These old-fashioned Thanksgiving side dishes are the comforting, time-tested recipes that give a holiday table its cozy, familiar feel — from soft dinner rolls and classic stuffing to creamy mashed potatoes and retro favorites like orange fluff salad. Below are family-favorite recipes from the Harbour Breeze Home recipe box that pair perfectly with a roast turkey and make the season feel like home.
Family Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes from the Harbour Breeze Home Recipe Box
Thanksgiving memories for me are full of extended tables, the clatter of dishes, laughter and kids running through the farmhouse. Our family dinners now are smaller and quieter, but the side dishes remain familiar and comforting. Whether you’re hosting a big crowd or keeping it simple, these recipes are dependable crowd-pleasers. Many of them can be made ahead to reduce stress on the big day.
The Main Event
Roast Turkey with Bacon
No Thanksgiving spread is complete without turkey. My slow-roasted turkey wrapped with bacon stays moist and flavorful and almost bastes itself while it cooks. It’s my go-to for holiday roasting and includes a useful roasting time chart and carving tips to make serving easier.
Stuffing & Potatoes
Old Fashioned Stuffing
This is the simple bread-stuffing recipe my mom walked me through when I was a newlywed: bread cubes, butter, onion, celery and plenty of sage. It’s seasoned until it tastes just right — the comforting flavor of holiday dinners past.
Get the old fashioned stuffing recipe
Classic Potato Salad with Egg
Some families include potato salad at Thanksgiving. If you enjoy that nostalgic bowl just like Grandma used to make, this classic potato salad with hard-boiled egg fits the bill — creamy, simple and familiar.
Get the potato salad with egg recipe
Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Balls
Turn leftover stuffing into a fun appetizer or side by rolling it into balls and wrapping each in bacon. They bake up crispy and are always the first things to disappear from the platter.
Get the bacon wrapped stuffing balls recipe
Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Not your grandmother’s version, but these mashed potatoes are whipped smooth and creamy with a secret boost of cottage cheese for extra protein and richness. They reheat well and can be made a day or two in advance.
Get the cottage cheese mashed potatoes recipe
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Mushroom Soup
This shortcut scalloped potato casserole tastes like it simmered all day. Thin layers of potato bake with a creamy mushroom soup base and plenty of cheese for a rich, comforting dish that’s easy to assemble.
Get the cheesy scalloped potatoes recipe
Roast Sweet Potato
For fans of sweet potatoes, a simply roasted version finished with butter, salt and pepper brings out the natural sweetness and makes a no-fuss side dish that pairs perfectly with turkey.
Get the roast sweet potato recipe
Salads
Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
Crisp broccoli, salty bacon and tart cranberries come together in a creamy dressing for a salad that complements a heavy holiday meal. It can be mixed a day ahead to save time on Thanksgiving.
Broccoli salad recipe
Orange Fluff Salad
A retro classic made with mandarin oranges and whipped topping, orange fluff salad is light, sweet and refreshingly familiar — a nostalgic side or dessert for holiday tables.
Orange fluff salad recipe
Peach Pretzel Salad
With a crunchy pretzel crust, fluffy cream-cheese layer and glossy peach topping, peach pretzel salad is a sunny, retro favorite that brings bright flavor and texture to dessert spreads.
Peach pretzel salad recipe
Vegetables
Harvard Beets
Sweet, tangy and vividly ruby red, Harvard beets are an old-fashioned classic that add color and a pleasant tart-sweet note to the holiday plate.
Get the Harvard beets recipe
Make-Ahead Carrot Casserole
This cheesy baked carrot casserole is made with shredded carrots and can be assembled a day ahead, then baked the day of — a handy time-saver for busy hosts.
Get the carrot casserole recipe
Breads & Rolls
Light & Fluffy Baking Powder Biscuits
Simple ingredients and a few key techniques make these easy, tender biscuits the ideal partner for gravy and mashed potatoes.
Get the biscuit recipe
Classic Cornbread
Moist and golden, this simple oven-baked cornbread is a homestyle favorite that goes great with turkey and gravy.
Get the cornbread recipe
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
Soft, pillowy rolls made with the help of a bread machine take a lot of the hands-on work out of roll-making and are ideal when you want warm bread with minimal fuss.
Get the bread machine dinner rolls recipe
Sauces & Gravy
Turkey Pan Gravy
Make smooth, flavorful gravy from the turkey drippings for that finishing touch every Thanksgiving needs. Homemade gravy is easier to achieve than most people expect and elevates every plate.
Get the turkey pan gravy recipe
Cranberry Sauce with Mandarin Oranges
Homemade cranberry sauce is simple to prepare and can be made days ahead. Adding mandarin oranges brightens the flavor with a sweet, citrusy twist.
Get the cranberry sauce recipe
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Save room for pie — some of our family favorites include:
- Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie Bars with Cake Mix
- Easy Homemade Cherry Pie
- Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
- Apple Crisp with Apple Pie Filling
Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Can You Make Ahead?
After decades of holiday meals, I’ve learned the secret to enjoying the day is to prepare as much as possible beforehand. Here are good candidates for make-ahead prep:
- 2 to 3 days ahead: Cranberry sauce
- 1 to 2 days ahead: Cottage cheese mashed potatoes, carrot casserole, broccoli salad
- The day before: Orange fluff salad and bread machine dinner rolls
- Earlier the same day: Mix your stuffing and keep it chilled until baking time
On the holiday itself, focus on roasting the turkey, making the gravy and reheating dishes — then sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy the meal.
How Many Side Dishes Should You Make for Thanksgiving?
It’s easy to overdo it. As a rule of thumb:
- For 2–4 people: Prepare 3–4 sides — a potato dish, a vegetable, a bread and the stuffing. Many recipes halve easily.
- For 10 or more: Offer 6–8 sides. Aim for a balanced mix: two starches, two vegetables, a salad and rolls.
If guests offer to bring something, say yes — ask for a salad or dessert from this list and enjoy the help.
Recipes for Turkey Leftovers
Use every last bit of turkey with these favorite leftover recipes:
- Creamy Leftover Turkey Pasta Casserole
- Easy Turkey Tetrazzini
What are your favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner?
I’d love to hear which old-fashioned side dishes are must-haves at your table. Leave a comment and tell me your family favorites — I may add them to my list.
Pin this to remember it later
Pin these ideas to your Thanksgiving dinner board so you can find them when you’re planning the menu.
