36 Thanksgiving Side Dishes Your Family Will Love

I don’t know about you, but when I think about Thanksgiving, it’s the side dishes that I look forward to the most!

Sure, the turkey’s great, but those mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles, and sweet potatoes are what I love.

Plus, let’s be real – side dishes are usually the easiest (and cheapest) part of the meal.

They don’t take much time; most can be made from scratch with simple ingredients. It’s all about adding those vibrant colors and flavors to the table without spending much.

Thanksgiving side dishes are also a perfect way to stretch your meal and make sure everyone leaves the table satisfied.  

Quick Tips for Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Sides

• Keep it cheap: Thanksgiving sides don’t have to break the bank, especially when you make them with what you already have.
• Mix it up: Adding a variety of colors and flavors to your table makes the whole meal feel special.
• Simple is best: You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make side dishes that taste amazing.
• Make it personal: Share your favorite sides or memories to connect with readers and make the post more relatable.

Delicious and Budget-Friendly Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

No. 2 on our list of Thanksgiving Side Dishes –Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a favorite casserole that is expected to be on Thanksgiving tables. It’s usually made with canned cream of mushroom soup and a can of French-fried onions.

We found some green bean casserole recipes that we think you will love that put a spin on the standard green bean casserole.

• Holiday Green Bean Cheddar Casserole by Moore or Less Cooking
• The Best Homemade Green Bean Casserole by At Home with Kathy
• Caramelized Bacon Green Bean Casserole by Carefree Mermaid

For those that don’t like any kind of green bean casserole, we found some green bean recipes that we think you will love.

• Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots by Hot Pan Kitchen
• Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan by Curry Trail
• Green Beans Almondine by The Recipe Well

No. 3 on our list of Thanksgiving Side Dishes –Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Sauce is another favorite to have on a Thanksgiving table. A lot of people use the kind that comes in the can because they think that making homemade cranberry sauce is too hard and takes too much time.

Did you know that fresh cranberry sauce is easy to make and it doesn’t take a lot of time to make it? In most recipes, you don’t have to use frozen cranberries instead of fresh cranberries.

Plus, you can control the amount of sugar you put in it. You can also change the flavor of cranberry sauce by adding orange or apple juice or even Port Wine.

We found five recipes that we think you will love!

• Vintage Cranberry Walnut Jello Recipe by Ann’s Entitled Life
• Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce by Tastes of Homemade
• Port Cranberry Sauce by Vikalinka by Julia Frey
• Cranberry Orange Sauce by Maple + Mango
• Instant Pot Cranberry Applesauce by The Short Order Cook

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No. 4 on our list of Thanksgiving Side Dishes –Potato Sides

Mashed potatoes are a favorite cheap, filling side, and easy side dish that is included on most Thanksgiving tables. Recipes for simple mashed potatoes can be dressed up in a number of ways.

Here are some recipes for mashed potatoes that we think you will love.

• Easy Creamy Mashed Red Potatoes by Pinch and Swirl
• Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Swirls of Flavor
• Best Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes by Champagne & Coffee Stains
• Loaded Mashed Potatoes by Create Yum
• Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes by Mama Cheaps
• Rustic Rosemary Thyme Mashed Potatoes by Strength and Sunshine

Perhaps you want to try something different with potatoes for your Thanksgiving Dinner this year. These potato recipes might be what you are looking for.

• Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes by A Sweet Alternative
• Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes with a Secret Ingredient by Son Shine Kitchen
• Classic Scalloped Potatoes by The Forked Spoon

No. 5 on our list of Thanksgiving Side Dishes –Sweet Potatoes/Yams Sides

The bright orange color of sweet potatoes will add a touch of all to your Thanksgiving table. Sweet potatoes can be served in a variety of ways and are high in beta carotene. Some serve it like a baked potato. Some like it in a casserole. Others like it mashed like Idaho potatoes.

Here are several sweet potato recipes that we think you will love!

• Maple Pecan Candied Hasselback Sweet Potatoes by Creative Cynchronicity
• Simple Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples by Ashcroft Family Table
• Cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin by Emma Eats and Explores
• Sweet Potato Pie, Indulgent by At Home with Kathy
• Lightened-Up Sweet Potato Casserole by Vintage Kitty
• Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Casserole by A Sweet Alternative
• Sweet Potato Casserole by The Gracious Wife
• Melt in Your Mouth Butter Pecan Roasted Sweet Potatoes by Foodal
• Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole by Strength and Sunshine

No. 6 on our list of Thanksgiving Side Dishes — Carrots

Another bright orange vegetable that is not only delicious but cheap to make is carrots. Like sweet potatoes, carrots are high in beta carotene.

Here are some delicious recipes for carrots that we think you will love.

• Garlic Roasted Carrots by Veggie Society
• Roasted Carrots with Honey Butter Glaze by Hot Pan Kitchen
• Roasted Carrots with Garlicky Lemon Tahini Sauce by Vikalinka by Julie Frey
• Instant Pot Sweet Carrots by Everday Shortcuts

What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? Leave us a comment and let us know! We’d love to hear from you!

Photo credits: Photos used in collage by permission given in request made in Bloggers Sharing Links for Roundups. All other photos used via Canva.