leeks. They're loads more elegant than canned fried onions on top of this classic Thanksgiving side dish.

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Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This old-school recipe combines the flavors and textures of a skillet of hot cornbread, a cornmeal soufflé, and a cornbread dressing. If that doesn't sound delicious to you, we don't know what will.

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Old-School Green Bean Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

We added crispy bacon and Brussels sprouts to this casserole for a spin on a Thanksgiving classic. Make this casserole up to three days in advance to make Thanksgiving preparations all too easy.

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Spicy Cornbread Dressing With Chorizo

Spicy Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Add a kick to your Thanksgiving feast with jalapeños and chorizo. Make your cornbread from scratch or buy it pre-made—either way, this surprising twist on classic cornbread dressing will be a hit.

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Fluffy Corn Pudding

Fluffy Corn Pudding — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Our fluffiest corn pudding recipe yet, this version is like a delicious hybrid between a custard and a soufflé. Pureeing a portion of the corn kernels lends to the light and airy texture of this corn pudding.

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Scalloped Oysters

Scalloped Oysters — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This classic oyster casserole only required a handful of simple ingredients. Briny oysters are the star of this dish with little backup needed.

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Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing

Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

You won't find a cornbread dressing more wholesome than this one—toasted pecans, whole-grain flour, and medium-grind cornmeal guarantee it. To get ahead on your prep, make the cornbread up to three days in advance.

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Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin

Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Shake up your feast with pumpkins on the Thanksgiving dinner table—not just the dessert spread. This hearty casserole is a fun way to use pumpkin in your Thanksgiving meal aside from the pie.

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Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese

herbed breadcrumb topped macaroni and cheese — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

There's no doubt that macaroni and cheese derives a shining spot on every Southern Thanksgiving table. Spooned onto a heaping plate with seasonal flavors, comforting, cheesy noodles are a must. This Turkey Day, elevate your go-to recipe with cubes of cheddar cheese and panko breadcrumbs flavored with sage, thyme, and rosemary.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Some Southern cooks are diehard for sweet corn pudding recipes, but this recipe makes a strong case for going savory. Don't worry, we haven't nixed that classic corn pudding texture—so creamy and rich that it could still be a dessert.

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Cornbread Dressing With Sausage

Cornbread Dressing with Sausage — Southern Living

You can make this classic cornbread dressing in three simple steps. Pork sausage adds a welcome meatiness to simple, staple ingredients including cornbread, sandwich bread, broth, butter, celery, and onions.

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cauliflower is the chameleon veggie that we can't get enough of and definitely need on the Thanksgiving table this year. For a low-carb casserole that has everything you love about a loaded mashed potato casserole, try this recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole — Southern Living

The oven is already packed on Thanksgiving, so use the slow cooker to make this holiday staple. Think of it as a deconstructed version of a classic sweet potato casserole.

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Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Twice Baked Potato Casserole — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

What makes a creamy potato casserole better? Bacon, cheese, scallions, and sour cream of course.

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Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing

Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing — Vianney Rodriguez/Jason David Page

The slow cooker can do it all at Thanksgiving, including making this staple casserole. This hands-off version is infinitely comforting, both to your guests' taste buds and your preparation schedule.

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Macaroni Au Gratin

Macaroni Au Gratin — Southern Living

If you thought macaroni and cheese couldn't get more decadent, think again. Our Test Kitchen has all the tips and tricks for this dish to reach its cheesiest, tastiest potential.

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Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Easy Cauliflower Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

The kids just might confuse this veggie casserole with their favorite mac and cheese recipe. We can't blame them—it's just as creamy and cheesy as Southern comfort food should be.

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Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing

Cornbread-'n'-Squash-Dressing

Crumbled cornbread, yellow squash, red bell peppers, and onions make up this Southern-style dressing. Fans of both squash casseroles and old-school cornbread dressings won't be able to get enough of this killer combo.

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Two-Potato Gratin

Two-Potato Gratin — Hector Sanchez

Yukon gold potatoes and sweet potatoes join forces in this cheesy and creamy casserole. As far as we're concerned, twice the potatoes mean twice as tasty.

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Mimi's Cornbread Dressing

Mimi's Cornbread Dressing — Southern Living

This dressing is deliciously moist and perfectly seasoned with fresh sage, parsley, and thyme. Put down the boxed cornbread and try this simple buttermilk skillet version. That little bit of extra effort will shine through.

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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole — Hector Sanchez

A vegetarian's dream, this casserole is jam-packed with veggies and very filling. It definitely doesn't skimp on the cheese or hearty flavor.

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Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole

Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole — Hector Sanchez

A flavorful dish that calls for wild rice, spices, and greens. Swap out the kale for collard greens or another hearty green of your choice.

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Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Recipe — Hector Sanchez

We topped this savory squash casserole with our favorite crispy snack that smiles back. Kids will be delighted to dig into their veggies when they're topped with swimming snacks.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole — Hector Sanchez

Combine these Southern vegetables all together in this flavor-bursting casserole. Breadcrumbs are the glue that literally holds this dish together in delicious effect.

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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

Fennel-and-Potato Gratin — Photo: Jennifer Davick

This cheesy potato gratin gets a punch of flavor from nutmeg and fennel. It's impressive enough for a holiday party, but easy enough to put together on a busy weeknight.

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Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach

Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Creamed spinach is a safe bet, but our version infused with extra Southern flavors will be a knockout. Pimiento cheese made with diced (never sliced!) jarred peppers makes this casserole side dish uniquely delicious for Thanksgiving.

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Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potato Bake — Jennifer Davick

Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake gets a spicy kick with the addition of chorizo sausage, green chiles, and pepper Jack cheese. Mashed potatoes will never be boring again!

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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole — Photo: Jennifer Davick

For a tasty and colorful twist, substitute sliced zucchini for half of the yellow squash. This will be the simple update that will become your go-to family classic casserole for years to come.

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Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin — Photo: Iain Bagwell

Slice the potatoes as you use them in each layer (rather than all at once), to help prevent oxidation. Thinly sliced potatoes reminiscent of a classic gratin are delicious with seasonal stars like butternut and spaghetti squash.

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Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes

Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes — Photo: Hector Sanchez

Cheesy, smoky, and savory—all of our favorite flavors come to play in this winner-of-a-potato casserole. Deep flavors are just what you need to (literally) spice up your Thanksgiving spread.

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Grated Sweet Potato Pudding

Grated Sweet Potato Pudding — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Try a new twist on your classic sweet potato casserole this year with this grated version that's topped with chopped pecans. To spike up the seasonal flavors, supplement this recipe with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

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Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole

Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole — Iain Bagwell; Styling: Amy Burke

Cooked carrots add a smooth texture and extra flavor to this comfort food favorite. Serve this classic holiday casserole any time of year and expect rave reviews. Top with marshmallows and spicy-sweet pecans.

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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese — Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Juicy, deep red tomatoes add an elegant look to everyone's favorite comfort food on the Thanksgiving table. This gourmet casserole is as rich and tasty as classic mac and cheese, but with fresh and bright flavor aided by just a touch of oregano and dry mustard.

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Creamy Spinach Mashed Potato Bake

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potato Bake — Jennifer Davick

A hearty, leafy take on buttery mashed potatoes, we love to eat this dish as a side served with all of the other must-have comforting Thanksgiving vegetables. Baby spinach and herb-garlic cheese give this casserole its color and flavor that's almost a hybrid between creamed spinach and classic mashed potatoes.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé

Sweet Potato Soufflé — Micah Leal

Super sweet, but hardy enough to narrowly miss the dessert table, this delicious baked sweet potato dish is filled with warm cinnamon-sugar flavors. A buttery brown sugar-pecan topping completes the perfect spoonful.

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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole — Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Top this classic broccoli casserole with club crackers for a buttery finish. Even the most ardent broccoli haters won't be able to resist this decadent side.

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