55 Unique Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Will Pair Perfectly With the Turkey

Scalloped potatoes are a classic, and this recipe incorporates pumpkins, which makes it that much better. With every bite, you'll get notes of sweet pumpkin puree, creamy cheddar cheese, and warm potatoes.

Get the recipe: pumpkin and cheddar scalloped potatoes

You've heard of twice-baked potatoes, but have you heard of twice-baked acorn squash? These cute little cups are filled with all the best flavors of the season along with creamy maple butter and crunchy pecans. Yum!

Get the recipe: twice-baked acorn squash with maple butter and pecans

Take stuffing to a place it has never been before with this red-hot recipe. Featuring oysters and kimchi, it's exactly what your meal needs if you're ready to break out of the traditional stuffing norm.

Get the recipe: oyster kimchi stuffing

You can never have enough corn (especially on the Thanksgiving table!), and this recipe will prove why. With sweet corn, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar, and more, it's effortlessly rich, hearty, and wonderous.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker corn pudding

If you have a slow cooker, this will be your new favorite recipe in no time. Blue cheese lends a sharp, pungent tang to the naturally sweet potatoes, and the thyme gives a fresh, earthy flavor to this tasty recipe.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker sweet potatoes with thyme and blue cheese

If we didn't have you at "goat cheese" and "mashed potatoes," get this: these rich and velvety spuds are made with just a few staple ingredients and can be prepped up to three days ahead of time. Also, it's an Ina Garten recipe. So, enough said.

Get the recipe: Ina Garten's make-ahead goat cheese baked mashed potatoes

Give the classic casserole a makeover with this buttery and bourbon-y recipe. Rich bacon pecans are layered on top of hearty potatoes, meaning your taste buds will get the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

Get the recipe: bourbon sweet potato casserole with bacon and pecans

If you need soup, and you need soup quick, this is the recipe for you! It's easy, tasty, and full of flavor.

Get the recipe: 30-minute butternut squash and cider soup

Lighten up the heavy meal with this zesty salad. Featuring rich walnuts and spicy jalapeños, it'll give dinner the kick it needs.

Get the recipe: brussels sprout salad with pomegranate, walnuts, and jalapeño

Cream, fresh herbs, garlic, and crème fraîche work together to make these the best mashed potatoes of all time. Feel free to add as much gravy as you please.

Get the recipe: buttery herbed mashed potatoes

Fresh, light, and bright, this holiday salad will be a gift to your taste buds. Kale, brussels sprouts, and glossy black beluga lentils provide its wholesome base, while dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and clusters of clementine wedges are a festive nod to the season.

Get the recipe: brussels sprout, beluga lentil, and cranberry holiday salad

Rich in flavor yet light on the butter and cream, curried pumpkin soup is an easy seasonal starter or side dish that can be stored in the fridge and reheated when you need it. This particular pumpkin soup has an Indian twist with the addition of ginger, curry powder, and coconut milk; however, it is not overwhelmingly spicy or palate burning.

Get the recipe: curried pumpkin soup

Wild rice might not be quite as popular a stuffing base as cubes of a crusty boule or tender cornbread, but don't discount it quite yet. Made with wild rice, brown rice, mushrooms, and just enough butter and olive oil to make it crave-worthy, it's a worthy contender for your holiday table this year.

Get the recipe: wild rice stuffing with mushrooms

This dish looks like something you'd see at a restaurant, but it will be the easiest thing you make all month. Carrots are left whole, drizzled with a fragrant and simple mixture of butter and cinnamon, and baked until perfectly tender. They're sure to disappear — even at the kids' table.

Get the recipe: cinnamon butter baked carrots

Want a gussied-up version of green bean casserole with zero extra work? Try this creamy and crunchy version, which adds indulgent texture and flavor with bacon, half and half, cheddar cheese, and fried onions. It's one-pan recipes like these that will save your Thanksgiving.

Get the recipe: green bean casserole with bacon and fried onions

These wholesome, cinnamony cornbread biscuits satisfy a savory craving for pumpkin before dessert even makes it to the table. They're also perfect for mini Thanksgiving sandwiches the next day (on the off chance that there are any leftovers!).

Get the recipe: pumpkin cornbread drop biscuits

The tangy taste of the balsamic dressing mixed with the hearty flavors of veggies makes these roasted Brussels sprouts a tasty treat. We suggest moving your main course over for these.

Get the recipe: balsamic roasted brussels sprouts and carrots

Normal mashed potatoes are always good, but change things up with these smashed 'taters. They are crispy and smooth at the same time, which is why they will be everyone's favorite dish after just one bite.

Get the recipe: crispy salt and pepper smashed potatoes

A few hours in the slow cooker brings out unbelievable depth of flavor from rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, and, of course, juicy sausage in this make-ahead stuffing. While it hangs out in the slow cooker and makes your kitchen smell dreamy, you can prepare the rest of your feast in bliss.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker sausage stuffing

Want a super-simple dish? Look no further than these steamed carrots. They're tasty, delightful, and one of the easiest side dishes on the menu.

Get the recipe: steamed carrots with olive oil and lemon

You've seen — and may love — sweet potato casseroles with marshmallow topping. But give this deliciously easy, irresistibly crumbly, buttery and brown sugary pecan topping a chance, and your Thanksgiving just might change for the better. After all, it's basically a primer for the pie course.

Get the recipe: sweet potato casserole with butter pecan crumble topping

When most people think of butternut squash, they think of a cozy, Autumn night. . . but not anymore! This salad is light, bright, and great for any time of year.

Get the recipe: butternut squash salad

Nothing says dinner like warm, rich corn. This creamy corn is not only easy to make, but it will also make everyone's mouth water.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker creamed corn

Everyone loves garlic bread, and it's even better when it's festive and easy to eat! This pull-apart wreath is prefect for sharing and for avoiding a crumbly mess.

Get the recipe: pull-apart garlic butter bread wreath

With fresh mint, parsley, dried cranberries, and feta, this butternut tabbouleh pairs flavors that have never been paired before. Open your tastebuds up to a whole new world thanks to this side dish.

Get the recipe: butternut tabbouleh

Sneak in vegetables and bacon all-in-one by making these tasty bundles. The are rich in flavor and have nutrients, too!

Get the recipe: bacon green bean bundles

When is cornbread not the perfect side dish? This cheesy cornbread is great on its own or can be eaten with other pairings.

Get the recipe: creamy cheesy cornbread

For a side dish that will steal the show, these harvest vegetables are what you're looking for. Flavorful and healthy make the perfect combination.

Get the recipe: harvest roasted vegetables

With a creamy homemade roux and a crunchy French onion topping, these scalloped potatoes are a rich (and easy) side dish to make with any meal.

Get the recipe: French onion scalloped potatoes

Take the casserole up a notch with all the extra fixings this recipe has.

Get the recipe: loaded corn casserole

Swap out the potatoes for some healthy healthy cauliflower in this mouthwatering recipe. It will perfectly complement any meal thanks to its rich, cheesy flavor.

Get the recipe: white cheddar cauliflower gratin

Savory, comforting, and craveably carb-heavy, stuffing (or dressing, if you'd prefer) is divine in its many permutations, but none are as flat-out adorable as these stuffing muffins. Not sold on the cute factor? No matter; stuffing muffins are also preportioned, are easier to serve, have more of those delectable crispy edges, and if — and that's a big if — you have leftovers, they're easy to pop in the freezer to keep fresh for days down the line.

Get the recipe: stuffing muffins

Just cut, season, and roast these veggies and your time is done in the kitchen! Add this healthy side dish to any hearty meal.

Get the recipe: rosemary roasted root vegetables

This fancy carrot recipe is just as good as it sounds. Pair it with a meat-filled meal for great results.

Get the recipe: pomegranate-glazed carrots with whipped goat cheese

Give your feast a touch of elegance with baked Brie recipe. It pairs well with hearty main dishes and breads of all kinds.

Get the recipe: cranberry baked Brie

Make the main dish a side dish in seconds by whipping up this mac and cheese recipe. It'll have guests begging for more, trust us.

Get the recipe: butternut squash mac and cheese

Give your brussels sprouts new life with this easy recipe. They're a nice and light side dish that will spice up any dinner.

Get the recipe: 5-ingredient tahini-thyme brussels sprouts

You'll want to eat this ooey-gooey corn dish with every meal.

Get the recipe: baked parmesan creamed corn

Throw cranberries into your rice for a pop of tart sweetness.

Get the recipe: rice pilaf with cranberries and pears

Toss out your boring cranberry sauce and make a cranberry salad instead.

Get the recipe: cranberry salad

Pack your acorn squash full of this delicious quinoa mix.

Get the recipe: quinoa stuffed acorn squash

What's better than plain brussels sprouts? Brussels sprouts made into mac and cheese.

Get the recipe: brussels sprouts mac and cheese

Did someone say garlic and bacon in the same sentence?! These sautéed green beans will definitely steal the side dish show.

Get the recipe: garlic bacon sautéed green beans with roasted mushrooms

Corn casserole is a holiday favorite (it can almost count as dessert because of the sweetness!), but when you add cheese? Forget about it.

Get the recipe: corn casserole with cheese

With ingredients like leeks, mushrooms, soy sauce, and sourdough bread, you really can't go wrong with this stuffing.

Get the recipe: simple garlicky vegan sourdough stuffing

Try this different spin on brussels sprouts at your holiday feast by pairing them with another holiday favorite: butternut squash.

Get the recipe: brussels sprouts gratin with butternut squash

Stuffed with Italian sausage, apples, mushrooms, and spices, this acorn squash side dish will be the hit of dinner.

Get the recipe: sausage stuffed acorn squash

This salad's sweet and tangy apple cider dressing balances out the contrasting flavors of sweet apples, pears, and candied pecans with savory bacon and feta cheese. Just a few minutes of easy chopping yields a healthy side that anyone will love.

Get the recipe: chopped Autumn salad with apple cider dressing

Caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, a splash of sherry vinegar, and a toasted almond topping give unexpected flavor and texture to these simple blistered green beans. Make these for an easy, dairy-free green you can feel good about eating.

Get the recipe: blistered green beans with mushrooms and caramelized onions