Thanksgiving side dishes are the best part of the meal, and they are also where a holiday budget can quietly fall apart. These classic sides are all made from cheap staples, and every one costs under $1.25 a serving, priced ingredient by ingredient.
Three of them cook in the slow cooker, which keeps your oven free for the casseroles and the pie.
Our cheap Thanksgiving side dishes
- Crockpot Stuffing ($0.56 a serving, $5.60 for 10)
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping ($0.73 a serving, $7.32 for 10)
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes ($0.86 a serving, $6.86 for 8)
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese ($0.95 a serving, $9.52 for 10)
- Green Bean Casserole from Scratch ($1.10 a serving, $8.82 for 8)
Crockpot stuffing
Classic herb stuffing with butter, onion, celery and sage, made from a cheap loaf of sandwich bread. It is the cheapest of these Thanksgiving side dishes and frees up the oven completely. Get the crockpot stuffing recipe.
Sweet potato casserole
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes under a brown sugar pecan crumble. It tastes like dessert, feeds ten and can be assembled the day before. Get the sweet potato casserole recipe.
Crockpot mashed potatoes
Fluffy, buttery potatoes that cook and stay warm in the slow cooker, so there is no last minute mashing while the gravy needs stirring. Get the crockpot mashed potatoes recipe.
Crockpot mac and cheese
Dry macaroni cooks right in a creamy cheese sauce, no boiling needed. Kids head straight for it, and it holds on WARM for an hour. Get the crockpot mac and cheese recipe.
Green bean casserole from scratch
Fresh green beans in a quick homemade mushroom sauce with crispy fried onions on top, no canned soup required. Get the green bean casserole recipe.
How many Thanksgiving side dishes do you need?
For most families, three to five sides is plenty. A good rule is one starchy side, one vegetable, one sweet side and one crowd pleaser, plus rolls. Here is how these sides fit:
| Type | Side dish | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Starchy | Mashed potatoes or stuffing | Filling and cheap, and they carry the gravy. |
| Vegetable | Green bean casserole | Adds something green to the plate. |
| Sweet | Sweet potato casserole | Balances the salty dishes and doubles as dessert for some. |
| Crowd pleaser | Mac and cheese | The side picky eaters and kids will always eat. |
Cooking for a small group? Pick three Thanksgiving side dishes and make full batches. The leftovers are often better than the main event.
Make-ahead plan for Thanksgiving side dishes
- Two days before: cube and dry the bread for the stuffing.
- One day before: assemble the sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole, without their toppings, and refrigerate.
- Morning of: peel and cube the potatoes and keep them covered in cold water.
- Four hours before dinner: start the stuffing in the slow cooker.
- Two to three hours before: start the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes.
- One hour before: add the toppings and bake both casseroles.
Keep hot sides hot and cold sides cold, and refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. The USDA has more on leftovers and food safety.
Build the whole meal
Pair these Thanksgiving side dishes with our slow cooker turkey breast and you have a full holiday dinner. Our cheap Thanksgiving dinner for 8 puts it all together, with a full price breakdown and a cooking timeline.
Frequently asked questions about Thanksgiving side dishes
What are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes?
Mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce and rolls are the classics on most American tables.
What are the cheapest Thanksgiving side dishes?
Stuffing, mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole are among the cheapest because they are built on bread and potatoes. All three cost under $1 a serving here.
Which Thanksgiving side dishes can I make ahead?
Sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole can be assembled a day ahead. The bread for stuffing can be dried two days ahead.
How do I keep Thanksgiving side dishes warm?
Slow cookers on WARM are the easiest way. Casseroles stay hot covered with foil for about 30 minutes after baking.
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