34 Thanksgiving Classics That Still Taste Like Home

Some dishes just feel like a warm hug, the kind that brings Thanksgiving memories rushing back. Friends and family crowding the kitchen, passing down classics that make every year taste familiar in the best way. Even simple ingredients can still spark that cozy feeling, almost like being home again. It’s the kind of spread that keeps traditions alive without trying too hard.

Classic Cornbread Corn Pudding

A spoonful of cornbread corn pudding. — Cornbread Corn Pudding. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy Southern-style cornbread pudding that feels like home.
Get the Recipe: Classic Cornbread Corn Pudding

Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears

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

Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

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A fall-fresh side of roasted sweet potatoes with pears for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Pears

Sweet Potato Waffle Bites

A platter of sweet potato appetizers next to glasses of wine. — Sweet Potato Bites With Waffle Fries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crispy sweet potato bites with grape salsa and goat cheese for the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Waffle Bites

Stuffed Acorn Squash With Fruit & Nuts

Fruit And Nut Stuffed Acorn Squash. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fall flavors shine in this apple and spice-filled stuffed acorn squash.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash With Fruit & Nuts

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

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.

A nostalgic sweet potato casserole with a fluffy homemade marshmallow topping.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

Butternut Squash With Cranberries & Feta

A close-up of roasted butternut squash, apples, and cranberries topped with crumbled goat cheese on a black plate, perfect as one of your Thanksgiving sides. A red plaid napkin is partially visible in the background. — Roasted Butternut Squash With Cranberries And Feta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Oven-roasted butternut squash with cranberries and feta for a festive side.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash With Cranberries & Feta

Ham And Cheese Sliders On Hawaiian Rolls With Aioli

A slider being removed from a pan. — Ham And Cheese Sliders On Hawaiian Rolls With Aioli. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Game Day Alert! Juicy ham, melted Swiss cheese and aioli on soft Hawaiian rolls, baked to perfection and topped with a flavorful butter mixture.
Get the Recipe: Ham And Cheese Sliders On Hawaiian Rolls With Aioli

Vidalia Onion Dip

A scoop of onion dip on a pita chip. — Vidalia Onion Dip. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Vidalia onion dip is our all time favorite dip for parties or game day. Just a few simple ingredients make it the best onion dip around.
Get the Recipe: Vidalia Onion Dip

Stuffed Potato Skins

Bacon and cheese stuffed potato skins are loaded up into mini potatoes and baked for an easy crispy appetizer. Perfect finger food!
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Potato Skins

Puff Pastry Appetizers

French onion pastry bites on a platter with a glass of wine. — Puff Pastry Appetizers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Caramelized Onion Pastry Bites are just what you need to impress your friends. An easy make ahead appetizer just in time for the Thanksgiving
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Appetizers

Pretzel Sweet Potato Casserole

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

Sweet potato casserole with a buttery pretzel and pecan topping that’s irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Sweet Potato Casserole

Creamy Squash Casserole

A spoon lifting out a serving of pasta with squash. — Squash Casserole Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Hearty creamy squash pasta casserole perfect for a homey Thanksgiving side.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Squash Casserole

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.

Warm roasted potato salad with crispy bacon, a classic home-style side.
Get the Recipe: Warm Roasted Potato Salad With Bacon

Butternut Squash Salad With Pomegranate

Easy roasted squash salad with pomegranate seeds, ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Salad With Pomegranate

Cheesy Yellow Squash Casserole

A scoop of a squash casserole. — Yellow Squash Casserole With Ritz Crackers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cheesy squash casserole with Ritz topping, a timeless Thanksgiving favorite.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Yellow Squash Casserole

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Butter

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

Roasted cauliflower with browned butter and spice for a homey holiday side.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Roasted Cauliflower With Butter

Homemade Cranberry Walnut Sauce

A glass dish full of homemade cranberry sauce. — Homemade Cranberry Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet-tart cranberry sauce with walnuts and a splash of Grand Marnier.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cranberry Walnut Sauce

Baked Sweet Potato Pudding

Sweet potato pudding in a casserole dish next to serving spoons. — Sweet Potato Pudding. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Rich Southern-style sweet potato pudding, a custard favorite at Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato Pudding

Classic Thanksgiving Dressing

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

Healthy broccoli salad with honey-yogurt dressing for a classic Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Classic Thanksgiving Dressing

Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole with a serving spoon. — Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

An easy sweet potato casserole with bourbon, bacon, and a crunchy pecan streusel.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon Bacon Sweet Potato Casserole

Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

A casserole dish of butternut mac and cheese. — Roasted Butternut Squash Macaroni And Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This cozy mac & cheese features roasted butternut squash in a rich, creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Bacon Ranch Potato Salad for Holidays

Southern style Ranch potato salad in a glass bowl next to green onions. — Bacon Ranch Potato Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Classic potato salad with bacon, cheese, and creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Potato Salad for Holidays

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.

Comforting layered casserole with apples and sweet potatoes, sweet and savory for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Apple Sweet Potato Layered Casserole

Quick Loaded Mashed Potatoes

A serving spoon in a bowl of microwaved mashed potatoes. — Loaded Mashed Potatoes In The Microwave. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Microwave-loaded mashed potatoes ready in minutes, creamy and buttery for any feast.
Get the Recipe: Quick Loaded Mashed Potatoes

30-Minute Southern Candied Yams

Sweet potatoes cooking in a skillet. — Southern Candied Yams Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Simple, 3-ingredient candied yams with caramelized sweetness ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Southern Candied Yams

Crispy Gruyere Potatoes Au Gratin

Potatoes au gratin in a baking dish with a serving spoon. — Crispy Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyere. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Thinly sliced potatoes stacked for creamy, cheesy bites with crispy edges every time.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Gruyere Potatoes Au Gratin

Southern Sweet Potato Cornbread

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

Sweet potato cornbread with creamy texture and natural sweetness for holiday tables.
Get the Recipe: Southern Sweet Potato Cornbread

Butternut Squash Casserole with Rice

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

Comforting casserole with roasted squash, wild rice, and a crunchy parmesan topping.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Casserole with Rice

Classic Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

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

Potatoes and ham baked in creamy sauce with melted gruyere—a holiday classic.
Get the Recipe: Classic Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

Sweet Southern Cornbread Dressing

A serving spoon in a casserole dish of cornbread dressing. — Sweet and Savory Southern Cornbread Dressing – Never Dry. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet and savory Southern cornbread dressing made with herbs, veggies, and butter for holiday feasts.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Southern Cornbread Dressing

Cheesy Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes

A close-up of a spoon lifting a cheesy, creamy serving of scalloped potatoes with cream from a dish, with melted cheese on top and a small pile of shredded cheese in the background. — Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Casserole With Gruyere. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Thinly sliced Yukon gold potatoes baked with garlic, cream, and gruyere cheese for the ultimate comfort side.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes

Skillet Candied Sweet Potatoes

A bowl of glazed sweet potatoes garnished with chopped pecans. The sweet potatoes are caramelized and served in a rustic, white ceramic bowl placed on a gray cloth. A spoon is partially visible in the bowl. — Stove Top Candied Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet potatoes simmered in butter and brown sugar for a rich, holiday-ready side dish.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Candied Sweet Potatoes

Savory Bacon Butternut Squash Casserole

A Butternut Squash Casserole topped with golden breadcrumbs, chopped walnuts, and fresh parsley sits on a gray surface, surrounded by parsley sprigs, whole walnuts, two forks, and a plate. — Savory Butternut Squash Casserole With Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Roasted butternut squash with crispy bacon and herbs creates a savory, comforting holiday casserole.
Get the Recipe: Savory Bacon Butternut Squash Casserole

Sweet Potato & Tart Peach Casserole

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

Make-ahead sweet potato casserole with a twist of tart peaches for a bright, seasonal flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato & Tart Peach Casserole

Before the Turkey, Make These 22 Fall Sides Everyone Will Actually Eat

A collage of four Thanksgiving casseroles that deserve a comeback: mashed potatoes casserole, cranberry sauce, sliced and roasted sweet potatoes, and cheesy macaroni and cheese in bowls and trays.

Fall dinners are all about those cozy, crowd-pleasing dishes that somehow disappear before the turkey even hits the table. From buttery potatoes to roasted veggies with a little seasonal flair, these sides are the kind everyone will actually eat, no sad leftovers here.
Grab it here: Before the Turkey, Make These 22 Fall Sides Everyone Will Actually Eat

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