31 Southern Sides That Steal the Spotlight Every Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey—those Southern side dishes often end up stealing the spotlight every year. From buttery casseroles to perfectly seasoned greens, the sides bring so much flavor and personality to the table. This collection celebrates all the Southern sides that shine brightest during Thanksgiving week, giving each meal a little extra charm and nostalgia. Trust me, these are the kinds of dishes everyone looks forward to before the main course even hits the table.

Sweet Potato Skillet Cornbread Magic

Cornbread baked in an iron skillet. — Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Warm, tender cornbread infused with sweet potatoes brings a cozy Southern vibe to your Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Sweet Potato Cornbread

Honey Glazed Green Bean & Potato Salad

A platter of green bean and potato salad. — Green Beans And New Potato Salad With Honey Vinaigrette. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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This vibrant green bean and potato salad with honey vinaigrette adds a fresh, irresistible touch to your Thanksgiving sides.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans And New Potato Salad With Honey Vinaigrette

Festive Broccoli Cranberry Salad

A bowl of broccoli salad on a serving tray. — Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy broccoli meets sweet cranberries for a colorful, crowd-pleasing salad that brightens any holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing

Creamy Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Bake

A serving spoon in a baking dish of butternut squash casserole. — Butternut Squash Casserole With Wild Rice. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Rich and cheesy butternut squash casserole layered with wild rice makes for a standout Southern side dish.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Casserole With Wild Rice

Southern Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

A serving spoon removing some potato and ham casserole. — Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes And Ham. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy scalloped potatoes paired with savory ham make this classic Southern side a must-have for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes And Ham

Apple & Sweet Potato Layered Casserole

A close-up of a freshly baked apple crumble pie in a white dish, with a golden-brown crumb topping—perfect for Thanksgiving Apple Desserts. Whole apples and a towel are in the background. — Layered Apple And Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet potatoes and tender apples combine in this layered bake, creating a comforting Southern side that feels like home.
Get the Recipe: Layered Apple And Sweet Potato Casserole

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Pears

Balsamic vinegar being poured over roasted sweet potatoes. — Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Caramelized sweet potatoes roasted with pears make a rustic, flavorful side that’s perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears

Classic Candied Sweet Potatoes

A bowl filled with southern candied yams and sweet potatoes, covered in a shiny brown sugar syrup, with a spoon scooping some out. — Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet, buttery candied sweet potatoes bring nostalgic Southern flavors straight to your holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes

Fluffy Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet potato biscuits in an iron skillet. — Easy Sweet Potato Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Light, fluffy biscuits with sweet potato warmth make an irresistible Southern side for Thanksgiving feasts.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Biscuits

Southern Sweet Potato Pudding

A spoon full of sweet potato pudding. — Sweet Potato Pudding. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy, spiced sweet potato pudding that evokes comforting Southern Sundays and shared holiday memories.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pudding

Peach & Sweet Potato Casserole

A Spoon full of sweet potato casserole. — Sweet Potato Casserole With Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This comforting casserole pairs sweet potatoes and peaches for a bright, Southern-inspired Thanksgiving side.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Peaches

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole in Minutes

A spoon full of cheesy broccoli casserole in a baking dish. — Quick Broccoli & Cheese Sauce Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Ready in no time, this cheesy broccoli casserole is a creamy, crowd-pleasing Southern side for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Quick Broccoli & Cheese Sauce Casserole

Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

Butter on top of a bowl of mashed potatoes. — Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Mascarpone Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Velvety Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with mascarpone cheese offer a decadent, make-ahead Thanksgiving side.
Get the Recipe: Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Mascarpone Cheese

Red Cabbage Coleslaw Twist

A bowl of creamy coleslaw with shredded purple cabbage, carrots, and herbs sits on a gray cloth napkin next to vintage silver utensils—perfect as one of your favorite dinner side dishes. — Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw With Buttermilk. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy, colorful red cabbage coleslaw adds a tangy, festive flair to any Thanksgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw With Buttermilk

Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes

A close-up of homemade scalloped potatoes with a golden, bubbly cheese and cream topping, sprinkled with black pepper. A serving spoon rests in the dish, and a small bowl of grated cheese is visible in the background. — Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Golden, cheesy scalloped potatoes with Gruyere create a rich, indulgent Southern side that steals the Thanksgiving spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere

Warm Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon

A glass bowl of roasted potato salad — No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This warm roasted potato salad mixes crispy bacon with tender potatoes for a comforting holiday side. Ideal for potlucks or a simple family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Warm Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon

Sweet & Crunchy Carrot Raisin Salad

A bowl of carrot raisin salad with a serving spoon. — Old Fashioned Carrot Salad With Raisins. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This sweet, crunchy carrot salad adds a burst of color and flavor to any Southern table. A simple side your guests will rave about.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Carrot Salad With Raisins

Spiced Sweet Potato Chili Delight

A bowl of chili with sweet potatoes with a spoon — Sweet Potato Chili Recipe Without Beans. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Hearty sweet potatoes and warm spices make this chili a standout side for Southern feasts. Cozy flavors that feel homemade in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Chili Recipe Without Beans

Bacon-Smothered Sweet Potato Casserole

A casserole dish of mashed sweet potato casserole with bourbon.

Sweet potatoes meet smoky bacon in this rich, Southern casserole. Perfectly indulgent for holiday tables that demand attention.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon

Pretzel-Topped Sweet Potato Surprise

A large spoon full of sweet potato casserole. — Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crunchy pretzels on velvety sweet potatoes make this Southern casserole impossible to resist. Every bite hits that perfect sweet-salty note.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Creamy Southern Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes With Two Types Of Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Layers of sweet potatoes smothered in a velvety sauce make this dish a Southern Sunday essential. Comfort in every forkful.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Sweet Potatoes With Two Types Of Potatoes

Pecan Sticky Buns with Sweet Potato Twist

A platter of sticky buns next to some cups. — Pecan Sticky Buns With Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Soft, gooey sweet potato buns coated in a Southern pecan glaze—your ultimate breakfast or dessert side for holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Sticky Buns With Sweet Potatoes

Light Sweet Potato & Pear Soufflé

A baked sweet potato souffle in a casserole dish next to serving spoons. — Easy Sweet Potato Souffle With Pear. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Airy sweet potato soufflé with pear adds a light, elegant twist to Southern sides. Perfect for holiday gatherings that impress.
Get the Recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Souffle With Pear

Spiced Browned Butter Cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower with brown butter in a serving bowl. — Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Browned Butter. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Roasted cauliflower gets a Southern flavor boost with browned butter and a hint of spice. Perfectly crisp and festive.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Browned Butter

Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Casserole

A broccoli rice casserole in a skillet. — Creamy Broccoli Rice Casserole Without Canned Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This creamy broccoli rice casserole skips canned soup for a fresh, Southern-inspired flavor that makes every bite irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Rice Casserole Without Canned Soup

Southern Sweet Potato Cornbread

Southern Recipe For Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This tender, sweet potato cornbread brings Southern comfort to your table, perfect for any Thanksgiving or Sunday spread.
Get the Recipe: Southern Recipe For Sweet Potato Cornbread

Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts

Easy Crisp-Tender Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts get a golden, crisp finish in this rustic Southern side, ideal for festive Thanksgiving tables.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crisp-Tender Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Sweet Potatoes

Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

How To Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Rich and buttery mashed sweet potatoes that steal the show at any Southern feast. Smooth, creamy, and unforgettable.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Sweet Potato Recipes

Apple Cobbler with Sweet Potato Biscuits

A cast iron skillet filled with golden-brown sweet potato biscuits baked atop a gooey apple cobbler filling, with a beige striped kitchen towel partially visible on the left side. — Apple Cobbler With Sweet Potato Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Soft sweet potato biscuits layered over warm apples create a Southern dessert that families will fight over.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cobbler With Sweet Potato Biscuits

Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

A spoon dipping out a portion of sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping. — Sweet Potato Casserole With Homemade Marshmallow Topping. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Gooey marshmallow topping transforms sweet potatoes into a Southern holiday favorite that everyone will fight for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Homemade Marshmallow Topping

Honey-Glazed Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Hasselback sweet potatoes on a black platter with honey on the side. — Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Honey. Photo Credit: Butter and Baggage.

Elegant, fanned-out sweet potatoes drizzled with honey make a stunning Southern side that tastes as good as it looks.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Honey

21 Potluck Recipes Grandma Always Brought—And They Still Steal the Show.

Three different potato salads: a creamy potato salad with bacon, a loaded layered potato salad with cheese and green onions, and a roasted potato salad with herbs, all served in clear bowls. — 21 Potluck Recipes Grandma Always Brought—And They Still Steal the Show.. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Grandma’s potluck dishes always had a way of stealing the spotlight—gone before you even grabbed a plate. From those cheesy bakes to her famous pies, every recipe carried both comfort and a touch of nostalgia. It’s the kind of cooking that reminds us why some classics never fade, proving they’ll always have a place at the table.
Grab it here: 21 Potluck Recipes Grandma Always Brought—And They Still Steal the Show.

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