Russian Food Recipeub October 31, 2026 0 Comments

23 Thanksgiving Side Dishes Guests Will Still Be Talking About at Christmas

The turkey may be the centerpiece, but I’ve noticed people often remember the side dish.

A really good casserole, a bowl of potatoes, or a salad that nobody expected to love can become the recipe everyone asks about after dinner, and suddenly it’s back on the table at Christmas.

I didn’t grow up with Thanksgiving as a family tradition, so I still find it funny how much attention people can give to the supporting dishes, but I completely understand why once you find a side everyone loves, you want to make it again.

These 23 Thanksgiving side dishes are the kind I’d happily bring back before the Christmas table even has a chance to ask.

Close-up of roasted onion slices, golden and caramelized, sprinkled with herbs and seasoning. — Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Baked sweet potato casserole topped with toasted marshmallows in a round dish, partially eaten, with a metal serving spoon visible. — Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

I used to doubt marshmallows belonged on dinner plates, but guests still bring up the crunchy brown-sugar topping on this bake weeks after the holiday ends. You mash roasted sweet potatoes with butter and warm spices before scattering mini marshmallows and chopped pecans over top to bake into a gooey, golden crust.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows and Pecans

Apple Pie Baked Beans

A spoonful of baked beans in rich sauce, held above a bowl filled with more baked beans. — Apple Pie Baked Beans. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Canned beans felt too casual for our big November feast, so I baked mine with fresh orchard apples for a side dish guests never forget. Navy beans simmer low and slow with crisp apple chunks, smoky bacon, molasses, and cider vinegar until the pan gets thick, sticky, and rich.
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Baked Beans

Sweet Potato Cornbread

A slice of spiced cake with creamy frosting on a plate, with more cake and a bowl of frosting in the background. — Sweet Potato Cornbread. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Swapping plain white dinner rolls for bright orange skillet bread turned out to be the dish my family brought up all through December. Whipping mashed sweet potato straight into a brown sugar cornmeal batter yields a tender, moist crumb that practically melts when you slather on fresh butter.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cornbread

Green Bean Casserole

A casserole dish filled with cooked green beans and thin, crispy French fries, with a spoon lifting a portion of the mixture. Some fries and beans are coated in a dark sauce. — Green Bean Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

My first Thanksgiving hosting duty proved that doing this classic green bean dish right makes it the highlight people ask about for the next gathering. Fold fresh or frozen green beans into a garlic mushroom cream sauce, then finish in the oven with a thick, crispy blanket of French fried onions.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Side view of wild rice pilaf with pomegranate and butternut squash. — Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

My family assumed rice was too plain for a feast, until this chewy wild rice bake became the dish everyone kept talking about all winter. Earthy wild rice cooks alongside sweet roasted squash cubes, dried cranberries, and fresh rosemary, giving your holiday plate a huge boost of color and texture.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

A slice of crumbly dessert topped with a dollop of white cream is presented on a dark plate. The dessert is garnished with chopped nuts, and a fork rests in front of it, partially obscuring the dessert. — Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Scattering chopped hazelnuts over my sweet potato mash became my favorite trick for a dish that guests bring up every time we plan our Christmas menu. The buttery potato base stays velvety smooth beneath a nutty, brown-sugar crunch that delivers delightful contrast in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Hazelnuts

Gluten Free Stuffing with Mushrooms for Turkey

Roasted turkey pieces and stuffing in dishes on a marble surface with herbs nearby. — Gluten Free Stuffing with Mushrooms for Turkey. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Skipping traditional bread used to feel risky until my relatives spent all of December raving about this mushroom stuffing. Meaty wild mushrooms sautéed with garlic and herbs, plus gluten-free bread cubes, soak up warm vegetable broth and bake into a juicy dish with a crisp top edge.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Stuffing with Mushrooms for Turkey

Homemade Corn Casserole

Two rectangular slices of light golden-brown cake with a slightly crumbly texture are placed side by side on a patterned plate. — Homemade Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

My sweet neighbor brought this spoonable corn dish to my house years ago, and my holiday guests still ask me to make it every year. It takes just five minutes to dump sweet corn, creamed corn, sour cream, and muffin mix into a bowl before baking it into a golden, soufflé-like side.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Corn Casserole

Roasted Hubbard Squash Mash with Caramelized Onions

A bowl of creamy polenta topped with caramelized onions, herbs, butter, and breadcrumbs. — Roasted Hubbard Squash Mash with Caramelized Onions. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

A giant hubbard squash sitting on my counter looked intimidating until I roasted it, creating a sweet mash that guests brought up for weeks. Scoop out the soft orange flesh and mash it with butter and slow-cooked onions to create a deep, smoky flavor that puts standard spuds to shame.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Hubbard Squash Mash with Caramelized Onions

Duchess Potatoes

Six swirled mashed potato rounds garnished with chives on a white plate, seen from above. — Duchess Potatoes. Photo credit: The Kitchen Magpie.

Piping mashed potatoes through a pastry tip onto a baking sheet makes a dramatic side dish that guests will still compliment at Christmas. A quick blast in a hot oven turns those sharp piped ridges golden and crisp while keeping the centers smooth and pillow-soft.
Get the Recipe: Duchess Potatoes

Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy potato casserole in a white dish with a fork. — Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Layering thinly sliced potatoes in a garlic cream sauce created the exact cheesy dish my friends kept asking me to bring to our next party. Paper-thin russets bake down in heavy cream and melted cheese until the middle turns tender enough to cut with a spoon.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes

Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole

Baked almond, cranberry, and sweet potato stuffing with oats and rosemary in a glass dish. — Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Guests expecting heavy bread stuffing were delighted by this grain-free bake, and they were still talking about the bright flavors weeks later. Roasted sweet potato cubes tossed with tart dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and fresh orange zest for a lighter side that saves room for pie.
Get the Recipe: Almond, Cranberry And Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole

Creamed Spinach

Whisking fresh spinach into a warm garlic cream sauce made a side dish so rich my family demanded I put it on the Christmas menu, too. The dark leafy greens wilt straight into a velvety parmesan sauce right on your stovetop, freeing up precious oven racks for the roast.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach

Kale Apple Salad With Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

A bowl of kale salad on a wooden table. — Kale Apple Salad With Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Raw kale used to get ignored at my gatherings until this crisp apple salad became a surprising dish guests couldn’t stop praising. Massaging the raw leaves in olive oil breaks down their tough bite so they mix seamlessly with tart apple matchsticks, cranberries, and a sweet poppy seed dressing.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad With Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Hasselback Potatoes

Slice russet potatoes thin without cutting through, letting garlic butter seep into every layer, making a dish guests bring up every winter. The thin potato fan slices roast in butter until the edges turn shatteringly crisp like kettle chips while the inside stays soft and fluffy.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Potatoes

Strawberry Fluff

Old-school fruit salads can get watery, but folding in a block of cream cheese creates a sweet pink bowl my guests still asked about heading into this coming December. Blending real cream cheese with heavy cream, strawberries, and soft mini marshmallows builds a thick, chilled treat that sits securely on a dessert plate.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Fluff

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic

Roasted brussels sprouts with pomegranate and goat cheese. — Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

My grandmother always hated sprouts until this air-fryer version made her a believer, and she still talks about them every holiday season. High heat in the air fryer turns the outer leaves dark and crispy in fifteen minutes before you toss them with sweet balsamic glaze, salty feta, and ruby pomegranate seeds.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

A slice of bread pudding on a decorative plate with a fork, topped with whipped cream. A baking dish with more bread pudding and a small bowl of cream with a spoon are in the background. A brown cloth is partially visible on the side. — Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

An old friend taught me to soak plump raisins in cognac for this kugel, and it remains the one dish guests bring up every single winter. Wide egg noodles bake in a rich, custardy mixture of sweet cheese and warm spices, forming a delicate, golden top crust that cuts into neat squares.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Sweet Kabocha Squash Casserole with Pecans

Sweet potato casserole topped with chopped pecans in a white dish, with a serving scooped out. — Sweet Kabocha Squash Casserole with Pecans. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Watery squash bakes disappointed me until I switched to dense kabocha squash, creating a sliceable side dish guests still mention a month later. Kabocha flesh naturally sets firm when pureed with eggs and warm spices, holding a heavy pecan sugar crust without getting soggy at the bottom.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Kabocha Squash Casserole with Pecans

Creamed Corn

A bowl of creamy yellow corn pudding, garnished with herbs, with a wooden spoon scooping some out—perfect for your Memorial Day side dishes. — Creamed Corn. Photo credit: The Kitchen Magpie.

Simmering sweet corn kernels slowly in butter and heavy cream proved to my guests that canned corn shouldn’t even be in the same conversation. As the corn simmers on low heat, natural starches release, turning the pan into thick, glossy comfort food without a grain of flour.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes with gravy and sprigs of thyme and sage. — Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

My favorite potato trick is melting a full block of cream cheese into the pot, making a side dish so smooth that guests ask for the secret recipe for weeks. Tossing tangy cream cheese and butter into warm boiled spuds keeps them ultra-creamy, and you can easily prep the whole batch a day ahead to reheat before dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

A slice of sweet potato casserole with a dusting of powdered sugar is served on a black and white plate. A gold spoon rests beside it. In the background is a casserole dish with more of the dessert and a white and blue towel. — Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pureeing carrots with butter, eggs, cinnamon, and a pinch of sugar created a puffy, cloud-like side dish that completely blew my guests away. Whisking eggs straight into the sweet carrot puree lets the dish rise high and fluffy in the oven, turning a humble root vegetable into a melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé

Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

A southern friend introduced me to this amazing onion bake, and guests literally texted me weeks later asking for the secret recipe. Thick slabs of sweet Vidalia onion soften in a hot dish under a bubbling trio of cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

The turkey gets the carving knife, but the side dish might be what everyone remembers. Which one would you want to bring back for Christmas?