Looking for delicious side dishes to make this fall for your next dinner party? Well, you're in luck! We're sharing over 50 of our best fall side dishes to complement your favorite seasonal autumn meals, from creamy mashed potatoes and roasted veggies like butternut squash and Brussels sprouts, to cozy soups, fall salads, and more.
There's a side dish here for everyone - whether you're craving something creamy and comforting, vegetarian or vegan, or completely gluten-free. Each recipe pairs beautifully with any main dish, making them perfect for family dinners, work potlucks, or festive Thanksgiving feasts.
Fall cooking is all about flavor, comfort, and connection. These cozy side dishes capture all of that: simple to make, full of autumn color, and guaranteed to make your table feel warm and inviting.
Best Fall Side Dishes
These are our favorite fall side dishes to serve all season long - cozy, colorful, and full of flavor. Whether you're planning Thanksgiving dinner, a casual fall gathering, or a weeknight meal, these sides are sure to impress.
Roasted Fall Vegetables (Harvest Vegetables)
One pan roasted fall vegetables with seasonal produce is a cozy, stress-free side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving, holidays, or autumn dinners.
The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery, and delicious, this is the best and creamiest mashed potatoes recipe you will ever find. It's velvety, smooth, and melts in your mouth.
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash
Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash are a quick, easy, flavorful, and delicious Thanksgiving side dish that you need this holiday season.
Best Creamed Spinach
Indulge in this rich and creamy steakhouse-style creamed spinach recipe. An easy, decadent side dish for any meal or special occasion.
Fall Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple
Fall harvest salad with roasted butternut squash and apple is the only salad recipe you need this fall or winter. It's healthy, wholesome, and nourishing.
Pumpkin Cornbread
Pumpkin Cornbread is a sweet and savory side dish loaded with real pumpkin, and is moist, fluffy, and crumbly with crisp edges.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Curried Butternut Squash Soup is rich, creamy, and brimming with cozy fall flavors. Best of all, it'll be on the table in just over 30 minutes!
Pumpkin Risotto
Enjoy a taste of fall with this creamy pumpkin risotto made with arborio rice, savory pumpkin, and aromatic herbs for a cozy, flavorful dish.
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a quick and easy side dish with the best flavor and texture. The best part? This holiday side is ready in under 15 minutes.
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash is savory and sweet, with its flavor intensified when tossed and roasted in a homemade maple glaze with a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Classic Baked Mac and Cheese
Classic Baked Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and topped with golden garlic breadcrumbs. The ultimate comfort food, ready in under an hour.
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Baby Potatoes
Crispy roasted garlic Parmesan baby potatoes are golden, cheesy, and flavorful. An easy 40-minute side dish with fresh garlic perfect for dinner or holidays.
Honey Roasted Carrots
Honey roasted carrots are a sweet, savoury, and salty side dish that pairs well with almost any entree. With these flavours, everyone will want seconds.
Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed Cauliflower is a fluffy and buttery side dish and a low carb, keto-friendly alternative to mashed potatoes. Plus, it's easier and quicker too!
Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Almondine is buttery, garlicky, and nutty. This classic French side dish is quick and easy to make, and loaded with flavor and texture.
Pomegranate Pear Salad with Walnuts
Pomegranate pear salad with walnuts, tangy cheese, and honey balsamic dressing is fresh, colorful, and perfect for holidays or everyday meals.
Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a quick easy side dish that's healthy, delicious, and flavorful. A delicious side dish for your holiday table or weeknight dinner.
Pumpkin Soup
This Pumpkin Soup is perfectly smooth and creamy with aromatic vegetables and warm spices. Make it this fall from start to finish in about 30 minutes!
Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is a classic holiday side dish packed with fresh green beans in a delicious creamy mushroom sauce, and topped with crispy fried onions.
Potato Stacks
Potato Stacks are crispy, cheesy, and flavorful, making them the perfect side dish with crunchy edges and soft gooey centers bursting with amazing flavor.
Easy Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Quick and easy pumpkin dinner rolls are soft and fluffy, flaky and butter, and perfect to serve alongside a warm and cozy fall meal or Thanksgiving dinner.
Wild Rice Pilaf
Wild Rice Pilaf is a wholesome, nutritious side dish that pairs the naturally nutty flavor of wild rice with vegetables, spices, and fresh herbs. These grains are a delicious addition to your dinner table!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Tender and caramelized, these easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts tossed in balsamic vinegar and honey are a classic side dish to serve on your holiday table.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Butternut squash mac and cheese is a flavorful and delicious fall twist on a classic, with a rich and creamy sauce that is secretly loaded with veggies.
Parsnip Puree
This fluffy, creamy Parsnip Puree looks like mashed potatoes but has a distinctly nutty flavor that sets it apart. It is quick and easy to make too!
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Crispy Smashed Sweet Potatoes are the perfect side dish for your fall and winter meals - sweet, savory, and so simple to make!
Acorn Squash Soup
Roasted Acorn Squash Soup is smooth and velvety, packed with veggies, and loaded with fall flavor. Serve for a cozy lunch, dinner, or on Thanksgiving.
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
This Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad is easy to make, ready in under an hour, delicious, and loaded with health benefits. It's the perfect fall salad.
Roasted Beets
Roasted Beets are a healthy and nutritious side dish that is easy to make and bursting with flavor. Made with just 4 ingredients and few simple steps!
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes are the ultimate side dish for any meal. It's smooth and creamy with a rich, nutty flavor from the brown butter.
Sautéed Spinach
This buttery, garlicky Sautéed Spinach is the best way to enjoy this nutritious green. It's the ultimate healthy side dish and takes a few minutes to make!
Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms
Buttery sautéed garlic mushrooms are silky smooth with an incredible caramelization and earthy rich flavour. A simple side dish in under 15 minutes.
Corn Pudding
Creamy Corn Pudding transforms simple pantry staples into a luscious pudding packed with flavor. Serve this traditional Southern side dish for Thanksgiving.
Roasted Carrots
Roasted Carrots are a healthy, delicious, and easy to make side dish with a slightly crispy interior and sweet and tender inside. Serve with any entree!
Baked Cauliflower Cheese
Easy Baked Cauliflower Cheese is the ultimate creamy, cheesy, golden comfort food side dish made with roasted cauliflower and rich homemade cheese sauce.
Healthy Sweet Potato Soup
One pot Healthy Sweet Potato Soup is silky, creamy, and nourishing. Packed with cozy fall flavors, this vegan soup is ready in just 30 minutes.
Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Delicious apple walnut salad with crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and tangy balsamic vinaigrette. A healthy, easy side dish or lunch!
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
Flaky Garlic Cheddar Biscuits are a simple but delicious and flavorful no yeast bread that is ready for the oven with less than 15 minutes prep.
Roasted Garlic Green Beans
Quick easy roasted garlic green beans are tangy, sour, savoury, and sweet, with a tender and crunchy texture. Make them in the oven or in the air fryer for an air-fryer green beans version in minutes.
Creamy Polenta
Creamy Polenta is simple, warm, and comforting side dish, made with a handful of simple ingredients and about 30 minutes of time. It's gluten-free too!
Roasted Shallots
Roasted Shallots are a rich, caramelized side dish with a hint of sweetness and a kick from tangy balsamic vinegar. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin
Rich and creamy potatoes au gratin is the ultimate comfort food made with sliced potatoes, cheese, and milk. It's the perfect side dish for the holidays.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash is the easiest vegan side dish you need this fall. It has a ton of flavour with just a few simple pantry staples.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
Sweet potato casserole with pecans packed with tender sweet potatoes and a buttery crunchy pecan topping is the best fall side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake
Delicious, garlicky, cheesy and creamy brussels sprouts bake is the ultimate comfort food side dish. So flavourful and the best way to eat brussels sprouts.
Pull Apart Garlic Bread
Homemade Pull Apart Garlic Bread is fluffy, buttery, flavourful, and tears easily for optimal sharing. You won't be able to stop grabbing these bites!
Creamed Corn
Homemade Creamed Corn is creamy, delicious, and simple. It's quick and easy to make at home and so much better than store-bought canned creamed corn.
Spinach Gratin
Spinach gratin is a rich and creamy side dish with a layer of crispy melty cheese on top. This fancy side is easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly.
Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup
Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup is rich, creamy, cozy, and flavorful. This easy vegan recipe is ready in just 35 minutes with minimal prep, all in one pot.
Parker House Rolls
Notoriously light and fluffy with a little fold in the middle, these Parker House Rolls are the perfect dinner roll. They're buttery and incredibly tender.
Easy Roasted Cauliflower
Quick and easy roasted cauliflower is a delicious, flavourful side dish that you throw on a sheet pan and into the oven. Plus, it's vegan and gluten-free.
Mashed Butternut Squash
Mashed butternut squash is the perfect side dish for fall - creamy, smooth, and delicious, with the perfect balance between sweet and savory fall flavors.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is a delicious fall salad packed with fresh sprouts, apples, cranberries, and crunchy seeds, tossed in a homemade vinaigrette.
Rosemary Cornbread
Sweet and savoury, buttery rosemary cornbread is soft and moist with golden crispy edges, flavourful and delicious, and so easy to make this holiday season.
Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Easy honey balsamic Brussels sprouts are a sweet savory side dish that's roasted until tender and caramelized, and coated in a delicious flavourful glaze.
Tips for Serving Fall Side Dishes
Hosting in the fall means cozy meals, warm kitchens, and plenty of make-ahead magic. Here's how to pull it all together:
- Plan your menu early. Choose a mix of roasted vegetables, creamy casseroles, and fresh salads to balance textures and flavors.
- Use seasonal herbs. Sage, thyme, and rosemary instantly add depth and aroma to fall sides.
- Prep ahead. Chop veggies or make sauces a day in advance to save time. Many sides can be assembled and refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Keep it warm. Use a slow cooker or keep casseroles in a 250°F oven until serving. Cover with foil to prevent drying out.
- Add color and crunch. Use garnishes like toasted nuts, pomegranate seeds, or herbs to make dishes pop.
- Set the table early. Get dinnerware, napkins, and serveware ready ahead of time - it makes your gathering look effortless and inviting.
Mix Textures and Colors for the Perfect Fall Spread
When planning your fall side dishes, variety is everything. Combine creamy, roasted, and crunchy elements to create a table that feels balanced and inviting. Pair a rich dish like mashed potatoes or mac and cheese with something bright and crisp, like a shaved Brussels sprouts salad or roasted carrots. Use a mix of colors - deep greens, golden yellows, and autumn oranges - to make your spread as beautiful as it is delicious. Not only will your meal taste incredible, but it'll also look like a harvest feast straight out of a magazine.
Make Ahead and Storage
How to Make Ahead
Many fall side dishes can be prepared 1-2 days in advance. Assemble casseroles or roast veggies, then refrigerate until ready to bake or serve.
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Check recipe notes for full details.
How to Reheat
Warm in the oven or air fryer at 300°F for 10-15 minutes, in the microwave for smaller portions, or on the stovetop with a splash of broth or butter to bring moisture back, if needed.
Fall Side Dish Pairing Ideas
These fall sides pair perfectly with cozy mains and comforting seasonal flavors. Whether you're planning Thanksgiving dinner or a casual Sunday meal, here's what to serve them with:
- Roast Chicken or Turkey. Juicy, golden roast chicken or Thanksgiving turkey deserves sides that complement its savory flavor. Pair with mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce for a timeless fall dinner combination.
- Beef Pot Roast or Beef Stew. Hearty beef dishes call for equally cozy sides. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, or buttery dinner rolls to soak up every drop of gravy.
- Baked Salmon or Glazed Ham. These mains shine when served with something slightly sweet or tangy. Try maple roasted carrots, wild rice pilaf, or a crisp apple walnut salad for the perfect flavor balance.
- Pork Chops. Nothing says comfort like juicy pork chops paired with seasonal sides. Serve them with roasted shallots, sweet potato mash, or blistered green beans for a cozy, sweet-and-savory fall dinner.
- Stuffed Squash or Mushroom Wellington. For a vegetarian or plant-based fall dinner, hearty sides like cauliflower mash, roasted broccoli, or a warm lentil salad with roasted veggies make satisfying pairings that don't feel like an afterthought.
- Cozy Fall Soups. Lighter soups like butternut squash, tomato, or pumpkin pair beautifully with warm breads, garlic knots, or small side salads for a simple yet complete meal.
- Holiday Feasts. During Thanksgiving or Christmas, mix and match classic sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans with a few unexpected favorites - think roasted acorn squash or maple roasted vegetables - for a festive, crowd-pleasing spread.
FAQ
A good fall side dish makes use of seasonal produce like squash, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts. Think roasted butternut squash, garlic mashed potatoes, maple carrots, or apple sage stuffing - dishes that bring warmth and comfort to the table.
Traditional fall dishes include roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. These recipes often make an appearance at Thanksgiving but are delicious all season long.
The best potluck dishes are easy to transport and serve at room temperature, like roasted vegetables, creamy casseroles, cornbread muffins, or grain salads. Anything hearty, colorful, and crowd-friendly will be a hit.
Serve a mix of hot and cold sides like maple roasted vegetables, sweet potato fries, or mini stuffed mushrooms. Add dips, breads, and salads for a full, festive spread.
Pumpkin and apple dishes are at the top of everyone's list! From pumpkin soup and roasted squash to baked apples and pies, these flavors capture the essence of fall and show up in side dishes, desserts, and even drinks.
Casseroles, mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies all reheat beautifully. Assemble or partially bake them in advance for stress-free entertaining.
Keep dishes covered in a warm oven (around 200°F) or use slow cookers on the "warm" setting. Foil helps retain moisture and heat.
More Fall Recipe Collections
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe
50 Best Fall Side Dishes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Discover over 50 of the best fall side dishes including mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, casseroles, cozy soups, fall salads, and Thanksgiving favorites. One of my favorites are these Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash.
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and halved lengthwise
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1-inch cubes (about 2 ½ cups)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup pecans (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a large half sheet baking pan with parchment paper or grease lightly with cooking oil spray.
- Add brussels spouts and butternut squash cubes to the baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup. Sprinkle cinnamon, salt, and pepper on top. Toss until combined.
- Spread the vegetables evenly in a single layer and roast for 25 minutes, until vegetables are tender and edges are browned.
- Toss in pecans (if desired) and serve.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
This recipe collection was originally published in 2022 and has since been updated with new tips.
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