# Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/cooking-popular-thanksgiving-side-dishes/
- Published: 2026-10-24T05:51:28-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

In America, Thanksgiving dinner the classics are usually preferred.  Lamb, ham, 
and beef may come into the picture for other holidays and celebrations, but in most
cases, turkey and many side and desserts make Thanksgiving.

## Turkey Is One Of The Favorite Dishes On The Thanksgiving Table

Everyone loves Thanksgiving, and let’s face it, turkey is one of the favorite dishes
on the Thanksgiving table. Thanksgiving turkey may not be any of my favorite dishes,
but I’d feel wrong if I excluded that my uncle never married. Turkey is a turkey
fan, but many people consider the side dish the true star of the Thanksgiving meal.

## Favorite Side Dishes

The side dishes are the real reasons to love Thanksgiving. When it comes to the 
big four, you’ll find a side for everyone on Thanksgiving, and that should be on
your plate. One of the greatest things about Thanksgiving dinner.  Some of the most
popular Thanksgiving side dishes are:

 * Creamy [Mashed Potatoes](https://lifeandwork.blog/recipe-basic-mashed-potatoes/),
 * [Brussels Sprouts](https://lifeandwork.blog/simple-and-sweet-holiday-roasted-brussel-sprouts-recipe/),
 * [Cranberry Sauce](https://lifeandwork.blog/recipe-lemon-cranberry-sauce/), And
 * Gravy.

## 󠀁[Mac And Cheese](https://lifeandwork.blog/cooking-making-a-macaroni-and-cheese-casserole/)󠁿

When you get macs and cheese right, it takes a while to put them together, making
them the perfect dish for a special occasion like Thanksgiving. Green bean casserole
may not be the most seraphic dish on the table, but it does not have to be. This
blend of cheese and spinach makes a delicious side dish, and while it’s not just
for Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t rate it that highly.

There’s not much that surpasses macaroni and cheese as a side dish at the Thanksgiving
table. Mac and cheese are more of a regular all-day meal, so using it as an accompaniment
to other dishes is a smart move on Thanksgiving.

## 󠀁[Cranberry Sauce](https://lifeandwork.blog/cooking-making-a-macaroni-and-cheese-casserole/)󠁿

Cranberry sauce is considered the quintessential Thanksgiving side dish and one 
of the states prefer it the most. Another side dish not normally associated with
Thanksgiving is buns, which are also popular in West Virginia.

## 󠀁[Sweet Potatoes](https://lifeandwork.blog/recipe-candied-yams-sweet-potatoes/)󠁿

Although sweet potatoes are considered a traditional Thanksgiving dish, they did
not appear on the table on the first Thanksgiving. Sweet potato cake is my favorite
dish because of the roasted marshmallows that go well with the pureed sweet potatoes.
If you coat the top of a sweet potato with marshmallow, it becomes a dessert instead
of a side dish.

Sweet potatoes are sweet potato-based root vegetables packed with beta-carotene 
and give the dish a certain similarity as a healthy accompaniment. Green bean casserole
makes the ground, but at least one of the least favored sides deserves a seat on
the table.

## America’s Thanksgiving Classics

In a Ranking of America’s Thanksgiving Classic dishes:

 * Turkey – 83%,
 * [Mashed Potatoes](https://lifeandwork.blog/recipe-basic-mashed-potatoes/) – 78%
 * [stuffing](https://lifeandwork.blog/2022/10/18/recipe-grandmas-poultry-dressing/)
   and [Dressings](https://lifeandwork.blog/2022/10/18/recipe-grandmas-poultry-dressing/)–
   77%,
 * [Buttered Corn](https://lifeandwork.blog/holiday-butter-corn-recipe/) – 60%,
 * [Sweetbreads and Corn Bread](https://lifeandwork.blog/holiday-cranberry-and-orange-loaf-bread/)–
   57%,
 * [Green Bean Casserole](https://lifeandwork.blog/recipe-green-bean-casserole/)–
   57%, and
 * [Potato Salad](https://lifeandwork.blog/southern-bliss-the-ultimate-classic-southern-potato-salad-recipe/)–
   57%

## Side Dish Combinations

Brussels sprouts may not be a glamorous Thanksgiving side dish, but they bring real
nutritional value to the table. Rolls aren’t the star of Thanksgiving side dishes,
but mashed potatoes and stuffing plates wouldn’t be complete without a warm butter
bun. These buns are the side you should eat with your family every night, and bread
is loved on Thanksgiving.

This combination of flavors makes cranberry sauce such a versatile dish for the 
entire Thanksgiving table. It is a classic dish that most people enjoy at a specific
time of the year and enjoy eating every Thanksgiving. Even though some people don’t
think of it as a traditional Thanksgiving dish, it’s absolutely perfect.

Thanksgiving is a tradition so ingrained in American society that most of the food
served with a massive turkey meal, [stuffing](https://lifeandwork.blog/2022/10/18/recipe-grandmas-poultry-dressing/),
potatoes, cranberry sauce, and other fixations is synonymous with the holiday. According
to the states ‘ favorite side dishes, the traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu can
vary depending on where you live.

Cooking – Popular Thanksgiving Side Dishes

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