70 Christmas Side Dishes The Whole Family Will Love

These Test Kitchen-approved Christmas side dishes will round out any holiday meal.

By

Alana Al-Hatlani

Updated on November 30, 2023

Scalloped Oysters - Southern Living — Photo:
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Looking for exciting side dishes to add to your holiday menu? Paired with a staple main dish, these festive and unique Christmas side dishes bring delicious variety that your holiday guests will truly appreciate. From our hearty Roasted Tomato Mac and Cheese to our flavorful Christmas salad, you'll find crowd-pleasing side dishes to suit all occasions. Classic Sweet Potato Casserole will impress any holiday crowd, while Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach brings the heart-warming comfort that only Southern soul food can. If a plate of creamy mashed potatoes is the Christmas side dish you desire, upgrade the beloved classic with smooth buttermilk, flavorful brown butter, or rich cream cheese.

So pick one—or five—and serve them up. You might just need bigger plates for all these delicious Christmas sides.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole — Courtney West

This recipe stands out from the pack by using a whole milk and Cheddar cheese sauce instead of the typical condensed soup. This casserole is just as good as the soup but more filling.

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Buttermilk Spoon Bread

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

More a pudding-like than bread, this spoon bread is perfectly at the intersection of skillet cornbread, cornmeal soufflé, and cornbread dressing. It's best when served alongside holiday favorites.

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Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Give brussels sprout skeptics a run for their money with this recipe. After being softened in the microwave and smashed, the sprouts are drizzled with oil, seasoned, and then roasted until crispy and topped with plenty of Parmesan cheese.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding — Emily Laurae / Southern Living

Corn pudding is a staple Southern side dish at a holiday gathering, and this creamy side dish you crave gets a savory touch-up in this comforting recipe.

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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Southern Living Southern Cornbread Dressing in casserole dish to serve — Brittany Conerly, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

No Southern holiday is complete without this "down home" classic. Fresh sage bestows the dressing with freshness and flavor.

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Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Lisa's Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Crafting delicious mashed potatoes is not easy, but this recipe shows you how it's done. It also brings the rich flavor of browned butter—those nutty taste you simply can't get any other way!

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Iain Bagwell

Roasting whole carrots in a hot oven and then giving them a final toss in a sweet glaze yields an unforgettable side dish. Look for multicolored carrots for a stunning presentation. If you can't find them at the supermarket, try a local farmers' market.

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Sweet Potato Rolls

sweet potato rolls - southern living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Extra-special occasions deserve extra-special rolls. Warm, light, and fluffy, these sweet potato rolls will be the talk of the buffet line.

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Macaroni Corn Casserole

Macaroni Corn Casserole in a pan and on a plate to serve — Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Full of melty, gooey goodness and soaked with flavor from dry mustard, garlic, scallions, and cayenne pepper, this unexpected mash-up is sure to win your heart.

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Slow-Cooker Green Beans

Southern Living Slow Cooker Green beans in a bowl to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

The fresh green beans, crispy bits of pan-fried bacon, yellow onions, and herb infusion of this recipe could be straight out of grandma's cookbook.

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Cranberry Orange Sauce

Cranberry Orange Sauce - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Cranberries and oranges combine forces to create a versatile sauce that compliments turkey and charcuterie boards but also stands on its own. Let it simmer while the rest of meal comes together.

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Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Save time on other Christmas dishes and still impress your guests with this recipe's sweet and salty flavors.

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Air Fryer Asparagus

air fryer asparagus — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Looking for an impressive dish requiring little effort? Look no further than this asparagus, which takes advantage of a delicious combination of crumbled goat cheese and everything bagel seasoning.

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Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole Recipe

Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Get ahead of the game with this cook-ahead casserole. Customize with your favorite green or greens.

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Scalloped Potatoes

scalloped potatoes - southern living — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

This Southern dinner staple use heavy cream, flour, and butter for a rich texture and flavor you won't find anywhere else. Even though it uses fewer than 10 ingredients, it's still elegant enough for a holiday dinner.

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Cabbage Casserole

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

You won't regret taking a chance on cabbage. The brightness of the cabbage and celery balances out the heavy turkey and potatoes, and dash of Worcestershire sauce ties the casserole together.

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Herbed Potato Stacks

Herbed Potato Stacks - Southern Living — HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; PROP STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER; FOOD STYLING: WILLIAM SMITH

This recipe completely transforms the humble potato into elegant stacks guaranteed to delight any holiday dinner guest. Every bite breaks through the crispy exterior to the creamy, tender interior.

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Creamed Greens Casserole Recipe

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

Get even the pickiest eaters to eat their greens with this savory casserole, which only takes 45 minutes from oven to table.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

Scalloped Corn Casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Cheese, cream cheese, and half-and-half combine forces for a triple-indulgent casserole with a perfect texture.

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Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole

Slow-Cooker Green Bean Casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel

As these beans soak in a rich sauce made with Alfredo, they absorb rich, creamy flavor. Chopped pecans add both Christmas and Southern spirit.

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Butternut Squash Gratin Recipe

Butternut Squash Gratin — Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Brought to you by Chef John Zucker of Cru Café in Charleston, South Carolina, this delicious casserole brings all the fall and winter flavors together.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Recipe

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Any meat is complimented by this hearty side dish, which is capable of winning over kids and kale-adverse adults.

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Easy Squash Casserole

Easy Squash Casserole with a spoon and scoop taken out — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

With it's multi-portion size and savory flavors, this comfort food is perfect for entertaining guests over a holiday weekend.

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Creamed-Corn Grits

Creamed-Corn Grits — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Grits and old-fashioned creamed sweet corn? Sign us up! This creamy delicacy serves 8 and tolerates reheating multiple times, making it perfect for the holidays.

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Cheesy Broccoli-And-Rice Casserole

Cheesy Broccoli-And-Rice Casserole — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Even kids will eat broccoli if you serve it in this cheesy casserole. This casserole brings sliced cremini mushrooms, minced garlic, and freshly grated nutmeg into the mix of the South's most comforting foods.

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Tomato Pudding

Southern Living Tomato Pudding — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

You may not be familiar with sweet-and-savory tomato bread pudding, but it's certainly one your guests will talk about once you try it.

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Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Southern Living Roasted Brussels Sprouts on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts are among the easiest side dishes you can make, and this recipe truly simplifies them for a deliciously doable dish.

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Classic Cranberry Salad

Classic Cranberry Salad — Emily Laurae

Don't settle for canned cranberry sauce. This crunchy cranberry salad is a riff on the traditional Thanksgiving staple.

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Party Potatoes

Party Potatoes - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

To make your holiday even cozier, these party potatoes are the perfect nostalgic side that all will enjoy. They're creamy, buttery, and an easy dish for the spread.

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Slow-Cooker Collard Greens With Ham Hocks

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Collard greens are a Southern favorite regardless of how they're prepared, but this recipe is the easiest way we've ever gone about cooking them. With just 15 minutes of active time, you can have delicious collard greens for your holiday spread.

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Scalloped Oysters

Scalloped Oysters - Southern Living — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Oyster casserole has graced Southern Thanksgiving tables for decades, and this one lets oysters be the star for a salty, buttery treat.

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Home-Style Butterbeans

Home-Style Butterbeans — William Dickey

Just seven ingredients, including salt and pepper, come together for a rich, indulgent butterbeans dish with little effort.

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans — Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

What's not to love about a dish covered in garlic and Parmesan? Nothing, in our opinion, but don't fret: The fresh green beans are not lost in this dressed-up recipe.

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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

This homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe beats the boxed kind any day of the week. For a memorable main dish, sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and stunning sliced tomatoes.

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Mixed Greens

Jessica’s Mixed Greens — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This recipe comes from culinary historian Jessica B. Harris. The secret ingredients? Southern-style collard greens, bacon, and Spicy Vinegar.

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Harvard Beets

Jessica’s Harvard Beets — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Another dish from the kitchen of Jessica B. Harris, this recipe is a must-have during the holiday season. She calls it "nostalgia in a can," and we can't describe it any better way.

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Roasted Tomato Soup

Roasted Tomato-Cheddar Soup — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

As the temperatures drop, there's no dish as comforting as a warm bowl of soup. Kids and adults alike will love this classic, cheese-topped recipe. Plus, the dynamic red color makes it an especially appropriate addition to Christmas lunch or dinner.

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Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes — Iain Bagwell

Round out your meal with a hearty serving of red potatoes. This simple recipe pairs well with a simple menu made up of any vegetable of your choosing and a cut of red meat like beef tenderloin or steak.

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Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Recipe — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Fried okra is a side dish beloved by Southerners. Elevate this favorite for the holiday season by going with a lighter cornmeal coating.

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Classic Candied Yams

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

This vegetable side dish is flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, making it almost too sweet (and delicious!) to even count as a veggie. No doubt, the kids will be fans of this nostalgic recipe.

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Creamed Greens Casserole

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

Move over, creamed spinach—there's a new steak house side in town. Give the packaged collards an extra chop with a sharp knife to get them to bite-size pieces.

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Sweet Potato Stacks

Sweet Potato Stacks — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

For a sophisticated twist on sweet potatoes, consider lining slices up in small sweet potato stacks. Trust us: These little towers, topped with rosemary and pecans, taste as pretty as they look.

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Easy Squash Casserole

Squash Casserole — Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Two words that can sell a Southerner on basically any dish? "Easy" and "casserole." This recipe delivers on both, coming together in just 30 minutes.

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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic Sweet Potato Casserole — Emily Laurae/Southern Living

This mouthwatering sweet potato casserole will satisfy lovers of crunchy pecans and cornflakes as well as marshmallows.

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Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes — Antonis Achilleos

This recipe is a sure crowd-pleaser made with butter, cheese, milk, bacon, sour cream, and green onion, all mixed together and packed inside a crispy crust. Yum!

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Asparagus Gratin

Asparagus Gratin — Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

Whole-grain mustard laced with fontina and Cheddar cheese turns a simple dish of asparagus into company fare.

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Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust, christmas recipes — Jennifer Davick

This gratin is awesome with prime rib or beef tenderloin. Rosemary is a bossy herb that can take over a dish, so use it sparingly.

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Andrew's Potato Latkes

Andrew’s Potato Latkes — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

These potato pancakes are a classic Hanukkah dish. Make a variety of flavors and add distinctive garnishes to clue guests in on the different flavors.

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey — Iain Bagwell

Use any combination of citrus on hand to compose this vibrant, fresh salad, and present it however you like. No matter how you serve it, sweet and sunny citrus complements any roast or fish.

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Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach — Antonis Achilleos

It's not hard to eat your greens when they're dressed up in butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese. Such is the case with this crowd-pleasing recipe.

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Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Buttery Chive-and-Mustard Drop Biscuits — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Buttermilk biscuits deserve a spot on any Southern table, but especially so at the holidays. This recipe calls for fresh chives and Parmesan.

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Skillet-Roasted Carrots

Skillet-Roasted Carrots — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Looking for an easy side that can be made in a single skillet? Whip this recipe right up! Tip: It's made even better (and more beautiful) with a multi-colored bunch of carrots.

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Smoked Corn on the Cob

Smoked Corn on the Cob — Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Corn is a vegetable that is welcome at any holiday gathering, from a Memorial Day barbecue to Christmas dinner. This recipe is smoked on the grill and topped with jalapeño chile and cilantro.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

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

Potato casserole, but make it fancy. Thinly sliced potatoes make for an impressive presentation, while the filling—made of heavy cream, brown sugar, hazelnuts and butter—adds extra layers of deliciousness.

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Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Roasted broccoli and macaroni and cheese are two sides that are often served at large gatherings, and this recipe marries the two. The result? A delicious, cheesy way to eat your greens—and enjoy them too.

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Potato Rolls

Potato Rolls — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Turn one russet potato into a basket of delicious potato rolls that can be passed around the table. This recipe makes two dozen!

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Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Perfect Mashed Potatoes — Diana Miller

Making perfect mashed potatoes is not as easy as it sounds, so this recipe is designed to get you spuds from whole to whipped in a jiffy. The secret here is the cream cheese.

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Potatoes Patio

Pecan-and-Dill-Crusted Salmon — Photo: Iain Bagwell

A mixture of Gruyère and Parmesan cheese makes this luxurious baked dish all the more delicious.

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Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach

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

Give spinach a decidedly Southern spin in the form of casserole. This dish is made with some of the region's favorite ingredients (like mayo, cream cheese, and Cheddar cheese), and, yes, it oozes with pimiento cheese goodness.

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Browned-Butter Farro

Browned-Butter Farro — Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Farro is an ancient form of wheat that has seen a resurgence in recent years. This toasted farro recipe is made surprisingly flavorful with the addition of browned butter.

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Creamy Parmesan Grits

Creamy Parmesan Grits — Photo: Alison Miksch

Cheese grits? Yes, please. Look for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, which adds nutty flavor and an earthy depth to the grits.

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Home-Style Butterbeans

Home-Style Butterbeans — William Dickey

Bacon, onion, and brown sugar pack these beans with holiday flavor. This recipe calls for butterbeans, but lima beans can easily be swapped in too.

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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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Sweet Potato Soup

Simple Suppers Challenge: Sweet Potato Soup — Greg DuPree

This batch-soup recipe can be made the day before. Simply complete the first two steps, then reheat and stir in the lime juice before serving.

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Herbed Wild Rice Dressing

Thanksgiving Classic Bread Dressing Recipe

For this earthy salad, make sure to use wild rice, not a blend, to get a nice chewy texture.

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Bacon Deviled Eggs

Southern Living Bacon Deviled Eggs on a gold surface — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Step up your typical deviled eggs with these innovative bacon fried deviled eggs. By quickly frying the egg whites in bacon drippings and then filling them and topping them with crispy bacon bits, guests will be in awe of this delicious dish.

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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole — Photo: Jennifer Davick

Cheddar and Parmesan combine forces with yellow squash in this creamy casserole. For a tasty and colorful twist, substitute sliced zucchini for the yellow squash.

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Green Beans with Garlic

Green Beans with Garlic — Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel

Sauté fresh garlic to jazz up this simple yet delicious side dish. Pair with red main or side dishes for a festive color palette.

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Hurry-Up Homemade Crescent Rolls

50 Best Thanksgiving Homemade Crescent Rolls — Beau Gustafson

Shake up the traditional dome-shaped rolls with this from-scratch recipe suitable for any level of cook—even first timers.

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Butternut Squash Bread Pudding

Butternut Squash Bread Pudding — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Serve this savory bread pudding in slices as a side dish, or dump it in the middle of the breakfast table as a serve-yourself casserole. Either way, guests will no doubt be coming around for seconds.

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