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2 Comments

Traditional Southern Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Nov 9, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links.

From Chicken & Dressing to Sweet Potato Casserole and Macaroni & Cheese, there is no such thing as too many side dishes on a southern Thanksgiving table! Whether you’re bringing a dish, making the whole meal or looking for that special recipe that was lost years ago, you’ll find all the best traditional southern Thanksgiving side dishes right here.

A Thanksgiving table with a text overlay saying Traditional Southern Thanksgiving Side Dishes.

In the South, we take our Thanksgiving side dish game seriously. Yes, there’s a turkey. Sure, we have the ham. But what really makes or breaks the meal are the sides. Do you have enough of variety? Are they the right dishes? And most importantly, are they tasty?

Are you still planning your Thanksgiving menu? Thanksgiving Main Dish Recipes

You know it’s true. There are side dishes your family expects- the must-haves and non-negiotables- cornbread dressing, macaroni and cheese, maybe a green bean casserole? Everyone has a favorite.

To help you get just the right dish on the table, you’ll find plenty of options here. 4 types of dressing, 3 types of mac and cheese, sweet potatoes with a pecan topping, sweet potatoes with a marshmallow topping, deviled eggs, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice, corn pudding, 2 types of carrots… all tried and true, family tested, authentic, old fashioned southern recipes.

If your Thanksgiving table doesn’t look like a veritable buffet of casseroles, cheesy vegetables with a few fruit or jello salads sprinkled in this year, it might not be a true southern Thanksgiving. But I can certainly help you get it there!

Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

traditional chicken and dressing for a southern holiday meal

Southern Chicken and Dressing

an easy from scratch recipe for green bean casserole without canned soup or canned beans

Creamy Green Bean Casserole Without Soup

southern baked macaroni and cheese with spicy pepper jack cheese is a comfort food staple and side dish, especially at Thanksgiving

Ultimate Pepper Jack Mac & Cheese

A forkful of sweet potato casserole to show the fluffy texture of the potatoes.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

A serving of cheesy shredded brussel sprouts casserole as a Thanksgiving side dish.

Creamy Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin

cheesy hash brown casserole made with pimento cheese

Pimento Cheese Hash Brown Casserole

A close up of oyster dressing on a plate with baked chicken served for dinner.

Southern Oyster Dressing

Stovetop candied sweet potatoes on a fork to show tenderness and texture after cooking.

Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes

Strawberry Jello Salad

Strawberry Jello Salad: A Southern Tradition

A gratin. or au gratin potatoes, has layers of potatoes, cheese, a drizzle of cheese and a top crust

Sweet Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust

7 layer pea salad

Classic 7 Layer Pea Salad

With the same great taste as the Picadilly recipe, a carrot souffle in a 2 quart casserole dish topped with powdered sugar and orange zest

Easy Carrot Souffle- The Best Carrot Side Dish

Baked macaroni and cheese with 2 cheese, shrimp and crab makes a creamy one dish meal or holiday side dish!

Creamy Seafood Mac and Cheese

Whole berry cranberry sauce with jalapenos being served

Homemade Jalapeno Cranberry Sauce

A spoonful of cornbread pudding, or corn casserole.

Southern Cornbread Pudding

Louisiana Dirty Rice is a classic Louisiana recipe that makes the best rice for a main or side dish.

Louisiana Dirty Rice

Cheesy Broccoli rice casserole made from scratch with an easy mushroom and cheese sauce.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole (no canned soup)

classic sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping for holidays or Sunday dinner side dish

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

An close up view of apple, cheese, celery salad.

Apple, Cheese, Celery Salad

Shrimp & crab stuffed deviled eggs are perfect for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, cookouts and parties.

Louisiana Shrimp & Crab Deviled Eggs

A casserole dish of baked macaroni and cheese made with pimento cheese and a ritz cracker crust.

Southern Pimento Mac and Cheese

skillet cinnamon apples

Fried Cinnamon Apples

Rich cream sauce and a topping of cheese make a delicious scalloped potatoes side dish.

Ultimate Scalloped Potatoes

best ambrosia salad with secret ingredient whipped cream dressing

Ambrosia Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream Dressing

Serving Squash Dressing for the holidays

Cornbread & Squash Dressing

Honey Glazed Garlic Butter Carrots

Garlic Honey Glazed Carrots

How to Serve Cheese Grits

Baked Gouda Cheese Grits

An easy crock pot black eyed peas recipe with ham and jalapenos

Southern Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas & Ham

creamy broccoli macaroni and cheese in a bowl with spoon to show cheese sauce, pasta and broccoli

Creamy Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Serve-Fluffy-mashed-sweet-potatoes

Fluffy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sausage Apple Cranberry Dressing overhead photo with wooden spoon

Sausage Apple Cranberry Dressing

Deviled Eggs with Pickles & Bacon

Homestyle Deviled Eggs

Upclose of a blue Fiestaware serving bowl piled high with horseradish mashed potatoes garnished with chives and drizzled with butter. A white and black tea towel, silverware and green onions are in the background.

Horseradish Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese & Garlic

Upclose of green pea salad to size and texture of cheese, red onion, bacon, chopped pecans and lemon zest.

Classic Pea Salad with Cheese & Bacon

Southern Zucchini Squash Casserole in a cast iron skillet

Southern Zucchini Squash Casserole

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Filed Under: Recipe Collections Tagged With: Thanksgiving

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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  1. Lynda McDuff

    November 11, 2023 at 11:36 am

    Your recipes are most delicious. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Stacey PirtleStacey

      November 13, 2023 at 7:30 pm

      Hi, Lynda! It is so very good to hear from you! Thank you so much. It is such a joy to share them!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

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