39 Thanksgiving Casserole Recipes That Go Beyond Green Beans & Sweet Potatoes (2024)

Though you better believe we've got those classics too.

By Camille Lowder
39 Thanksgiving Casserole Recipes That Go Beyond Green Beans & Sweet Potatoes (1)

Turkey gets all the glory, but we all know it's truly the sides that shine on Thanksgiving, especially those low-key casseroles you can throw together and pop in the oven. They're pretty simple to assemble, can easily serve a crowd (great for Friendsgivings!), and reheat super well (perfect for potlucks!). Green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole are just a few of the options you should fill your table with this holiday season. It’s true, for a lot of people, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the OGs, so we’d never suggest you ditch them for alternatives. However, if you’re having a BIG meal, or just want to change up your leftovers game, we definitely recommend diversifying a bit. These casseroles are comforting, simple, and most can even be made ahead of time (gotta love that!). Check out our 40 Thanksgiving casseroles for ideas.

Let’s start with the classics. We’ve got 5+(!) recipes for green bean casserole here—everything from a vegan version to one that’s loaded with bacon and cheese (what can we say, we’ve got layers). We’ve also got 3+(!) sweet potato casserole options—something for everyone, whether you like marshmallows, pecans, or prefer something savory.

Looking to change it up? We’ve got a variety of other casseroles that would be just as at home on your Thanksgiving table. Check out our harvest chicken casserole, our butternut squash casserole, or our classic corn casserole. We’ve also included a few casseroles great for using up Thanksgiving leftovers, like our chicken stuffing casserole or our turkey divan. They’re a great way to give your leftovers new life.

Want more Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out our favorite aThanksgiving appetizers, sides, and pies too.

1

Green Bean Casserole

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This tried-and-tested recipe is our most classic version of the Thanksgiving side. We ditched the cream of mushroom soup for a homemade cream sauce and fresh sautéed mushrooms, but don’t worry—this dish is still super-simple to make.

Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.

2

Classic Stuffing

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When it comes to the big Thanksgiving feast, we consider the roast turkey and the sweet potato casserole as sides to the STUFFING. A good stuffing makes or breaks Thanksgiving dinner, and this one will absolutely make your holiday meal all the better.

Get the Classic Stuffing recipe.

3

Mashed Potato Casserole

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This recipe begins—as you might expect—with classic mashed potatoes. We then add herb-infused milk and some cream cheese, then fold in the secret ingredient—eggs! Eggs are stirred in before baking to lighten up the potatoes, and they help the mixture “soufflé” a bit in the oven.

Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.

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4

Creamed Brussels Sprouts

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We'll take Brussels any which way, but we also love giving them the traditional Thanksgiving treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

5

Best Corn Casserole

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This corn casserole transcends those commonplace categories into a league of its own. It’s packed with sweet corn, balanced by a pinch of paprika and herby chives, and has an wildly tender and custardy texture that will have you on your third helping before you even know what hit you.

Get the Best Corn Casserole recipe.

6

Gnocchi Stuffing

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Heading to Friendsgiving and need a fun, different dish? This gnocchi stuffing is a creative twist on classic stuffing everyone will love. Using gnocchi instead of bread gives you dumpling-like bites with all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving.

Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.

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7

Butternut Squash Casserole

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It's time for butternut squash to claim its rightful place on autumnal dinner tables. This savory casserole is packed with bacon and two types of cheese (mozzarella and cheddar, thank you very much) and just enough kale to lend the dish a healthy-ish twist. Equally versatile as a side dish or a main, this butternut squash casserole is a hearty, easy, and delicious way to eat your veggies.

Get the Butternut Squash Casserole recipe.

8

Creamy Kale & Gnocchi Bake

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This dish is perfect for bulking out a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal. Fans of creamed spinach will absolutely love this hearty, creamy kale and gnocchi bake that puts the classic side dish front-and-center on your plate with gnocchi as the main attraction.

Get the .

9

Harvest Chicken Casserole

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This satisfying casserole has ALL of your fall favorites—Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, cranberries. Make it for a big crowd, or pack it up and eat the leftovers for lunch. It's a meal prep DREAM.

Get the Harvest Chicken Casserole recipe.

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10

Sweet Potato Gratin

Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes (including purple AND orange ones) are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. 😍

Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.

11

Homemade Mac & Cheese

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The perfect recipe has to nail three things: be extra creamy, plenty cheesy, and paired with a golden, crunchy topping. This tried-and-true recipe aces all of these requirements (and more!) with flying colors!

Get the .

12

Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole

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If you love sweet potatoes, but aren't about marshmallows or sugary pecans, this casserole is for you. With roasted sweet potatoes and black bean chili layered together under a gooey blanket of cheese, this dish will add flavor and color to your Thanksgiving table, and is vegetarian to boot.

Get the Chili Cheese Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

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13

Vegetable Casserole

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For this recipe, we wanted to gussy up the idea of a Thanksgiving casserole by combining two French dishes: ratatouille and potatoes au gratin. This combination makes for a luxurious and delicious way to get in some extra veggies to your meal (but don't worry, there's LOTS of melty Gruyère too 😉).

Get the Vegetable Casserole recipe.

14

Sweet Potato Casserole

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If you’re in the anti-marshmallow camp, then this sweet potato casserole recipe is here for you. In place of the fluffy addition is a buttery pecan topping that’s still plenty sweet (thanks to the brown sugar), but not enough to make it taste like straight-up dessert.

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

15

Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie

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Nothing is more comforting than chicken pot pie topped with a buttery crust. Swap out the crust for garlic bread, though, and now we are really talking. This is a killer unexpected addition to any Thanksgiving meal (and is especially great for potlucks!)

Get the Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

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16

Turkey Divan

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After Thanksgiving there is often an endless supply of leftover turkey. Sure, you could go for the classic Thanksgiving sandwich, but if you're looking for something different, this turkey divan casserole is the perfect thing.

Get the Turkey Divan recipe.

17

Sausage Stuffing

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If you’re looking to bulk up the Thanksgiving side (or if your ideal stuffing just isn’t complete without a protein), then this stuffing is here for you. Cranberries add a bit of sweetness to balance out our sausage in this recipe that’s baked until toasty-yet-soft perfection.

Get the Sausage Stuffing recipe.

18

Funeral Potatoes

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The story goes that these bubbling beauties were named so after becoming a traditional comfort food for post-funeral gatherings. While we can get behind that—they are basically comfort in a pan—we prefer to eat them on happier occasions too, especially holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.

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19

Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

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Most sweet potato casseroles have only marshmallows or pecans. Don't even think about making this mistake. Topping with a pecan streusel and then marshmallows helps this casserole stand out above all the rest.

Get the Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows recipe.

20

Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole

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Green bean casserole is an American classic everyone knows but not everyone gets the opportunity to enjoy due to dietary restrictions or eating lifestyles. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors that everyone will love.

Get the Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole recipe.

39 Thanksgiving Casserole Recipes That Go Beyond Green Beans & Sweet Potatoes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make green bean casserole not soggy? ›

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

Why is green bean casserole the best Thanksgiving dish? ›

How It Became a Holiday Staple. Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

Do people still eat green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casseroles are served at 20 million Thanksgiving dinners every year.

How do I thicken my green bean casserole? ›

Mistake #5: A Runny Casserole

If you sense it's a little watery, "add a thickener like roux or starch to absorb the additional liquid or cook a little longer," she says. That'll give it that rich, dense consistency you're looking for.

How do you make sweet potato casserole not watery? ›

Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

Why is my green bean casserole soggy? ›

One common cause of a wet, soupy casserole is undercooking the vegetable ingredients on the stovetop. When you choose to use fresh green beans, onion, and mushrooms instead of canned, cook the veggies well before tossing them into the oven.

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

The Green Beans Are Mushy

Oftentimes, mushy green beans come down to one of two issues. The first is simply that you overcooked them, and they lost their shape and texture.

How much green beans per person for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

You can safely estimate that one handful of green beans will serve one person, or two people if you have other green sides, Hartigan says. While these calculations seem straightforward, the full breadth of your menu could reduce the IRL size of each serving—after all, there's only so much room on one plate.

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Can I eat week old green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casserole Leftovers

Your creamy green bean casserole will last about four days in the fridge. The crunchy topping will get softer as time goes by; pop it into the oven to reheat to crisp it up a bit. While casseroles have a reputation for being freezer-friendly, green bean casseroles don't freeze so well.

How many green bean casseroles are thought to be made every Thanksgiving? ›

With more than 20 million green bean casseroles made every Thanksgiving, per Campbell's, it's hard to picture a time when it wasn't part of the holiday meal. However, the recipe was intended for a simple weeknight side dish.

How do you keep green beans crisp? ›

While the beans are cooking, fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. As soon as the beans are done cooking, transfer them immediately to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve their bright green color. Leave the beans in the bowl of ice water for a few minutes before removing them with tongs.

Why are my home canned green beans mushy? ›

To keep home-canned green beans firm, it's important to follow proper canning procedures to ensure that they are processed at the correct temperature and for the correct amount of time. Overcooking or undercooking can cause the beans to become mushy or tough.

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