10 Thanksgiving Side Dishes to Make This Year

Thanksgiving dinner always comes down to the side dishes. Everyone remembers the sweet potatoes and the green beans long after the turkey is gone, and I have spent a lot of years getting those favorites right at home. This roundup gathers 10 of my Thanksgiving side dishes in one place, so you can plan the whole table without digging through the archive.

The lineup covers sweet, savory, and everything in between. You’ll find copycat versions of restaurant favorites like the Boston Market sweet potato casserole and KFC green beans, along with Southern classics like fried okra and yellow squash casserole. Several bake in a single pan and feed a crowd, which takes some stress out of the holiday oven schedule.

Pick the ones that fit your menu, and make a few ahead if you can. Each recipe below has a quick note on what makes it a good fit, so you can decide where to start.

• Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole Easy Copycat Recipe
• Perfect Crispy Southern Fried Okra Recipe (Restaurant-Style)
• Piccadilly Cafeteria Carrot Souffle – Sweet & Creamy Baked Carrot Casserole
• Easy KFC Green Beans Recipe with Onions – Perfect Copycat Side Dish
• Martha Stewart’s Ultimate Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
• Boston Market Squash Casserole
• Easy Homemade Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (No Cheese, Pure Comfort)
• Southern Squash Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping Recipe
• Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese Creamy & Delicious
• Yellow Squash Casserole from the Black Eyed Pea Restaurant

1. Boston Market Sweet Potato Casserole Easy Copycat Recipe

If you only make one casserole this year, make this one. The sweet potatoes are baked whole rather than boiled, which keeps the flesh dense and sweet, and the dark brown sugar and oatmeal streusel bake up crisp on top. It serves 12 from one 9×13 pan, so it covers the holiday table without any doubling.

2. Perfect Crispy Southern Fried Okra Recipe (Restaurant-Style)

Fried okra belongs on a Thanksgiving table next to the turkey, and this version gets it right. The three-stage coating of flour, egg, and cornmeal gives you a crunchy crust, with paprika, chili powder, garlic salt, and onion salt in the mix. Slice the pods into 3/8 inch rounds, and the okra stays sweet and grassy instead of slimy.

3. Piccadilly Cafeteria Carrot Soufflé – Sweet & Creamy Baked Carrot Casserole

This carrot soufflé is for anyone who wants a side that tastes almost like dessert. The carrots are whipped while they are still hot, and the eggs are blended in after the flour, which is the step that makes the texture light and custardy. One 13×9 pan serves 8, and a dusting of powdered sugar finishes it off.

4. Easy KFC Green Beans Recipe with Onions – Perfect Copycat Side Dish

When the oven is full and you need one more vegetable, these green beans come together in about 20 minutes. They start with canned cut green beans, sweet yellow onion, butter, and garlic powder, with kosher salt and black pepper for balance. Add a little cooked bacon if you want to go further than the original.

5. Martha Stewart’s Ultimate Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

This is the mac and cheese I bring out for special occasions. A roux of butter and flour makes a smooth base for sharp white cheddar and Gruyère, with a touch of nutmeg and cayenne. The buttery breadcrumb topping gives you the golden crust that makes it look as good as it tastes.

6. Boston Market Squash Casserole

This Boston Market squash casserole is a great choice for guests who don’t eat meat. Cook zucchini and yellow squash with onions and chicken bouillon, then fold in crumbled Jiffy cornbread for texture. The thyme and fresh parsley keep it bright, and it works just as well on a weeknight.

7. Easy Homemade Scalloped Potatoes Recipe (No Cheese, Pure Comfort)

Scalloped potatoes are a must-have for a crowd, and this version skips the cheese for a pure cream and garlic flavor. Thin slices of russet potatoes simmer in butter, cream, and onion powder, then bake in a 2-quart dish at 350°F until golden. It is simple enough to make on a busy holiday morning.

8. Southern Squash Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping Recipe

This Southern squash casserole is for when your garden has more summer squash than you know what to do with. Yellow squash and sweet onion are bound with cream of celery soup, egg, and sharp cheddar. The buttered Ritz cracker topping turns crisp in the oven and gives every bite a crunch.

9. Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese Creamy & Delicious

Boston Market’s mac and cheese is hard to beat, and this copycat keeps the creamy texture without much fuss. A little dry mustard powder adds a tangy edge that sets it apart from plain mac and cheese. The whole thing is ready in about 30 minutes, with a short ingredient list you probably already have.

10. Yellow Squash Casserole from the Black Eyed Pea Restaurant

This Black Eyed Pea yellow squash casserole is a Southern home-style favorite, and it contains no black-eyed peas. Small, tender squash works best here, so the post walks you through picking good ones. Eggs, butter, and breadcrumbs bake into a rich casserole with a crispy golden top.

Thanksgiving is a lot of cooking, so start with one or two of these and see what your family reaches for first. Try a recipe, then come back and tell me how it turned out in the comments. I’ll be here with the next one.