Thanksgiving dinner wouldn't be complete without a good selection of side dishes, and Southern cooking has some of the best. These Southern Thanksgiving side dishes include plenty of old-fashioned favorites that families have been making for generations. They're the kind of dishes everyone looks forward to, sometimes even more than the turkey!
You'll find everything from creamy casseroles and cheesy potatoes to smoky greens, buttery cornbread, and sweet potatoes. Some are traditional Southern recipes, while others are easy enough to make without spending all day in the kitchen. Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving or bringing a dish to share, there are plenty of good options to choose from below.
1. Strawberry Jello Salad – A Sweet Southern Thanksgiving Side
Cool, creamy, and fruity, this retro-style salad brings a fun splash of color to a table filled with warm comfort food. Its light sweetness offers a refreshing contrast to rich casseroles, buttery breads, and savory holiday dishes. Old-fashioned favorites like this can add a nostalgic touch to Southern family gatherings. Serve it chilled for an easy make-ahead option that gives the holiday spread a little something different.
2. Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping – Southern Holiday Favorite
Creamy sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy pecan layer create the kind of sweet-and-savory comfort that feels right at home on Thanksgiving. The contrast between the soft filling and crisp topping makes every spoonful more satisfying. This is one of those holiday classics that pairs beautifully with turkey and savory Southern dishes. It also looks warm and inviting on a crowded Thanksgiving table.
3. Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes – Classic Thanksgiving Comfort
Soft, buttery sweet potatoes coated in a glossy, warmly spiced sauce bring plenty of cozy holiday flavor without needing another casserole dish. Cooking them on the stovetop is especially handy when oven space is already taken by turkey, dressing, and casseroles. Their rich sweetness makes them a natural match for savory Southern Thanksgiving favorites. They are simple, comforting, and easy to spoon onto a holiday plate.
4. Southern Oyster Dressing – A Traditional Thanksgiving Side Dish
Southern oyster dressing brings a savory coastal twist to the traditional holiday spread. It combines the comforting character of classic dressing with tender oysters for a dish that feels both familiar and special. The soft center and flavorful baked top make it especially tempting beside turkey and gravy. This Southern classic is a great choice when you want a Thanksgiving side with deep regional roots.
5. Smoky Southern Collard Greens for Thanksgiving
Slow-cooked collard greens bring smoky, savory flavor to a table filled with rich casseroles and sweeter holiday dishes. Their tender texture and comforting taste make them a natural partner for turkey, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese. Collard greens have long been connected with Southern cooking, so they help give the holiday spread a more traditional feel. They are especially good for balancing heavier dishes without feeling out of place on the plate.
6. Southern Cornbread Dressing – A Holiday Table Classic
Cornbread dressing is warm, savory, and exactly the kind of comfort food many families look forward to when Thanksgiving arrives. Its soft, hearty texture soaks up gravy beautifully and pairs naturally with roasted turkey. This familiar favorite gives your collection of Southern Thanksgiving side dishes an unmistakably traditional touch. Comforting and hearty, it is the kind of dish people often return to for another spoonful.
7. Southern Candied Yams – Sweet Thanksgiving Comfort Food
Tender yams coated in a rich, buttery glaze bring sweetness and warmth to the Thanksgiving plate. Their soft texture and caramel-like flavor create a delicious contrast to smoky greens, savory dressing, and roasted turkey. Candied yams are closely associated with Southern and soul-food holiday tables, making them a natural fit here. Their glossy finish also makes them especially inviting when served family-style.
8. Southern Sweet Potato Casserole – A Cozy Holiday Side
Fluffy sweet potatoes baked into a warm casserole give the holiday table that familiar homemade comfort everyone loves. Its creamy center and sweet topping create an irresistible contrast with savory Thanksgiving favorites. This is an easy dish to place alongside turkey, greens, dressing, and other Southern favorites without competing with them. It also works beautifully for family-style serving when you're feeding a crowd.
9. Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing – Southern Thanksgiving Favorite
This old-fashioned dressing delivers the savory, home-cooked flavor that makes a Southern Thanksgiving meal feel complete. Cornbread gives it a hearty base, while its soft center and lightly browned top create that classic holiday texture. It pairs beautifully with turkey and gravy while still being satisfying enough to stand out on its own. For anyone craving traditional Southern comfort, this is one of the dishes that truly captures the feeling of Thanksgiving.
10. Southern Squash Casserole – Creamy Thanksgiving Side Dish
Tender squash baked into a creamy casserole and finished with a crisp, buttery topping makes this an easy dish to love. It adds a vegetable to the table without losing the rich comfort-food character expected from a Southern holiday meal. The combination of creamy and crunchy textures keeps every bite interesting. Warm and comforting, it fits naturally beside turkey, dressing, greens, and other Thanksgiving favorites.
11. Southern Green Beans Recipe – Savory Thanksgiving Side
These Southern-style green beans are cooked until tender and full of savory, smoky flavor rather than being served crisp and barely cooked. That slower, homestyle approach gives them the comforting character that works so well on a Thanksgiving plate. They also provide a welcome savory break between sweeter sides like yams and sweet potato casserole. This Southern staple belongs beside cornbread, turkey, and all the holiday fixings.
12. Southern Broccoli Casserole for Thanksgiving
Broccoli casserole turns a familiar vegetable into something creamy, cheesy, and worthy of a holiday table. Its comforting texture makes it easy to serve alongside traditional dishes without feeling like an everyday vegetable side. A crisp topping adds a satisfying finish that contrasts beautifully with the creamy center. It is one of those crowd-friendly sides that may even tempt guests who usually skip the broccoli.
13. Southern Butter Beans Recipe – Homestyle Holiday Side Dish
Tender, creamy butter beans bring simple Southern comfort to a Thanksgiving spread packed with casseroles and richer dishes. Their mild, savory flavor pairs easily with turkey, greens, cornbread, and other traditional favorites. They offer something hearty without needing another cheesy or sweet casserole on the table. Homestyle goodness makes this a particularly welcoming addition to a family-style holiday meal.
14. Southern Fried Cabbage – Smoky Thanksgiving Favorite
Southern fried cabbage turns a humble vegetable into a savory, deeply comforting side dish. Tender cabbage with smoky flavor provides a delicious contrast to sweeter holiday favorites and creamy casseroles. It is hearty enough to earn its place among classic Southern Thanksgiving side dishes while adding more variety to the plate. Simple and satisfying, this is the kind of recipe that proves holiday vegetables do not have to be boring.
15. Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese – Ultimate Holiday Comfort
Few dishes disappear faster from a Southern holiday table than a pan of creamy baked macaroni and cheese. A rich, cheesy center topped with a beautifully baked crust delivers the contrast of textures that makes every serving hard to resist. It pairs effortlessly with turkey, greens, dressing, and sweet potatoes, making it one of the most versatile Thanksgiving favorites. Bring it to the table bubbling and golden, and don't be surprised when people come back for seconds.
16. Classic Southern Spoon Bread Recipe – Soft and Buttery Thanksgiving Side
Southern spoon bread falls somewhere between cornbread and a soft, comforting pudding, giving the Thanksgiving table a wonderfully different texture. It is tender enough to scoop with a spoon and mild enough to pair with everything from turkey to smoky greens. Its old-fashioned character brings another traditional touch without repeating a standard pan of cornbread. Soft and comforting, it is especially good for soaking up gravy and savory juices from the plate.
17. Macaroni Pie – A Shareable Southern Thanksgiving Favorite
Macaroni pie takes familiar mac and cheese comfort and gives it a firmer, sliceable finish that makes serving a crowd easy. Beneath its golden baked top is a rich, creamy center packed with satisfying cheesy flavor. It feels special enough for Thanksgiving while still delivering the familiar comfort everyone hopes to find on a Southern holiday table. Rich and indulgent, it is the kind of side that can quickly become one of the most requested dishes at dinner.
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