22 Soul Food Thanksgiving Side Dishes

No Thanksgiving table is complete without the sides. The true stars of a soul food feast! From creamy mac and cheese to smoky collard greens and sweet candied yams, these dishes bring the warmth, comfort, and history of the South straight to your table.

At The Soul Food Pot®, we’re all about honoring the flavors passed down through generations while keeping things easy with modern kitchen shortcuts like the Instant Pot and air fryer. These are the recipes that make folks hover near the kitchen, humming to old-school holiday tunes, waiting for that first scoop.

Because let’s be honest… The turkey might take center stage, but the sides steal the show! 

Best soul food Thanksgiving sides

The best soul food Thanksgiving side dishes bring the South to your table, creamy, buttery, and full of flavor. From mac and cheese to greens and cornbread dressing, these sides are the real holiday showstoppers!

🥄 Shaunda says:

“It’s giving the South on a spoon.” —Shaunda Necole, on The Soul Food Stack

Soul Food Candied Yams

Sweet, sticky, and kissed with cinnamon, these Southern candied yams are the Thanksgiving side that tastes like dessert before dessert!

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Soul Food Collard Greens

Slow-simmered in smoky, savory broth, these collard greens bring that deep Southern comfort that every Thanksgiving table needs.

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Black Folks Baked Mac and Cheese

Rich, creamy, and oven-baked to golden perfection, this mac and cheese is the heart and soul of any soul food Thanksgiving spread.

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Black Folks Cornbread Dressing

Moist, flavorful, and packed with herbs and soul, this cornbread dressing is Thanksgiving’s ultimate comfort bite.

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Black Folks Chicken And Dressing

Tender chicken is baked right into the savory cornbread dressing. It's the kind of Southern classic that feels like a warm holiday hug!

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Cornbread Dressing with Gizzards

It's old-school soul food flavor, done right. This rich, hearty dressing with gizzards brings back the taste of grandma’s Thanksgiving kitchen.

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Oyster Dressing

A coastal Southern favorite, this oyster dressing adds a briny twist to traditional cornbread dressing. Elegant, soulful, and oh-so-holiday!

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Liver Dressing

Earthy and rich, this liver dressing is a heritage Thanksgiving recipe that celebrates old-school Southern flavor with every savory bite.

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Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Bright, tangy, and sweet, this homemade cranberry sauce adds a pop of color and sparkle to your Thanksgiving feast. No can opener required!

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Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Fluffy, buttery, and whipped to perfection, these mashed potatoes are a smooth Southern side that completes the Thanksgiving plate.

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Soul Food Green Beans

No bland veggies here! These tender green beans deliver that down-home flavor your Thanksgiving deserves.

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Soul Food Cornbread

Sweet, buttery, and golden, this Southern cornbread brings balance to your Thanksgiving table, perfect for soaking up all that gravy!

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Creamed Corn Pudding

Creamy, custardy, and kissed with sweetness, this corn pudding is a cozy Thanksgiving must-have that feels like a light dessert in disguise.

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Instant Pot Creamed Corn

Fast, easy, and full of soul, this Instant Pot creamed corn brings rich holiday flavor to the table in minutes, not hours!

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Soul Food Cooked Cabbage

Tender and seasoned just right, this Southern-style cabbage is a humble yet flavorful Thanksgiving side that always hits the spot.

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Baked Apple Slices

Warm, buttery, and cinnamon-spiced, these baked apples are the sweet little Thanksgiving surprise everyone reaches for seconds of.

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Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

Glazed in brown sugar and butter, these carrots are the glossy, sweet side dish that adds sparkle and soul to your holiday spread.

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Soul Food Deviled Eggs

Creamy, seasoned, and perfectly Southern, deviled eggs are the bite-sized tradition that every Thanksgiving appetizer table needs.

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Soul Food Red Beans and Rice

Savory, smoky, and full of Creole comfort, red beans and rice bring a hearty, soulful touch to your Thanksgiving feast.

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Soul Food Black-Eyed Peas

Symbolic and satisfying, black-eyed peas are the Thanksgiving side that brings good luck, flavor, and a little Southern superstition to the table.

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Black People Potato Salad

Rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned, this is the potato salad that never misses a Thanksgiving invite (and always disappears first!).

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Southern Coleslaw

Crisp, creamy, and tangy with just the right crunch, this Southern coleslaw brings cool, refreshing balance to a rich Thanksgiving feast.

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🧭 Your dream Thanksgiving — ready in 4 hours or less! Grab the playbook!

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The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide

What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!

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