54 Best Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes

Nobody will turn their nose up at these veggie side dishes.

By

Updated on November 2, 2023

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Photo: Iain Bagwell

From the corn pudding cooked to perfection to the classic green bean casserole, we've rounded up some of our favorite vegetable recipes to help round out your Thanksgiving dinner menu. With these Thanksgiving vegetable recipes, you'll see there's more than one way to cook up a delicious holiday casserole.

If you're looking to save valuable oven space for that gorgeous Thanksgiving turkey, try one of our stovetop or slow-cooker recipes, like Southern fried corn or slow-cooker sweet potatoes with bacon. You can't go wrong with a classic green bean casserole—Mama knows that your Thanksgiving table isn't complete without this time-tested dish.

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Creamed Spinach

Southern Living Creamed Spinach in a bowl to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This incredibly rich side is ready in less than 30 minutes. It'll be a favorite, even among people who think anything green is a no-go.

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Cranberry-Glazed Green Beans

Southern Living Cranberry-Glazed Green Beans in a bowl to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Save oven space and make these sweet, salty, smoky, and tart green beans on the stovetop.

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7-Layer Salad

Southern Living 7-Layer Salad in a bowl to serve with serving spoons beside — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Instead of a basic green salad, mix things up with this layered delight. It's fresh, creamy, and bright, especially against the many creamy casseroles.

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Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

A lightly sweetened alternative to classic sweet potato casserole and its layers of marshmallow. Brown butter makes the overall flavor more savory and nutty than sweet.

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Classic Green Bean Casserole

Classic Green Bean Casserole — Rob Culpepper; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Assistant Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

If you think that green bean casserole isn't for you, you'd be wrong. This combination of tender green beans and crispy topping will convince any skeptics.

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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

Replace your classic 9x13 version of this dish with a lighter, fresher version that's made entirely on the stovetop.

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Broccoli Salad

Southern Living Broccoli Salad — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Amid a sea of warm casseroles and dressing, serve up this crisp, chilled broccoli casserole to an audience of happy eaters. The dressing is a just-right blend of sweet and savory. The toppings, too. This may be more popular than the desserts.

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Oven-Roasted Asparagus

oven roasted asparagus on a white oval dish — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You can't go wrong with a classic like roasted asparagus. Want to know the best part? It takes little to no effort. Simply trim the ends of the asparagus, season, and pop the crispy green veggie in the oven.

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Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese

Southern Living Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese — Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

You could do a classic macaroni and cheese, but this version sneaks in a vegetable and is every bit as creamy and decadent as the traditional version.

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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

You can make this corn casserole up to the point of baking, then freeze it or keep is in the fridge for a few days before Thanksgiving. When it's nearing time to eat, let the casserole thaw in the fridge, then bake it. This is a serious timesaver.

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Roasted Delicata Squash

southern living roasted delicata squash — Jessica Furniss

This petite winter squash has a delicately sweet but nutty flavor, and the skin is entirely edible. When roasted, this side dish is tender and contrasts nicely with richer Thanksgiving sides.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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

A quick seasoning mixture of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, onion and garlic powders, and salt and pepper coat these Brussels sprouts, helping them caramelize and turn richly flavorful in a high-temp oven. A drizzle of honey balances those sharp flavors for an unforgettable side.

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

loaded cauliflower casserole — Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Skip the potato version of this classic casserole, but don't skip the savory flavors of bacon, cheese, and chives.

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Baked Acorn Squash

Southern Living Baked Acorn Squash on a plate to serve with a fork — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Some people serve stuffed squash for Thanksgiving as a main dish, but this baked squash side makes for an excellent, sophisticated side dish. Keep it simple with a little butter and sugar.

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Boiled Corn on the Cob

a tong holding an ear of corn — Emily Laurae/Southern Living

A side of fresh boiled corn, instead of a casserole, may be a welcome change amid the Thanksgiving spread. Keep butter and salt on the table so everyone can season their ears.

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Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Southern Living Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes in a bowl to serve, topped with butter and thyme leaves — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Mashed potatoes are essential Thanksgiving fair, but this version lightens things up (but is every bit as fluffy and decadent) with mashed cauliflower. Serve it with butter, herbs, or any other toppings you'd have on the all-potato side.

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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

If you want to skip the green bean casserole, try these home-style green beans instead. Nothing gets more Southern than these bacon-topped slow-cooker green beans. Plus, since they are made in the slow cooker, it saves high-demand stovetop and oven space on Thanksgiving Day.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

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

Sweet corn, savory cheese, and crispy cracker topping—there's nothing your Thanksgiving guests won't love about this corn casserole.

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Candied Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Candied Sweet Potatoes in the baking dish to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Need proof that all classic Thanksgiving side dishes don't have to be Southern? These candied sweet potatoes are plenty evidence of that fact. Sorghum and bourbon provide just enough bitterness to keep the sweetness from being overwhelming, but the dish is so good, we won't blame you if you eat this for dessert.

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Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Shallots

Southern Living Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots on a platter to serve — Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Brussels sprouts may get a bad rap, but they're an essential veggie on our Thanksgiving tables. Bacon and shallots offer bursts of flavor to complement the simple vegetable. Panko adds the desired crunchy texture.

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Southern Fried Cabbage

Southern Fried Cabbage served in a dish — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

A handful of humble ingredients turns into a classic side dish. It's more commonly a weeknight side dish, but there's no reason to keep it off the Thanksgiving table.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon — Alison Miksch

When we're constructing our Thanksgiving menu, we try to incorporate a few slow-cooker dishes that we can leave to go low and slow all day long. It's oh-so-easy and saves you so much time! This slow-cooker recipe is the perfect mixture of salty and sweet and is packed full of flavor.

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Home-Style Butterbeans

Home-Style Butterbeans — William Dickey

Frozen butter beans cook until tender and delicate, while making a flavor-filled broth that you'll require extra rolls for sopping up every drop.

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Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Iain Bagwell

As colorful as they are delicious, the naturally sweet and earthy flavor of these honey-glazed carrots will complement any main dish. Purchase a variety of colored carrots for added brightness to your spread. Young carrots with tops will taste the best.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé

Southern Living Sweet Potato Souffle in baking dish to serve with glasses of tea — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Sweet potatoes are a must on the Thanksgiving table, but they don't always have to be served as a casserole. Try our fluffy sweet potato soufflé this year. It's the perfect pairing for your Thanksgiving turkey and captures the same sweet and savory flavor as the classic casserole.

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Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese — Antonis Achilleos

Thought mac and cheese can't be healthy? Think again! This skillet cauliflower mac and cheese will absolutely melt in your mouth, and kids won't be able to tell the difference!

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Classic Candied Yams

Southern Living Classic Candied Yams in bowls to serve — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

These baked sweet potatoes turn out perfectly caramelized and tender every time. They are sweet enough to classify as a dessert, which may be why they are a fan-favorite side dish. They can be made up to three days in advance, which saves you time.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Cheese Casserole — Courtney West

Sure, we'll have some broccoli, but we'll take it with a whole lot of cheese. This broccoli cheese casserole is a must-have dish this season. Plus, it can be made ahead and refrigerated until there is room in the oven to bake it!

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Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes — Emily Laurae / Southern Living

Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, these are the best baby potatoes around. They are buttery, tender, and garlicky—the ultimate combination for delicious roasted potatoes. To top it all off, the potatoes are brushed with a tasty mixture of melted butter and herbs just before serving.

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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

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

We love sweet potatoes for their versatility. If your family loves savory sides, swap the marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole for this savory version. Place the sweet potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet to cut down on clean-up time.

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Skillet-Roasted Carrots

skillet-roasted carrots in a white skillet — Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Save oven space with these skillet-roasted carrots. You can adjust the herbs to whatever you have on hand or flavors you prefer.

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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

You can't go wrong with a green bean casserole, but the crispy leek topping is the real star of the show in this dish. The leaks are crispy and fried, the perfect swap out for crispy fried onions. They fry up quickly, so keep an eye on them and make sure to make them right before serving so they remain hot.

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Southern Fried Corn

Southern Fried Corn — Caitlin Bensel

While we love creamed corn, we just can't resist the pop and texture of this southern fried corn. Only taking 15 minutes, this fried corn is made with butter, onions, garlic, salt, and pepper, and garnished with chives.

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Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin — Iain Bagwell

It doesn't get any more seasonal than this. Not only is this bright orange gratin visually appealing, but it's made with fresh fall produce. When preparing this dish, slice the butternut squash as you need them for layering. This will help prevent oxidization from happening.

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Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

No Thanksgiving spread is complete without a classic sweet potato casserole! Our version is topped with toasted marshmallows (of course), but we also add pecans and cornflakes for some nice crunch. Plus, it will only take 20 minutes of hands-on time, giving you more to spend with your loved ones (who are surely hovering in the kitchen area).

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Sautéed Squash and Zucchini

Sautéed Squash and Zucchini — Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

When you're coordinating an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner, there are some things you'll just want to keep simple, like this sautéed squash and zucchini. While there are destined to be many casserole options on the Thanksgiving dinner table, this easy 20-minute side takes a lighter approach. Yellow squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic blend together flawlessly for this healthy and easy side.

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Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

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

Make this casserole ahead of time and pop it in the oven on Thanksgiving morning to save you prep hassle and leave more time to spend with your family. Choose thick and round sweet potatoes about six to seven ounces each for the most evenly cooked result. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this side will surely be a crowd-pleaser.

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Old-School Squash Casserole — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Creamy, cheesy, and full of thickly-cut squash, this casserole is an essential part of any holiday feast. Crunchy, buttery crackers top this mouth-watering casserole. It can serve as both a scrumptious side or as a hearty vegetarian main dish.

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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

Come one, come all, and pack those veggies into this casserole. It's bound to please any hungry audience. This Brussels sprouts and green bean casserole combo side is topped with fried onions and bacon bits, so you know it won't last long on the dinner table.

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Sweet Potato Cobbler

Sweet Potato Cobbler — Antonis Achilleos, Food Styling: Gordon Sawyer and Tina Stamos, Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell

This casserole can be adapted as a savory side or a sweet dessert. No matter how you serve it, we can't resist the biscuit dough topping. Plus, it's made entirely in a skillet.

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Reunion Pea Casserole — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Packed with lots of veggies and with some surprising ingredients inside (like green chiles), this Reunion Pea Casserole has a little bit of everything. Crescent roll dough ensures a buttery golden crust. Black-eyed peas are a great choice for this recipe, but any pea type will do.

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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

Give your Thanksgiving that home-style touch with these slow-cooker collards. Plus, using a a slow-cooker means you'll have more space on the stovetop and in the oven for other sides. Make sure to remove the ham hock's tiny bone bits before serving.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole — Hector Sanchez

This easy casserole can go from summer to winter in a snap. It's a great way to bring some bright veggies to your Thanksgiving meal.

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Easy Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach — Antonis Achilleos

With butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, this creamed spinach is anything but ordinary. Serve over grits or cornbread, or on its own. The toasted pine nuts add an earthy and nutty flavor and contrast perfectly with the creaminess of the dish.

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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

Bite-sized, pan-fried okra coated with cornmeal will be a new family classic. With just six ingredients and two skillets, this side will have your whole family wanting more. It whips up in just under 30 minutes.

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Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Smashed Brussels Sprouts — Trey Ellis

Boiled, then smashed and roasted, brussels sprouts get a serious makeover in this recipe. We just can't resist these crispy, crunchy veggies. Top with parmesan and chopped bacon for the ultimate Southern veggie dish.

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Three-Cheese Corn Pudding

Three-Cheese Corn Pudding Recipe Image — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

We added three delicious cheeses to classic corn pudding: shredded white cheddar, sharp yellow cheddar, and parmesan. And who doesn't like an extra cheesy side? Creamy and cheesy, this side dish is so good that one of our Test Kitchen professionals said that it, "will become a family favorite."

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Skillet Squash Blossom

Thanksgiving Side Dish: Skillet Squash Blossom — Iain Bagwell

Everyone will want a big helping of this gorgeous and delicious dish. Butternut squash slices become caramelized and sweet when roasting. Maple syrup and bacon complement each other and blend flawlessly with the butternut squash.

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Savory Corn Pudding

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

This corn pudding recipe puts a savory spin on the classic with the addition of chopped onion and fresh thyme. It's crave-worthy and the perfect addition to your holiday dinner spread. Be sure you make enough of this corn pudding for everyone to have seconds.

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Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Collard Greens

Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Collard Greens Recipe Image — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Don't think you can get great flavor without ham? Think again. This vegetarian take on collard greens is delicious. Just make sure you have some cornbread on the table to serve with it.

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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

Take some time with your green bean casserole this year and make homemade mushroom cream sauce. While you may make this recipe for the first time on Thanksgiving Day, you may find yourself making it throughout the year—it's just that good. Prepare this recipe up to three days in advance. Add the toppings, and bake when you are ready!

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Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans — Greg DuPree

You've always roasted Brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving, try something new with this fresh take on the vegetable. This dish has all the crunch of coleslaw, plus pieces of sweet and tart Honeycrisp apples and salty Parmesan cheese. Let salad stand for five minutes prior to serving to let all the flavors blend together and for the sprouts to soften.

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

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

Bacon makes everything better, even vegetables. In this dish, the bacon serves as a savory base for green beans also flavored with garlic and Parmesan. As impressive as these beans look, they come together quickly and easily.

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Crusty Broiled Tomatoes

Crusty Broiled Tomatoes — Southern Living

Juicy tomatoes are thought of as a summer thing, but some tomatoes, like Romas, are flavorful year-round. Use them to make this unique side dish that will stand out amid the sea of casseroles.

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