Hello there, fellow Thanksgiving captains! It’s a full marathon in your apron-fitting — school run, Aunt Linda’s secret gravy, and entertaining the children. This is precisely why I have categorised an all-time favorite list of sides to help you out during Thanksgiving and satisfy every taste around the table: Crockpot Creamed Corn, so creamy and steamy all through carving and the ever-classic Sweet Potato Casserole with marshmallows golden, gooey bash everyone raves about. If you love a touch of sweetness, you’re going to adore Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots or Brown Butter Honey-Glazed Carrots. For the potato lovers, we’ve got the best Sweet Potato Casserole and the creamiest Best Scalloped Sweet Potatoes imaginable.
These tried-and-true recipes are the ones I reach for when I need crowd-pleasing dishes that also save me stress, so I can spend less time worrying in the kitchen and more time building memories with my favourite people.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows is a favorite annual side for all holidays and is said to be “a must for any holiday table.” You’ll find warm, creamy sweet potato stereotypically covered in a layer of crunchy brown sugar and pecan mixture with the marshmallows giving it that salty-sweet magic that all feel enchanted by. This recipe, being a mother, makes me happy because “my kids love this recipe and think it’s so fun to eat marshmallows for a meal!” The sweet familiar taste is also great with turkey, stuffing, and gravy at a Thanksgiving dinner. For us, it always vanishes the fastest-even from a table that is piled high with holiday sides.
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Slow Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Slow Cooker Maple & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots are a sweet, crowd-pleasing side. Moms love how easy it is to sneak a veggie onto the table: the carrots cook themselves in buttery maple syrup and brown sugar. It’s a “perfect Thanksgiving side dish, made easily and hands free” – a lifesaver when you’re juggling turkey and pie. Best of all, the glaze makes even picky eaters dig in: “you will not have to tell them to eat their veggies” with this special side. My kids gobble these up without complaint, and they pair beautifully with turkey, stuffing, and gravy at the holiday table.
Crockpot Creamed Corn
Crockpot Creamed Corn is like a warm hug on a plate – the ultimate comfort-food side dish. Frozen corn simmers into a creamy sauce (enriched with cream cheese and butter) until it’s thick and deliciously sweet. My own 3-year-old even calls it “the best”, which says it all about its kid-appeal. It tastes like nostalgia on a spoon and I love serving it alongside turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Even the pickiest toddlers gobble every last creamy bite, and it’s so good that even the pickiest adults ask for seconds! Rich and sweet, it feels like dessert. There’s never a single spoonful left.
Best Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Scalloped sweet potatoes are a luscious, streamy combination perfect for Thanksgiving. This recipe has “thin sweet potato medallions layered with a buttery brown sugar sauce spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves,” then crowned with gooey marshmallows and crunchy pecans. It really is called “the perfect flavor combination” for a reason-sweet buttery potatoes kissed with cinnamon and nutty pecans.
Baking this fills up the kitchen with the warm aroma of cinnamon. My children go crazy for those golden marshmallow toppings and would request seconds! This rich and festive dish alongside turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes will surely be a glancing memory from the holiday.
Best Sweet Potato Casserole
Best Sweet Potato Casserole is a creamy, crowd-pleasing holiday side. Modern Honey calls it “one of the most popular Thanksgiving side dish recipes” noting that “everyone loves it”. Fluffy mashed sweet potatoes are baked under a buttery brown sugar streusel, making the whole dish rich and almost dessert-like.
“Both kids and adults alike love this easy sweet potato casserole” – even my family asks for seconds. It’s so easy and can even be assembled ahead of time, which is a lifesaver on a busy holiday morning. Serve it alongside turkey, gravy, and green beans for a Thanksgiving meal everyone will enjoy.
Brown Butter Honey-Glazed Carrots
Brown Butter Honey-Glazed Carrots make a quick, gourmet-feeling side dish. Carrots are roasted in nutty browned butter and honey until tender, creating a sweet, caramel-like glaze. These taste almost like candy – one blogger even says carrots “doused in brown butter honey glaze” are her “favorite way to eat a piece of veggie. My kids love the golden, honeyed coating and adults appreciate the rich flavor. Even busy moms will appreciate how easy they are to prep – just toss and roast. Serve these glazed carrots hot alongside turkey and stuffing for a bright, homey addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Alright, here’s how it’d sound if I just rambled about these carrots at a family dinner:
Man, honey glazed carrots? Absolute game changer, I swear. You just toss ‘em on a pan, drown ‘em in this sticky honey situation—little bit of garlic, some ginger, and, hey, don’t forget a sprinkle of cinnamon—and let ‘em roast until they’re all soft and caramelised. The smell alone? Unreal.
Honestly, these things are dangerously snackable. Even picky kids can’t resist—probably ‘cause they taste kinda like candy but, you know, they’re still technically vegetables. And with turkey and mashed potatoes? Chef’s kiss. Just pile ‘em up while they’re still warm and watch how fast they vanish. I mean, good luck getting seconds once the kids spot them.
Maple Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Maple Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes add an elegant twist to classic mash. Budget Bytes calls it “a simple way to add a little something extra special to your Thanksgiving table”. We whip sweet potatoes with real maple syrup and nutty browned butter (the “nutty, caramel-scented” version of butter ) along with cozy fall spices. The result is creamy, sweet, and deeply savory. Both kids and grown-ups enjoy this comforting side; the familiar mash is elevated by the maple notes. Serve it warm with turkey and gravy, where its sweet-savory flavor is a perfect match for the traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots
Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots are an easy, flavorful roast side perfect for Thanksgiving. Carrots are tossed in a glaze of honey and brown sugar plus olive oil, thyme and parsley, then roasted until crisp and caramelized. The sweet glaze is balanced by a splash of vinegar and savory herbs, giving each carrot a deliciously sticky coating. Picky kids dig them for their candy-like sweetness. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds or nuts for a pop of color. These golden carrots pair wonderfully with turkey and stuffing, and always disappear fast at our holiday table. My family fights over the last carrot.
Cheesy Root Vegetable Gratin
Cheesy Root Vegetable Gratin is a stunning, crowd-pleasing side perfect for Thanksgiving. Sliced sweet potatoes, beets, and parsnips are layered with cream, garlic, thyme, and shredded gruyère cheese, then baked to tender perfection.
The result is rich and earthy, with the salty cheese and creamy sauce balancing the sweet roots – it blends “subtly sweet and earthy” veggies with “savoury and salty” Gruyère for an irresistible flavor . Even picky kids will happily clear their plates when it’s creamy and cheesy. This elegant gratin pairs beautifully with turkey, stuffing, and gravy, making the Thanksgiving meal memorable. It’s truly a holiday favorite.
Mom’s Secret Hacks for a Chill Thanksgiving:
- Get Ahead of the Game: Seriously, if you wait till the day of to start chopping and mixing, you’ll lose your mind. Make those casseroles the night before, slap some foil on them, toss ‘em in the fridge, and just bake ‘em when the turkey’s hogging the oven.
- Flavour Bomb: Don’t just salt and pepper your veggies and call it a day. Throw in some fresh herbs—thyme, rosemary, whatever’s left in the crisper. Takes it from meh to chef’s kiss with basically zero effort.
- Leftover Game Strong: Double up on mashed potatoes or whatever side everyone fights over. Pack up some for your guests. Trust me, nobody’s mad about a next-day helping of Mom’s stuffing.
- Toasty Vibes: Here’s a trick—stick your serving bowls in the oven for a couple minutes before plating. Sides stay hot longer, and you look like you actually know what you’re doing.
- Get the Kids Involved: Let the little ones “help” with the salad or pile on the marshmallows. It’s chaos, but honestly? That’s half the fun and twice the memories.
With these up your sleeve, your Thanksgiving’s gonna feel like a big, messy, love-filled hug. Eat up, laugh too loud, and don’t forget to snag a second slice of pie.