47 Best 9×13 Thanksgiving Sides That Feed A Crowd

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole - Southern Living


Photo:

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas


When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, everyone knows that the true star of the meal is not the

oven-roasted turkey

, but the sides. From sweet potato casserole to cornbread dressing to macaroni and cheese, we want to help you pick tasty recipes that will make your Thanksgiving a success.

That’s why

Southern Living

has pulled together some of our favorite 9×13

side dishes

that will make your holiday as hands-free and make-ahead as possible. These recipes will round out the menu for anyone hosting a large family gathering or bringing a side to a

potluck feast

. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and we promise you will be mighty thankful for these sides.


01


of 47



Cornbread ‘N’ Squash Dressing

Southern Living Cornbread n Squash Dressing in the dish ready to serve

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless


This tasty mash-up of squash casserole and cornbread dressing is a nice alternative to your usual dressing recipe.


02


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Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole


Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

We love plain-old

mashed potatoes

, but mashed potato casserole is a step above. This recipe’s broiled top contrasts with its smooth, creamy interior for a flavor and texture you’ll come back to again and again.


03


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Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese

Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese


Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

You can never go wrong with a classic. Southerners are firm believers that this dish belongs on every holiday table, and Thanksgiving is no exception. Made with both white and yellow cheddar and a little bit of onion, this recipe can be made up until step two a day in advance.


04


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Scalloped Corn Casserole

Scalloped Corn Casserole - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


Does it get any more traditional than a scalloped side? We don’t think so. With frozen corn, buttered crackers, and mayonnaise, this dish makes us feel at home.


05


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Candied Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Candied Sweet Potatoes in the baking dish to serve

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster


Brown sugar, sorghum syrup, bourbon, and butter make these sweet potatoes extremely rich and decadent. Don’t skimp on the rosemary; it brings the dish together.


06


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Zucchini, Squash, And Corn Casserole

Southern Living Zucchini Squash and Corn Casserole ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


Add a welcome dose of veggies to your holiday table with this cheesy corn and squash casserole topped with golden breadcrumbs.


07


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Cornbread Casserole

Southern Living Cornbread Casserole with a serving scooped out into a bowl

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


Combine cornbread with silky, creamy creamed corn in this crowd-pleasing cornbread casserole. It starts with a box of

corn muffin mix

and turns into a side dish perfect for the Thanksgiving spread.


08


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Tomato Pudding

Southern Living Tomato Pudding in the baking dish with a serving scooped out

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless


Tomato pudding is a savory version of the classic bread dish. Brown sugar elevates the savory tomato sauce flavors, herbs, and sourdough bread. The fresh tomatoes on top are a nice addition amid the rest of the Thanksgiving feast.


09


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Macaroni Corn Casserole

Macaroni Corn Casserole


Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

This dish’s melty, gooey goodness isn’t just chance. It’s a tried-and-true balance of flavors: savory bacon, white Cheddar and Gruyere cheeses, and panko topping; sweet corn kernels and scallions; and spicy dry mustard and cayenne pepper.


10


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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

broccoli cheese casserole - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


It’s always good to have a

casserole recipe

in your back pocket, and this is the perfect one to have on hand. Cheese and broccoli never disappoint, but this dish also has a crunchy cracker topping going for it.


11


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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding


Emily Laurae / Southern Living

We love this corn pudding for its delicate, dessert-like quality that just keeps us coming back for more. You can make this dish three or four days in advance, or you can freeze it for up to a month if (for some odd reason) you have leftovers.


12


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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole


VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Brussels sprouts might not be your go-to dish for Thanksgiving, but this recipe will make you reconsider. Make this casserole up to three days in advance (prepared up to step four), and then add the toppings and bake the day you’re planning to serve.


13


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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes


Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Let’s face it, potatoes and cheese make everything better. After only 20 minutes of hands-on work, sit back and let the oven do the cooking. We recommend stirring gently every 10 minutes so the potatoes cook evenly, then adding a layer of cheese to brown at the end.


14


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Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole

Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole


Iain Bagwell; Styling: Amy Burke

Sweet potatoes and carrots: Who knew? Topped with

spiced pecans

and mini marshmallows, this dish is sure to delight. Tangy sour cream and lemon zest add a little more sparkle than the average sweet potato casserole.


15


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Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Casserole


Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This recipe comes from chef and restaurateur Kelsey Barnard Clark’s great-grandmother’s kitchen. There is a reason Clark has held onto this recipe—not only is it delicious, but assembling this dish is just about as easy as it comes.


16


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Gluten-Free Cornbread Dressing

Southern Living Gluten Free Cornbread Dressing in the dish to serve with a serving spoon

Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner


Guests with food allergies will love this cornbread dressing, and everyone else won’t be able to tell it’s gluten free.


17


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Grits Dressing

Grits Dressing Recipe


Laurey W. Glenn

A favorite from 1993 that’s still in our holiday rotation, this recipe consists of savory cornbread, fragrant herbs, and—of course—classic grits. You can make the grits two days before you put the dressing together to cut down on Thanksgiving day prep.


18


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Classic Cornbread Dressing

Classic Cornbread Dressing


Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

With homemade cornbread cooked in a cast iron skillet, this dressing is as true to tradition as they come. To achieve that classic dressing texture, let the cornbread dry out for two days before serving.


19


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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole - Southern Living

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas


Savory and sweet potato are usually not paired together during the holidays, but trust us when we say this dish is delish. Sprinkled with a Parmesan-herb streusel topping, this recipe has the bite we love about traditional sweet potato casserole without all the added sugar.


20


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Parker House Rolls

Parker House Rolls in a teal dish


Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

These delicate

yeast rolls

sprinkled with sea salt will please your crowd, but do not count on having too many left over. Good thing you can fit 24 of them in your 9×13.


21


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Baked Mac And Cheese With Bacon

Southern LIving Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon ready to serve

Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle


Macaroni and cheese is good on its own, but when you add bacon you have really made something special. This rich dish is perfect to serve your hungry guests and fill them up, too.


22


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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

13x9 casserole, green bean casserole


Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

While there are other options for this dish on this list, we’ll never shy away from the classic, canned fried onion version. Make the base ahead of time, then add toppings and bake when you’re ready to serve.


23


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Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding


Hector Manuel Sanchez

Meet the new family favorite. This hearty recipe adds a welcome spin on classic

bread pudding

with sweet potato and a cheesy Parmesan custard. Eight thick-cut slices of bacon make it even richer.


24


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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

loaded cauliflower casserole in a baking dish and bowls

Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer


This cauliflower casserole recipe gets an infusion of flavor from multiple cheeses, bacon, chives, sour cream, and more. It’s like a lighter, loaded baked potato for the whole Thanksgiving crowd.


25


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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole, easter casseroles 9x13 casseroles


Greg DuPree

For some families, it just isn’t Thanksgiving without an oyster casserole on the table. If you’d like to try one this year, look no further than our classic take on the dish. Our Test Kitchen did some tinkering and came up with what we think is the best version ever: plump oysters baked in a rich Parmesan cream sauce and topped with buttery breadcrumbs.


26


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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, And Greens Casserole

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Hector Manuel Sanchez


Full of flavor, this fan-favorite side dish combines

sweet potatoes

, cauliflower, and greens into a lively mealtime accompaniment. This casserole works well as a vegetarian main dish or a side dish.


27


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Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Southern Living Sweet Potato Casserole with a lightly torched meringue topping

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely


If you’re looking to wow your crowd, this is the recipe to break out. Besides looking gorgeous, the meringue topping has a bonus: It contains a lot less sugar than marshmallows.


28


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Southern Cornbread Dressing

Southern Cornbread Dressing


Photographer: Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

If you’re craving a traditional cornbread dressing for the classic flavors of sage, onion, and celery, we’re here for you. We’ve provided a recipe for the

cornbread crumbles

it is based on, but you can substitute your favorite cornbread instead.


29


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Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


Give your crowd a loaded baked potato in convenient casserole form. This comforting, cheesy dish can be prepared one day in advance and chilled unbaked in the refrigerator. Let the casserole come to room temperature before popping it in the oven.


30


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Corn Pudding Casserole

Corn Pudding Casserole


Courtney West

This version of the classic Corn Pudding Casserole is made with fontina or Swiss cheese for an ultra-creamy, slightly sharp dish. Besides the specialty cheeses, the ingredients for this comforting casserole are all fairly basic: half-and-half and eggs provide the custard-like base, while fresh chives and thyme add a little brightness.


31


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Creamed Cabbage-And-Leek Gratin

Creamed cabbage and leek gratin in a casserole dish on a table with water glasses, a small bowl of thyme, a serving spoon, and a napkin.

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell


This potato-less gratin frees you from careful slicing and delicate arranging. The only trick is to cook the savory cheese sauce until it thickens so that your gratin won’t be watery. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.


32


of 47



Scalloped Potatoes And Ham

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham


Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Give your scalloped potatoes a meaty upgrade to satisfy big appetites. This recipe uses 8 ounces of pork, which you can set aside from your holiday ham. Otherwise, this is a very simple, classic recipe that will please the pickiest eaters.


33


of 47



Sausage Stuffing

Sausage Stuffing

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox


We put a Southern spin on this Thanksgiving favorite by using

Conecuh smoked sausage

. Use soft white bread with an open, tender crumb that can soak up the stock and spices. You can get a head start by toasting the bread a couple of days in advance and storing it in an airtight container.


34


of 47



Cranberry-Apple Casserole

Cranberry-Apple Casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox


On Thanksgiving, a lot of dishes that could be classified as desserts are allowed to pass as sides. This sweet fruit and oat crumble definitely can be interpreted either way, but we think the tart cranberries will go perfectly with your turkey.


35


of 47



Tee’s Corn Pudding

Tee's Corn Pudding


Emily Laurae/Southern Living

This slightly sweet, custardy corn pudding has been a reader favorite for decades. With only eight ingredients and very little hands-on time, the recipe is a busy cook’s dream. Instead of fresh corn, substitute frozen whole kernel corn or canned shoepeg corn, drained.


36


of 47



Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Pecans, And Cornflakes

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes


Courtney West

This is the kind of sweet potato casserole many of us grew up on: sweet and utterly decadent. The cornflakes add extra crunch to the marshmallow topping. Arrange it in diagonal lines with a little space in between, then pile on the marshmallows between rows.


37


of 47



Scalloped Oysters

Scalloped Oysters


ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: KATHLEEN VARNER; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL.

This recipe is for those who like to focus on the fresh, briny flavor of oysters complemented simply with crushed crackers. Oyster casserole has graced Southern Thanksgiving tables for decades (we published

our first Oyster Casserole recipe

back in 1967). Some recipes feature all kinds of extra ingredients, but this recipe distills it down to the basics.


38


of 47



Party Potatoes

Party Potatoes - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


There isn’t a holiday dinner this popular hashbrown casserole hasn’t been invited to. Made creamy with canned cream of chicken soup and dusted with cornflakes for crunch, this comforting dish pairs well with any Thanksgiving menu.


39


of 47



Okra And Rice Casserole

Okra and Rice Casserole

Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham


This casserole rolls several side dish flavors into one with lots of vegetables, rice, spice, and crunchy croutons. Cut the okra into larger pieces to keep the slime under control.


40


of 47



Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions in the dish ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox


If you’re not familiar with this unique dish, you need to be. You’ll need sweet onions, smoked Gouda and mild Cheddar, butter, and herbs to make this simple but delightful side.


41


of 47



Candied Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Candied Sweet Potatoes in the baking dish to serve

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster


Sweet potatoes cook up tender in a sorghum glaze made with brown sugar, bourbon, rosemary, and cayenne for well-balanced flavor. The trick to even cooking is to stir the potatoes every 20 minutes during baking.


42


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Roasted Tomato Macaroni And Cheese

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall


Give mac and cheese a glow up. A roasted tomato topping will attract the adults, and the kids will love that their old favorite is on the buffet.


43


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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese

mashed potatoes in a white oval dish

Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living


It’s just not Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes, and this make-ahead version can be made up to two days ahead so you can focus on other things on Turkey Day. Just let the prepared casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.


44


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Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole


Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Egg yolks and cream give this potato casserole ultra creaminess. Add in butter, white Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan for over-the-top cheesiness. One bite and you’ll realize it’s worth the splurge.


45


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Hot Potato Salad

Hot Potato Salad


Helen Norman

This

potato salad

defies convention—it’s not your typical chilled picnic side. Served hot, this casserole is a combination of a potato salad and a gratin. The creamy potatoes are made even better with cheese, bacon, and Spanish olives.


46


of 47



Ham Delights

Ham Delights - Southern Living

Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn


While these aren’t your typical side, on holidays, anything goes. And no one will question a casserole dish of these sweet and salty ham sliders topped with everything bagel seasoning.


47


of 47



Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread


Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This dish is a cross between several traditional Thanksgiving sides—cornbread dressing, cornbread, and a soufflé. It has the consistency of a pudding and is a good match for other holiday favorites.