Thanksgiving's menu lineup has been the same for decades with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing taking center stage. While turkey is undoubtedly the table's main showstopper, side dishes have proven to be a close second with some almost stealing the show themselves (who can pass up mashed potatoes?). While most people eat a similar variation of food on Thanksgiving between the turkey and pie, a new study from Zippa has reported that the side dishes people look forward to indulging in vary depending on where they live. From Alaska to New York, tables are filled with everything from mouthwatering hash brown casseroles and rich, buttery crescent rolls to lightened up side salads and creamy corn.
Whether you've got a palate for stuffing or you lean more towards mac and cheese, these state-by-state picks will inspire you to get cookin'. No matter where you're celebrating Thanksgiving this year, check out what the folks in the states around you are craving, and get ready for this year's side dish to be the new star of the show.
Alabama residents have been searching for the best dressing recipe in preparation for the big meal, and this. is. it. This homemade dressing is full of flavor and allows you to experiment with as much or as little seasonings as you want. Also, if you're wondering how dressing and stuffing differ, it has to do with the way they are cooked. This delicious recipe is cooked in a separate dish while stuffing is stuffed into the turkey to cook. The more you know!
Forget the turkey! If you have a hash brown casserole that's as creamy, cheesy, and crunchy as this recipe, you'll forgo the main dish all together. We suggest adding extra Corn Flakes to really give it a kick.
No holiday meal is complete without a green bean casserole. It goes perfect with mashed potatoes and turkey, and it will keep you warm and cozy on a cool evening. A classic green bean casserole is so easy to whip up, but there are all kinds of tweaks you can make to jazz it up if you so choose.
This white gravy is modeled after Dairy Queen's very own recipe, so you already know it's about to be good. Depending on what kind of flavoring you want, you can substitute out the butter for a different base like bacon grease, fried chicken drippings, sausage grease, shortening, vegetable oil, or a combination of oils. The options are endless.
Californians are always down to try new healthy trends, making this Whole30 mashed potato recipe the one they need. Not only do the potatoes turn out creamy and rich, but they're made with cashew milk instead of regular milk and ghee instead of butter, which cuts out some of the calories.
Take your mashed potatoes to the next level when you add a dollop of sour cream to your recipe. Every bite is creamy, buttery, and loaded with flavor. Top them off with chives for best results.
Don't overcomplicate mashed potatoes — cream, butter, and salt are really all you need to impress even your pickiest relatives this holiday season. Trust us, this pared-down recipe will result in simple, delicious mashed potatoes that are more than worthy of your Thanksgiving table.
Asiago, sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, and gouda work together to make this cheesy recipe one to remember. And the best part is, the noodles cook directly in the sauce which means one less step for you. What could be better?
Enjoy a sweet potato casserole sans refined sugars, gluten, and dairy when you whip up this delicious side dish. Topped with caramelized pecans and filled with creamy mashed potatoes, every bite will make your taste buds swoon with delight.
Crispy, crunchy, and bursting with cheese, this recipe will make your mouth water before it's even out of the oven. Thyme breadcrumbs make an irresistible topping while four different kinds of cheeses work side-by-side to make each bite better than the last.
Regardless of your family's Thanksgiving traditions, it's safe to say that gravy ranks pretty high on the list of must-make dishes, and finding an easy turkey gravy recipe that tastes creamy and delicious is important for optimal enjoyment. Sure, you might swap out garlic cream mashed potatoes instead of the classic mash, but would Thanksgiving be Thanksgiving without glossy gravy drizzled over the whole lot?
Make green bean casseroles the star of the side dish show when you add roasted butternut squash and sliced almonds to the recipe. Not only is it creamy while still being crunchy, but it also has a new fall flavor that's hard to pass up.
Made with only four ingredients, these healthy garlic mashed cauliflower potatoes are vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb! If you want to make them a bit richer, add a dollop of butter and a dash of salt. Done and done.
Indiana folks don't have time to waste on Thanksgiving, and this recipe delivers the tastiest, fastest, and easiest deviled eggs of them all. Just throw eggs in an Instant Pot and in less than 30 minutes, you'll have the side dish of your dreams.
Corn is all Iowa residents are craving right now, and this recipe is a true winner. Creamy, cheesy, and easy to make, you'll want to save room on your plate for this pudding. With sweet corn, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar, and more, it pairs perfectly with any Thanksgiving dinner.
If you're feeling lazy this holiday, let the Crock Pot take over. This creamed corn recipe only requires five minutes of prep, and the results are more than mouthwatering. Add a dash of cilantro on top to make it look like a true masterpiece.
Complete with a homemade cheese sauce and a buttery cracker topping, what could be better than this hearty broccoli casserole? Every bite offers bold broccoli flavor that pairs effortlessly with the rich cheddar and cream cheese sauce. Yum.
You'll get the best of both worlds when you make this hearty dressing. Full of sausage, veggies, cornbread, cranberries, and spices, it'll leave you wanting more. And did we mention it's gluten-free?
Thanksgiving dinner can be heavy, so balance it out with this light side. You'll get juicy grapes, tangy arugula, and a black pepper vinaigrette with every forkful.
Dress your holiday table to impress when you add this garlicky dish to the mix. Creamy, cheesy, and oh so good, this mac and cheese will make the stovetop stuff a thing of the past.
In recent years, there's been a proliferation of bread stuffing recipes with delusions of grandeur. Sure, stuffing with a dozen or more ingredients (wild rice, dried cherries, Italian sausage, fennel seeds, pine nuts, eggs, cream . . . ) can be delicious, but if you want to revisit an older, simpler style of stuffing to counter both the excess of the Thanksgiving table and the stress of preparing it, this recipe is for you.
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.
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.
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.
Light, fluffy, and topped with a dreamy honey butter, these rolls pair well with gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more. Sorry, cornbread, but these will win the side dish game.
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.
If you're having a small Thanksgiving gathering this year, this green bean casserole recipe for two has just the right amount of food you need. You can dig into the other courses after you nosh on this casserole without being too full for dessert.
With nutty Gruyère cheese and sweet caramelized onions, this creamy dish will change the way you see potatoes forever. Top it off with some fancy herbs and watch as it steals the show.
If you need cranberry sauce, and you need it now, this recipe only takes 10 minutes to make. Flavored with fresh orange juice and a dash of sugar, you'll want to whip this up for every meal.
If your family is the type that loves fried food, this recipe is for you. Bite into a warm, crunchy, and oh-so-good stuffing ball, and watch as your mouth waters for more. Don't say we didn't warn you . . .
With just 11 ingredients, this casserole recipe is one to remember. Every forkful offers creamy beans, crunchy flakes, and drool-worthy flavor. Yes, please.
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.
Made in just one pot, this baked mac and cheese is what dreams are made of. You'll get bites of creamy noodles along with hearty artichokes that'll keep you coming back for more no matter how full you might be.
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.
With such rich and vibrant flavors, you'll be shocked to know that this recipe is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and paleo friendly! You'll still be getting all your favorite casserole flavors just without the not-so-good-for-you ingredients. Need we say more?
Half roll, half garlic knot, these bread bites are what your taste buds have been dreaming of. With hints of cheese, garlic, and herbs, you'll want to make these even when it's not Thanksgiving. Add butter for even better results.
Watch out, Oregon, this recipe is good. Copy the Fixer Upper star's iconic recipe this holiday when you whip us these flaky biscuits. Add honey and butter to make them a grand slam.
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.
What's better than plain brussels sprouts? Brussels sprouts made into mac and cheese. This recipe will impress even the pickiest eaters, so be sure to get a helping for yourself before it's gone.
There's no denying it — crescent rolls are irresistible. Buttery, flaky, and melt-in-your-mouth-good, this recipe will put carb-lovers into a tizzy. Douse them in butter, gravy, cranberry sauce, or even mashed potatoes.
Craving something sweet this Thanksgiving? This recipe is for you. Mashed sweet potatoes are flawlessly paired with brown sugar and warm butter and topped with marshmallows. Just bake it until it's brown, and every bite will be a treat for your taste buds.
Try a new kind of green bean casserole when you swap out regular milk for cashew cream. It'll give you new flavors you've never experienced before, while still keeping the traditionally tasty green bean tone. Enjoy!
No knead need to panic — these rolls don't require any hard labor in the kitchen! This no-knead recipe is easy and simple, and leaves you with buttery pull-apart rolls that are sure to get eaten up fast.
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.
Take mac and cheese to a place it has never been before with this hearty recipe. It'll add a kick to the Thanksgiving table and become your new favorite recipe in no time. The smooth, creamy texture comes from sautéed and pureed vegetables, the noodles are made from chickpeas, and the Southwest tang comes from the added taco-seasoned chicken, jalapeños, Ro-Tel tomatoes, and green chiles. There's cheese added in, of course, but most of the "cheesy flavor" comes from nutritional yeast. Dig in!
If you're trying to cut dairy out of your diet, these mashed potatoes will be your saving grace. They are fluffy and rich and pair well with everything from stuffing to green beans. Top them off with your favorite butter alternative to make them extra rich.
If you want to make Thanksgiving dinner a breeze, we suggest whipping up these rolls ahead of time. Pair them with butter, jam, gravy, or honey, and enjoy them in between bites of turkey and stuffing.
Eat mashed potatoes that make you feel good when you experiment with this healthy recipe. Complex carbohydrates and vitamins can be found in red potatoes, providing your body with the energy and vitamin C it needs. Top 'em off with some gravy, and you'll be basking in true dinnertime happiness.
Classic, creamy, and traditional, you can't go wrong with brown gravy. Make this to complement the turkey, stuffing, rolls, and mashed potatoes, and watch as people dive in for more. With a rich, savory flavor, this gravy will make every bite a delight.
