10 Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Sides They'll Gobble

Kelly R:  We've been making these Instant Pot mashed potatoes for the past few years, and I don't think I'll ever go back to the stovetop way because these are just as good and way less work! The "keep warm" setting also allows you to make them up to 3 hours ahead of time, so they're ready and waiting when the rest of the meal comes together. Not only is this one of our must-have Thanksgiving side dishes, it's also one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes!

Kelly R:  This is the recipe that got my kids to like brussels sprouts, and now it's one of our must-have Thanksgiving sides every year! We like to make sure to have plenty of single leaves scattered around the pan, because they get deliciously crispy.

Alexandra F.:  We've been making Ina Garten's yummy roasted vegetables recipe since we first got married, and it's such a family favorite that we always make sure to include it as one of our Thanksgiving sides each year. Though it takes a while to chop up all the veggies, it is simple to make and has wonderful, hearty flavor. We purposely make more than we expect to eat in order to use the leftovers after Thanksgiving for roasted veggie soup.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Dress up sweet potatoes for the holiday with a festive casserole dish that everyone will love (including my kids who normally don't like sweet potatoes!). Combine marshmallows and a streusel topping (omit pecans if needed) for an extraordinary side sweet potato dish that may try and steal the turkey's thunder!

Kelly R:  My whole family loves these amazing stuffed mushrooms not only with our Thanksgiving side dishes (or appetizers), but all year round! The combo of sausage and creamy cheese makes them decadent and delicious for the holidays. This works really well as a make ahead recipe for Thanksgiving, too. I have assembled the mushrooms early and kept them in the fridge for a day before baking, and I've also successfully frozen the stuffing by itself.

Kelly R:  This simple but amazing stuffing is probably my favorite Thanksgiving side dish on the table, and I will make it every single year we host! I find it to be worth the extra effort to make stuffing from scratch, and the range of texture means both the soggy stuffing and crispy stuffing lovers are happy.

Kelly R:  Mac and cheese is a great Thanksgiving side for picky eaters who aren't all that into the traditional holiday food options. I made this recipe last year and it was amazing. Most of the work is done the night before, and the day-of baking time is pretty minimal, so it's not going to dominate the oven when you need it for other things.

Alexandra F.:  Stuffing is one of those traditional Thanksgiving side dishes you really don't want to go without, but we almost always make it easy on ourselves by buying a pre-made mix. We've tried several over the years but Trader Joe's gluten-free stuffing mix is the undisputed favorite. I'm the only one in the family who has to eat gluten-free, but since everyone always chooses my gluten-free mix over their gluten-full ones, we only make this one now! It's one of those stand-out Trader Joe's products worth making a special trip for.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  A fresh green salad is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. This simple yet savory salad complete with fall ingredients and colors, such as pomegranate, acorn squash, pear and baby spinach, will brighten up your holiday meal!

Vanessa M.:  Butternut squash soup has been a Thanksgiving favorite in my family for decades. The key to creating a decadent soup is to roast the squash until it is just slightly overdone before pureeing it together with the broth and other ingredients until absolutely smooth. We've tried this soup with both heavy cream and coconut milk - either way you go, it gives the soup a velvety richness your family will love!