Top 7 viral Thanksgiving recipes: Let’s Talk Side Dishes!

ALDI Thanksgiving Meal. Shot by The Pub Studio. Image courtesy ALDI

We’ve officially entered the middle of November, meaning that everyone is trying to plan their Thanksgiving menus! Who's bringing and cooking what, and what will the menu look like?

Thanksgiving is what I like to call the Butter Holiday or the Food-Focused Holiday. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of butter and food to be consumed on Christmas, but it just feels right to call Thanksgiving the Unofficial Official Butter Holiday!

To continue this four-part series, let's take a look at some viral recipes for…side dishes!

In no particular order, let's take a look at the top seven viral Thanksgiving side dish recipes that you can find on TikTok. Be sure to let us know your favorites down below!

Who Made This: @cookinginthemidwest

Viral Views Gotten: 61K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Butter, honey, cream cheese, canned or frozen corn (drained/rinsed), spices (salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder)

IT’S CORN! Corn really is such a versatile side dish: it can be made into a casserole (shout out to my Aunt for making the best), it can be roasted, made into street corn, creamed corn…literally anything that you could possibly think of…corn can go in it! Let's take a look at this sweet, simple recipe for your Thanksgiving tables this year and beyond.

First of all, you’ll wanna melt your butter. While it's melting, add in your honey, corn, and spices to taste. Stir everything until nice and combined. Then, add in your delicious cream cheese (OMG yes). Stir all of that creamy and delicious mixture around and guess what? You’re done – eat up/enjoy!

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Who Made This: @staysnatched

Viral Views Gotten: 15K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Sweet potatoes, vanilla extract, honey, brown sugar, spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), splash of water, butter (of course)

This year, my dad and I entertained the idea of mashed sweet potatoes, instead of the traditional marshmallow-y way that our family usually makes them. While the marshmallows will always be better (duh), here's a mashed recipe to make it a unique way to serve these up (or yams too).

First up, you’ll need to get just a tad bit of water boiling, just enough to be what you think will cover your sweet potatoes. Next up, cut them into quarter sized triangle pieces (the smaller they are, the easier to mash them up later on). Then, you’ll wanna drain the water, add in all of your seasonings and spices, including your vanilla extract. Finally, serve them up in a bowl and top with some additional butter and honey! Warm, yum, and oh so delicious and sweet…can't wait to try!

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Who Made This: @kroger

Viral Views Gotten: 54K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Asparagus, your favorite type/brand/flavor of bacon (Kroger preferred for obvious reasons over here), (dipping sauce #1) mayo, garlic powder, pepper, lemon zest, fresh or dried sage, (dipping sauce #2) maple syrup, crushed red pepper flakes, pepper

This particular side dish is the perfect way to serve up some ‘fries’ for those that are watching their carbs, and also perfect for those who are chronic dippers (definitely me)! Eat up, folks!

This side dish couldn't be easier and more delicious sounding and looking if you ask me. First up, you’re gonna want to cut each bacon strip vertically, that way the pieces are smaller and end up wrapping nicer and ending up with a better crunch/texture at the end of it all. Next up, wash your asparagus and either snap at their natural breaking point or just simply chop off the ends wherever you’d like to. Wrap each stalk of asparagus with a strip of bacon. Bake in the oven for roughly 15-20 minutes (depending on how you like both your bacon and asparagus, crisp-wise) at 425 degrees F.

Once the asparagus is done, or while it's cooking, get started on your first dipping sauce: Lemon Sage Aioli! Start by mixing together your mayo, garlic powder, and pepper. Once those are mixed up, zest your lemon and add in your fresh sage. Once this one is done mixing all together, get started on your second dipping sauce: Hot Maple Dip! This one is the simplest dipping sauce that I’ve ever personally come across. Mix together your desired amount of these three ingredients: maple syrup, cracked red pepper flakes, and pepper. You’re done – enjoy your veggies, y’all!

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Who Made This: @moribyan

Viral Views Gotten: 7.8M Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Minced garlic, four types of grated cheese (colby jack, cheddar, smoked gouda, and Monterey jack), salt, water, macaroni noodles (or your noodle(s) of choice), butter, flour, milk/heavy cream of choice, cream cheese, dried or fresh chives (for the topping at the end)

This macaroni and cheese recipe is quite possibly the creamiest and crispiest and cheesiest one that I’ve seen on the internet…ever. While I personally won't be making it for Thanksgiving, I’m seriously considering making it for Christmas…or just for dinner tonight! Let's dive right in!

First, let's start with just a little bit of prep work: mince your garlic if not done already, shred your three or four favorite types of cheese if not done already. Next up, prep your pasta: boil the water, dump or drop in your favorite macaroni or other noodles and let those cook. Moving on to the most creamiest and delicious sauce of them all (besides my own recipe of course): start by making your roux which consists of flour, butter, and heavy cream. To finish off the rest of the sauce: add in your cream cheese, garlic, and other spices to taste. Next up, stir in your three to four cheeses and pour the sauce over the pasta. Pour into your baking dish and add in some additional cheese on top. Bake in the oven, then broil to your desired crispiness. Top with some chives and parm to elevate this even more!

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Who Made This: @moribyan

Viral Views Gotten: 266K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Corn flour, all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, white sugar, brown butter (homemade on the stove), buttermilk, 2 eggs, heavy cream, grated sharp cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños (with or without seeds depending on spice preference), additional cheese and jalapeño slices for the topping, flake salt (topping as well)

This recipe takes everyone favorite corn bread and elevates it just a bit. If you like cheese, a little bit of spice, and bread, then you’re in for a real treat for this one (who isn't into cheese)!

Starting out, let's mix all of our dry ingredients together: corn flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, white and brown sugar. Next, make up your brown butter (all this literally means is melting butter in a pan until it gets all sweet and brown – watch extra carefully to not be adding in any burnt butter – brown food tastes good, only sometimes does it work for burnt food). Add in your freshly made brown butter to your dry bowl, along with your eggs, buttermilk, and just a splash of heavy cream. Grate and add your sharp cheddar. Dice, maybe de-seed, and add your jalapeños. Pour into your baking dish(es) of choice – make everyone their own personal cast iron corn bread – I received a personal pan as a gift from my parents once on Christmas Eve and I loved it almost as much as I love cornbread but not as much as I love cheese (sorry, guys). Top with a smidgen more of melted ched and additional sliced peps for a pretty look. Upon taking them out of the oven, top with some delicious and beautiful snowy flake salt. Enjoy and eat up!

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Who Made This: @georginaordaz3

Viral Views Gotten: 130K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Broccoli florets (amount to however much you’re personally making), aluminum baking pan (can definitely be found at the dollar store if you don't already have one), salt and pepper to taste, EVOO, bacon, heavy cream, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, onion powder, dash of red pepper flakes, shredded colby jack cheese, French's crispy french fried onions, aluminum foil (to cover with broccoli and cream mixture afterwards)

If you’re either not a fan of green beans or are looking to make something new for Thanksgiving this year, try out this brand new innovative casserole dish! Maybe it’ll make your kids love broccoli!

Starting out, cut your roughly two pounds of florets off of your giant broccoli stalks and give them an initial bake in the oven (in your aluminum dollar store pan). Add in some salt and pepper to taste to the same pan. Drizzle some delicious EVOO over the top of the broccoli and spices mixture. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F. While the veg is cooking, cook up and entire package of bacon (cut it up into little dices or smaller bit sized pieces, depending on preference of you and/or your guests). Drain on a plate or a bowl lined with a paper towel. Next up, make your creamy mixture to add in with the broccoli: combine heavy cream, cream of mushroom soup, spices (garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes), add in two cups of some shredded colby jack cheese, add in half of the package of cooked and chopped bacon pieces to save the other half for later. Add in some french fried onions. Then, pour the creamy mixture over the broccoli mixture. Mix and top with some additional jack cheese. Top with a few more french fried onions and bacon pieces. Cover pan with aluminum foil and pop it in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Uncover and throw it on broil for 5-10 minutes on low (leave the oven door open just a crack to help with this process even further). Plate, serve, eat, and enjoy some delicious veg!

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Who Made This: @at.home.cook

Viral Views Gotten: 176K Views

Ingredients You’ll Need: Whole carrots, melted butter, balsamic glaze, maple syrup, brown sugar, spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, and powder), pats of butter, fresh or dried parsley, coarse sea salt

This particular side dish takes one of the best and most versatile (both raw and cooked) veggies out there and makes them sweet with a tiny kick and the perfect addition to any holiday table!

Start out by peeling and washing your whole carrots (no tops needed, safely discard those). Place those in whatever dish you choose to bake them in, preferably something just a bit deeper with some decent sides on it. Next up, melt your butter and add in the following glaze-style ingredients: balsamic glaze, maple syrup, brown sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and chili powder (to taste, depending on how much of a kick you exactly want). Spread said glaze suuuuuper generously all over the carrots. Top with some additional pats of butter and place into the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees F. Make sure to baste with some additional amounts of your glaze roughly every eight to ten minutes. Once the first 30 minutes is up, finish with a quick broil for 1-2 minutes (yes, that's it for the broiling time in particular). Top with some fresh parsley and coarse sea salt. Cut or leave whole – whichever you choose they will be delicious and that is a 100% guarantee from me! Be sure to save or make some extra glaze for toppers or drizzlers and of course the dippers, like me!

Watch here!

That's a wrap on the top 7 viral TikTok Thanksgiving side dish recipes! Next: onto Desserts!

What side dishes will you be making this year on Thanksgiving? What flavors sort of define the holiday as a whole? Let's chat all about it down below! And as always…eat up, folks!