Thanksgiving is hands down the best holiday of the year. Not only is it the official kickstart to Christmas music season, but it's always a joy to get all the family together and catch up about the year that's been over delicious, seasonal eats.
Sure, the turkey may be the main focus of the meal, but Thanksgiving dinner is absolutely nothing without great side dishes.
That's why we've compiled a list of 20 awesome side dishes that are done in 30 minutes or less.
Cranberry Orange Sauce
There are some food pairings that seem like they were meant to be and turkey and cranberry fits. Cranberry sauce is a must on the Thanksgiving table, but this recipe has a simple but impactful twist: oranges. It's simple to make and will leave guests asking for the recipe.
Get the recipe here.
Chopped Apple Turkey Stuffing
Turkey stuffing is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving meal and it tends to be the one side dish people have strong feelings about — whether they love it or not. There are a variety of flavors we can add to our stuffing to make it stand out and if there aren't any apples in this year's recipe, don't miss out. It adds a great twist, and it's easy to make.
Get the recipe here.
Green Bean Casserole
This side dish only takes 10 minutes to prepare and with only five ingredients, there's a chance that everything that's needed to slap this together is already in the pantry. Green beans are one of the vegetables that our kids don't always love, but add in french fried onions and cream of mushroom soup and everyone will ask for seconds.
Get the recipe here.
Confetti Corn
There's no reason that we need to wait for Thanksgiving to have this family favorite casserole. But when we need another side dish to go with the turkey — or ham — this fits in with the meal perfectly. Since it's a casserole, we can prep it ahead of time and it's all ready within 30 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
Pumpkin Muffins
Muffins that take 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake are perfect in our books. These pumpkin-flavored muffins are just right for anytime around Thanksgiving. We don't typically think of muffins as a side dish, but we can consider this a holiday equivalent to rolls or cornbread, right?
Get the recipe here.
Garlic & Sun-Dried Tomato Corn Muffins
Making these with a corn muffin mix cuts back on some of the time. However, still expect a big flavor punch. Adding in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes (and jalapeño if spice is OK) is the perfect way to dress up the corn muffins and make them a memorable side dish for the family this year. It's less than 30 minutes from mix to baked, and can be done ahead of time, too.
Get the recipe here.
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
Brussel sprouts get a bad rap, but they shouldn't. For anyone who doesn't like this vegetable side dish, we recommend trying them sauteed with or without bacon added. It's all about how this vegetable is cooked for how much impact it will have. And there's no better way than sauteed. It's fast, and delish!
Get the recipe here.
Whipped Sweet Potato Bake
Sweet potato is one of those rare vegetables that can be served sweet or savory, and this side dish could go either way, too. Within 30 minutes, guests will be enjoying this casserole that includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and marshmallow. It's not every meal we can add marshmallows and call it a side dish!
Get the recipe here.
Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce
We already know that cranberries and turkey are a must-have combination. We've tried turkey and cranberry with orange, but this recipe takes it to another level. Adding apples to the mix with oranges and cranberries is everything we didn't realize we were missing in a cranberry sauce, and it didn't take any longer to prep.
Get the recipe here.
Artichoke Gratinata
This side dish takes 10 minutes to prepare and 15 to cook, bringing the total well under that 30 minute limit. Artichokes don't gets as much love on Thanksgiving as they should and this casserole-style gratinata will change the whole family's mind about the often overlooked side dish option.
Get the recipe here.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
One of our favorite things about potatoes is how versatile they are. There are a lot of different ways to prepare them as a side dish, all within that 30 minute timeframe. We're obsessed with mashed potatoes with garlic added. It gives that fluffy feeling we love so much with a healthy punch of garlic.
Get the recipe here.
Baked Hush Puppies
Hush puppies don't have to be deep-fried to be delicious. This baked hush puppy recipe gives all the flavor and texture we love about the side dish while making it a little lighter — on calories and time. These only require about 20 minutes to cook in the oven before they can be all eaten up!
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Potatoes and sweet potatoes tend to get most of the spotlight in Thanksgiving side dishes. But we can't sleep on butternut squash. This can be prepared several different ways and can be added to a sweet dish or savory one. We love a simple but flavorful roasted squash with a drizzle of olive oil and some salt.
Get the recipe here.
Orange Scented Green Beans
Vegetable side dishes are a must for Thanksgiving and this simple-to-follow orange scented green beans recipe is exactly what's needed to round out the meal. Using the peel of an orange, this dish brings a freshness to the plate, and might just be the one veggie the kids ask for seconds.
Get the recipe here.
Sauteed Apples
This side dish is everything that's right with apple pie and there's no reason it can't sit on the Thanksgiving plate with the turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes. It's side dish that's quick to prep, so it won't hold up the big meal and it's absolutely worth the time to make. Using Golden Delicious apples, cinnamon, and a few other ingredients it will all come together within 30 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are a holiday staple and if they've not been a part of meals in past years, it's going to be a favorite that will return each year. They're simple to make and the roasted chestnuts have a sweet flavor and soft texture that some have said is similar to sweet potatoes.
Get the recipe here.
Ultimate Winter Salad
Salads can really tie a meal together and for Thanksgiving, having a small but tasty salad before the full meal can help prep our stomach. The ultimate winter salad has everything we love about the holiday meal time: apples, pecans, butternut squash, feta cheese, and pomegranate. It's happiness by the forkfull.
Get the recipe here.
Roasted Vegetables
A side dish of roasted vegetables is something we can customize for whoever is eating. If no one cares for carrots, we can skip. If people love tomatoes or potatoes, we can add those in. Roasting vegetables are quick to make in the oven and we can play around with flavor. Instead of using just olive oil, try some lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
Get the recipe here.
Mac & Cheese
There is something about mac and cheese that's so comforting, and while we could technically have it any day of the year, as a side dish for Thanksgiving, it adds a warmth that we can't get enough of. There are a lot of recipe variations — more cheese, less cheese, add in chives or jalapeño peppers — but a stovetop version can be done in 30 minutes or less. If there's a little extra time, it can be popped in a casserole dish and baked.
Get the recipe here.
Flaky Herb Biscuits
Biscuits are like a love language and being able to have some home-baked ones on the Thanksgiving table is pure love. Contrary to belief, we don't have to spend all day in the kitchen to make them from scratch. These flaky herb ones can be prepared and baked within 30 minutes. Probably a good idea to make some extras though!
Get the recipe here.
