Our Favorite 9×13 Thanksgiving Sides That Feed a Crowd

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, everyone knows that the true star of the meal is not the turkey– but the sides. From sweet potato casserole to cornbread dressing to macaroni and cheese, we wanted to help you pick tasty recipes that will make your Thanksgiving a success. 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 are perfect for anyone hosting a crowd or bringing a side to the holiday feast. Cooking for a crowd is always a challenge, but with the right tools you can do it with ease and confidence. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and we promise you will be mighty thankful for these sides.

01 of 24

Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole

This take on sweet potato casserole has the root vegetable sliced rather than mashed for a stunning presentation. Garnished with a brown sugar drizzle and crushed hazelnuts, everyone will love this refreshing take on the staple you cannot have Thanksgiving without.

02 of 24

Best-Ever Macaroni And Cheese Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni And Cheese

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.

03 of 24

Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

We love plain-old mashed potatoes, but mashed potato casserole is a step above.

04 of 24

Scalloped Corn Casserole Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Scalloped Corn Casserole

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 like home.

05 of 24

Broccoli Cheese Casserole Courtney West

Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole

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 are the perfect addition to any meal, and this dish will not disappoint.

06 of 24

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

Recipe: Savory Corn Pudding

We love this corn pudding dish for its delicate, dessert-like quality that just keeps us coming back for more.

07 of 24

Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Leeks

Green bean casserole is a must-make during the holidays. We love this recipe because it brings an elegant touch to the beloved classic. Save your canned fried onions for next year and use crispy leeks instead.

08 of 24

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Recipe: Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

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.

09 of 24

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Let’s face it, potatoes and cheese make everything better. The hardest part of the job is peeling the potatoes, let the oven do the rest of the work.

10 of 24

Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole Iain Bagwell; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole

Sweet potatoes and carrots is a combination that will have your guests raving. Topped with sugar-and-spice pecans and mini marshmallows, this dish will delight.

11 of 24

Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing

This dressing is essentially Thanksgiving in a bite with the flavors of pecan, sage cornmeal, and flour all mingling together in one dish.

12 of 24

Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Casserole

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

13 of 24

Grits Dressing Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Grits Dressing

A favorite recipe from 1993 that’s still in our holiday rotation. You can make the grits two days before you put the dressing together to cut down on day-of prep.

14 of 24

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

Recipe: Classic Cornbread Dressing

With homemade cornbread cooked in a cast iron skillet, this dressing is as true to tradition as they come.

15 of 24

Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin

Pumpkin, potato, and butternut squash come together with cheese and delicious French bread crumbles for a savory favorite.

16 of 24

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

Recipe: Parker House Rolls

These delicate yeast rolls sprinkled with sea salt will please your crowd, but do not count on having too many left over.

17 of 24

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

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.

18 of 24

Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon

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.

19 of 24

Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

While there are other options for this dish on this list, we’ll never shy away from the classic, canned fried onion version.

20 of 24

Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Meet the new family favorite in this hearty recipe, which features bread, sweet potato, and a cheesy Parmesan custard.

21 of 24

Macaroni Pudding Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar

Recipe: Macaroni Pudding

We have already explained why mac and cheese belongs on your Thanksgiving menu, but if you’re looking for a richer dish, may we suggest this pudding. The best part? It’s comes together with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

22 of 24

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

Recipe: Sweet Potato Rolls

This recipe makes 15 perfectly pillowy rolls that will be the talk of the table.

23 of 24

Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

It is important that everyone at the table feels welcome, and seeing a cheese cracker-topped dish is sure to surprise the little ones. Bonus points for tasting delicious.

24 of 24

Two-Potato Gratin Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Two-Potato Gratin

In this recipe, you get the best of both potato worlds with sweet and golden potatoes working together in cheese harmony.

Thanks for your feedback!