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The holidays are just around the corner, and with them come the enticing aromas of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. But let’s be real—planning the perfect Thanksgiving menu isn’t always easy. With so many tempting dishes to choose from, it’s no wonder it can feel overwhelming.
Trust me, I’ve been there! Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tips that have made juggling the timing of a Thanksgiving feast a lot more manageable. Our list below offers several sides that put your microwave, gas grill, air fryer, or slow-cooker to good use when the oven traffic gets backed up!
Ready to get cooking? Let’s dive into some Thanksgiving recipes for side dishes that everyone will love, from the traditional to something new to try!
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Green Bean Casserole – Microwave
This Green Bean Casserole is a Thanksgiving tradition for a reason, with crisp fried onions adding crunch to the creamy mushroom sauce and perfectly tender green beans.
Sauteed Mushrooms – Stovetop
A low-carb, delicious side? It’s a Christmas miracle! These sliced sauteed mushrooms are flavorful and cook super fast. Grab a friend to help you wash and slice a couple of packages of baby bellas or white button mushrooms and serve next to the bird.
Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Stovetop
Creamy Comfort with a Hint of Spice! This recipe ditches the sugar for a savory twist using garlic, herbs, and a touch of spice. It’s a creamy and comforting side dish with a surprising depth of flavor. The fresh thyme is a must.
Mashed Potatoes – Microwave
Ditch the pot! This recipe whips up perfectly smooth mashed potatoes in the microwave, saving you time for the rest of your feast.
Crisp Green Beans – Air Fryer
This fast side uses fresh green beans and not much else – just enough seasoning to matter, but you get the crispness of a fry without the starchiness. They’re good, and would make a particularly good side for the kid’s table.
Cranberry Pear Compote – Stovetop
Tart & Sweet with a Holiday Twist – This compote combines tart cranberries with juicy pears and crushed rosemary sprigs for a festive and flavorful side dish perfect for Thanksgiving.
Smashed Red Potatoes – Air Fryer
Crispy on the Outside, Fluffy on the Inside – The air fryer takes red potatoes to a new level! This recipe delivers crispy skin and fluffy insides – a simple yet satisfying side dish.
Red Lobster Copycat Biscuits – Oven
Buttery, Flaky Heaven. Heaven, I tell you! Recreate the iconic Red Lobster biscuits at home! These beauties are light, flaky, and bursting with buttery flavor.
Roasted Radishes – Air Fryer
While raw radishes are truly an acquired taste, I think you’ll be surprised at how these go from mild to wild in a snap. I wouldn’t make a ton of them, but a small bowl of these to encourage a low-carb taste test at dinner would be just fine.
Microwave Glazed Carrots – Microwave
These glazed carrots come together quickly in the microwave, making them perfect for busy holiday dinners. Sweet, tender, and a fast complement to the meal.
Roasted Bell Peppers and Potatoes – Air Fryer
Roasted bell peppers and potatoes cook up beautifully in the air fryer. This colorful side dish combines tender bell peppers and potatoes with a mild, satisfying flavor. It’s easy to prepare and makes a great addition to any meal.
Loaded Twice-Baked Fingerling Potatoes – Oven
These are a lot of work, I won’t lie, but they are adorable and if you use instant mashed potatoes or use make-ahead kind, it will help with the steps. Make more than you think you’ll need, because bacon.
Farro Salad with Air Fryer Roast Veg – Stovetop
I love farro. I don’t know why this grain is still a wallflower in the culinary world, but I think it works great with roasted vegetables and served along side any fish or poultry. (It’s not gluten free, just FYI.)
Jiffy Corn Casserole – Oven
I don’t know when this became famous, but the world is better for it. I’ve had it in the crock and in the oven, and I’ve added all kinds of mix-ins, but basic is still the best.
Hasselback Potatoes – Air Fryer
These come out really pretty without much work, and with the air fryer, you save oven space. It’s not a family-style side dish; have one large potato per person and add a butter to the table in case anyone wants extra.
Texas Roadhouse Green Beans – Stovetop
Who would have thunk that using canned green beans would take you most of the way to Texas Roadhouse? Buttery, garlicky, and comforting—just like the restaurant version. Add to a small crock to keep warm if you want.
Fresh Broccoli – Microwave
If you’ve got a vegetarian feast going, simple fresh broccoli in the microwave is a fast option and you can make a spice bar for people to punch up the flavor just the way they like it.
Pecan Streusel Sweet Potato Casserole – Oven
Whipped with butter and cream, the sweet potatoes soften into fluffy, almost custard-like base for a crisp, buttery pecan streusel topping.
Mac and Cheese – Slow Cooker
This crockpot mac and cheese recipe takes just a little bit of work off the table (and the oven and the stove).
Roasted Carrots with Fresh Thyme – Oven
Vegetables in the oven, roasted in simple spices in a hot, dry heat, have changed how I feel about veggies. The key is to season the carrots before roasting and cook them at a high temperature.
Cheesy Parmesan Creamed Spinach – Stovetop
If you are looking for a creamy and delicious spinach side dish, this is the perfect recipe for you. Now we love cheese in this household so we really amped up the cheese in this recipe.
Rosemary Garlic Roasted Butternut Squash – Oven
This recipe for roasted butternut squash starts off with a few minutes in the microwave so you can peel it easily then finishes in the oven.
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes – Stovetop
These mashed potatoes with the sour cream recipe are slated to become one of the easiest-to-make recipes in your recipe box.
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes – Stovetop
Our buttermilk mashed potatoes recipe only has five ingredients in it. When we do have mashed potatoes though, it is generally for something special such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Stovetop
There is something so luscious and comforting about this garlic mashed potatoes recipe. This recipe cooks the cloves of garlic in the potato water to soften them.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar – Oven
This loaded mashed potato casserole is rich, decadent, and always the first dish to vanish at potlucks or holiday spreads.
Skillet Creamed Corn with Cream Cheese – Stovetop
If you’re looking for an easy side dish that’s also delicious, I’ve got just the recipe. It’s the perfect way to take a simple bag of frozen corn and turn it into the star of the show.
Creamy Corn with Cream Cheese and Butter – Slow Cooker
Wildly different from the “creamed corn” that comes in a can, this creamy sweet corn in the slow cooker is lush and rich from the cream cheese and butter. You can even prep ahead and just add in the slow cooker on low to heat through.
Cornbread Casserole – Slow Cooker
The cornbread mix binds everything into a soft, custardy texture, while a small amount of cheddar adds depth without making it taste overtly cheesy.
No-Knead Rustic Dutch Oven Bread – Oven
I stumbled upon no knead bread during a particularly lazy Sunday when I craved homemade bread but couldn’t muster the energy for traditional kneading. My sister helped me tweak this recipe, but it’s only got four ingredients, so it’s pretty simple.
Flaky Pumpkin Buttermilk Biscuits – Oven
Just picture it-warm, buttery, flaky homemade biscuits infused with pumpkin. You can serve them drizzled with honey or with apple butter.
Golden Butter Dip Biscuits – Oven
These butter dip biscuits offer the comfort of homemade baking with minimal effort. The key is the melted butter poured into the baking dish before the dough goes in.
Cheddar and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes – Stovetop
This cheesy mashed potatoes recipe is a darn near-perfect potato comfort food side dish. It adds a creamy, rich base, and the cheddar comes in from the back and makes the cheese flavor fly.
The bottom line
Whether you’re a pro in the kitchen or just getting started, these side dish ideas will help you use all of your appliances to get your Thanksgiving feast to the table on time and wow your guests.
Here are some more Thanksgiving vibes:
