22 Soul Food Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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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!
Soul Food Candied Yams
Sweet, sticky, and kissed with cinnamon, these Southern candied yams are the Thanksgiving side that tastes like dessert before dessert!
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Collard Greens
Slow-simmered in smoky, savory broth, these collard greens bring that deep Southern comfort that every Thanksgiving table needs.
Check out this recipe!
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.
Check out this recipe!
Black Folks Cornbread Dressing
Moist, flavorful, and packed with herbs and soul, this cornbread dressing is Thanksgiving’s ultimate comfort bite.
Check out this recipe!
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!
Check out this recipe!
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.
Check out this recipe!
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!
Check out this recipe!
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy, buttery, and whipped to perfection, these mashed potatoes are a smooth Southern side that completes the Thanksgiving plate.
Check out this recipe!
Instant Pot Soul Food Green Beans
No bland veggies here! These tender green beans deliver that down-home flavor your Thanksgiving deserves.
Check out this recipe!
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.
Check out this recipe!
Baked Apple Slices
Warm, buttery, and cinnamon-spiced, these baked apples are the sweet little Thanksgiving surprise everyone reaches for seconds of.
Check out this recipe!
Instant Pot 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.
Check out this recipe!
Soul Food Deviled Eggs
Creamy, seasoned, and perfectly Southern, deviled eggs are the bite-sized tradition that every Thanksgiving appetizer table needs.
Check out this recipe!
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.
Check out this recipe!
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.
Check out this recipe!
Black People Potato Salad
Rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned, this is the potato salad that never misses a Thanksgiving invite (and always disappears first!).
Check out this recipe!
Southern Coleslaw
Crisp, creamy, and tangy with just the right crunch, this Southern coleslaw brings cool, refreshing balance to a rich Thanksgiving feast.
Check out this recipe!
🧭 Your dream Thanksgiving — ready in 4 hours or less! Grab the playbook!
Servings: 8
Calories: 283kcal
Equipment
- 8″ cast-iron skillet
- electric mixer handheld or stand, optional – for making the cornbread
- medium-sized saucepan
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- 8″ baking dish
Ingredients
Ingredients for the cornbread
- 1 cup yellow cornmeal medium grind
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar optional
- ⅔ cup cream cheese preferrably whipped cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Ingredients for the soul food cornbread dressing
- ¼ cup butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 tablespoon thyme dried
- 1 tablespoon rosemary dried
- 1 teaspoon sage ground
- ¼ cup parsley fresh and finely chopped
- ½ cup chicken stock or chicken broth or chicken broth – Use vegetable broth to make this dish vegetarian
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
Instructions
Instructions for the cornbread
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the 4 tablespoons of butter in the cast-iron skillet.
- Melt the butter in the oven for approximately 5 minutes.
- While the butter is melting, combine the dry ingredients (cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar) with the cream cheese and heavy whipping cream in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Pour the melted butter from the baking pan into the mixing bowl and mix all the ingredients.
- Pour the cornbread batter into the skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Once the baking time is complete, let the cornbread cool for about 10 minutes.
- Slice the bread lengthwise, then cut it across into 1-inch cubes, and set them aside.
Instructions for the baked cornbread dressing
- Grease a baking dish and transfer the reserved cornbread cubes to the greased dish. Set the cornbread cubes aside.
- In a saucepan, sauté the ¼ cup of butter, chopped onion, celery, thyme, rosemary, and sage.
- Stir to coat the vegetables in the herbs and melted butter, then sauté until they soften and turn slightly brown.
- Add the chicken broth, salt, and pepper to the simmering mixture, and stir to combine.
- Remove the herb mixture from the stovetop and set aside.
- Allow the mixture to cool until it is safe to touch, then combine it with the egg. This prevents the egg from cooking and scrambling due to residual heat.
- While the herb mixture is cooling, beat the egg and parsley in a medium-sized bowl.
- Pour the egg and parsley mixture over the cubed cornbread in the set-aside baking dish, and gently fold in the mixture evenly with the bread cubes.
- Then, pour the cooled herb mixture into the cornbread and egg mixture, evenly distributing it with your pour.
- Cut the 1 tablespoon of butter into small pieces and scatter them evenly on top of the dressing.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes.
- Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown, then serve warm and enjoy! Optionally, serve with gravy on top.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 667mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg
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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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I love soul food Thanksgiving side dishes! This list has some great ideas.
I love your soul food Thanksgiving side dishes! This list has some great ideas.