25 Thanksgiving Sides Grandma Would Make First

Every family’s Thanksgiving table has that one dish everyone rushes for before the turkey even hits the plate, right? Those cozy, classic recipes that taste like home are exactly what we’re talking about with these Thanksgiving sides grandma would make first. Think buttery mashed potatoes, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and stuffing that smells like pure nostalgia. These are the kinds of sides that bring everyone back for seconds, and maybe even thirds.

Grandma’s Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Bake

A serving of butternut squash casserole. — Grandma’s Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This golden butternut squash and wild rice casserole is the kind of side dish Grandma always made first — creamy, nutty, and topped with buttery crunch you’ll crave every Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Butternut Squash & Wild Rice Bake

Scalloped Potatoes Like Grandma’s

A serving spoon removing some potato and ham casserole. — Scalloped Potatoes Like Grandma’s. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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These creamy scalloped potatoes with bits of ham taste like the ones Grandma pulled from the oven every Thanksgiving — rich, cheesy, and impossible to stop eating.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes Like Grandma’s

Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

A spoon full of marshmallow topped sweet potato casserole. — Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This nostalgic sweet potato casserole with homemade marshmallow topping tastes like pure Thanksgiving comfort — soft, fluffy, and straight from Grandma’s kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole

Grandma’s Cheesy Potato Bake

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. — Grandma’s Cheesy Potato Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This bubbling cheesy potato casserole with gruyere and cream brings all the cozy Thanksgiving nostalgia — just like Grandma’s, only richer.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cheesy Potato Bake

Homemade Green Bean Casserole

A serving spoon in a green bean casserole made from scratch, — Homemade Green Bean Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Skip the cans and make Grandma proud — this homemade green bean casserole is silky, savory, and made completely from scratch with real cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole

Grandma’s Corn & Blueberry Salad

A clear glass bowl of corn salad with blueberries. — Grandma’s Corn & Blueberry Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet corn meets juicy blueberries in this bright Thanksgiving salad Grandma always made to balance out all the creamy sides.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Corn & Blueberry Salad

Cranberry Sauce Like Grandma Made

Cranberry sauce in a bowl with fresh cranberries — Cranberry Sauce Like Grandma Made. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This old-school cranberry sauce with port and figs turns simple berries into something Grandma would’ve called “holiday magic.” Sweet, tart, and unforgettable.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce Like Grandma Made

Roasted Asparagus & Mushrooms

A platter of asparagus with mushrooms next to a container of balsamic vinegar — Roasted Asparagus & Mushrooms. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy balsamic asparagus and mushroom side roasts up tender and flavorful — the kind of simple, elegant dish Grandma served with pride.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus & Mushrooms

Classic Southern Squash Casserole

A scoop of a squash casserole. — Classic Southern Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This buttery squash casserole, baked until golden and creamy, is exactly the kind of crowd-pleasing side Grandma made every Thanksgiving without fail.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern Squash Casserole

Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese Classic

Rich, cheesy, and hands-off, this slow cooker mac and cheese tastes like Grandma’s comfort food dream — and it’s always the first to vanish at Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese Classic

Grandma’s Green Bean Potato Salad

A platter of green bean and potato salad. — Grandma’s Green Bean Potato Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This green bean and potato salad tastes like something straight from Grandma’s kitchen—simple, hearty, and made for Thanksgiving tables.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Green Bean Potato Salad

Butternut Squash Bake with Bacon

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. — Butternut Squash Bake with Bacon. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet squash, salty bacon, and a buttery topping—this is the kind of side dish Grandma made to steal the Thanksgiving spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Bake with Bacon

Old-Fashioned Hot Water Cornbread

A rack of hot water cornbread with butter and honey. — Old-Fashioned Hot Water Cornbread. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crispy on the outside, tender inside—this hot water cornbread is a Southern Thanksgiving staple Grandma wouldn’t skip.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Hot Water Cornbread

Roasted Cranberry Grape Relish

A white bowl of cranberry sauce with grapes. — Roasted Cranberry Grape Relish. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Grandma always had cranberry sauce—but this version with grapes brings a fruity twist that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cranberry Grape Relish

Creamy Corn Casserole with Ham

A serving spoon in a corn casserole. — Creamy Corn Casserole with Ham. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This rich, creamy corn casserole has that cheesy, comforting flavor you remember from Grandma’s holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Corn Casserole with Ham

Grandma’s Classic Cranberry Sauce

A bowl of homemade cranberry sauce with walnuts sits on a beige napkin on a dark plate, with a silver spoon and extra walnut pieces beside it on a blue and gray background. — Grandma’s Classic Cranberry Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This homemade cranberry sauce has a splash of Grand Marnier and crunchy walnuts—just like Grandma used to make for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Classic Cranberry Sauce

Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

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

Butter, sugar, and nostalgia—these candied sweet potatoes are the kind Grandma made every Thanksgiving without fail.
Get the Recipe: Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

Broccoli and Cheddar Bake

A spoon full of cheesy broccoli casserole in a baking dish. — Broccoli and Cheddar Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cheesy, creamy, and baked to bubbly perfection—this broccoli casserole is Grandma’s go-to way to get everyone eating their veggies.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Cheddar Bake

Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

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

Rich, creamy, and unbelievably smooth—these mashed potatoes are just the kind Grandma served beside her Thanksgiving turkey.
Get the Recipe: Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

A spoon scooping out creamy mac and cheese from a black bowl. — Baked Macaroni and Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Nothing says comfort like Grandma’s baked mac and cheese—creamy inside, crispy on top, and impossible to resist.
Get the Recipe: Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Apple Sweet Potato 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. — Apple Sweet Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Layers of apples and sweet potatoes make this nostalgic casserole one Grandma always made when fall rolled around.
Get the Recipe: Apple Sweet Potato Casserole

Broccoli Cranberry Salad

A bowl of broccoli salad on a serving tray. — Broccoli Cranberry Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet, tangy, and crunchy—this broccoli cranberry salad is just the kind of bright side dish Grandma loved to serve.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cranberry Salad

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

A spoon taking out a serving of cauliflower casserole. — Cheesy Cauliflower Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This creamy cauliflower bake has the cheesy richness and cozy warmth Grandma loved in her Thanksgiving casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Grandma’s Creamed Corn

A skillet filled with creamy, cooked corn kernels being stirred by a wooden spoon. The creamed corn appears to be seasoned and mixed with a rich, creamy substance, creating a luscious texture. The background is a grayish cooking surface. — Grandma’s Creamed Corn. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Butter, cream, and sweet corn—this skillet creamed corn is pure Thanksgiving nostalgia, just how Grandma made it.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Creamed Corn

Sweet Potato Peach Casserole

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

Sweet potatoes and peaches come together for a cozy, old-fashioned casserole that tastes like Grandma’s love in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Peach Casserole

Growing Up in the ’80s Meant Eating These 14 Dishes Again and Again

Three casserole dishes filled with baked cheesy casseroles—if you grew up in the 80s, you’ll recognize these dinner classics. Enjoy a close-up of sliced potatoes and a ground beef-topped casserole, all smothered in melted cheddar cheese and herbs. — Growing Up in the ’80s Meant Eating These 14 Dishes Again and Again. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Those family dinners and school lunches from the 80s weren’t just meals—they were memories served on a plate. From cozy casseroles to the quirky snacks we couldn’t stop eating, the flavors became the comfort food of an entire generation. Even now, it’s amazing how those simple dishes can stir up so much nostalgia.
Grab it here: Growing Up in the ’80s Meant Eating These 14 Dishes Again and Again

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