30 Southern Thanksgiving Side Dishes You Can’t Miss

Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese

The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy Velveeta mac and cheese makes it a staple side dish in my mother’s kitchen and in mine as well. It has tender noodles and a crowd-pleasing golden crumb topping. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina

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Texas Pecan Rice

For a special holiday side dish, I dressed up an old recipe to give it a little more Texas character. Everyone loved the savory flavor and crunchy pecans. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, TX

Bohemian Collards

I've added unconventional ingredients to these collards that make them unique and exquisite on the palate and on the plate. —Ally Phillips, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Southern Black-Eyed Peas

I find pork the secret to a good black-eyed pea recipe. A double dose of ham for flavor and slow and gentle cooking creates this perfect side dish. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia

Deluxe Cornbread Stuffing

When my husband and I were newlyweds and far from family, we invited friends over for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. I searched for stuffing recipes and combined the best aspects of several to create this one. Everyone liked it, and I still make it for holidays. —Pamela Rickman, Valdosta, Georgia

Bacon-Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins

Cornbread is essential at family dinners, and with the addition of bacon and pimiento cheese, you'll have requests for more long after the get-together! —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia

Coconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, Texas

Slow-Cooker Grits

Since moving to the South, I have come to love grits! I also adore my slow cooker, and I worked to find a way to make perfect grits without stirring on the stovetop. I knew this slow-cooker grits recipe was a winner when my mother-in-law overheard someone at a church potluck say that it just wasn't right that a Midwesterner could make such good grits! —Tacy Fleury, Clinton, South Carolina

Contest-Winning Cajun Cabbage

Looking for a different treatment for cabbage? Try this spicy cheese-topped dish that I adapted from a friend's recipe. I added a little of this and that until it tasted the way I wanted. Not only do my husband and kids like it, I get rave reviews when I make it for company or church functions. —Bobbie Soileau, Opelousas, Louisiana

Granny’s Apple Scalloped Potatoes

This scalloped potatoes with apples dish is delicious with breaded baked pork chops, which you could cook at the same time in another cast-iron pan. We are retired and it's just the two of us, but you could easily double the recipe. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

The recipe for these four-ingredient biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina

Slow-Cooked Green Beans

I spent hours in search of sides for a cooking demo to present to women from my church. These easy green beans became my star attraction. —Alice White, Willow Spring, North Carolina

Whipped Squash

This is an excellent way to serve one of the season's most delicious vegetables—butternut squash. Its rich flavor and golden harvest color really come through in this smooth vegetable side dish. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas

Marmalade Candied Carrots

My favorite way to make baby carrots is to steam them, then drizzle with an orangey glaze that makes them candy-sweet. —Heather Clemmons, Supply, North Carolina

Moist Red Pepper Cornbread

The name of this recipe says it all—except how perfect they are for scooping up that last drop of soups and stews! —Katherine Thompson, Tybee Island, Georgia

Southern Hoppin' John

This is a quick and easy side dish that will become a favorite of your family.—Anne Creech, Kinston, North Carolina

Southern Green Beans with Apricots

Green beans and apricots have become a family tradition. Enhanced with balsamic vinegar, this dish will make your taste buds pop. —Ashley Davis, Easley, South Carolina

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

My family and friends love the warm and inviting flavors of the luscious citrus butter, smooth cream cheese, sweet dates, fresh sage and toasted pecans that surround and capture the deliciousness of sweet potato in every bite of this side. —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina

Brussels Sprouts and Grapes au Gratin

Red grapes add pops of sweetness to this bubbly, cheesy veggie side. I make mine with Swiss, but if you're feeling fancy, try Gruyere. And if you have one on hand, toss in a sliced apple. —Lorie Durrant, Nashville, Tennessee

Make-Ahead Maple & Sage Gravy

Save those turkey wings! Then use this richly flavored stock in my pour-it-on-everything herbed gravy. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas

Southern Pineapple Casserole

When I make pineapple casserole, I double the amount —because guests frequently request a second helping for dessert! Sweet-tangy fruit is even better combined with savory cheddar cheese and buttery cracker crumb topping. —Catherine Ann Goza, Leland, North Carolina

Roasted Fresh Okra

If you have picky eaters who worry about texture, roasted okra is marvelous. It's OK to crowd the pan. Okra shrinks as it cooks. —Anna Katsoulis, Greenville, North Carolina

Black-Eyed Peas with Collard Greens

Time to gather round the table, y'all! This dish has special meaning on New Year's Day, when Southerners eat greens for future wealth and black-eyed peas for prosperity. —Athena Russell, Greenville, South Carolina

Cornbread Dressing with Oysters

My father's dressing bakes separately from the turkey and is simply delicious. The secret is to prepare the corn bread first, let it cool and then crumble it to form the base for the rest of the ingredients. My father always added oysters to give the dressing a special flavor. —Nell Bass, Macon, Georgia

Crunchy au Gratin Potatoes

With its golden, crunchy topping and gooey, cheesy interior, this comforting spin on a classic side dish is brimming with robust flavors. Horseradish and nutmeg add that extra-special touch.—Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina

Cornmeal Parker House Rolls

My mom deserves the credit for making this recipe a family tradition. These sweet, tender rolls have been on every holiday table at her house for as long as I can remember. —Lisa D. Brenner, Harrisburg, Nebraska

Tomato & Corn au Gratin

Corn au gratin is an essential part of any family get-together, and it's even better when paired with tomatoes in this delicious dish. —Holly Jones, Kennesaw, Georgia

Truly Tasty Turnips with Greens

These savory greens are a hit at every church dinner I take them to. Adjust the seasonings as you please to make this recipe your own. —Amy Inman, Hiddenite, North Carolina

Sweet Potato Panzanella

This is my favorite lunch dish during the fall season. Every bite is filled with flavor and texture, but it isn't too high in calories. —Mary M. Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina

Sourdough Dressing

While we love our traditional Thanksgiving recipes, sometimes we want to change things up. This sourdough stuffing is a fun twist on an old favorite. Whenever we make it after the big feast, we like to add a cup or more of leftover cubed turkey. —Pat Dazis, Charlotte, North Carolina