The 20 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes Under $10
These budget-friendly and delicious Thanksgiving side dishes are perfect for passing around the dinner table without breaking the bank.
Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Thanksgiving dinner is a gargantuan and costly undertaking—it’s no wonder that many Thanksgiving meals have shifted to potluck style so that everyone can contribute what they can. After all, it can take a village to feed a village. As inflation continues to increase the cost of groceries, contributing a delicious side dish is a budget-friendly way to add to the Thanksgiving spread, whether you're bringing it to a potluck or need to save money on your own Thanksgiving menu.
Show off your cooking prowess with dishes that will taste and feel rich and satisfying without breaking the bank. Thanksgiving is a feast where the sides are often the stars anyway, so you may find yourself a bigger MVP than any player on the Turkey Day football field.
Here’s a roundup of surefire and delicious side dishes you can make for Thanksgiving for under $10 each.
1. Mashed Rutabaga with Sour Cream and Dill
Get Recipe: Mashed Rutabaga with Sour Cream and Dill
Founder Elise Bauer says, "Although rutabagas are often mistaken for purple turnips, they are different root vegetables. Rutabagas are sweeter, and when cooked, they have a creamier consistency than their turnip cousins."
2. Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: The 3-Ingredient Side Dish I Make Every Thanksgiving
Contributor Rachel Knecht says, "The hardest part of the recipe is cutting the sweet potatoes into cubes, which is not especially difficult. You want them to be bite-sized: not too large or too small. I find that 1/2-inch cubes work the best."
3. Creamed Corn
Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Creamed Corn
Creamed corn is as expected as mashed potatoes at my Thanksgiving table. Use frozen corn and purée some to give it a creamier texture. This side dish comes together for less than $10 and serves four.
4. Chipotle Pumpkin Soup
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Chipotle Pumpkin Soup
Tired of the same-old, same-old pumpkin spices? Give them an upgrade with a little spice—chipotle peppers and cumin!—to warm up a large pot of pumpkin soup, arguably the best Thanksgiving starter. Instead of crema or crème fraîche, swirl in less expensive, more accessible sour cream.
5. Candied Yams
Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: The Best Candied Yams
Sweet, tender, and lightly spiced with a little ginger and cinnamon, candied yams are a must for Thanksgiving. This is a simply side dish that calls for affordable ingredients you may already have around.
6. Melting Onions
Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman
Get Recipe: The 4-Ingredient Side Dish That Wows My Guests Every Time
Contributor Alexandra Shytsman says, "The only potentially challenging step of this recipe is keeping the onions intact while flipping. The best tool for this job is a small offset spatula: gently slide it under the onions with one hand while supporting the onion with a butter knife on the other side."
7. Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar
Get Recipe: Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar
Has there ever been a combination of words that sound more autumnal? Channel harvest season vibes with this fantastic medley of flavors—sweet butternut, salty bacon, and nutty brown butter. Save money by using a whole butternut squash instead of store-prepped cubes.
8. Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman
Get Recipe: The Best Way To Cook Brussels Sprouts (It Only Takes 2 Ingredients)
Alexandra says, "Look for Brussels sprouts that have tight bulbs, don’t feel slimy, and have no yellowing leaves. If you have access to a farmers market, look for sprouts that are sold on the stalk."
9. Carrot Soufflé
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Carrot Soufflé
A short and simple ingredient list of cheese, eggs, saltines, and copious amounts of carrots makes for a bright and delightful surprise that only takes about 10 minutes to prep.
10. Cider Vinaigrette Roasted Root Vegetables
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Cider Vinaigrette Roasted Root Vegetables
Embrace the literal “roots” of the holiday with a festive medley of colorful, wallet-friendly cool-weather veggies. Buy what’s available, in season, and on sale. Mix up the colors of your selection to channel fall’s jewel tones.
11. Apple and Sweet Potato Matzo Bake
Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Get Recipe: Apple and Sweet Potato Matzo Bake
Who says matzo’s only for Passover? This fall-flavored casserole looks as dramatic as it is economical and easy to make. No one needs to know it only took 15 minutes to assemble. Fuji apples hold up best for baking.
12. Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "Skip the hassle of shredding the Brussel sprouts! Here’s another delicious take: roast whole or halved Brussels sprouts until crisp with just olive oil and salt. Cool to room temperature, toss with the dressing, and top with the breadcrumbs."
13. Rustic Onion Tart
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Rustic Onion Tart
Affordable onions are the stars in this savory looker—its rustic charm leaves room for imperfections and the short ingredient list leaves money in your wallet. Use store-bought pie crust to save you from buying flour, butter, and sour cream. Plus, most come in a two-pack, so double the recipe to serve eight.
14. Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Simply Recipes / Lisa Lin
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy mashed potatoes are a must at any Thanksgiving celebration. Make it in a slow cooker, which helps keep it warm too. Plus, look out for the hack that keeps this low-cost, high-yield dish from turning beige.
15. Colcannon Cakes
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Colcannon Cakes
There’s no such thing as too many potato dishes at Thanksgiving, especially if you can hide some leafy greens in them! This traditional Irish dish does exactly that. Plus, cabbage keeps things thrifty.
16. Turnip Gratin
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Turnip Gratin
If potatoes feel too predictable to you, turn it up with turnips! This peppery tuber is another affordable and satisfying starchy root. Double the recipe for a larger group, and add parsnips for extra sweetness.
17. Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Get Recipe: Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
Two types of cheese make for a cheese sauce with an irresistible melt. Choose one sharp and one mild cheese that melts well for the best taste.
18. Air Fryer Green Beans
Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Get Recipe: Air Fryer Green Beans
Contributor Nick Evans says, "The trick to make these truly great is to dust the green beans in a light breadcrumb coating that barely hangs onto the beans as they air-fry. The morsels of breadcrumbs give just a little much-needed crunch to the green beans."
19. Popovers
Get Recipe: Popovers
Contributor Sally Vargas says, "Many popover recipes require you to heat the pan in the oven before filling the cups with batter—I did not find this necessary. (I tested both ways with similar results.)"
20. Cranberry Sauce
Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
Get Recipe: Cranberry Sauce
Elise says, "For the best consistency, make sure the cranberry sauce is thoroughly chilled before serving so it has time to set up. Making it the day before Thanksgiving gives it plenty of time to chill and saves you a task on the day itself."
