Sides Are (Thanks)Giving This Year

It’s no secret that turkeys have been the star of the show when Thanksgiving rolls around.

We’ve got Turkey Trots, Turkey Ice Cream Cakes and there’s even a turkey hotline for cooks in distress. But this year, we’re seeing a new trend take shape.  Campbell’s unveiled their third annual State of the Sides report and TL;DR - turkey is out.

In fact, the report found that 56%of Americans prefer a bunch of side dishes over the hours-long labor of love that is the Thanksgiving turkey. And to no one’s surprise, 60% of people like cooking the sides more than the big bird.  

From yam-filled casseroles to cheesy bakes, Campbell’s found that the top five most popular sides are stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and mac and cheese. To help you stay on trend, we’ve tapped some of our favorite TikTok chefs to share their Thanksgiving recipes.

Let’s get cooking:    ‍

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Stuffing

This foolproof recipe from Kelly Kwok of @lifemadesweeter is all about making your holiday meal prep easy. Her garlic and herb stuffing is also make-ahead friendly..  

Get stuffed.

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Mashed Potatoes  

Cassie Yeung of @cassyeungmoney shares her recipe for extra creamy mashed potatoes that are worthy of Gordon Ramsay’s praise. The chef, who competed on Next Level Chef, says the key to making mashed potatoes with the perfect consistency is to use a potato ricer.  

Check them out.

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‍Sweet Potatoes

Lisa Bryan of @downshiftology has a genius way to upgrade your mashed sweet potatoes: mix them together with a hand mixer instead of a potato masher. With some extra butter and milk, you’re on track to having Ina Garten-level sides on the table.  ‍

Recipe here.

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Green Bean Casserole  

Even if you don’t think you’re a green bean casserole fan, @haileecatalano's recipe will make you a believer. Her secret is simple: all you need are some good mushrooms and crispy toppings. In this case, she tops the final product with homemade fried garlic and shallots.  

Yum this way.

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Mac and Cheese

Toni Chapman’s Thanksgiving mac and cheese went viral for a reason. With almost 2 million likes, the @themoodyfoody’s recipe is in-a-pinch easy. With four types of cheese in it, this ooey-gooey mac and cheese will seem like the main event at your Thanksgiving feast. Ta ta turkey!  

Get over here.