# What is the best Thanksgiving side dish? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318 "2017-11-21T19:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/21 "2017-11-21T22:39:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If it’s not cooked in the turkey, it’s not stuffing. It’s dressing. 😉 Thanks. I think I’ve used the two terms interchangeably my entire life. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/22 "2017-11-21T22:47:57Z")
Mashed pertaters, mmmhmmm. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/23 "2017-11-21T22:50:41Z")
The stuffing tied with the sweet potatoes. As long as they are good sweet potatoes and not the nasty syrupy SPs with marshmallow turds. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/24 "2017-11-21T22:52:08Z")
Stuffing. I eat it pretty much once a year, on Thanksgiving. I’m no chef but I’m pretty sure the recipe calls for something like 1 stick of butter per tablespoon of finished stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/25 "2017-11-21T23:26:54Z")
Stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/26 "2017-11-22T00:04:41Z")
Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Dozens of them! ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/27 "2017-11-22T01:10:13Z")
A sweet potato casserole that is really more like a dessert. If you make 1.5x the topping, this recipe is pretty close. My husband loves this the best, and it is probably my favorite Thanksgiving side too. [http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18057/sweet-potato-casserole-ii/](http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18057/sweet-potato-casserole-ii/) ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/28 "2017-11-22T01:31:47Z")
Combo dressing and stuffing. My mom would mix them because the stuffing is moister. Then drench in gravy. ---
**Author:** ![SacFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SacFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SacFly)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/29 "2017-11-22T01:38:20Z")
Stuffing is my favorite, but the meal wouldn’t be complete without homemade cranberry sauce. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/30 "2017-11-22T01:41:16Z")
Gotta go with the crowd and vote for stuffing/dressing, not _too_ moist though (and add some celery for a little extra crunch). Honorable mention goes to green beans and slivered almonds. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/31 "2017-11-22T01:46:10Z")
The gravy. The dressing/stuffing is crap without gravy. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/32 "2017-11-22T01:54:33Z")
I like them all, but I have a sweet spot for my mom’s gherkin/cheese stuffed red peppers/cheesed celery sticks and olive plate that gets passed around. We’ll fight over the stuffed red peppers if we have to. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/33 "2017-11-22T02:45:24Z")
Another vote for the giblet gravy. It elevates the good to the sublime. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/34 "2017-11-22T02:45:31Z")
I like most of them. I get a hankering for the Pearl Onions my Mom used to make. I don’t miss the miss the turnips\* and butternut squash that she used to make me sample every year. bleeeeech She called them turnips, but I think they are more commonly known as rutabagas. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/35 "2017-11-22T02:55:53Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I like them all, but I have a sweet spot for my mom’s gherkin/cheese stuffed red peppers/cheesed celery sticks and olive plate that gets passed around. We’ll fight over the stuffed red peppers if we have to. Hang on…she stuffed red peppers with gherkins and cheese? I need to know more about this. Were the peppers raw, or blackened, softened and peeled? What kind of cheese? Did she…chop pickles and STIR THEM INTO THE CHEESE? Were they heated up after the cheese and the gherkins went into them? I MUST KNOW THIS. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/36 "2017-11-22T03:11:50Z")
As a **side** dish, I will vote for home made cranberry jam/relish. Note… Home. Made. Didn’t like it as a kid, but now love it. Second up is mashed potatoes (a meal in itself) with a close second of dressing/stuffing. I just like hanging out with friends/family. And being VERY busy. The food is nice. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/37 "2017-11-22T03:15:54Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hang on…she stuffed red peppers with gherkins and cheese? I need to know more about this. > > Were the peppers raw, or blackened, softened and peeled? What kind of cheese? Did she…chop pickles and STIR THEM INTO THE CHEESE? Were they heated up after the cheese and the gherkins went into them? I MUST KNOW THIS. Yup, that sounds VERY interesting. Sweet hot pickles would work good here. How is it served? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/38 "2017-11-22T03:19:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Giblet gravy. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Giblet gravy, poured liberally over all. > [@Paintcharge](#): > > The gravy. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > Another vote for the giblet gravy. Yep. Glad I’m not the only one. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Dozens of them! I’m intrigued! ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/39 "2017-11-22T04:30:11Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If it’s not cooked in the turkey, it’s not stuffing. It’s dressing. 😉 :smack: I didn’t think of that ! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/40 "2017-11-22T05:02:31Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Hang on…she stuffed red peppers with gherkins and cheese? I need to know more about this. > > Were the peppers raw, or blackened, softened and peeled? What kind of cheese? Did she…chop pickles and STIR THEM INTO THE CHEESE? Were they heated up after the cheese and the gherkins went into them? I MUST KNOW THIS. LOL…I should have used commas but man, your idea does sound worth trying. One of our traditional side dishes is a large platter of gherkins, celery sticks with cheese, kalamata and picholine olives and sweet red peppers stuffed with what I think is some kind of blend of feta and cream cheese she makes to stuff them with. Sorry, didn’t mean to start an uproar! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318.md?page=3)