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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    20 Thanksgiving Sides So Good, People Fight Over Them

    Published: Oct 26, 2025 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    Every year, the real stars of the Thanksgiving table aren’t the turkey or the pie, it’s those unforgettable sides everyone piles their plates with first. We’re talking creamy, crunchy, buttery goodness that people actually plan their outfits around just to go back for seconds. These dishes are so good, families have been known to debate over who gets the last scoop. Get ready for a lineup of Thanksgiving favorites that might just steal the whole show.

    Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Upgrade

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


     

    This homemade green bean casserole ditches the canned soup for rich, creamy flavor that’ll have everyone begging for seconds.
    Get the Recipe: Ultimate Green Bean Casserole Upgrade

    Fluffy Mashed Potato Rolls Delight

    mashed potato rolls in a white towel.
    Fluffy Mashed Potato Rolls Delight. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

    Turn your mashed potatoes into soft, buttery rolls so good they’ll never make it past the bread basket.
    Get the Recipe: Fluffy Mashed Potato Rolls Delight

    Honey Glazed Hasselback Potatoes

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

    These honey-drizzled Hasselback sweet potatoes are crisp, caramelized, and dangerously addictive—watch them vanish fast.
    Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Hasselback Potatoes

    Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Crave

    Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Crave. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Loaded with cheesy goodness and crunchy panko topping, this zucchini casserole is the surprise hit of any Thanksgiving spread.
    Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Crave

    Crispy Roasted Potatoes & Onions

    Crispy Roasted Potatoes & Onions. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Perfectly golden and seasoned, these roasted potatoes with onions are crispy outside, tender inside, and totally addictive.
    Get the Recipe: Crispy Roasted Potatoes & Onions

    Irresistible 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.
    Irresistible Candied Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    These buttery, brown-sugar candied sweet potatoes are melt-in-your-mouth good. A classic side that disappears before the turkey does.
    Get the Recipe: Irresistible Candied Sweet Potatoes

    Fluffy Yeast Rolls Everyone Fights For

    Fluffy Yeast Rolls Everyone Fights For. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Soft, golden, and buttery, these homemade yeast rolls are the first to vanish at Thanksgiving. You’ll wish you doubled the batch.
    Get the Recipe: Fluffy Yeast Rolls Everyone Fights For

    Creamy Southern Spoon Bread Bliss

    A serving spoon full of spoon bread.
    Creamy Southern Spoon Bread Bliss. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This custardy spoon bread is soft, rich, and buttery—half cornbread, half pudding, and totally crave-worthy at any holiday table.
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Southern Spoon Bread Bliss

    Crisp Apple Waldorf Salad Magic

    A bowl of apple salad with a serving spoon.
    Crisp Apple Waldorf Salad Magic. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Crunchy apples, walnuts, and celery tossed in a creamy dressing bring a refreshing bite to your Thanksgiving feast.
    Get the Recipe: Crisp Apple Waldorf Salad Magic

    Butternut Squash Rice Bake Perfection

    A serving spoon in a baking dish of butternut squash casserole.
    Butternut Squash Rice Bake Perfection. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This creamy butternut squash and wild rice casserole is cozy, flavorful, and topped with golden parmesan crunch your guests will fight for.
    Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Rice Bake Perfection

    Decadent Port Fig Cranberry Sauce

    Cranberry sauce in a bowl with fresh cranberries
    Decadent Port Fig Cranberry Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Sweet, tart, and elegant, this cranberry sauce with port wine and figs upgrades any Thanksgiving plate instantly.
    Get the Recipe: Decadent Port Fig Cranberry Sauce

    Sweet Apple & Potato Bake Showdown

    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.
    Sweet Apple & Potato Bake Showdown. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Layers of tender apples and creamy sweet potatoes bake into one heavenly side dish you’ll never have leftovers of.
    Get the Recipe: Sweet Apple & Potato Bake Showdown

    Sweet Potato Marshmallow Dream Bake

    A spoon dipping out a portion of sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping.
    Sweet Potato Marshmallow Dream Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Skip the bagged marshmallows—this homemade meringue-topped sweet potato casserole is light, fluffy, and unforgettable.
    Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Marshmallow Dream Bake

    Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Supreme

    A serving spoon removing some potato and ham casserole.
    Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Supreme. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Rich, creamy, and layered with cheese and ham, these scalloped potatoes might just outshine the turkey.
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Supreme

    Cheesy Broccoli Rice Holiday Bake

    A skillet of chicken rice and broccoli casserole.
    Cheesy Broccoli Rice Holiday Bake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Skip the canned soup—this cheesy broccoli rice casserole is fresh, creamy, and full of crowd-pleasing flavor.
    Get the Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli Rice Holiday Bake

    Tall & Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

    Square biscuits baked on parchment paper.
    Tall & Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    These towering, buttery biscuits are perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside—grab one fast before they’re gone.
    Get the Recipe: Tall & Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits

    Southern Corn Pudding Gold

    A baked corn pudding with a serving spoon removing a portion.
    Southern Corn Pudding Gold. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Sweet, creamy, and perfectly baked—this Southern corn pudding is pure comfort and the ultimate crowd favorite.
    Get the Recipe: Southern Corn Pudding Gold

    Savory Italian Sausage Stuffing

    A casserole dish of baked stuffing with a serving spoon.
    Savory Italian Sausage Stuffing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Bold and hearty, this sourdough and sausage stuffing delivers the flavor punch your Thanksgiving table needs.
    Get the Recipe: Savory Italian Sausage Stuffing

    Southern Candied Yams Glory

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

    These buttery, caramelized yams are rich, sweet, and utterly irresistible—don’t expect any leftovers.
    Get the Recipe: Southern Candied Yams Glory

    Sweet & Savory Cornbread Dressing

    A baked cornbread stuffing.
    Sweet & Savory Cornbread Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Moist, herby, and golden brown, this Southern cornbread dressing has that perfect sweet-savory balance that steals the show.
    Get the Recipe: Sweet & Savory Cornbread Dressing

    Recipes Grandma Brought to Every Potluck—21 Dishes That 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.
    Recipes Grandma Brought to Every Potluck—21 Dishes That 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: Recipes Grandma Brought to Every Potluck—21 Dishes That Still Steal the Show

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    Barbara holds a tote bag filled with flowers, baguettes, and fresh produce at an indoor market.

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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