13 quick Thanksgiving side dishes
The turkey hogs the oven, so the sides need to be fast and stovetop-friendly. These Thanksgiving side dishes are each ready in 20 minutes or less, so you can make them while the bird rests.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay biscuits
Our take on Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits: fluffy cheddar drop biscuits with a garlic kick, brushed hot with garlic-parsley butter. No rolling or cutting.
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2. Garlic mashed potatoes
Small-diced Yukon Golds boiled with whole garlic cloves, then mashed with warm butter and milk until creamy. Real mashed potatoes in 20 minutes.
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3. Honey glazed carrots
Carrot coins simmered until tender, then cooked down in butter and honey until glossy and lightly caramelized. A sweet, easy holiday side dish.
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4. Skillet Brussels sprouts with bacon
Halved Brussels sprouts seared in bacon fat until deeply browned, then glazed with maple syrup and tossed with crisp bacon. A holiday side in 18 minutes.
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5. Stovetop herb stuffing
Dried bread cubes soaked in buttery broth with soft onion, celery, sage and thyme, then crisped in the skillet. Classic Thanksgiving stuffing without the oven.
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6. Parmesan creamed corn
Frozen corn seared in butter until a few kernels turn golden, then simmered with cream, cream cheese and parmesan. A rich skillet side for the holidays.
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7. Creamed spinach
Baby spinach wilted in garlic butter and simmered with heavy cream, cream cheese, parmesan and a pinch of nutmeg. A rich, steakhouse-style holiday side.
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8. Green beans almondine
Crisp-tender green beans tossed in nutty browned butter with toasted sliced almonds, shallot and a squeeze of lemon. A classic holiday side in 15 minutes.
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9. Cranberry orange relish
Fresh cranberries and a whole navel orange pulsed in a food processor with sugar. A bright, tart, no-cook relish for turkey and holiday sandwiches.
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10. Easy turkey gravy
A smooth, savory gravy made from a butter and flour roux and turkey or chicken broth, with sage and thyme. No drippings needed, ready in 12 minutes.
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11. Quick cranberry sauce
Tart cranberries simmered with orange juice, zest and sugar until they burst into a glossy ruby sauce. Ten minutes on the stove and better than canned.
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12. Maple pecan sweet potato mash
Microwave-soft sweet potatoes mashed with butter, maple syrup and a pinch of cinnamon, topped with toasted pecans. All the casserole flavor in 20 minutes.
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13. Cranberry pecan kale salad
Massaged kale with crisp apple, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and feta in a tangy maple cider vinaigrette. Hearty for lunch, festive for a feast.
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Plan your stovetop: mash and gravy on the back burners, green vegetables and stuffing up front. Most of these hold well covered on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes while you carve.
Common questions
Can I make Thanksgiving sides ahead?
Cranberry sauce and relish are better made a day or two ahead. Mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy reheat well with a splash of milk or stock. Green vegetables are best cooked just before serving.
How many sides should I make?
Three to five sides is plenty for most tables: something potato, something green, stuffing, cranberry and gravy.