Yeah yeah, we all know Thanksgiving is "Turkey Day" and that the bird is symbolic of the holiday and all that. Heck, it would have been our national bird if Benjamin Franklin had it his way (Bald Eagle is way better). But what I, and I'm sure many of you all as well, have come to realize is that although the bird is the centerpiece of this holiday, it's the side dishes that really make or break the all-important dinner. Which side dishes are the most crucial? Which sides are most forgettable? Well, I've decided to power rank some traditional Thanksgiving sides for your reading pleasure. Feel free to disagree, but as a polished eater, I think my decisions are smart.
Honorable Mention: Gravy
Alright so gravy is not a side dish, I get it, but seriously can we all agree that Thanksgiving would be lost without gravy? There's no other part of this meal that ties everything together like gravy does, and that's why it deserves to be mentioned on this list. This would be ranked number one, but alas, it is not a side dish.
Number 6: Green Bean Casserole
Not to insult anyone who likes this the most, but it's Thanksgiving. Give me carbs. This has a vegetable in its name. NEXT.
Number 5: Sweet Potato Casserole
Any coincidence that I put the two casseroles at the bottom of this list? No, not at all. The very word "casserole" is somewhat off-putting, and I think anything that has to be put into one obviously wasn't good enough to be its own side at Thanksgiving.
Number 4: Cranberry
So I get that a good lot of people really love cranberry, and the reason I keep it on this list is that at our family's dinner, it's not a sauce, its more of its own dish. I was never a huge fan of it when I was younger, but it's grown on me as of late, but not enough to move it any higher on this list because we've got some heavy hitters coming up.
Number 3: Mac and Cheese
I know that not everyone has mac and cheese at their Thanksgiving dinner, but let's be honest, when is mac and cheese not a delicious option for a side dish. I'm throwing tradition aside for this spot, because mac and cheese commands that kind of respect in the food community.
Number 2: Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes may be one of my favorite foods of all time. Paired with honorable mention gravy, it's a tough combination to top at Thanksgiving dinner. It's one of the most important sides to include at the meal, and I've never heard of a Thanksgiving without one, but there's one side dish so iconic that not even the smashed spuds could top it.
Number 1: Stuffing
"What are you having at Thanksgiving?"..."Turkey, stuffing,..." That is the usual response to the question as it begins, and stuffing is easily the most important side dish at Thanksgiving dinner. Stuffing is almost never used outside of the meal, making it a hot commodity come holiday time. There are so many variants of stuffing that I've had and I've never tasted a bad one. I think it's safe to say that stuffing tops this list with no question.
But for real though, gravy is the real MVP.
