This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
These easy and delicious Thanksgiving appetizer and side dish recipes are just the thing to make your menu shine with no stress, whether you’re hosting or bringing something to share. We all know this holiday puts the food first, so this collection has you covered with comfort food classics, fresh and seasonal salads, creative bites, slow cooker and Instant Pot solutions, and more.
Thanksgiving is a top-tier holiday for food lovers! We cherish having a day to focus on loved ones, gratitude, and plates packed with delicious foods.
We usually host extended family, and while the core of the menu stays pretty traditional, I love to experiment with a few new appetizers and sides each year to keep things fresh. There’s no reason to settle for bland or boring, and the extras are the perfect place to branch out.
Browse this collection of tried-and-true appetizers, sides, and salads, and you’ll be extra prepared for the best Thanksgiving ever!
Thanksgiving Bite-Sized Appetizers
Some families keep it really light with the starters—after all, no one wants to be stuffed before dinner starts—but I do like to prep at least a couple of bites that guests can grab and nibble as they mingle, especially if people are hanging out for awhile before the main meal is served.
Aim for a balance of hot and cold appetizers. If you’re in charge of both these and the main meal, lean into appetizers that can be made and kept warm in the slow cooker, or made ahead and served cold from the fridge, to keep your sanity intact.
Hot Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Crockpot BBQ Meatballs – 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep.
- Turkey Party Rolls with Honey Mustard Glaze – delicious and on theme.
- Cranberry Pomegranate Baked Brie – easy yet impressive.
- Fig, Balsamic, and Walnut Flatbreads – elevated and easy to grab.
- Mushroom Flatbreads – can you ever have too many flatbreads?! No.
- Apricot Brie Bites – gorgeous and delicious.
- Brie Phyllo Cups with Blackberry and Thyme
- BBQ-Glazed Chicken Bacon Bites – always a massive hit with the meat lovers!
- Stuffed Mushrooms – one of the appetizers I’m most often asked to repeat.
Cold & Room Temp Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Boursin Cucumber Bites – fresh, crunchy, and creamy in one.
- Caprese Wreath – a festive presentation of a classic grab-and-go appetizer.
- Homemade Honey Mustard Pretzels – addicting and fully made ahead!
- Rye Chip Chex Mix – same! We make this every year without fail!
- Cheese Board – always appropiate.
- Easy Caramel Apple Slices – for an easy, sweet treat.
Invest for success.
Invest in versatile, high-quality serving pieces that will make your life easier year after year, especially if you enjoy hosting—or want to start! Focus on simple items that will actually get used: glass carafes make a self-service beverage station feel elegant, a foldable warming mat is such a hack, and you can always make good use of a pretty chip and dip serving tray!
Easy Dips for Thanksgiving
Dips are always well-received! Pair any of these with tortilla chips, veggies, pita bread, or sliced baguette, and you won’t go wrong.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It- Skinny Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip – hands-off and so good.
- Garlic Rosemary White Bean Dip – creamy and light!
- Sun-Dried Tomato White Bean Dip – perfect with veggies and pita chips.
- Homemade Olive Tapenade – if you’re lucky, you’ll have some extra to spread on your leftover turkey sandwiches.
- Savory Sage Pumpkin Hummus – festive and unique.
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip – be warned: it’s impossible to stop eating this once you start.
Classic Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
There are certain side dishes that are practically synonymous with Thanksgiving, and if you need a classic recipe, these ones are tried and true.
- Classic Buttery Bread Stuffing – the old-fashioned necessity.
- Cinnamon Honey Butter Baked Sweet Potatoes – healthier yet still sweet.
- Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese – my kids’ must-have.
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes – such a great hack.
- Roasted Whole Carrots with Thyme – easy, beautiful, versatile.
- Buttermilk Cheddar Cornbread – pair with honey butter for an extra bonus.
Creative Thanksgiving Sides and Salads
If you crave something a little different and colorful, or just want to be sure that this year’s salad is more than a simple box-checking exercise, these are the recipes for you.
- Glazed Carrots with Pistachios and Pomegranate – my personal fave! I’d happily eat these every week.
- Butternut Tomato Bisque – cozy, rich, and could be made even a couple days ahead of time.
- Wild Rice Salad with Butternut Squash – one gorgeous salad, and the homemade vinaigrette with a citrus touch makes it all shine.
- Butter Lettuce Salad with Castelvetrano Olives – elevated and enticing.
- Kale Apple Salad with Pecorino
- Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter – dress up store-bought with the best sauce ever.
- Zucchini Casserole – creamy feta inside + crunchy breadcrumbs on top.
- Apple Cabbage Slaw with Brown Sugar Cider Vinaigrette
- Italian Bean Salad
- Kale Blueberry Salad
- Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad – I love the buttermilk dressing on this one! It’s a little unexpected but totally clicks!
Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sides
Smart hosts make strategic use of alternative kitchen appliances to free up oven and stovetop space during a big meal. Pick one or two from this list to make all your gadgets work for you on this busy day.
- Instant Pot Creamed Corn – a little indulgent, but what better day than Thanksgiving for that?
- Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup – incredibly cozy with all the best early winter vibes. Extra great for Thanksgiving because it does double duty as a unique side dish and a hearty vegetarian main dish option.
- Instant Pot Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes – big flavor, little work!
- Instant Pot Risotto with Butternut Squash – pair the traditional (autumn squash) with the slightly unexpected (creamy risotto).
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – this will be the easiest side you make! 🎉
- Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast – if you need just a little extra turkey, stick it in the slow cooker so it’s minimal extra work.
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes – these are made by baking the potatoes, but can be rewarmed in and served directly from the slow cooker, which is a hack I use year after year.
- Creamy Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup – cozy, delicious, and a little different for a satisfying soup menu option.
Save and Stay in Touch
If you enjoyed this collection, follow me on Pinterest for more great recipe ideas, and subscribe below to get more of my favorite dinner solutions and seasonal ideas.
