The thanksgiving sides recipes I’m sharing below are simple, doable, warm, and comforting not to mention absolutely delicious!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Thanksgiving, especially this year, it’s that the heart of the holiday isn’t wrapped up in perfect timing or perfectly browned rolls. It’s not in making sure everything looks just right or pretending everything feels easy.
It’s in the gathering. The remembering. The slow exhale of being together.
Since losing my husband, Quintin, in April of 2024, the holidays feel different now. There is an empty chair so loud it feels like its own presence. There are moments where the day feels heavier than the table we set.
But there is also love. Real, living, steady love that shows up in the stories we tell, in the laughter that still comes, and in the memories we keep alive at that same table.
And I’ve realized something deeply true: Thanksgiving doesn’t ask us to pretend everything is the same. It simply invites us to bring our whole hearts, as they are.
So this year, I’m leaning into what matters most: being with the people I love. Sitting, listening, laughing, maybe tearing up when the memories come, and letting that be okay.
And right in the middle of all of that is the food we share. More specifically, the thanksgiving sides recipes that somehow hold history, personality, humor, and family identity all at once.
Because yes, the turkey might get the headline, but the sides are where everyone has a favorite. The stuffing recipe that tastes like childhood.
The sweet potato dish that must have marshmallows “toasted just right.”
The corn pudding someone always steals a spoonful of before it even makes it to the table.
The cornbread you swear you won’t burn this year, even though the universe and the oven often have their own comedy routine going.
These small dishes are memory-holders. Home-holders.
They are the threads that tie one year to the next, even when life changes in ways we never expected.
So the thanksgiving sides recipes I’m sharing below are simple, doable, warm, and comforting.
They are the kind of Thanksgiving sides recipes that let you leave the kitchen and actually sit down with your people.
Recipes that don’t require perfection.
Recipes that don’t keep you from the stories being told in the living room.
Recipes that honor both new seasons and what still matters.
This year is about being present. Not performing the holiday.
About choosing connection over pressure.
About letting the table hold love, grief, joy, memory, and togetherness all at once.
So if your table looks a little different this year, or your heart feels a little different, I want you to know: you are not alone at that table.
There is room for joy and ache to sit beside each other.
Now pour something warm into a mug, let the parade or football play softly in the background, let the kids help even if it gets messy, and take a breath.
We are making space for love again.
Alright friend… let’s make these thanksgiving sides recipes together. 🧡
Thanksgiving Sides Recipes
This roundup brings together a collection of simple, comforting Thanksgiving sides recipes that make the holiday feel like home. From cozy classics to easy, crowd-pleasing favorites, these dishes are designed to help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time gathered with the people you love. Whether your table looks the same as always or the season feels different this year, these recipes are here to support a holiday that’s full of connection, memory, and moments that matter.
Crazy Busy Mama Tip
Make this simple breakfast casserole the night before Thanksgiving and pop it in the oven first thing in the morning. It keeps everyone fed and happy without you having to cook a whole separate breakfast while you’re trying to prep the big meal. Plus, a warm breakfast around the table sets the tone for the day — slow, cozy, together. Let the turkey wait.
The morning moments matters too. 🧡
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Mama, If you give any of these Thanksgiving Sides Recipes a try and love it, I’d be thrilled if you could leave a comment and a 5-star rating below! Your feedback not only makes my day but also helps me understand what kinds of recipes you’d like to see more of.
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More Easy Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
If you love this Round up of Thanksgiving Sides Recipes, be sure to check out these other easy Thanksgiving leftover recipes that will add fun and flavor to every meal.
Bite Sized Balls: A Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe
Turkey Cranberry Sliders – The Ultimate Holiday Leftover Recipe
Chicken Stuffing Pot Pie Bites – The Perfect Bite-Sized Comfort Food (video)
Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing
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