Turkey may be the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving feast, but the latest Campbell’s Company State of the Sides report says 47% of Americans are happy with just side dishes on their plates. From classics like stuffing to creamy mac and cheese to hearty collard greens, sides are an opportunity for cooks to get creative this Thanksgiving.
Want new ideas for your Thanksgiving table? Mix up your menu with classic and modern sides that will outshine the turkey. Photo credit: Depositphotos.
The popularity of the side dish
The Thanksgiving meal has always been a celebration of friends and family coming together over a delicious dinner. Beyond turkey or the occasional ham, shared side dishes carry the most meaning at the feast. Whether made from recipes passed down through generations or the result of experimentation, sides bring a sense of comfort and a variety of flavors to the Thanksgiving table.
In its 2025 State of the Sides report, Campbell’s Company says 63% of respondents prefer eating side dishes over the turkey at Thanksgiving, up from 56% in 2024. Nearly half, 47%, say they would be perfectly happy with a plate full of sides and nothing else, up from 38% in 2024. The report also notes that almost 40% would be content with only sides dishes, and among those preparing the meal, 60% say they prefer cooking sides over the bird.
For some, sides can be a chance to explore. Whether new takes on classics or entirely new dishes, you might showcase a new dish at this year’s feast alongside your Thanksgiving favorites.
Classic Thanksgiving sides and modern twists
Many Thanksgiving sides are rooted in tradition. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin were readily available in the fall harvest season. Other dishes have become staples more recently. Mac and cheese is a new favorite, especially among millennials and Generation Z.
Nationally, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and mac and cheese are the favorite sides in Campbell’s report. Other classic sides top the list in certain states. Cranberry sauce is a favorite in Kentucky, Virginians look forward to bread and South Carolina feasts feature green vegetables.
For a new take on classics, try adding new ingredients and flavors. Roasted sweet potatoes with apples and cranberries add even more autumn flavors to the dishes, balancing the sweetness of yams with the tartness of cranberries.
You can give plain vegetables an upgrade, too. As an alternative to green bean casserole, barbecued green beans offer a smoky, tangy alternative with ham for extra flavor. Upgrade Brussels sprouts with bacon, pecans and dried cranberries. You can also shave broccoli or Brussels sprouts into a salad, offering a refreshing contrast to heavier Thanksgiving sides.
Regional sides around the country
Side dishes also reflect regional tastes. In a 2024 YouGov poll, corn was featured more in Midwestern and Southern menus, often in the form of corn casserole. In the Northeast, 46% of respondents expected to eat cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, while only 35-37% of respondents elsewhere in the country looked forward to it.
In the South, collard greens and cornbread dressing show up on many Thanksgiving menus, while deviled eggs are a staple side in the mid-Atlantic. Some unusual Thanksgiving sides appear in other states, such as ramen noodle salad in Nebraska, fruit salad in Louisiana and brie mini tarts in Delaware.
How cooks prepare their sides can vary from state to state, too. Stuffing versus dressing, jellied cranberry sauce from a can versus whole cranberries, broth-based brown gravy or roux-based white gravy; there are as many preferences on preparation as there are sides.
If you want to mix up your own sides at Thanksgiving, exploring recipes from other regions can provide inspiration. You might swap out the bread in your stuffing for cornbread, French bread or sourdough. You can replace mashed potatoes with potato croquettes or twice-baked potatoes. If traditional cranberry sauce doesn’t appeal, cranberry jalepeno dip offers a fresh, flavorful take that doubles as an appetizer.
Desserts to complete Thanksgiving dinner
No Thanksgiving table is complete without dessert. After the plates of stuffing, casseroles, vegetables and turkey are gone, desserts provide a sweet finish to the meal. Yet much like side dishes, the best desserts for a Thanksgiving feast are a topic of debate.
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie and apple pie are regional favorites. With flaky pie crust and your filling of choice, pie is a satisfying end to the meal, especially with a side of whipped cream or ice cream.
Dessert doesn’t have to stop at pie. Pumpkin cheesecake, bread pudding, oatmeal cookies or carrot cake bring similar fall flavors. Some unique dishes included tiramisu in Minnesota, apple spice cake in California, strata in Washington D.C., macarons in Indiana and sourdough charcoal bread in Alaska. Maine and Louisiana both shared lemon meringue pie as their most searched baked good, offering a lighter, more refreshing pie flavor for the post-dinner treat.
Let sides take center stage at this year’s Thanksgiving
The turkey has its place on the Thanksgiving table, but sides are the dishes that tempt people’s appetites. From the savory staples of family traditions to bold, inventive recipes that could become new favorites, sides are the soul of the celebration. Whether breaking out the family cookbook or taking a creative risk, let the sides shine this Thanksgiving. After all, they’ll be the dishes everyone clamors for seconds of.
Jere Cassidy is the writer and recipe developer behind the blog One Hot Oven. A passion for all things food related led her to culinary school to expand her baking skills and now to share easy recipes for all home cooks and bakers of all skill levels. When not in the kitchen, Jere’ likes to travel far and wide to find delicious food.
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