The Absolute Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes

From creamy mashed potatoes with a twist to buttery, warm rolls packed with flavor, sides are unequivocally the best part of any Thanksgiving feast

Thanksgiving might also be known as Turkey Day, but many can agree that the side dishes are the real stars of the holiday (especially considering the rising cost of turkey).

From different takes on sweet potatoes to tangy fruit sauces, check out the best Thanksgiving side dishes — along with their recipes — that are guaranteed to please hungry dinner guests.

Cognac Mashed Potatoes

"These ain't your mama's mashed potatoes, y'all!" said Snoop Dogg, who features this recipe in his 2023 cookbook Goon with the Spoon. Adding the spirit mentioned in his "Hennesey N Buddah" hit is the rapper and actor's "favorite way to eat this Thanksgiving staple." 

"I know what you're thinking: 'Isn't cognac more for a concert with the Dogg rather than Thanksgiving?' " the rapper and actor joked. "My answer to that: 'Why not both?' "

Get the recipe HERE.

Rosemary-Parmesan Brioche Rolls

"In my family, Thanksgiving is not the time to turn out new dishes, so I created these rolls to elevate the superstars of your meal," said head baker at Il Buco restaurant in New York City, Sheena Otto. "The soft, buttery rolls will match anything on the table while the rosemary and parmesan variation adds a savory and herbal taste."

Get the recipe HERE.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Pancetta

"This subtly smoky, slightly spicy dish goes really well with turkey," said Marcela Valladolid, the author of the 2023 Familia cookbook. "It has the traditional flavors of roasted Brussels sprouts, but the candied pancetta and chile take it to the next level."

Get the recipe HERE.

Persimmon, Radicchio and Pomegranate Salad

"The vibrant colors and delicious flavor make this a showstopper for Thanksgiving!" said Ayesha Nurdjaja, the executive chef of Shuka and Shukette restaurants in N.Y.C. "I also need a salad with texture and a balance of sweet and savory to be interesting. This salad has all of that."

Get the recipe HERE.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Date-Lime Butter

"Sweet potatoes should be on every holiday table — they're certainly always on mine," said Bobby Flay, who shares a version of this recipe in his cookbook Sundays With Sophie. "You can make the date-lime butter days ahead of time, giving you less work on the big day, and just slather it on the potatoes when they're roasted and piping hot."

Get the recipe HERE.

Brussels Sprouts and Brie Gratin

In Gaby Dalkin's Take It Easy cookbook, she shares an "oh-so creamy, rich and delicious" spin on a classic holiday dish: "Think of it as an alternative to the old-school green bean casserole but with way more flavor!"

Get the recipe HERE.

Delicata Squash Gratin

This vegan gratin is a lighter alternative to its cheesy-potato counterpart but still packs a ton of festive flavors.

"It's delicious and cozy for the holidays, with woodsy sage, warm nutmeg, flavorful squash and delicate onion-cashew cream," said talk show host and Rebel Homemaker author Drew Barrymore.

Get the recipe HERE.

Wilted Kale with Bacon and Apples

"You can make this recipe ahead and serve it at room temperature, which works for me because I love Thanksgiving sides, and they all can't come out of the oven piping hot at the 11th hour!" said Chrissy Teigen of this dish from her cookbook, Cravings: All Together.

Get the recipe HERE.

Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Thyme

David Chang and Priya Krishna, co-authors of the Cooking at Home cookbook, shared a mashed potato recipe made entirely in the microwave that helps to free up room on your stove.

Get the recipe HERE.

Cornbread and Brioche Stuffing with Mushrooms

LaMara Davidson — Dallas-based chef and founder of Cornbread + Kimchi — shared a stuffing recipe inspired by a trip to Macon, Ga., she took over 20 years ago. Made with two types of mushrooms and sweet brioche rolls, your dinner guests will remember it for years to come, too.

Get the recipe HERE.

Garlic Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Put down that bag of marshmallows — Tia Mowry's fall twist on the traditional mash has toasted pecans, chopped bacon and a brown butter drizzle.

Get the recipe HERE.

Creamed Spinach with Taleggio

If you plan to serve at least one green food at Thanksgiving, let it be this dish from Rachael Ray's cookbook, Rachael Ray 50. Ray adds Taleggio, Parmigiano-Reggiano and nutmeg to her creamed spinach — and it is divine.

Get the recipe HERE.

Sausage and Fig Stuffing

"The dried figs play beautifully with the saltiness of the sausage while the sage flavor brings everything together," said Curtis Stone, chef and host of Field Trip with Curtis Stone on PBS.

Get the recipe HERE.

Cranberry and Grapefruit Sauce

"Forget the canned stuff — homemade relish is so easy and can be made several days ahead," said Flay, who uses Campari in this sauce from his cookbook, Bobby at Home.

Get the recipe HERE.

Green Bean Salad with Pickled Onions

Carla Hall shared a refreshingly light twist on the veggie.

"There's no need to smother fresh beans with tons of gravy," said the chef and author of Carla Hall's Soul Food.

Get the recipe HERE.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples and Kale

"This has all the best flavors of fall in one recipe," said Mike Price, the chef of Market Table in N.Y.C.

Get the recipe HERE.

Everything Bagel Stuffing

Molly Yeh, the host of Food Network's Girl Meets Farm, adds her own spin to the holiday favorite, which was inspired by bagels and lox.

Get the recipe HERE.

Mashed Potatoes with Country Ham and Cheddar

"The ham adds the perfect amount of salty, savory flavor," said Nathan Duensing, the executive chef of Marsh House in Nashville, Tenn.

Get the recipe HERE.

Cauliflower-Challah Stuffing

"Roast the cauliflower and make the spice mix ahead of time," said chef Timon Balloo of his comforting dressing. "That makes it easier on Thanksgiving Day to just assemble the stuffing."

Get the recipe HERE.

Orange Cranberry Sauce

You'll never go back to the canned kind after a taste of Paul Wahlberg's tangy twist on relish. The sauce gets its unique flavor from chopped oranges, apples and a pinch of red pepper.

Get the recipe HERE.

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