25 Side Dishes · Make-Ahead Friendly · Travel Tips Included
What to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner: 25 Crowd-Pleasing Side Dishes
The ultimate side dish guide for guests: 25 sides that travel well, reheat beautifully and never get pushed to the edge of the plate, plus how to pick one, pack it and keep it hot.
- 25 sides
- Make-ahead tags
- Transport guide
- Printable recipe
Sweet potato casserole, stuffing, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes and a harvest salad: the sides everyone hopes you bring.
Wondering what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? The turkey is spoken for and someone already claimed dessert, so the best thing a guest can carry through the door is a great side dish. The trick is choosing one that fits the spread, survives the drive and does not fight for the oven.
Below are 25 crowd-pleasing side dishes to bring to Thanksgiving, grouped by type and tagged so you can see at a glance which ones travel warm, serve cold or finish at the host’s. There is also a full recipe for the most-requested dish of all, a quick-pick table for every situation, and a packing guide so your food arrives hot.
How to Decide What to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner
Five quick questions, and the right dish picks itself:
Ask the host what is missing
One text saves a table with three green bean casseroles. Ask “what do you still need: a side, a salad or bread?”
Think about oven space
The turkey owns the oven until it comes out. Bring something that is already cooked, served cold, or reheats in 10 minutes.
Match the drive
Twenty minutes? Anything goes. An hour or more? Choose a dish that is good at room temperature or reheats well.
Cover a dietary gap
A vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free side is often the most appreciated dish on the table.
Bring your own serving spoon
And a dish you do not need back that night. Foil pans with lids are a guest’s best friend.
Quick Picks: The Best Dish to Bring for Every Situation
| Your situation | Bring this |
|---|---|
| Your situationYou have 30 minutes | Bring thisHoney glazed carrots, cranberry sauce or the honey butter board |
| Your situationNo oven space at the host’s | Bring thisHarvest kale salad, wild rice salad, deviled eggs or slow cooker mashed potatoes |
| Your situationA long drive | Bring thisCranberry sauce, broccoli crunch salad, cornbread muffins or roasted Brussels sprouts |
| Your situationFeeding 20 or more | Bring thisBaked mac and cheese, corn casserole or a double sweet potato casserole |
| Your situationVegetarian or vegan guests | Bring thisMaple roasted squash, wild rice salad or roasted vegetables (use olive oil) |
| Your situationGluten-free guests | Bring thisMashed potatoes, glazed carrots, Brussels sprouts or cranberry sauce |
| Your situationYou do not cook | Bring thisBakery rolls with homemade honey butter, a fruit and cheese board, or good cranberry sauce |
The #1 Dish to Bring: Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy maple sweet potatoes under a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping.
If you only make one thing, make this. It is the side that hosts rarely make themselves, kids and grandparents both love it, and it can be assembled two days ahead. Tap a serving size and every amount changes, including the printable card.
Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
The dish every host hopes you bring: creamy maple sweet potatoes under a crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. It travels warm, reheats beautifully and can be assembled two days ahead.
How many servings?
Ingredients
- 2 lb (3 medium)3 lb (4 large)4½ lb6 lb sweet potatoes
- ⅓ cup (75 g)½ cup (113 g)¾ cup (170 g)1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp¼ cup6 tbsp½ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tbsp¼ cup6 tbsp½ cup light brown sugar
- 1234 large eggs
- ⅓ cup½ cup¾ cup1 cup milk or half-and-half
- ¾ tsp1 tsp1½ tsp2 tsp vanilla extract, or alcohol-free vanilla
- ¾ tsp + ¼ tsp1 tsp + ½ tsp1½ tsp + ¾ tsp2 tsp + 1 tsp ground cinnamon + fine salt
- ⅔ cup1 cup1½ cups2 cups pecans, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup½ cup¾ cup1 cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup⅓ cup½ cup⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp¼ cup6 tbsp½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- a pinch¼ tspa heaped ¼ tsp½ tsp fine salt
Instructions
Cook the sweet potatoes
Peel and cube the sweet potatoes, cover with cold salted water and boil for 15 to 20 minutes until very tender. Drain well and let them steam dry for 2 minutes.
Mash and mix
Mash until smooth. Stir in the melted butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt until creamy.
Fill the dish
Spread into a buttered baking dish: 8×8 for 8 servings, 9×13 for 12. Smooth the top.
Make the pecan topping
Stir the pecans, brown sugar, flour, melted butter and salt into a crumbly mixture and scatter it evenly over the top.
Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the center is set. Two 9×13 pans need 35 to 40 minutes.
To bring it
Assemble up to 2 days ahead without the topping and refrigerate. Add the topping and bake the morning of, then cover with foil and wrap in a towel; it stays warm for about 2 hours, or reheat uncovered at 350°F for 15 minutes at the host’s.
25 Side Dishes to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner
Each dish is tagged: Make ahead means most of the work happens the day before, Travels warm means it rides wrapped in a towel, Serve cold means no oven needed, and Finish at the host’s means a quick 10 minutes in their oven.
Potatoes and Stuffing
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Whip them with cream cheese and butter the day before, then reheat in a slow cooker on low and carry the whole cooker in. The cream cheese keeps them silky after a night in the fridge. Make aheadTravels warm
Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
The featured recipe above. Sweet, creamy and crunchy, and almost nobody else will bring one because everyone assumes the host has it covered. Make aheadTravels warm
Classic Herb Stuffing
Sage, thyme, celery and onion in buttery bread cubes, baked in a foil pan so there is nothing to carry home. Bake it until just set, then crisp the top at the host’s for 10 minutes. Prefer Southern style? See our Southern cornbread dressing. Make aheadFinish at the host’s
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Thin potato slices in a garlic cream sauce with Gruyère. Bake fully the day before and reheat covered; they are even better on day two. Make aheadTravels warm
Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Garlic Butter
Boil, smash and roast until shattering, then toss in garlic butter and parsley. They hold their crunch for the drive if you leave them uncovered. Travels warm
Vegetable Sides
Glazed carrots and roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries: colorful, cheap and happy at room temperature.
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots
The classic, made from scratch with a mushroom cream sauce. Assemble the night before, add the fried shallots at the host’s so they stay crisp. Our classic green bean casserole has the full recipe. Make aheadFinish at the host’s
Honey Glazed Carrots
Sweet, buttery and bright, and one of the cheapest sides to make for a crowd. Glaze them at home and reheat in the pan or air fryer. Try our air fryer glazed carrots. Make aheadTravels warm
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans
Roast until the edges char, then toss with dried cranberries, toasted pecans and a drizzle of balsamic. Great warm or at room temperature, so timing does not matter. Travels warm
Maple Roasted Butternut Squash
Cubes roasted with maple, olive oil and a pinch of chili flakes, finished with sage. Travels well and sits happily on the table for hours. Travels warm
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Vegetables
A sheet pan of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and red onion with garlic and parmesan. Colorful, easy and a relief next to all the cream. Our garlic roasted vegetables shows how. Travels warm
Salads and Cranberry Sauce
Harvest Kale Salad with Squash and Pomegranate
Massaged kale, roasted squash, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds and feta with a maple-cider dressing. Kale will not wilt, so dress it an hour ahead and go. Make aheadServe cold
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Fresh cranberries, orange zest and a cinnamon stick, simmered for 15 minutes. Make it up to a week ahead; it only gets better. The easiest “yes” when the host asks. Make aheadServe cold
Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Nutty wild rice, dried cranberries, celery, green onion and toasted pecans in a lemon vinaigrette. Served cold, so it needs no oven and no timing. Make aheadServe cold
Apple Walnut Salad
Crisp apples, celery, grapes and toasted walnuts in a light yogurt and honey dressing. A fresh, crunchy break from the heavy dishes. Toss the apples in lemon juice so they stay bright. Serve cold
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Broccoli florets, dried cranberries, red onion, sunflower seeds and sharp cheddar in a creamy dressing. It improves after a few hours in the fridge, which makes it perfect for bringing. Make aheadServe cold
Breads and Rolls
Soft Buttery Dinner Rolls
Pillowy rolls brushed with melted butter and flaky salt. Bake them in a foil pan in the morning and warm them, covered, for 5 minutes at the host’s. Make aheadFinish at the host’s
Skillet Cornbread or Cornbread Muffins
Slightly sweet, golden and sturdy. Muffins are the easiest to carry and need no knife or serving spoon. Make aheadTravels warm
Garlic Herb Pull-Apart Bread
Dough balls rolled in garlic butter, rosemary and parmesan, baked in a bundt pan. Guests tear off pieces, so it disappears first. Travels warm
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Tender, orange-tinted biscuits that taste like Thanksgiving. Freeze the cut dough a week ahead and bake from frozen the morning of. Make aheadTravels warm
Honey Butter and Herb Butter Board
No oven at all: whip softened butter with honey and cinnamon, and another batch with garlic and herbs, then serve with bakery rolls. The simplest upgrade to store-bought bread. Make aheadServe cold
Casseroles and Crowd-Pleasers
Baked Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy and the first dish kids reach for. Bake it in a foil pan with a buttery crumb top; our Thanksgiving mac and cheese and four-cheese crockpot version both travel well. Make aheadTravels warm
Corn Casserole
A spoonable, custardy corn bake with a golden top. Five minutes to mix, and it stays warm in a towel-wrapped dish for an hour. Make aheadTravels warm
Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin
Roasted cauliflower in a cheddar and Gruyère sauce with a crispy panko top. A low-carb side that still feels indulgent. Make aheadFinish at the host’s
Make-Ahead Gravy
A rich gravy built on chicken stock, roasted onions and herbs, so it needs no turkey drippings. Bring it in a thermos; hosts always run short on gravy. Make aheadTravels warm
Classic Deviled Eggs
Creamy, tangy and gone in minutes. Fill them the morning of, keep them in a deviled egg carrier on ice, and dust with paprika at the table. Make aheadServe cold
Save the pin so the list is ready when the host texts.
How to Transport Thanksgiving Side Dishes (and Keep Them Hot)
Foil pans with lids, a towel-lined carrier and your own serving spoon.
Keep hot food hot
Cover the dish with foil, wrap it in a thick towel and set it in a cooler or insulated bag. It stays above 140°F for about 2 hours.
Keep cold food cold
Salads, deviled eggs and cranberry sauce ride in a cooler with ice packs. Dress salads on arrival if the drive is long.
Pack to reheat
Slightly under-bake casseroles, then finish them uncovered at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes at the host’s. Add crispy toppings after the drive.
Use foil pans and lids
Nothing to wash, nothing to collect later. Label the lid with the dish name and the reheating time.
Bring the extras
A serving spoon, a trivet and a small container of garnish, like parsley, pecans or fried shallots, to freshen the dish before serving.
Food safety in one line: hot food should stay above 140°F and cold food below 40°F, and nothing should sit in the 40 to 140°F zone for more than 2 hours. If the drive is long, chill the dish fully and reheat it at the host’s instead.
Make-Ahead Timeline for Thanksgiving Guests
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| WhenUp to 1 week ahead | What to doCranberry sauce; freeze biscuit dough and dinner-roll dough |
| When2–3 days ahead | What to doAssemble casseroles without toppings; make gravy and salad dressings; toast nuts |
| WhenThe day before | What to doMashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, broccoli salad, wild rice salad, corn casserole |
| WhenThanksgiving morning | What to doBake rolls, cornbread and casseroles; roast vegetables; fill deviled eggs |
| WhenRight before you leave | What to doAdd toppings, wrap in foil and towels, pack cold dishes on ice, grab the serving spoon |
What to Bring to Thanksgiving If You Do Not Cook
Showing up with something thoughtful matters more than making it from scratch. Any of these takes 10 minutes and no oven:
- Bakery rolls with homemade honey butter: whip 1 cup softened butter with 3 tbsp honey and a pinch of cinnamon.
- A fruit and cheese board: two or three cheeses, grapes, sliced apples, dried apricots, nuts and crackers.
- Upgraded bagged salad: add sliced apples, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and crumbled feta to a kale or spinach mix, with a bottled cider vinaigrette.
- Sparkling apple cider: a few chilled bottles, plus a bag of ice, are always welcome.
- Good cranberry sauce: store-bought whole-berry sauce stirred with orange zest and a pinch of cinnamon tastes homemade.
What to Bring to Thanksgiving Dinner: FAQs
What is the best thing to bring to Thanksgiving dinner?
A side dish the host has not already made. Sweet potato casserole, a green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, a big salad or homemade dinner rolls are the most welcome choices. Ask the host what is missing and bring that.
What should I bring to Thanksgiving if I cannot cook?
Bakery dinner rolls with homemade honey butter, a fruit and cheese board, a good store-bought cranberry sauce, sparkling cider, or bagged salad dressed up with apples, pecans and dried cranberries.
What should I bring to Thanksgiving at the last minute?
Honey glazed carrots take 20 minutes, cranberry sauce takes 15, and a honey butter board needs no cooking at all. Cornbread muffins from a mix with a little extra butter and honey are another quick win.
What side dishes travel well for Thanksgiving?
Casseroles in foil pans, mashed potatoes in a slow cooker, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, grain salads, kale salads and breads all travel well. Avoid anything that needs to be served the moment it comes out of the oven.
How do I keep a dish warm on the way to Thanksgiving dinner?
Cover it with foil, wrap it in a thick towel and place it in a cooler or insulated bag. It will stay hot for about two hours. For longer drives, reheat it at the host’s house.
What can I bring to Thanksgiving that does not need an oven?
Slow cooker mashed potatoes, a harvest kale salad, wild rice salad, broccoli crunch salad, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce and a honey butter board with bakery rolls.
Should I bring a side dish or a dessert to Thanksgiving?
Ask the host. Desserts are often covered, while hosts usually welcome an extra vegetable side, salad or bread. If dessert is what they need, see our make-ahead Thanksgiving desserts.
How much of a side dish should I bring to Thanksgiving?
Plan on about half a cup of each side per person, since guests take small portions of many dishes. A 9×13 casserole serves 12 to 15 as one of several sides.
What is a good vegetarian side to bring to Thanksgiving?
Maple roasted butternut squash, roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries, wild rice salad, the harvest kale salad and garlic parmesan roasted vegetables are all vegetarian, and most are easy to make vegan with olive oil.
What gluten-free side can I bring to Thanksgiving?
Mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, maple roasted squash, cranberry sauce, wild rice salad and deviled eggs are naturally gluten-free. Check that your stock and dressings are gluten-free too.
Can I make Thanksgiving side dishes the day before?
Yes. Casseroles, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, grain and broccoli salads, gravy and dressings all keep well overnight. Add crispy toppings and fresh herbs right before serving.
Is it rude to bring a dish the host did not ask for?
Not if you check first. A quick message asking what they still need shows thought, avoids duplicates and saves the host oven space on the day.
Related Reads
More Thanksgiving menus, sides, appetizers and desserts from our kitchen.
What to Serve for Thanksgiving Dinner
The complete menu guide, from turkey to pie. Plan the menu → Appetizers25 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Finger Foods
Easy bites to bring for the pre-dinner hour. See the appetizers → VegetablesEasy Thanksgiving Vegetable Side Dishes
Garlic roasted veggies and more. Get the recipes → Crowd FavoriteThanksgiving Mac and Cheese Recipes
Creamy baked mac the whole table loves. Make it → DessertsMake-Ahead Thanksgiving Desserts
If the host asks for dessert instead. See the desserts → Meat-FreeVegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
Impressive dishes for a meat-free table. Read the guide →Ask the host what is missing, pick a side that suits the drive and the oven, make as much as you can the day before, and wrap it in a towel. That is how to be the guest everyone hopes shows up.
Pin this list of what to bring to Thanksgiving dinner so it is ready the moment the invitation lands.
