Everything But the Turkey

So, you’re making turkey for Thanksgiving. That’s an easy decision. But what else? No need to panic! If you’re looking for what else to serve for your holiday meal, this roundup has you covered.

Cajun turkey with green beans and mashed sweet potatoes on the side.
Table of Contents

Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy appetizer to keep your guests happy while you prepare the rest of Thanksgiving dinner, the perfect side dish to go with your turkey, or a show-stopping dessert, you’re sure to find everything you need here!

It’s not Thanksgiving without this super easy vegetarian cornbread stuffing, and this cranberry sauce with orange pairs with everything on your plate! And when it comes to dessert, these cranberry apple hand pies are a must-try.

And if you want to shake things up with some non-traditional Thanksgiving ideas, check out these 30+ Alternative Thanksgiving Meals.

APPETIZERS

While the turkey cooks away in the oven, you may want to put out an appetizer to keep everyone from getting hangry until dinner is served. These are some of my absolute favs when it comes to pre-dinner Thanksgiving dishes!

If you really want to go the extra mile, use some fun Thanksgiving themed cookie cutters to cut festive shapes into mozzarella for a fall Caprese salad.

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Savory pumpkin dip garnished with bacon and served with toasted bread.
Savory Pumpkin Dip
This warm Savory Pumpkin Dip is rich, creamy, and downright irresistible. Blended with smoky bacon, fresh sage, and melty cheese, it’s the ultimate fall appetizer to cozy up with. Serve it bubbling hot with crusty baguette slices or crunchy crackers, and watch it disappear in minutes!
Check out this recipe
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butternut squash dip square
Roasted Butternut Squash Dip
This butternut squash dip is perfect for casual pre-dinner snacking and pairs so perfectly with your favorite crackers or some crusty bread.
Squash Dip Recipe
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close up of fall harvest salad
Fall Harvest Salad
Honestly, I love eating this harvest salad as a meal all on its own. But it also works as a great appetizer or first course for a fancy dinner, and it has lots of hearty autumnal ingredients!
Fall Harvest Salad Recipe
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Hot honey baked feta garnished with fresh thyme.
Hot Honey Baked Feta
Hot Honey Baked Feta is a creamy feta dip topped with hot honey, making this a unique recipe with a slight kick.
Check out this recipe
40
Puff pastry apple tart on a plate garnished with fresh thyme.
Caramelized Onion and Apple Puff Pastry Tart
Meet your new favorite fall appetizer! These Caramelized Onion and Apple Puff Pastry Tarts are buttery, crisp, and bursting with flavor from sweet onion jam, tart apples, and melty Gruyère. Simple to make, impressive to serve, and absolutely irresistible warm from the oven.
Check out this recipe
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olive oil bread dip with sourdough bread in a white bowl,
Olive Oil Bread Dip
Enjoy the quintessential appetizer from your favorite Italian restaurants at home! Making a restaurant-quality dipping oil is simple and easy.
Check out this recipe
42
Cooked brie with apricot preserves.
Air Fryer Baked Brie
Warm gooey brie cheese, topped with apricot preserves and maple syrup, this air fryer recipe is great for special occasions, a mid-day snack, or date night at home.
Check out this recipe
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cranberry baked brie in a white cast iron with rosemary on top
Cranberry Baked Brie
This simple and delicious Orange Cranberry Baked Brie appetizer requires only four ingredients and is ready in under 20 minutes. This crowd pleaser is one of the easiest appetizers and is perfect for a girls night, holiday season, or a family get-together. 
Check out this recipe
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baked brie on a white tray with figs, apples, and crackers
Baked Brie With Fig Jam
This Baked Brie With Fig Jam is a heavenly appetizer made to impress. This easy brie recipe is fun to snack on and the perfect addition to any charcuterie board!
Check out this recipe

SIDES

Let’s be honest, the sides are the best part of any Thanksgiving dinner! Here are some of my absolute favorites–I can almost guarantee that you won’t have leftovers of these incredible dishes.

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golden sweet cornbread squares with milk on the side
Golden Sweet Cornbread
Serve with butter or take things to the next level with my honey lavender whipped goat cheese spread!
Homemade Cornbread Recipe
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vegetarian cornbread stuffing with a gold spoon
Best Cornbread Stuffing
This stuffing is a slightly upgraded twist on the classic dish. The cornbread adds a little bit of extra sweetness and rich flavor–definitely a must-try!
Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
I love this dish any time of year, but it’s especially perfect for meals during the holidays. This recipe is creamy, cheesy, and has the perfect golden brown topping!
Recipe for Squash Mac and Cheese
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Pumpkin baked feta pasta in a white casserole dish.
Creamy Pumpkin Baked Feta Pasta
Creamy Pumpkin Baked Feta Pasta is cozy comfort food with a fall twist! The pumpkin makes the sauce extra creamy and slightly sweet, while the baked feta adds tang and richness. Toss it all with pasta, and you’ve got an easy, flavor-packed dinner that feels both seasonal and special.
Check out this recipe
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jalapeno creamed corn in a skillet with a wooden spoon
Jalapeno Creamed Corn
For something with a little bit of extra kick, I highly recommend this take on creamed corn. It’s packed with SO much bold flavor, and it can also be served as your veggie if you like.
Recipe for Creamed Corn with Jalapeno
50
Slow cooker mashed potatoes garnished with dill and green onions.
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Get all of the prep done for these mashed potatoes in the morning and you’ll have a perfect comfort side dish when dinnertime rolls around!
Easy Slow Cooked Mashed Potatoes
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Halved potatoes in a bowl with parsley and parmesan cheese on top.
Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these cheesy Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes are the perfect easy side dish for any meal!
Check out this recipe
52
wooden spoon serving healthy green bean casserole
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
This slightly lightened-up take on classic green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving must have. No canned ingredients and perfectly tender-crisp green beans every time!
Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe
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Corn casserole in a white baking dish with a wooden spoon.
Baked Corn Casserole
This hearty casserole is always a major hit whenever I serve it. It’s so easy to make with flavors reminiscent of cornbread–what’s not to love?!
Corn Casserole Recipe
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Sheet pan scalloped potatoes with a wooden serving spoon.
Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes
This delicious One Pan Scalloped Potatoes recipe is creamy and cheesy. It's the perfect side dish and easy to make any night of the week!
Check out this recipe
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Air fryer smashed potatoes on a white serving platter.
Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Crispy and flavorful, these easy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and air fried to perfection with garlic and olive oil.
Check out this recipe

VEGETABLES

Every good holiday meal needs a nice healthy veggie side dish to go with it. Here are a couple of my go-to greens when it comes to vegetables!

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broccolini on a plate with onions and lemon wedges
Easy Roasted Broccolini
This broccolini is tender and slightly crispy. The onions add so much savory flavor, and a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice brings it all together.
Roasted Broccolini Recipe
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Close up top-down view of air fryer brussels sprouts on a plate.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Maple Syrup
If you don’t have room in your oven, this air fryer recipe is a fantastic option. It’s quick and easy to make, and the addition of cranberries and crumbles of feta or goat cheese create the perfect sweet and savory dish!
Recipe for Air Fried Brussels Sprouts
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Green Beans Almondine in a black cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon
Green Beans Almondine
Simple and healthy, Green Beans Almondine is a French veggie side dish that features gorgeous green beans and crunchy almonds. Made in just 20 minutes, this easy recipe is the perfect companion to a holiday roasted herb butter turkey or busy weeknight dinner!
Check out this recipe
59
Harissa honey roasted carrots on a plate with whipped feta and pistachios.
Harissa Honey Roasted Carrots
Harissa Honey Roasted Carrots are incredibly tender with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Served with a whipped feta spread and garnished with pomegranate arils, chopped pistachios, and fresh parsley, this unique recipe is sure to become a favorite.
Check out this recipe
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Sautéed green beans in a pan.
Garlic Lemon Green Beans
Sauteed green beans are easy to make and a great side dish when you're just trying to get something on the table quickly. They're packed with bright flavors that will please any palate.
Check out this recipe
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pomegranate salad
Crispy Prosciutto and Pomegranate Salad
This Crispy Prosciutto and Pomegranate Salad recipe is a light and crisp salad that can be enjoyed as a main dish topped with chicken or shrimp, or even as a side salad.
Check out this recipe

SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS

No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a couple of incredible sauces. Take your meal over the top by adding these amazing sauces to every single thing on your plate!

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orange cranberry sauce
Cranberry Sauce with Orange
This is my tried and true cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. The addition or orange gives it an incredible pop of citrus flavor that turns everything it touches to gold!
Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe
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pouring beef gravy without drippings into a saucer
Easy Gravy Without Drippings
It can be stressful to have to wait for your turkey to finish cooking to make your gravy. This is a great option to skip all of that fuss, still resulting in a savory and comforting gravy!
Recipe for Gravy Without Drippings
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bacon gravy in a small glass jar and a white spoon
Easy Mushroom Bacon Gravy
Or, if you want a different take on gravy altogether, try this bacon mushroom gravy instead! The earthy mushroom flavor pairs perfectly with smoky bacon and rich red wine.
Mushroom and Bacon Gravy Recipe

DESSERTS

Even if you’re stuffed after all of that amazing food, there’s always room for dessert, right? Pumpkin pie is great, but I like to switch things up with these autumnal desserts as well.

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cranberry apple hand pie on a baking sheet
Cranberry Apple Pies
Cranberry and apple are the two fruits that most scream fall to me, making these hand pies the perfect Thanksgiving dessert! Cut them into pieces and pass them around, or give everyone their own individual pie.
Cranberry Hand Pies with Apple
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Pumpkin pie dip served with graham crackers and apple slices.
Pumpkin Pie Dip
Pumpkin Pie Dip is the easiest way to bring all the cozy fall vibes to the snack table! Creamy, fluffy, and perfectly spiced, it’s like pumpkin pie in a bowl, no baking required. Grab some graham crackers, apple slices, or even sprinkle gingersnaps on top, and you’ve got the ultimate treat for parties, game day, or just a sweet afternoon snack.
Check out this recipe
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pumpkin cornbread muffin on a wood board with flowers behind
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins
You read that right; these are cornbread muffins with a pumpkin twist. Great as a post-dinner treat, and just as delicious as a special breakfast the next morning!
Easy Cornbread Muffins Recipe
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easy sweet potato pie on a plate with a fork
Easy Sweet Potato Pie
Similar to the well-known pumpkin option, sweet potato pie has a delicious creamy filling and a flaky buttery crust. Serve it with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable end to your Thanksgiving!
Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Whether you’re going for a traditional, classic Thanksgiving spread or you want something more modern and upscale, this list has something for everyone. Upgrade your yearly holiday side dishes, desserts, and more!

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