Though you better believe we've got those classics too.
Turkey gets all the glory, but we all know it's truly the sides that shine on Thanksgiving, especially those low-key casseroles you can throw together and pop in the oven. They're pretty simple to assemble, can easily serve a crowd (great for Friendsgivings!), and reheat super well (perfect for potlucks!). Green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole are just a few of the options you should fill your table with this holiday season. It’s true, for a lot of people, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the OGs, so we’d never suggest you ditch them for alternatives. However, if you’re having a BIG meal, or just want to change up your leftovers game, we definitely recommend diversifying a bit. These casseroles are comforting, simple, and most can even be made ahead of time (gotta love that!). Check out our 40 Thanksgiving casseroles for ideas.
Let’s start with the classics. We’ve got 5+(!) recipes for green bean casserole here—everything from a vegan version to one that’s loaded with bacon and cheese (what can we say, we’ve got layers). We’ve also got 3+(!) sweet potato casserole options—something for everyone, whether you like marshmallows, pecans, or prefer something savory.
Looking to change it up? We’ve got a variety of other casseroles that would be just as at home on your Thanksgiving table. Check out our harvest chicken casserole, our butternut squash casserole, or our classic corn casserole. We’ve also included a few casseroles great for using up Thanksgiving leftovers, like our chicken stuffing casserole or our turkey divan. They’re a great way to give your leftovers new life.
Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our favorite aThanksgiving appetizers, sides, and pies too.
1
Green Bean Casserole
This tried-and-tested recipe is our most classic version of the Thanksgiving side. We ditched the cream of mushroom soup for a homemade cream sauce and fresh sautéed mushrooms, but don’t worry—this dish is still super-simple to make.
Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.
2
Classic Stuffing
When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, and this one will absolutely make your holiday meal all the better.
Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.
3
Mashed Potato Casserole
This recipe begins—as you might expect—with classic mashed potatoes. We then add herb-infused milk and some cream cheese, then fold in the secret ingredient—eggs! Eggs are stirred in before baking to lighten up the potatoes, and they help the mixture “soufflé” a bit in the oven.
Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
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4
Creamed Brussels Sprouts
We'll take Brussels any which way, but we also love giving them the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.
Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
5
Best Corn Casserole
This corn casserole transcends those commonplace categories into a league of its own. It’s packed with sweet corn, balanced by a pinch of paprika and herby chives, and has an wildly tender and custardy texture that will have you on your third helping before you even know what hit you.
Get the Best Corn Casserole recipe.
6
Gnocchi Stuffing
Heading to Friendsgiving and need a fun, different dish? This gnocchi stuffing is a creative twist on classic stuffing everyone will love. Using gnocchi instead of bread gives you dumpling-like bites with all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving.
Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.
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7
Butternut Squash Casserole
It's time for butternut squash to claim its rightful place on autumnal dinner tables. This savory casserole is packed with bacon and two types of cheese (mozzarella and cheddar, thank you very much) and just enough kale to lend the dish a healthy-ish twist. Equally versatile as a side dish or a main, this butternut squash casserole is a hearty, easy, and delicious way to eat your veggies.
Get the Butternut Squash Casserole recipe.
8
Creamy Kale & Gnocchi Bake
This dish is perfect for bulking out a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal. Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty, creamy kale and gnocchi bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction.
Get the .
9
Harvest Chicken Casserole
This satisfying casserole has ALL of your fall favorites—Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cranberries. Make it for a big crowd, or pack it up and eat the leftovers for lunch. It's a meal prep DREAM.
Get the Harvest Chicken Casserole recipe.
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10
Sweet Potato Gratin
Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes (including purple AND orange ones) are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. 😍
Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.
11
Homemade Mac & Cheese
The perfect recipe has to nail three things: be extra creamy, plenty cheesy, and paired with a golden, crunchy topping. This tried-and-true recipe aces all of these requirements (and more!) with flying colors!
Get the .
12
Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole
If you love sweet potatoes, but aren't about marshmallows or sugary pecans, this casserole is for you. With roasted sweet potatoes and black bean chili layered together under a gooey blanket of cheese, this dish will add flavor and color to your Thanksgiving table, and is vegetarian to boot.
Get the Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
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13
Vegetable Casserole
For this recipe, we wanted to gussy up the idea of a Thanksgiving casserole by combining two French dishes: ratatouille and potatoes au gratin. This combination makes for a luxurious and delicious way to get in some extra veggies to your meal (but don't worry, there's LOTS of melty Gruyère too 😉).
Get the Vegetable Casserole recipe.
14
Sweet Potato Casserole
If you’re in the anti-marshmallow camp, then this sweet potato casserole recipe is here for you. In place of the fluffy addition is a buttery pecan topping that’s still plenty sweet (thanks to the brown sugar), but not enough to make it taste like straight-up dessert.
Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.
15
Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie
Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. This is a killer unexpected addition to any Thanksgiving meal (and is especially great for potlucks!)
Get the Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie recipe.
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16
Turkey Divan
After Thanksgiving there is often an endless supply of leftover turkey. Sure, you could go for the classic Thanksgiving sandwich, but if you're looking for something different, this turkey divan casserole is the perfect thing.
Get the Turkey Divan recipe.
17
Sausage Stuffing
If you’re looking to bulk up the Thanksgiving side (or if your ideal stuffing just isn’t complete without a protein), then this stuffing is here for you. Cranberries add a bit of sweetness to balance out our sausage in this recipe that’s baked until toasty-yet-soft perfection.
Get the Sausage Stuffing recipe.
18
Funeral Potatoes
The story goes that these bubbling beauties were named so after becoming a traditional comfort food for post-funeral gatherings. While we can get behind that—they are basically comfort in a pan—we prefer to eat them on happier occasions too, especially holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.
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19
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Most sweet potato casseroles have only marshmallows or pecans. Don't even think about making this mistake. Topping with a pecan streusel and then marshmallows helps this casserole stand out above all the rest.
Get the Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows recipe.
20
Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is an American classic everyone knows but not everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy due to dietary restrictions or eating lifestyles. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors that everyone will love.
Get the Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole recipe.
