# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/41 "2017-11-22T20:06:55Z")
Stuffing—and sweet potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/42 "2017-11-22T20:14:13Z")
Its country sausage dressing. 1 lb of sausage per 1 bag of Franz’s croutons. ---
**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, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/43 "2017-11-22T20:26:19Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > 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. Oh…a _relish platter_. All right, those are delightful, too. (Sighs and walks sadly away, visions of melty pickles and cheeses slowly browning on beds of tiny sweet roasted red peppers dancing in his head) ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/44 "2017-11-22T20:36:14Z")
Braised onions. Especially since I can’t have onions this year ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/45 "2017-11-22T20:36:32Z")
Mashed potatoes. I need an earth-mover to load them onto my plate, and an even larger earth-mover to move me off of my chair afterward. I ❤ mashed taters. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/46 "2017-11-22T21:01:52Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Thanks. I think I’ve used the two terms interchangeably my entire life. That is good to know. I had heard that in the south they call it dressing and further north it’s stuffing. I’ve always called it stuffing. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/47 "2017-11-22T21:04:06Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Dozens of them! I haven’t had them in ages, now I want them, so good! ---
**Author:** ![MacDaddy69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@MacDaddy69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDaddy69)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/48 "2017-11-22T21:33:28Z")
**Stuffing** for sure. Made with sausage, celery and/or onions = ������ Made with nuts, grapes, cranberries or mushrooms = ������������ ---
**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, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/49 "2017-11-22T21:37:11Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Oh…a _relish platter_. All right, those are delightful, too. > > (Sighs and walks sadly away, visions of melty pickles and cheeses slowly browning on beds of tiny sweet roasted red peppers dancing in his head) Sorry man. I have no idea why the word “relish” escaped me when initially describing it. One year she went all out and did a charcuterie board with salumi, pancetta and country pate. It was fucking amazing. She made so much of that that we were practically stuffed between that and “football” snacks before we even got to the turkey and sides. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/50 "2017-11-22T21:41:40Z")
Stuffing sandwiches the next day. ---
**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, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/51 "2017-11-22T22:50:04Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > That is good to know. I had heard that in the south they call it dressing and further north it’s stuffing. I’ve always called it stuffing. My experience exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/52 "2017-11-23T01:20:23Z")
The stuffing if it’s good. If not, the gravy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/53 "2017-11-23T02:05:22Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > My experience exactly. It was all “stuffing” to me up until about 15-20 or so years ago, where I was taught that “in the bird” = “stuffing,” “outside the bird” = “dressing.” That said, I still think that if I used the term “dressing” with most people around here, they’d think I’m talking about 1000 Island or Creamy Italian or something like that. Only the food geeks would know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/54 "2017-11-23T02:49:03Z")
sweet potato casserole made with brown sugar, pecans and miniature marshmallows is wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/55 "2017-11-23T03:17:40Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > sweet potato casserole made with brown sugar, pecans and miniature marshmallows is wonderful. Don’t forget the pineapple. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/56 "2017-11-23T16:31:08Z")
> [@Periwinkle](#): > > 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/) That’s the one we’ve been making for years!!! And what I came here to say. I don’t eat canned yams with marshmallows even though I grew up with them. I have also said goodbye to the round can-shaped mound of cranberry jelly in favor of fresh cranberry relish; this year I made this [cranberry orange relish](https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/cranberry-orange-relish-0) and it’s delicious! The only recipe I still make that comes from cans and boxes is the [Jiffy corn casserole](http://www.jiffymix.com/recipe.php/jiffy+corn+muffin+mix/156-spoon+bread+casserole). I’ll add Hungarian paprika to the top for color and a bit of zing. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/57 "2017-11-23T19:18:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Giblet gravy. > > It goes on stuffing, it goes on potatoes, it goes on rolls… OK, it’s not a side-dish in itself, but it’s the best thing besides the turkey. This one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/58 "2017-11-23T22:51:57Z")
Cornbread stuffing, light on the onions, if any. ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/59 "2017-11-24T02:12:14Z")
Oh, yass. The stuffing this evening was exemplary. Thank you _Southern Living_ Magazine. Using a couple of eggs as a binder is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318/60 "2017-11-24T05:42:14Z")
I invented this tonight. I loved it. Sadly, **maxthevool** is a philistine. - Quarter a butternut squash, microwave for 2 min, then peel and cube. Much easier to peel this way! Sprinkle with salt/sugar/garlic/cayenne and roast at high heat until caramelized. - Cook some farro. (I simmered 1 cup in 3 cups of stock for 30 min.) - Soften some diced shallots and minced garlic in butter. No, more. MORE. A lot of butter. - Add a punnet of quartered cremini mushrooms, and sautee til golden. Add a handful of minced herbs. I used sage and marjoram. - Deglaze mushrooms with a splosh of white wine, and reduce until saucey. Pour over farro and mix well. Add the squash cubes. - Top with garlic yogurt and scoff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-thanksgiving-side-dish/802318.md?page=4)