When the holiday season is near and you need an easy recipe to use for the annual church or family Thanksgiving dinner, you'll love this list of side dishes for Thanksgiving potluck. Here are some of my favorite recipes for this occasion. You may see some of your own favorite Thanksgiving potluck recipes on the list and I hope that these recipes will make it easier for you to choose the best Thanksgiving sides.
Whether your main course is turkey or something less traditional, the side dishes can help complete the meal. Some classic sides include macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes (try these instant pot garlic mashed potatoes), sweet potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls, and more. You can ensure your side dish takes center stage when you choose cheesy potatoes or a yummy and healthy kale salad, for example.
And of course, you don't want to forget the desserts either. If you need a good reason to enjoy apple pie, we've got you covered! And, of course, don't forget the drinks: this list of Thanksgiving punch recipes is all you need. Now, let's look at those recipes.
Delicious Side Dishes For Thanksgiving Potluck
These Thanksgiving potluck ideas are perfect for side dishes you can bring for the special day. It's a great way to contribute to the Thanksgiving table and also a great way to showcase your favorite foods. Here are my picks for the best Thanksgiving side dishes that are perfect for potluck dinners. Hope you enjoy!
This Jellied Cranberry Sauce Made With Fresh Whole Cranberries is scrumptious, with just the right amount of tang. And takes just 30 minutes (plus time to refrigerate). Make it the day before you need it
and it's ready for your holiday dinner.
Great pie for Thanksgiving. Your family will love it: I promise!
Candied Sweet Potato Casserole is a standard side dish on many tables for Thanksgiving. The kids love it, and you will too!
Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes are ideal for such special occasions and are prepared in under 20 minutes!
Classic and beloved, this Creamed Spinach recipe gets an innovative update with croutons fried in olive oil, which totally make the dish! The richness of this dish screams out to be served with roasted turkey and all the fixin’s. It fits right in!
These flaky biscuits are addicting! They're buttery, soft, and have tons of flaky layers! This Easy Homemade Biscuit recipe is perfect for family dinners, and holidays, and is the best side dish to just about any comfort food. Bonus? You only need 7 basic ingredients. This is the best biscuit recipe ever!
This quick and easy four-bean salad is simple and delicious. With a tangy vinaigrette, it's perfect for a pot luck or a picnic. Tuck in!
Air Frying Carrots With Thyme- GF/DF, Vegan, Top 8 Free
Air frying carrots with thyme are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. They are top allergen free, vegan, and full of taste so they are excellent for meeting the needs of many diets at family dinners.
Broccoli and Cauliflower in a Gouda Cheese Sauce recipe is a creamy and cheesy side dish perfect for a Sunday dinner or holiday potluck. Topped with a buttery bread crumb topping, it is a mouthwatering dish your guests will love.
This corn on the cob is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any special dinner you have. It's just a little longer than the classic way, but it's really easy and you only need simple ingredients you already have.
These delicious roasted green beans and carrots are coated in olive oil, salt, and herbs and baked to perfection. In under 30 minutes, it is sure to become a great holiday or everyday side dish.
These sweet potatoes cook entirely in the crockpot. Since many have handles and latches your dish is ready to take to a potluck in the same container you cooked it in! They even mash right in the slow cooker insert for a super easy Thanksgiving side.
This Sweet Potato Casserole is a fantastic side dish for the holidays. Mashed sweet potatoes topped with toasted marshmallows and brown sugar streusel.
In addition to flawlessly cooked vegetables or meats, a delicious pumpkin pie can also be baked using the air fryer. You may find it strange but believe me when I say that the consistency is always excellent and decadent.
These authentic Southern Collard Greens are braised in savory meat flavored and perfectly spiced pot liquor resulting in an amazing tender silky texture!!!
Harvest squash casserole is a delicious combination of three veggies, herbs, and butter for lovely autumn inspired side dish
Simple and delicious, this Balsamic Cranberry Apple Chutney Recipe is a great addition to any holiday meal. Juicy apples, golden raisins, orange zest, and a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon will complement your festive dinner!
Roasted rosemary rainbow carrots are the perfect side dish for any meal. Simply garnished with garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper, these little babies are the perfect combination of savory with just a hint of sweetness.
Pumpkin pie, the classic Thanksgiving dessert, gets a gluten-free and dairy-free makeover without compromising on flavor! It's pie perfection!
These creamy mashed potatoes use real fresh garlic, sauteed leeks in butter, and sour cream for a rich side dish, perfect for a Thanksgiving potluck or large dinner party.
This easy sweet potato casserole goes with any Thanksgiving main dish. It’s decadent enough to be a dessert!
These Cinnamon Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes are an easy and tasty dish for Thanksgiving! Small bites of deliciousness that will compliment all of your other autumn flavors.
This Candied Pecan and Cranberry Pear Salad is filled with tart cranberries, crisp pears, sugar candied pecans, and topped with a sweet honey vinaigrette. Delicious and beautiful for the Thanksgiving meal.
This sour cream green bean casserole is classic holiday comfort food at its finest! This green bean casserole uses fresh green beans and sour cream instead of cream of mushroom soup.
This mouthwatering sweet potato casserole has a crisp topping loaded with savory flavors. It’s easy to make and can be prepared in advance.
This creamy and cozy one-pot Vegan Pumpkin Risotto is a flavorful, healthy 20-minute dish that makes a fabulous side dish for a Thanksgiving meal.
Pumpkin spice waffle whoopie pies with maple frosting are an easy dessert appetizer sure to please. You'll love that they don't require an oven, and you only need six ingredients. Most of which you already have on hand.
This corn casserole is not only easy to make but it's full of creamy, comforting ingredients.
Pumpkin is often overlooked as a vegetable but it is nutrient-rich, high in vitamin A and beta-carotene, and low calorie. Colorful roast pumpkin cubes make a great addition to any Thanksgiving dinner.
Sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is a popular Thanksgiving side dish that combines creamy mashed potatoes with toasted marshmallows for an easy and delicious dish!
Let the zhoug sauce do the talking as it forms the luxurious base for these gorgeous roasted red Brussels sprouts. This is the perfect side dish for the cooler months, and let the warm spices and the spicy sauce give the winter chills the flick
These Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots are a tasty and easily prepared side dish. The carrots and parsnips are smothered in a glaze of honey, mustard, and rosemary for the most delicious flavor.
This is a make-ahead vegetarian staple, perfect for a potluck. Make mashed butternut squash in your pressure cooker for an easy cooking method perfect for beginners.
Dried cranberries, orange zest, and roasted pecans and walnuts make this one festive holiday cheese ball that can be paired with sweet or savory leaning accompaniments.
These green beans and potatoes are the best hearty and flavorful side dish! This recipe is loaded with cozy flavors and it’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
These mashed sweet potatoes are slightly savory and a little bit sweet making them the perfect base for many flavor additions.
This delicious Warm Zucchini Salad is the perfect dish to serve with any meal! With zesty lemon, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted pine nuts, this salad is sure to be a hit!
This baked mac and cheese is the perfect side for Thanksgiving! It's creamy and cheesy with a crunchy, golden-brown breadcrumb topping! It can be prepared ahead of time and serves a big crowd!
These 3 ingredient pumpkin muffins are super easy to make, fluffy, moist and so delicious! The perfect pumpkin spice Fall or Thanksgiving treat is made with a spiced cake mix and canned pumpkin.
Want an easy side dish to bring to a Thanksgiving potluck? Make this beautiful orange-flavored cranberry sauce which is ready in minutes. It's perfect when served hot, warm, or cold!
As you can see, there are many delicious side dishes for you to enjoy this Thanksgiving. If your family has decided to do a potluck, you can use this list to help you choose the dish or dishes you're going to bring to the occasion.
The Thanksgiving turkey is only the beginning. It's all the side dishes that truly complete the meal. From tender squash to wild rice, or whole-kernel corn, there is no shortage of dishes to add to the main event. Any of the yummy recipes from this list can be a crowd favorite at this special time of year.
Do you see your favorite or one you want to add to this year's Thanksgiving menu?
Kathy acquired the blog, Recipe Idea Shop in 2024. She was raised on a farm in Arkansas where having a big garden and good food to eat was the norm. She shares recipes for homemade comfort food and new trending dishes.
Kathy began her blogging journey in 2011 when she founded PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, and thrift store finds.