Showing up to Friendsgiving with a side that gets passed over can make choosing what to bring feel tricky. This collection covers cheesy casseroles, crisp potato dishes, salads, and vegetables with sweet, savory, and tangy finishes. Several options can be made ahead or served chilled, while others arrive hot from the oven. Choose a dish that suits your menu and gives the table another reason to pause.
Mashed Potato Casserole
Golden onion topping gives Mashed Potato Casserole a crisp finish over a creamy layer of russet potatoes, Cheddar, milk, and sour cream. The recipe takes 75 minutes and makes 10 servings, so it can cover a full Friendsgiving table. Its familiar flavors fit beside turkey, roast vegetables, or gravy. Bring it when you want a substantial side that can be scooped and shared without extra assembly at the host’s house.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Casserole
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
A browned edge and smoky bacon make Brussels Sprouts with Bacon a savory choice for a table with plenty of rich dishes. The recipe uses Brussels sprouts, chopped bacon, olive oil, and balsamic for a sweet-tangy finish, and it takes 35 minutes to make four servings. Set it next to potatoes or casseroles to add a vegetable with crisp texture. It is a good pick when you want something familiar with a little more bite.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Caesar Salad
Cool romaine and crunchy croutons bring a fresh contrast to hot casseroles in Caesar Salad. The six-serving recipe takes 35 minutes and includes Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, and homemade croutons. Its creamy dressing and crisp greens give the table a lighter option among baked sides. Bring it when you want a salad that still has enough savory flavor and texture to hold its own beside the holiday classics.
Get the Recipe: Caesar Salad
Honey Glazed Carrots
A glossy sweet finish makes Honey Glazed Carrots a bright, simple addition between savory casseroles and potatoes. Carrot slices are coated with honey, butter, and brown sugar, and the recipe takes 20 minutes for six servings. The soft, glazed texture gives guests a different kind of vegetable side without adding another cheese-based bake. Serve the carrots warm, especially when your Friendsgiving menu needs a colorful dish that can share space with almost any main.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Crisp edges and tender centers help Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes stand out from a bowl of mashed potatoes. Small red or yellow potatoes are topped with garlic, butter, and grated Parmesan, and the recipe takes about an hour for six servings. They bring a crunchy, savory potato option that pairs well with roasted meats and vegetables. Choose them when you want a handier side guests can lift onto their plates without a serving spoon.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Wild Rice Casserole
Nutty rice and earthy mushrooms make Wild Rice Casserole a hearty change from the usual potato side. The six-serving bake combines cooked wild rice, mushrooms, mozzarella, parsley, and fried shallots, with about 70 minutes total time. A crisp shallot topping adds contrast to the tender rice underneath. Bring it when Friendsgiving needs a filling side with a different base, and serve it alongside turkey or roasted vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Casserole
Creamed Spinach
Silky cream and Parmesan give Creamed Spinach a rich texture that suits a holiday plate. Fresh spinach, heavy cream, garlic, and butter come together in a 13-minute recipe that makes six servings. The short cook time can help when the oven is busy with other dishes, and the savory greens balance potatoes or roasted meat. Bring it in a covered dish and serve warm for an easy scoopable vegetable side.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach
Italian Pasta Salad
A chilled option can be especially useful when oven space is limited, and Italian Pasta Salad brings that flexibility to Friendsgiving. Bow-tie pasta is tossed with pesto, cherry tomatoes, baby bocconcini, greens, and balsamic glaze; the recipe takes 18 minutes and serves four. The mix adds color and a cool contrast to hot casseroles. Make it for a smaller gathering or double the batch when the table needs another shareable side.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Creamy pasta with a seasonal squash base makes Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese a substantial side for a crowded Friendsgiving menu. It combines macaroni, butternut squash, milk, butter, and mature Cheddar, takes 75 minutes, and serves eight. The cheese sauce gives it a familiar appeal while the squash adds another vegetable to the dish. Bring it when you want a casserole that can sit beside the main and still feel like a centerpiece on the side table.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Deviled Eggs
A cranberry and pecan topping gives Deviled Eggs a holiday look and a sweet-tart finish. The filling uses eggs, sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon, and warm spices, and the recipe takes 22 minutes for eight servings. Since they can be prepared ahead, they help when the kitchen gets crowded before guests arrive. Set them out as a cool, bite-size side or starter while everyone waits for the rest of the Friendsgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Eggs
French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Thin potato layers baked in cream create a rich, neatly sliceable side in French Dauphinoise Potatoes. The recipe combines potatoes, heavy cream, milk, garlic, thyme, and Cheddar, takes about 65 minutes, and serves eight. Each portion brings a tender center and a browned top, so it looks polished on a shared table. Choose it when you want a potato dish that can be cut into portions and served beside turkey or vegetables.
Get the Recipe: French Dauphinoise Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Crispy onions on top give Green Bean Casserole a crunchy contrast to its creamy center. The six-serving bake brings together green beans, mushroom soup, milk, Cheddar, and fried onions, with a total time of about 45 minutes. It travels well and reheats, which makes it practical for a Friendsgiving hosted away from your kitchen. Bring it when you want a classic vegetable casserole that can be spooned onto plates alongside the main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Layered Seven Layer Salad
Visible layers make Layered Seven Layer Salad an easy dish to spot among covered casseroles. The recipe combines lettuce, peas, corn, celery, tomatoes, chicken, bacon, and a creamy yogurt dressing, and the cached card lists 30 minutes for eight servings. It can be assembled ahead and served chilled, freeing the oven for other food. Bring it when you want a colorful, substantial salad that gives guests a cool option with plenty of crunch.
Get the Recipe: Layered Seven Layer Salad
Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes
Caramelized edges and soft centers make Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes a colorful alternative to a casserole. The recipe seasons sweet potatoes with olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and parsley, takes about 40 minutes, and serves four. The bite-size pieces are easy to portion and add a savory note to the sweet potato flavor. Bring them when your Friendsgiving table needs a vegetable side with crisp edges and room for other toppings.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Sweet Potato Cubes
Smashed Potatoes
A crisp finish is the draw of Smashed Potatoes, with soft centers that hold herbs and seasoning. Red or Yukon gold potatoes are boiled, pressed, and roasted with olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder; the recipe takes about 55 minutes and serves four. They can be boiled ahead, then crisped near serving time, which helps with a busy kitchen schedule. Put out a dip or serve them beside roast meat for an easy-to-share potato side.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Potatoes
Cauliflower Casserole
A crunchy panko topping sets Cauliflower Casserole apart from smoother vegetable bakes. The recipe combines cauliflower with a milk-based sauce and Parmesan, then takes about 45 minutes to make six servings. Baking turns the top golden while the cauliflower stays tucked under the creamy sauce. It fits well beside roast turkey or other hearty mains, and it gives guests another vegetable choice that still has the texture and richness of a casserole.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Casserole
Scalloped Potatoes
Layers of sliced potatoes and Cheddar make Scalloped Potatoes a classic shareable side for Friendsgiving. The recipe uses milk, butter, flour, and six medium potatoes, takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, and serves six. Its creamy interior and browned cheese top bring plenty of richness, so it pairs well with simpler vegetables or roasted meat. Plan ahead for the longer bake, then bring it to the table while the top is still warm.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes
Cowboy Caviar
A bowl of colorful vegetables and beans makes Cowboy Caviar a fresh, scoopable addition to a Friendsgiving table. This 15-minute recipe serves 10 and combines black beans, chickpeas, corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, feta, and a lime-honey dressing. It can be served chilled with chips or spooned alongside the main meal. Bring it when you want a no-oven option with enough texture and tang to balance the richer casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar
Spinach Casserole
Browned onion topping adds crunch to the creamy center of Spinach Casserole. The recipe mixes spinach with cottage cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic, then bakes in about 30 minutes for four servings. That cheesy, soft texture gives the table a vegetable side with more substance than plain greens. Bring it when a smaller casserole will fit the menu, especially beside roast meat or a simple salad.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Casserole
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Sweet-tangy glaze and toasted pine nuts give Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze a different finish from bacon-topped sprouts. The recipe uses Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and pine nuts, takes about an hour, and serves four. The glaze coats the sprouts while the nuts add crunch. Bring it when you want a vegetable side with a bold finish that stands apart from creamy casseroles and potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Macaroni Salad
Cool, creamy pasta adds a useful break between the oven dishes in Macaroni Salad. Elbow macaroni is mixed with mayo or Greek yogurt, bell peppers, celery, red onion, and dried dill, and the recipe takes 27 minutes for four servings. Chilling gives the dressing time to settle into the pasta and vegetables. Bring it when you want a familiar potluck side that can be made in advance and served straight from the refrigerator.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad