Thanksgiving dinner always brings back warm memories—the smell of a roasting turkey, the sound of family laughter, and the table piled high with comforting dishes. Often, the side dishes are the unsung heroes of the holiday meal: soft dinner rolls, savory stuffing bites wrapped in smoky bacon, bright salads, and cheesy casseroles. Below you’ll find a curated collection of family-favorite Thanksgiving side dish recipes from the Harbour Breeze Home recipe box, rewritten in clear, natural English to help you plan a memorable holiday table.
Family Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes from the Harbour Breeze Home Recipe Box
My childhood Thanksgivings were lively affairs with a long farmhouse table, a big roasted turkey, and relatives filling every seat. Over the years our celebration has become smaller, but the tradition of great side dishes remains. Whether your holiday dinner is large and noisy or quiet and cozy, these side dishes are simple, comforting, and crowd-pleasing. Below are descriptions and images for each recipe so you can decide which to prepare for your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast.
Holiday Dinner Guide (Printable)
If you prefer all recipes in one convenient printable format, look for the Holiday Dinner Guide — a printable eBook that collects holiday recipes, tips, and helpful tricks for planning and cooking your holiday dinner. It’s a great way to keep everything organized and reduce stress on the big day.
1. Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
These soft, melt-in-your-mouth dinner rolls are easy to make with a bread machine. Served warm with butter, they’re perfect for mopping up turkey gravy or serving alongside mashed potatoes. The bread machine does the heavy lifting for kneading and rising, so you get delicious homemade rolls with minimal hands-on time.
Get the recipe on the Harbour Breeze Home recipe box for full instructions and tips for shaping and baking.
2. Classic Potato Salad with Egg
Although potato salad isn’t a traditional Thanksgiving side for everyone, many families include it. This classic potato salad—with tender potatoes and hard-boiled eggs—is a comforting, familiar dish that tastes like Grandma’s kitchen. It pairs well with roasted turkey or ham and can be made ahead to save time on the day.
See the full recipe for tips on seasoning, texture, and the best potatoes to use.
3. Bacon Stuffing Rolls
Bacon-wrapped stuffing bites are consistently one of the most requested dishes at our house. Use your favorite old-fashioned stuffing recipe or a convenient stovetop mix—either way, wrapping the stuffing in bacon and baking it turns a classic side into irresistible bite-sized treats. Serve them alongside mashed potatoes and turkey pan gravy for maximum comfort.
4. Overnight Buns
Overnight yeast buns are a Thanksgiving staple in many families. The dough is mixed and shaped the night before, left to rise in the refrigerator, and baked fresh the next morning. This method gives you tender, flavorful buns with minimal morning prep—perfect for busy holiday schedules.
5. Mustard Sauce for Ham
If you serve ham instead of turkey, a quick homemade mustard sauce brightens the plate. This simple sauce takes minutes to prepare and adds tangy, savory flavor that complements warm ham slices and pairs nicely with classic sides like scalloped potatoes or cornbread.
6. Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
Broccoli salad with crisp bacon and sweet dried cranberries offers a refreshing contrast to heavier holiday dishes. The salad can be assembled a day ahead, which makes it a handy choice for Thanksgiving planning. The crunchy texture and tangy-sweet dressing make it a crowd favorite.
7. Orange Fluff Salad
Retro jello salads like orange fluff still have a place on the holiday table. Light and refreshing, this version with whipped topping is an easy, nostalgic side that balances richer mains and casseroles.
Peach Pretzel Salad
Peach pretzel salad is a bright, sweet-and-salty dessert-like side with a crunchy pretzel crust, creamy filling, sliced peaches, and a shiny jello topping. It’s festive on the Thanksgiving table and a delicious alternative to more traditional pies.
8. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
These cheesy scalloped potatoes use cream of mushroom soup for a rich, easy sauce and are finished with a golden cheese topping. They’re classic comfort food and a reliable, crowd-pleasing side dish for Thanksgiving or any holiday meal.
9. Make-Ahead Carrot Casserole
This cheesy baked carrot casserole can be assembled the day before and baked on the holiday, which makes it ideal for busy cooks. The shredded carrots keep it tender and flavorful, and the shortcut prep helps free up oven time for the turkey.
10. Light & Fluffy Baking Powder Biscuits
These easy baking powder biscuits deliver tender layers and reliable rise. Learn a few simple tips and tricks to make perfect biscuits every time—ideal for serving with butter, gravy, or alongside a Thanksgiving roast.
11. Roast Sweet Potato
Roasted sweet potatoes are a flavorful, autumnal side. Seasoned and roasted to crisp edges, they add color and natural sweetness to your holiday plate and pair beautifully with savory mains and herb-forward sides.
12. Classic Cornbread
This classic oven-baked cornbread is moist, golden, and made from simple pantry ingredients. Cornbread is a comforting addition to a Thanksgiving spread and pairs well with gravy, ham, or a hearty casserole.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes?
I know I haven’t listed every beloved Thanksgiving side—mashed potatoes and pan gravy, green bean casserole, and many other classics are often served as well. What are your go-to holiday sides? Share your favorites and any special family twists. I love discovering new recipes and adding them to the list of holiday staples.
Recipes for Turkey Leftovers
When the main meal is over, leftover turkey can be transformed into delicious second meals. Favorite ideas include Turkey Casserole with pasta and Turkey Tetrazzini—both easy, comforting ways to use leftover roasted turkey.
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Save this collection to your Thanksgiving planning board so you can find these side dish ideas when you’re prepping your menu.
