Which Dishes Do You Side With?
Thanksgiving is divisive enough without squabbling over whether cranberries belong on turkey (which they do). But call us crazy, we just can’t let some of these dishes slide any longer—not with so many better options available! Stick a fork in these sides, they’re done.
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1. Candied Yams
Put as much sugar as you want on them—at the end of the day, we’re still eating yams. Though some family members swear by them, most aren’t fans of this sticky vegetable doused with brown sugar and marshmallows.
2. Stuffing
Yes, stuffing. Plenty of people hate to see that oversized bowl of bread cubes and vegetables. Some even throw caution to the wind with fresh herbs or nuts. However you dress it up, it remains a dense side dish we could take or leave.
3. Potatoes Au Gratin
Speaking of carb-heavy foods—potatoes au gratin is nothing more than spuds and cheese in a creamy sauce, and it’s enough to knock us on our keisters before we’ve even had the turkey. We’ll plop a spoonful on our plate, but only to avoid hurt feelings.
4. Ambrosia Salad
You know…there’s nothing wrong with a nice pie for dessert. We’d rather that than mouthfuls of canned pineapple, coconut, and marshmallows all because someone brought this monstrosity. The literal cherry on top doesn’t help either.
5. Green Bean Casserole
Make way—the casserole arrived! You know, that runny thing of green beans, mushroom soup, and onions. This side’s often considered a staple of Thanksgiving dinners, but we could do without the hodgepodge of ingredients.
6. Dinner Rolls
Some people swear by dinner rolls, however, they’re probably thinking of the light and fluffy kind. We’re not. We’re talking about the hastily made rolls that aren’t really fluffy, are a little burned, and don’t add much to Thanksgiving overall.
7. Boiled Vegetables
There’s a better way, we promise! You don’t need to microwave frozen bags of veggies and then bring them, sweating and unseasoned, to the dinner table. Boiled vegetables are a bland, mushy side we dread to see every year.
8. Sweet Potato Casserole
You’d think crunchy pecans or a gooey marshmallow topping would save this—but neither does. Sweet potato casseroles suffer the same tragic fate as candied yams: there’s too much going on. It’s hard to get on board with sickly sweet potato mash, butter, and cinnamon.
9. Creamed Spinach
Not quite dip and not quite salad, creamed spinach is a confusing side dish that only pretends it’s healthy. In reality, it’s a mushy bowl of spinach leaves, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. Add as much nutmeg or garlic as you want, nothing’s going to make us like it.
10. Cornbread
Cornbread is…fine. While we admit it’s not the worst, it’s certainly not the best either. It’s a simple little dish made of cornmeal, flour, sugar, and milk. Now that you’ve read the gist of the ingredients, you can see why it ultimately doesn’t hold a candle to some beloved sides.
Now it’s time to move to the other side of the table—where all the good stuff is!
1. Cranberry Sauce
Not everyone can mix savory and sweet, but that’s okay. More for us! Say what you will about it but nothing beats fresh cranberry sauce on a juicy turkey breast. We do, however, stand behind those who despise the canned stuff.
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2. Pumpkin Pie
Though it’s technically a dessert, what’s Thanksgiving dinner without the proper send-off? Pumpkin pie is a long-loved staple and we can’t get enough of all the ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Top it all off with a little whipped cream and forget about it!
3. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes continue to split crowds, but count us in among its fans. While the boxed stuff leaves much to be desired, homemade potatoes with garlic, butter, and fresh herbs is the way to go. They’re creamy, they’re delicious, and they’re simple to make.
4. Ham
Some people don’t like the idea of a second meat—after all, Thanksgiving is all about the turkey. We don’t see them as enemies, though, we see them as best friends at the dinner table. Glaze your ham with brown sugar and honey to give it that traditional taste everyone loves.
5. Roasted Vegetables
This is you do vegetables! Broccoli, carrots, and Brussels sprouts make terrific roasted sides. The best part is they don’t need anything but a little olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. If you really want to get crazy with it, toss some grated parm and bake until they’re nice and crispy.
6. Mac and Cheese
It’s creamy, it’s savory, it’s loaded with several kinds of cheese! Say hello to everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving dish—homemade macaroni and cheese. We can’t think of any side more suited to comfort both our tastebuds and our souls.
7. Gravy
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention gravy. From mashed potatoes to the turkey itself, everyone needs a little brown lake of drippings and fresh herbs to top it all off. Now if we only had a gravy boat large enough to sail in.
8. Apple Pie
If pumpkin pie isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Apple pie is just as tasty and just as traditional! While it’s best to veer away from the store-bought kind, we admit that any pasty filled with apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar is enough to get our hearts racing.
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9. Roasted Potatoes
It’s okay to ditch mashed potatoes this year—so long as you bring them roasted instead! This side dish gets our mouths watering every time. Can you blame us? Rosemary, garlic, and thyme all sprinkled on golden, crispy potatoes? We’re craving them as we speak.
10. Cream Corn
Just because spinach and cream don’t mix doesn’t mean other veggies are off the table. This delectable side stars our favorite kernel, and it’s super simple to make at home. Keep the butter, milk, and parm but add a touch of cayenne pepper to really make the table sing.
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20 Perfect Dishes To Bring To Thanksgiving This Year
