Turkey is the star when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, but no feast would be complete without some delicious sides. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite Thanksgiving sides recipes. The best part? All of these dishes can be fully or partially prepared ahead of the big day, helping you spend more time with your loved ones — one more thing to be thankful for!
Macaroni Corn Pudding Casserole
This comforting macaroni corn pudding casserole is super easy to make, only requiring you to mix everything together in a bowl before popping the mixture in the oven. Visit I Wash, You Dry for the directions and tips for prepping this casserole up to two days in advance.
Ingredients:
- Cornbread mix
- Whole kernel corn
- Creamed corn
- Eggs
- Butter
- Salt
- Macaroni and cheese
- Sour cream
- Marbled cheddar, shredded
Roasted Butternut Squash With Sage
Roasted butternut squash is a fall staple, so why not make it part of your Thanksgiving table? You can peel, cut, and roast your butternut squash the day before Thanksgiving, and store it in the fridge overnight. Finish up your recipe before serving with some sautéed garlic pine nuts. Visit Recipe Girl’s site for the full recipe.
Ingredients:
- Butternut squash
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic
- Chopped fresh sage
- Pine nuts
Dairy-Free Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin
You can’t go wrong with potatoes as a side dish. These creamy potatoes au gratin are so satisfying and “cheesy” that you won’t even miss the dairy. You can assemble the potatoes and sauce the night before, so all you have to do is pop it in the oven before serving. Visit Mary’s Whole Life for the full recipe.
Ingredients:
- Yellow or Yukon gold potatoes
- Ghee
- Minced garlic
- Chicken broth or veggie broth
- Coconut milk
- Cashews, unsalted raw
- Lemon juice
- Nutritional yeast
- Salt
- Onion powder
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Fresh veggies, colorful pasta, and savoury salami mingle in this deli-style pasta salad that you can make ahead and store for up to three days. Check out the recipe from Taste of Home.
Ingredients:
- Tricolor spiral pasta
- Hard salami
- Provolone cheese
- Ripe olives
- Red onion
- Zucchini
- Chopped green pepper
- Chopped sweet red pepper
- Fresh minced parsley
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Minced garlic
- Ground mustard
- Dried basil, oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Tomatoes
Sweet like dessert but hearty like a meal, this sweet potato casserole will be a hit with the whole family. In this original recipe from Live Well Bake Often, mashed sweet potatoes are topped with a crunchy pecan crumble. Check out the recipe for tips on making this casserole in advance.
Ingredients:
- Sweet potatoes
- Light brown sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Chopped pecans
Mix things up with this cornbread sausage stuffing that’s loaded with cranberries and pecans. Although completely assembling this stuffing ahead of time is not recommended, you can prep all the ingredients and keep them separate. Check Carls Bad Craving’s recipe and tips for prepping your ingredients in advance.
Ingredients:
- Cornbread mix
- Cubed day-old white bread
- Ritz crackers
- Fresh sage pork sausage
- Unsalted butter
- Onion
- Granny Smith apples
- Celery ribs
- Garlic cloves
- Chicken bouillon
- Dried parsley, basil, oregano, thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped pecans
- Dried cranberries (craisins)
- Low sodium chicken broth
- Eggs
Ready to get organized for Thanksgiving with these make-ahead sides? Add the ingredients you’ll need to your Flipp shopping list to make sure you get everything on sale!
