These Are America’s Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes

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While the turkey and the pies might steal the Thanksgiving show, any Turkey Day expert knows that side dishes are the glue that holds the whole meal together.

Here are four traditional side dishes that people across the United States love to eat during their Thanksgiving meals.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Topped with marshmallows and featuring more sugar than most desserts, sweet potato casserole is a favorite at many Thanksgiving tables. It’s a great respite from all of the savory flavors during the meal.

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a tangy addition to any Thanksgiving plate that many enjoy eating with turkey and stuffing. It’s made with cranberries, walnuts, and orange juice, although some might argue that the canned version is better!

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How's your weekend going? Are you starting to get things together for your Thanksgiving menu? I spent the day simmering a big pot of make-ahead turkey stock. I'll be publishing a tutorial for it early in the week for all of your stuffing, basting, and gravy needs!⁠ 🍒⁠ In the meantime, here's the recipe for my BRANDIED CHERRY CRANBERRY SAUCE, for your menu consideration! 😉 Hit SAVE to keep the full recipe, below.⁠ ⬇️⁠ INGREDIENTS⁠ -12 ounces fresh cranberries⁠ -12 ounces frozen dark sweet cherries (make sure they're pitted)⁠ -1/3 cup brandy, plus additional, if desired⁠ -1 cup light brown sugar, lightly-packed⁠ -1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon⁠ -1/4 teaspoon ground ginger⁠ ⁠ INSTRUCTIONS⁠ 1. Stir all ingredients together in a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until cranberries have burst and sauce is jammy (it'll coat the back of a spoon), about 10 minutes. If you prefer a "boozier" tasting sauce, stir in an additional tablespoon of brandy after simmering, to taste. ⁠ 2. Let the sauce cool to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate. Sauce will thicken as it cools. ⁠ ⁠ 3. Cranberry sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. I like to return it to room temperature before serving. ⁠ ⁠ *Notes: You can either leave the cherries whole if they aren’t too big, or cut them in half. I usually keep half of them whole and halve the rest. You can easily adapt this recipe to your sweetness preferences (this will also depend on how sweet your cherries are). 1 cup brown sugar will yield a sweet-tart sauce. Reduce to 3/4 cup if you like your cranberry sauce more tart. Increase to 1-1/4 cups if you prefer a sweeter sauce.⁠

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Green Bean Casserole

Nothing warms Thanksgiving diners up like this traditional casserole, whose main components are green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions. It’s hearty, rich, and delicious.

Stuffing

Don’t forget the stuffing! While traditionally roasted instead of the Thanksgiving bird, most now just opt to make this bread and herb-based dish separately. It’s just as tasty as the more difficult option.