24 Awesome Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Move over turkey, I've got 24 awesome Thanksgiving side dishes for you today that are so much better than the bird. We're talking all things cranberry, sweet potato, and more to make your Thanksgiving feast extra awesome.

Witches have their Mabon celebration at the autumn equinox, but chances are, if you're an American witch, you're getting ready to give thanks again with your muggle friends and family. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, as I finally get to show off my talents and spend usually two days in the kitchen prepping a feast to show everyone my gratitude for putting up with me.

Today, I'm sharing my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes and starters that I think deserve a place on your table. Keep in mind, this is from the perspective of a picky eater, so we're carb heavy over here and loving it. Hopefully, this will give you some fresh ideas for this traditional meal.

Starters

In my mind, there's always a bit of a blurred line between starters and sides at Thanksgiving because a lot of these things could also be part of your buffet spread. I do think it's important, though, to have something available to keep any hungry guests out of the kitchen when you're preparing.

• Pumpkin & Hazelnut Crostini - Perfectly seasonal toast to call in abundance.
• Epic Cheese Board - No holiday meal is complete without a happiness inducing cheese board, and I'm showing you how to do it on the cheap.
• Cranberry Brie Bites - Super simple, colorful, and irresistible.
• Holiday Brie - This is made in the microwave, so if you've been asked to bring something, this starter wouldn't be intrusive on your host.
• Secret Ingredient Deviled Eggs - Add a bit of butter to your deviled eggs to make them extra awesome. Every Thanksgiving needs a bit of nostalgia.
• Swiss & Bacon Dip - My friends would kill me if I didn't include the best dip ever.
• Cranberry Sausages - Sweet cranberry sauce gets combined with spicy chilli sauce that coats some cocktail sausages. It's awesome.
• Garlic & Thyme Baked Camembert - In case your house didn't already smell awesome enough, this fragrant and simple cheese offering will take it over the top.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are an absolute must. I rotate between a few different options every year, but I never leave them off the table.

• Sweet Potato Gratin - This is my husband's favorite side dish, and who could say no to sweet potatoes baked in smoky cheese and cream?
• Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese - When I moved to the South and realized you could have mac and cheese at Thanksgiving, I felt like I had been robbed for 18 years. This one is extra seasonal.
• Cajun Sweet Potatoes - Simple slices of seasoned sweet potatoes get baked until tender and topped with tangy garlic yogurt.
• All-American Sweet Potato Casserole - Topped with marshmallows, you know you can't resist.
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Maple Butter - My personal favorite, this one has a kick of fire energy.

Potatoes

Look, I'm never not eating potatoes, and I definitely think they should be on every holiday table. Preferably combined with generous amounts of butter and cream. We need that good grounding energy.

• English Potato Gratin - Flavored with mace, this potato gratin is a classic.
• Loaded Baked Potato Casserole - Take your mashed potatoes to the next level with bacon and cheese. Another great option for anyone who is asked to bring a side.
• Ridiculously Awesome Mashed Potatoes - I never have a holiday without mashed potatoes, and mine are the best. Here's how I make them.

Bread

I'm definitely not the type of kitchen witch who always has home-baked bread in the house. And growing up, my mom probably would have just used store-bought rolls or frozen bread dough. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two times of year when I feel like it's absolutely necessary for me to make fresh-baked rolls from scratch.

• Potato Rolls - Made with potato flakes, these rolls are pillow soft.
• Sweet Potato Rolls - Get that earthy sweetness right into your dinner roll.
• Skillet Cornbread - There are definitely parts of the world where cornbread is the default. Make an extra batch for stuffing.
• Rosemary Potato Rolls - This is the favorite holiday roll in our house.
• Smoked Cheddar & Sage Biscuits - If you find yeasted bread a bit intimidating, try these biscuits instead. They take much less time and they have the cleansing power of sage.

Everything Else

A few extras to round things out.

• Homemade Cranberry Sauce - If you ever doubted if cooking was magic, making homemade cranberry sauce will convince you. I love when you can hear them start to pop. It's amazing.
• Maple Glazed Carrots - Okay, fine, we'll eat one vegetable. But we'll cover it in sweet maple to make it awesome.
• Easy Garlic Mac & Cheese - A super simple mac and cheese recipe with the protective energy of garlic.

I hope you found something you love. If you make any of these recipes, be sure to share a photo on Instagram. Tag me and hashtag it #awesomeon20.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes? Let me know in the comments.