19 Thanksgiving Sides From 1970s Church Potlucks That Deserve Their Spot Back

I didn’t grow up going to 1970s American church potlucks, but I’ve come to love the recipes that came out of them.

The more I see those old casserole dishes, creamy salads, sweet-savory sides, and handwritten recipe-card classics, the more I understand why people still remember them so fondly. They remind me of the kind of cooking I know well too, food made to feed a table, stretch what you have, and make sure nobody leaves hungry.

These 19 Thanksgiving sides bring some of that old potluck spirit back, and honestly, a few of them deserve another turn in the spotlight.

Creamy Broccoli Rice Casserole without Canned Soup

If you want to skip canned soup on Thanksgiving, a quick scratch-made cheddar sauce brings this seventies potluck bake back to life. Fresh broccoli florets and rice absorb that rich cheese sauce as they bake, delivering a wholesome, comforting dish that feeds a crowd easily.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Rice Casserole without Canned Soup

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Somehow, melting sweet marshmallows over mashed sweet potatoes sounded unusual until I finally tried a spoonful at a neighbor’s potluck. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and crunchy pecans balance that fluffy top, creating a playful side dish that straddles the line between dinner and dessert.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasting a whole head of garlic until soft and sweet before mashing it into gold potatoes fills my entire kitchen with the best dinner smell. The cream cheese stirred into those hot potatoes creates a silky texture that keeps your guests lining up for second scoops.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Slicing fresh carrots on a slight bias and tossing them with local honey and butter became my favorite trick for effortless holiday prep. High oven heat caramelizes those natural sugars along the edges, giving you a simple, budget-friendly root vegetable dish that shines on a crowded table.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Creamed Corn

If you have never tried sweet corn simmered low and slow in heavy cream, it is a total revelation on a holiday plate. That gentle simmering turns basic corn kernels into a velvety, spoonable side dish that makes complete sense next to savory roast turkey.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn

Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Whipping egg whites to lift pureed carrots into a light casserole is a clever technique I fell in love with while flipping through vintage menus. Margarine, cinnamon, and sugar turn those basic root vegetables into a cloud-like dish that feels like a special celebration treat.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole

These bright red cranberries and roasted sweet potato cubes bring such a fun pop of color to an otherwise plain holiday menu. Sliced almonds add a satisfying crunch to that soft grain base, making a bright casserole that feeds a big crowd with zero fuss.
Get the Recipe: Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole

Homemade Corn Casserole

Somehow, finding a handwritten recipe card tucked inside a secondhand cookbook turned into my favorite golden corn bake for my family. Sweet corn, cornmeal, and sour cream bake together into a warm, cake-like bread that feeds a full table on a modest budget.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole

Gluten Free Stuffing with Mushrooms for Turkey

Rebuilding classic holiday stuffing for my gluten-free friends inspired me to lean heavily into earthy wild mushrooms and fresh garden herbs. Dried gluten-free bread cubes soak up that rich savory broth as they bake, producing a crisp top crust and soft center that rivals any traditional recipe.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Stuffing with Mushrooms for Turkey

Creamed Spinach

Finely chopped spinach folded into a warm garlic-parmesan cream sauce proved to my kids that green vegetables can actually taste incredible. This steakhouse throwback cooks up on the stovetop in fifteen minutes, offering a rich, savory balance to heavy holiday meats.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach

Classic Southern Deviled Eggs

Church basement potlucks were completely new to me when I first moved here, but a platter of paprika-dusted deviled eggs made me feel right at home. Those creamy egg yolks whipped with tangy mustard and sweet relish create a bite-sized classic that disappears long before the main meal.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern Deviled Eggs

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Boiling potatoes until tender and whipping them with warm milk was the very first holiday side dish my mother taught me in our kitchen. These russet potatoes mashed until silky smooth create deep wells for hot gravy, bringing a familiar sense of comfort to any holiday plate.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

Roasted hazelnuts are a staple in Eastern European baking, so swapping them into a classic sweet potato casserole felt like the perfect personal touch. Creamy sweet potato puree flavored with nutmeg pairs wonderfully with that woody crunch of toasted nuts, giving you a refined retro side.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Leftover baked sweet potatoes mashed directly into cornmeal batter give this golden loaf an extra moist crumb and a warm orange hue. Pulling a hot iron skillet of this cornbread out of the oven gives you a fragrant loaf to serve alongside steaming bowls of holiday soup.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Green Bean Casserole

If you think canned cream soups are a strange kitchen shortcut, this scratch-built version will completely change your mind about retro bakes. Baking green beans until tender under a thick blanket of crispy fried onions delivers a crunchy, comforting bite, which is why this dish survived for decades.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Apple Pie Baked Beans

Combining diced orchard apples with navy beans and pie spices creates an unbelievable sweet-and-smoky depth in a slow cooker. Slow simmering softens the fruit into a savory tomato base, turning basic pantry staples into a hearty side dish.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Baked Beans

Classic Waldorf Salad

These crisp red apples, celery, and toasted walnuts tossed in a light dressing bring the exact fresh, crunchy bite every heavy holiday table needs. Sweet grape juices cut right through rich gravies, giving you a refreshing break between bites that honors old potluck traditions.
Get the Recipe: Classic Waldorf Salad

Scalloped Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes layered in a glass dish with garlic cream bring back fond memories of the warm winter bakes my grandmother served. That sharp cheddar cheese melted over the top creates a bubbling, golden crust that everyone around the table fights over.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes

Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

Thick Vidalia onion rings baked under a heavy layer of cheddar and mozzarella cheese made me an instant believer in Southern casserole logic. This simple three-ingredient bake turns sharp raw onions into sweet, melty ribbons that pair perfectly with sliced turkey.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

If your Thanksgiving table could bring back one 1970s church-potluck favorite, which one gets its spot back?