Old Fashioned Thanksgiving Side Dishes (Grandma’s Classic Recipes)
These old fashioned Thanksgiving side dishes are the classic, comforting recipes that make a holiday table feel like home — from fluffy dinner rolls and homemade stuffing to creamy mashed potatoes and retro favourites like orange fluff salad.
Family Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes from the Harbour Breeze Home Recipe Box
Growing up, Thanksgiving dinner meant huge family dinners. The table was extended with all of its leaves and our farmhouse was filled with lots of laughter and kids running around. It often started with a delicious roasted turkey. Our own Thanksgiving dinners have usually been quieter with just our family of 5 – and even quieter now that we’re just cooking for two. So, sometimes we just do a simple turkey dinner with all the shortcuts we can think of.
But, over the years, I’ve written some of our favorite recipes that pair well as side dishes for the Thanksgiving (and Christmas) dinner table. They are listed below, or you can get them all in a handy dandy printable form through my new holiday dinner guide!
Want these recipes ad free in printable form?
You asked for it – so here it is!!
My Holiday Dinner Guide printable ebook includes 29 holiday recipes! You can print them all or cook right from your device. In addition to the recipes, you’ll also find lots of holiday dinner tips & tricks – and kitchen bloopers to make you smile!
Check it out & Grab your copy here — and let’s have fun making holiday dinner together!
The Main Event
Roast Turkey with Bacon
Every side dish needs something to go alongside! My slow roasted turkey with bacon is moist, flavourful and practically bastes itself. It’s my favourite way to roast a holiday turkey, and it comes with a roasting time chart and step-by-step carving tips.
Stuffing & Potatoes
Old Fashioned Stuffing
This is the stuffing my mom talked me through over the phone when I was a newlywed. Simple bread cubes, butter, onion, celery and sage — and seasoned “until it tastes right,” just like she taught me. It’s the taste of every holiday dinner I remember.
Classic Potato Salad with Egg
I admit, we don’t often have potato salad as a Thanksgiving side dish, but many readers tell me they do. If you’re looking for a classic potato salad recipe just like Grandma used to make – this one is it!
Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Balls
Have leftover stuffing, or want a fun twist on the classic? Roll it into balls and wrap them in bacon! They make a delicious side dish or appetizer, and they disappear fast.
Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
These aren’t my mama’s mashed potatoes, but they’re creamy, fluffy and whipped smooth, with a sneaky boost of protein from cottage cheese. Nobody will guess the secret ingredient! You can make them up to two days ahead, too.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Mushroom Soup
This shortcut version of a classic tastes like it took all day. Tender layers of potato bake up creamy and cheesy, thanks to a can of cream of mushroom soup. It’s pure old fashioned comfort food.
Roast Sweet Potato
If your family loves sweet potatoes, here’s my quick and easy way to roast a big one so it comes out tender and perfectly sweet. Serve it simply with butter, salt and pepper.
Salads
Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
Classic broccoli salad with bacon and cranberries is a wonderful salad to compliment Thanksgiving dinner. It can conveniently be mixed together the day before making it less work on the day of!
Orange Fluff Salad
Turkey dinners always included some sort of jello salad when I was growing up. This classic orange fluff salad with Cool Whip tastes so refreshing!
Peach Pretzel Salad
This beautiful retro jello salad is a the sunny cousin to strawberry pretzel salad!. With a pretzel crust, fluffy cream cheese filling, sliced peaches, and topped with shiny jello, it’s a favorite at the holiday table.
Vegetables
Harvard Beets
Sweet, tangy and a beautiful ruby red, Harvard beets are a true old fashioned classic. They add a lovely pop of colour to the holiday table.
Make Ahead Carrot Casserole
This delicious and easy cheesy baked carrot casserole with shredded carrots can be assembled the day before it’s baked. It’s so handy to have the prep work done ahead!
Breads & Rolls
Light & Fluffy Baking Powder Biscuits
Learn the simple tips and tricks of easy biscuits with my Mom’s baking powder biscuit recipe.
Classic Cornbread
Made with simple ingredients, this classic oven-baked cornbread is moist, flavorful, and perfectly golden. Serve it alongside your Thanksgiving turkey for a comforting, homestyle side dish everyone will enjoy.
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
These soft and fluffy crescent rolls melt in your mouth, and your bread machine does most of the work! Serve them warm with butter. They’re perfect for mopping up a little turkey gravy, too.
Sauces & Gravy
Turkey Pan Gravy
No holiday dinner is complete without homemade gravy! Here’s how I make smooth, flavourful gravy from the turkey drippings, just like my mom did
Cranberry Sauce with mandarin oranges
Homemade cranberry sauce is so much easier than you think! The mandarin oranges add a sweet, bright twist, and you can make it days ahead.
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Of course, we have to save room for pie! Here are a few of our family’s favourite holiday desserts:
- 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 30-some years of holiday dinners, I’ve learned that the secret to enjoying the day is doing as much as you can ahead of time! These side dishes are perfect for making early:
- 2 to 3 days ahead: Cranberry sauce
- 1 to 2 days ahead: Cottage cheese mashed potatoes, carrot casserole and broccoli salad
- The day before: Orange fluff salad, and the bread machine dinner buns
- Earlier in the day: Mix up your stuffing and keep it in the fridge until it’s time to bake
On the big day, all you have left to do is roast the turkey, make the gravy and warm everything up. You might even have time to sit down with a cup of coffee!
How Many Side Dishes Should You Make for Thanksgiving?
It’s so easy to get carried away (believe me, I’ve done it!). Here’s my rule of thumb:
- For two to four people: 3 or 4 side dishes. Choose a potato, a vegetable, a bread and your stuffing. Many of these recipes can be cut in half, too.
- For a crowd of 10 or more: 6 to 8 side dishes. Try to choose a mix, like two starches, two vegetables, a salad and rolls.
And if guests ask, “What can I bring?” say yes! Hand them a salad or dessert recipe from this list, and enjoy the help.
Recipes for Turkey Leftovers
Don’t let a single bite go to waste! Here are some of my favourite ways to use up leftover turkey:
What are your favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving Dinner?
I’d love to hear which old fashioned side dishes are a must at your Thanksgiving table! Leave a comment below and tell me your family’s favourites. I might just add them to my list!
Pin this to remember it later
Pin this to your Thanksgiving dinner Pinterest board so you can find it later when you’re looking for it!
I have been unable to open the recipe for bacon wrapped stuffing rolls..has anyone else had the same problem? They look delicious. I would love to make them.
Hi Sandy, Thank you so much for letting me know that link to the stuffing wasn’t working! I have it fixed now. So sorry about that little glitch! I hope you and your family like that yummy recipe as much as we do!
Our family always went to my Grandmother’s house, while she was living. There was always turkey and ham, dressing,sweet potato casserole,mashed potatoes and gravy and deviled eggs. We would also have green beans and of course, my favorite, baked beans. It is a special time, visiting with family, you don’t get to see often.
Oh, Sharon – what fabulous memories that sounds like. I loved going to my Grandma’s for Thanksgiving dinner, too. And, goodness – it’s been ages since I had deviled eggs! I just might need to make some. Thanks so much for sharing.
These all sound delicious! We make stuffing, glazed carrots, green bean casserole and French pork stuffing. But my favorite is the cranberry orange relish lol
Colleen, your sides sound delicious! But, I must admit -I’ve never heard of French pork stuffing and cranberry orange relish!! Now I must go research.;) Thanks so much for sharing.
For the last few years, my family has helped make Thanksgiving Dinner. My husband cooks the turkey, one daughter makes the dressing, the other daughter makes sweet potato casserole and broccoli casserole,my granddaughter make green bean casserole, I make mashed potatoes and Sister Schubert and I make rolls.😂 For dessert my son-in-law makes pumpkin and pecan pies. He also makes a Pumpkin Soup for the first course. I have it easy on Thanksgiving. At Christmas I do all the cooking.
Oh, Nancy! That sounds like such a fun Thanksgiving dinner! Not only does it help spread the work around, it allows you all a chance to taste each other’s yummy Thanksgiving recipes. They all sound so delicious! Thank you so much for sharing.