5 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Everyone Always Asks the Recipe For

5 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes Everyone Always Asks the Recipe For

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving sides that are simple, delicious, and guaranteed to disappear fast, these five recipes are your new holiday lineup. They use easy-to-find ingredients, minimal prep time, and classic fall flavors — perfect for hosts who want something impressive without spending all day in the kitchen.

1. Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled + chopped
  • 1 cup whole milk (warm)
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • Salt + pepper to taste
  • Optional: chives for garnish

Instructions

  1. Add potatoes to a pot of salted water and boil until fork-tender (about 15 minutes).
  2. While potatoes cook, melt butter in a pan over medium heat until it turns golden and smells nutty (4–6 minutes).
  3. Drain potatoes and mash.
  4. Add warm milk, sour cream, and brown butter. Mix until creamy.
  5. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chives.

✔ Make-ahead friendly: Reheat with a splash of milk.

2. Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled + cubed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Toss sweet potatoes with olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer.
  4. Roast 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway.
  5. Drizzle with extra maple syrup before serving, if desired.

✔ Caramelized edges = perfection.

3. Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs Brussels sprouts, halved
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt + pepper
  • Optional: hot honey drizzle

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Toss sprouts with oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread cut-side down on a baking sheet.
  4. Roast 20 minutes, then sprinkle Parmesan on top.
  5. Roast another 5–8 minutes until crispy.

✔ Hot honey takes this over the top.

4. Sausage & Apple Stuffing

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Italian sausage, removed from casing
  • 1 loaf French bread, cubed + slightly dried (about 10 cups)
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 apples, chopped (Honeycrisp works best)
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 tsp poultry seasoning
  • Salt + pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Cook sausage in a skillet until browned. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, add butter, onion, celery, and apples. Cook until softened.
  4. In a large bowl combine bread cubes, sausage, cooked veggies, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  5. Pour broth and eggs over the mixture and toss gently.
  6. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
  7. Bake 45–50 minutes, uncovered, until golden.

✔ The apples add the perfect sweet crunch.

5. Cranberry Orange Relish (No Cook!)

Ingredients

  • 12 oz fresh cranberries
  • 1 orange, peeled + segmented
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • ½ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Add cranberries, orange, zest, sugar, and salt to a food processor.
  2. Pulse until finely chopped but not puréed.
  3. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

✔ Stays bright, tart, and fresh — nothing like canned cranberry sauce.

Whether you’re hosting a full Thanksgiving feast or simply contributing a side dish to the table, these easy, flavorful recipes are guaranteed to impress. Each one is simple enough for beginners, delicious enough for seasoned cooks, and made with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Save this list for your holiday menu planning, share it with friends and family, and enjoy a stress-free, delicious Thanksgiving filled with dishes everyone will be talking about long after the leftovers are gone.

Back to blog