These Thanksgiving side dish recipes are both familiar classics as well as a few surprise twists. They’re certain to be the talk of the dinner table—or rather, the oohs and aahs of contentedness at the table.
Classic Green Bean Casserole
This classic green bean casserole, made with green beans, mushrooms, and a cream sauce, is a Thanksgiving tradition. Just say no to the can opener.
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Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
These Southern buttermilk biscuits are easy as heck to toss together from just three ingredients—self-rising flour, buttermilk, and butter—and turn out flaky and fluffy and just like grandma's. Maybe even better. Here's how to make them.
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Roasted Winter Squash and Shallots
This roasted winter squash and shallots is proof that good food doesn’t need to be complicated. Here, acorn squash and shallots are roasted until tender and finished with parsley, red pepper flakes, and a little balsamic vinegar.
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Macaroni Au Gratin
This macaroni au gratin is no ordinary macaroni and cheese. Not at all. It’s still pasta in cheese sauce but blanketed with a layer of ooey, gooey blend of three cheeses. Easy and on the table in less than an hour.
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Classic Dinner Rolls
These classic dinner rolls call for flour, yeast, honey, salt, and butter–plus more butter to slather on top, natch. You won’t believe how fluffy and soft these rolls are or how easy and quick they are to make.
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Green Beans Gremolata
Green beans gremolata is an easy way to gussy up green beans and make them seem fancy without being fussy.
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Aligot ~ Pommes Aligot
These aligot potatoes, made with creamy mashed potatoes, cheese curds, and mozzarella cheese, are the richest, cheesiest, and most comforting potatoes we've ever tried.
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Sweet Potato Purée with Marshmallow
Say hello to this sweet potato purée with marshmallow, your newest go-to side dish, and not just on special occasions. Mashed sweet potatoes are topped with homemade marshmallow topping (or store-bought mini-marshmallows) and slid beneath the broiler until bubbling and toasted. Buttered toasted pecans add crunch.
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Mashed Potato Gratin
This mashed potato gratin is for anyone who revels in the ultra-creamy, buttery cheesiness of panko-topped mashed potatoes. Try it for your next family dinner and watch everybody swoon.
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Brussels Sprouts with Guanciale
These Brussels sprouts with guanciale is an easy side dish that combines the earthy flavor of roasted, caramelized Brussels sprouts with salty, crispy guanciale or bacon.
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Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
Only a Southerner, inheritor of the infamous Southern sweet tooth, would add massive quantities of butter and sugar to sweet potatoes and still regard it as a vegetable. Add a shot of bourbon? No problem.
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Ina Garten’s Mashed Potatoes with Lemon
Cooking the potatoes in less water than usual and gradually mashing in bits of chilled butter are the details that make this recipe special.
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We are having duck this year. Due to the fact there will only be two of us, I’m doing the legs sous vide confit and will have the breasts available to do pan seared but have not decided yet (got a whole duck). Can you recommend some possible sides that go with duck? Thank you.
low and slow, the duck sounds like a lovely entree for a more intimate Thanksgiving dinner. Pretty much anything goes when it comes to Thanksgiving, but I’d suggest sticking with foods you enjoy and ones that don’t all need to be made at the last minute. If you prefer traditional sides, any of our mashed potato or stuffing recipes would be lovely alongside the duck, and the pan-fried green beans in the above recipes are an easy side that would be welcome on any plate, and provide a nice pop of color as well. This beet salad would also be nice alongside duck, and the acidity might help to balance out the richness of the meat. It can also be prepared mostly ahead of time. We have a few new recipes posting on the site this coming week that would also be good choices. Do let us know what you end up making and how your meal turns out.
Thanks the wild mushroom dressing sounds good and will look forward to next week`s recipes.Do you think this recipe will work if it was halved? (Again just two of us)
I think you’ll be able to halve it successfully, low and slow. Just keep an eye on it in the oven; you may find your cook time is shorter than the recipe suggests.