By Leah Jones
There’s a reason that every November you hear countless people claim that Thanksgiving sides are the best part of their holiday meal.
Here are some of the best, classic Thanksgiving sides that you cannot go wrong with on your dinner table. Guests are guaranteed to enjoy!
Classic Southern dressing (or stuffing when it’s cooked inside the turkey) is made with cornbread, onions, celery, herbs (like sage and thyme) and chicken stock. You can also add a little meat like sausage or turkey.
Cranberry sauce is a sweet and tart relish that can be served as a condiment on the turkey or eaten as a side. It’s also easily available and delicious in a can.
Green bean casserole a creamy casserole made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup and topped with crispy fried onions. The end result is creamy as well as savory and crunchy.
This is undoubtedly another Southern favorite, but loved all around the country. Mashed sweet potatoes are mixed with brown sugar and butter, often topped with either marshmallows or a pecan streusel.
A variety of vegetables make for great Thanksgiving sides. These include roasted or glazed carrots, parsnips, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts or other seasonal vegetables.
Collard greens are also a vegetable but they stand on their own as a signature side in Black American and Southern households. Collards are slow-cooked and often seasoned with bacon or ham hocks, onions and vinegar.
This sweet, buttery and/or spiced side is loved around the country. Sliced yams (or sweet potatoes) are cooked with brown sugar, butter and sometimes cinnamon or marshmallows, creating a sweet, caramelized dish.
Bread has many forms for Thanksgiving sides. Moist, slightly sweet cornbread (often with butter or honey) is one option. You can also serve soft, fluffy bread rolls or flaky biscuits that perfectly sop up gravy.
Everyone prepares their mac and cheese differently for Thanksgiving, but you can’t go wrong with baked, creamy on the inside and crisp on the top with a blend of cheddar and other cheeses.
Many households serve mashed potatoes as one of their Thanksgiving sides. Creamy garlic or loaded mashed potatoes can be enjoyed by everyone and are perfect with gravy.