Thanksgiving dinner in 2026 features bold new side dishes that could outshine the turkey. Brussels sprouts with Korean gochujang and French onion soup-inspired stuffing bring fresh flavors to classic favorites.
But does Thanksgiving need a makeover? For many, the holiday is about tradition. Dishes like Grandma’s mashed potatoes and green bean casserole are tied to family memories.
Still, more people are experimenting with side dishes.
According to Campbell’s 2026 State of the Sides Report, 80% of surveyed Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving enjoy cooking side dishes more than preparing the turkey. Another 86% plan to serve at least four sides, while 65% of Gen Z respondents say they would be happy with a Thanksgiving meal consisting entirely of side dishes.
Traditional recipes remain popular. The survey found green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and stuffing still top the list.
The excitement comes from serving familiar ingredients in new ways.
Here are 11 Thanksgiving side dishes bringing exciting flavors to holiday tables in 2026.
Gochujang Brown-Butter Brussels Sprouts Bring Sweet Heat
Brussels sprouts have come a long way from the plain boiled vegetables some people remember from childhood.
This version combines crispy roasted sprouts with gochujang, a Korean fermented chile paste known for its savory heat.
Brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor, while maple syrup provides sweetness to balance the spice.
A Bon Appétit recipe by Peter Som combines these ingredients with scallions, lemon, and optional walnuts.
The result is a side dish that balances sweetness, heat, and savory richness.
This dish may persuade skeptics to try Brussels sprouts again.
Miso and Five-Spice Sweet Potato Tian Replaces Marshmallows
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but they don’t always need brown sugar and marshmallows.
A sweet potato tian takes a different approach by arranging thinly sliced sweet potatoes upright in a baking dish.
The slices bake until tender, with their exposed edges developing a golden finish.
Adding miso, ginger, dark soy sauce, and Chinese five-spice powder introduces savory depth and warm aromatic flavors.
The Bon Appétit sweet potato tian recipe offers inspiration for this striking preparation.
It’s a good option for those who like sweet potatoes but find traditional casseroles too sweet.
The attractive pattern makes it a centerpiece dish.
Roasted-Garlic Mashed Potatoes Get a Flavor Upgrade
Few Thanksgiving dishes inspire stronger opinions than mashed potatoes.
Some people insist on butter and salt alone. Others want cream, herbs, cheese, or plenty of gravy.
Roasted garlic offers a compromise that keeps the dish familiar while introducing a deeper flavor.
Unlike raw garlic, which can taste sharp, roasted garlic becomes soft, mellow, and slightly sweet.
Mash it into tender Yukon Gold potatoes with butter and cream for a comforting result that still feels special.
Serious Eats included roasted-garlic mashed potatoes in its new Thanksgiving recipes for 2026.
The recipe also highlights baking potatoes instead of boiling them to avoid excess moisture.
This makeover adds more flavor without abandoning tradition.
French Onion Stuffing Combines Two Comfort-Food Favorites
Stuffing is already one of Thanksgiving’s most recognizable dishes, but what happens when it meets French onion soup?
The answer is a casserole packed with deeply caramelized onions, savory bread, and melted cheese.
Slow-cooked onions add richness, while Gruyère-style cheese adds a creamy, golden finish.
This combination works because of its familiar ingredients and added richness.
Traditional stuffing already relies on bread, broth, butter, and aromatic vegetables. French onion soup uses many of those familiar ingredients but adds a distinctive combination of onions and cheese.
Serious Eats featured a cheesy French onion stuffing in its 2026 Thanksgiving collection.
For those who want a twist on stuffing, this recipe offers change without losing its identity.
Green Bean Salad Gives the Classic Casserole a Fresh Alternative
Green bean casserole remains one of America’s most sentimental Thanksgiving sides.
Campbell’s 2026 survey found that 67% of respondents associate the dish with past Thanksgiving celebrations, while only 19% would change its recipe.
Some traditions are hard to replace.
Still, not everyone wants another creamy casserole.
A green bean salad with Parmesan dressing offers a lighter-feeling alternative built around crisp-tender vegetables.
Blanching the beans and cooling them quickly helps preserve their texture and bright color.
A dressing made with Parmesan, garlic, vinegar, and other seasonings adds savory flavor without relying on a baked cream-soup sauce.
Bon Appétit’s green bean salad recipe provides an example.
This is ideal for hosts serving several rich casseroles.
Brown-Butter Sage Carrots: Add a Savory Twist
Glazed carrots have long appeared on Thanksgiving tables, often coated with honey, brown sugar, or butter.
But sage and brown butter can take them in a more savory direction.
As butter browns, it develops a toasted aroma that pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness of roasted carrots. Fresh sage brings an earthy flavor that feels particularly appropriate for fall.
Serious Eats included brown-butter-and-sage glazed carrots in its 2026 Thanksgiving recipe collection.
These carrots offer a savory option on a menu full of sweet dishes.
They also pair well with turkey, stuffing, and other savory dishes.
Tandoori-Style Roasted Cauliflower Brings Indian-Inspired Spices
Cauliflower is becoming much more interesting than the steamed vegetable some families remember.
A tandoori-style preparation uses yogurt, garlic, ginger, and aromatic spices to create a flavorful coating.
Garam masala and Kashmiri chile powder can add warmth, color, and a more distinctive taste.
Roasting helps the florets develop browned edges, while a brief broil can add extra char.
The Bon Appétit tandoori-style cauliflower recipe offers a tested example of this approach.
It’s a good choice for those who want Indian-inspired flavors while keeping traditional dishes.
A boldly seasoned cauliflower side complements the richness of potatoes, stuffing, and gravy.
Sweet-and-Spicy Squash Gets a Flavorful Upgrade
Butternut and acorn squash are already associated with autumn cooking, but their mild sweetness makes them suitable for adventurous seasoning.
Instead of relying only on butter and brown sugar, try a savory-sweet glaze featuring miso, ginger, maple syrup, and chile.
The combination contrasts the squash’s natural sweetness with the glaze’s stronger flavors.
Scallions can add freshness and texture, making the finished dish more interesting.
Bon Appétit’s Thanksgiving side dish collection includes a sweet-and-spicy mixed squash preparation.
This is useful for those who like sweet potatoes but want another seasonal vegetable.
Roasting different squash together makes a colorful, flavorful platter.
Pakistani-Inspired Potato Gratin Combines Comfort With Spice
Potato gratin is already a rich, comforting dish, usually made with thinly sliced potatoes and a creamy baked finish.
But a Pakistani-inspired version introduces a different flavor profile.
Serious Eats featured a spiced potato gratin inspired by aloo kee bhujia, a Pakistani potato preparation, in its 2026 Thanksgiving collection.
The idea brings familiar potatoes together with aromatic spices, giving a traditional holiday ingredient a fresh identity.
It’s a great choice for families that blend multiple culinary traditions.
This dish shows that you can change a holiday recipe while keeping it familiar.
A new seasoning combination can create a fresh dish.
Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls Make the Bread Basket More Interesting
Dinner rolls might seem like the least exciting part of Thanksgiving, but they don’t have to be.
Adding mashed sweet potatoes to bread dough creates rolls with a warm color and subtle sweetness.
Butter adds richness, while the soft interior makes the rolls perfect alongside turkey and gravy.
A basket of sweet potato rolls can also bring seasonal flavor to a table already filled with autumn vegetables.
Bon Appétit’s Thanksgiving recipe collection includes sweet potato rolls as an alternative to ordinary dinner bread.
For baking enthusiasts, this introduces something new without altering the main meal.
Leftover rolls work well for Thanksgiving sandwiches.
Old Bay Cheddar Biscuits Bring a Savory Finish
For families tired of ordinary dinner rolls, Old Bay cheddar biscuits offer another option.
The combination of sharp cheddar and Old Bay seasoning gives the biscuits a distinctive savory flavor.
Butter creates tender layers, while the cheese adds richness and a golden finish.
Old Bay is especially familiar in American seafood cooking, but its spice blend can also complement baked goods.
The Bon Appétit Thanksgiving sides collection includes Old Bay cheddar biscuits among its holiday ideas.
These biscuits are ideal for those who prefer savory bread over sweet rolls.
Served warm with butter, they may quickly disappear from the table.
Are Americans Ready to Change Their Thanksgiving Traditions?
The rise of creative sides raises a question: How much can a holiday meal change before it stops feeling traditional?
For some families, Thanksgiving requires the same green bean casserole, stuffing, and mashed potatoes they’ve enjoyed for decades.
Others use the holiday to introduce new ingredients and traditions.
Campbell’s 2026 survey suggests that both approaches can coexist. Familiar classics remain popular, even as Americans express growing enthusiasm for side dishes and new ways to prepare them.
This may be the real appeal of Thanksgiving cooking in 2026.
A family doesn’t have to abandon Grandma’s stuffing to serve tandoori-style cauliflower. And adding gochujang to Brussels sprouts doesn’t mean traditional mashed potatoes must disappear.
The holiday table can include both nostalgia and experimentation.
After all, some of today’s most beloved family recipes began when someone decided to try something different.
So, here’s a question for Thanksgiving cooks: Should traditional holiday recipes remain exactly as families remember them, or is it time to let new flavors take their place beside the classics?
Perhaps the answer depends on which dish you would refuse to change, no matter how tempting the makeover sounds.
