Hi Reader,

By the time Thanksgiving Eve (today!) rolls around, I always imagine everyone else is where I am: fridge groaning, turkey dry-brining, stock made, pie dough chilling, and at least one relative already getting on your nerves.

That’s because I’m a little…intense about Thanksgiving. I start on Saturday with a five-day schedule. (Yes, a schedule schedule. Color-coded. Don’t judge.)

But this year, I stumbled across an article that said the busiest day for grocery shopping for Thanksgiving isn’t the weekend. It isn’t even Tuesday.

It’s today. Wednesday.

Which means a whole lot of perfectly sane people (that would be you) are still shopping, still planning, still deciding what on earth is going next to that turkey.

So if you’re standing in the produce aisle right now, or staring into your pantry wondering if crackers and olives count as a vegetable, this is for you.

Today’s Mission: Sides You Can Still Pull Off

I’ve always believed the sides are where the real magic happens. And just to set the record straight: I love potatoes. Roasted, mashed, gratinéed, smashed, fried—if there’s a potato within a five-mile radius, I will find it and put it on my plate.

But sides aren’t just filler. They’re the memory-makers. My godmother Dina’s French stuffing that I’d inhale by the bowlful. My family’s Portuguese stuffings, rich with chouriço. Crispy-edged potatoes I’d sneak cold from the fridge long after everyone went to bed. Those are the dishes people talk about for years.

And the good news? A lot of truly great sides can still be shopped for today and made in time for tomorrow’s feast. Think:

• A big pan of potatoes (of course)
• A standout stuffing
• A bright, green something so the table doesn’t look like 50 shades of beige
• A make-ahead veg or gratin you can reheat while the turkey rests

Below, I’ve rounded up some superb, totally doable side dishes you can still:

1. Shop for today
2. Prep today or tomorrow morning
3. Serve like you planned it this way all along

Side Guide

1. Chase the crisp. Whether it’s roasted veggies or a cheesy gratin, the edges and corners are where the flavor (and the fights) happen.
2. Balance heavy with light. Pair buttery potatoes or stuffing with a sharp, green veg or salad so the whole plate doesn’t slump into a food coma.
3. Lean on make-ahead. Stuffing, casseroles, roasted squash, and many potato dishes are better after a rest and a reheat. Tomorrow you will be grateful.
4. Add a little surprise. A new herb, a warm spice, a squeeze of citrus, toasted nuts—tiny twists keep family favorites exciting without starting a rebellion.
5. Pile them high. Thanksgiving is not the time for timid scoops. Let the platters overflow. Abundance is the whole point.

However you’re doing Thanksgiving this year—days-ahead planner, last-minute shopper, or somewhere in between—The One and I wish you a happy, healthy, delicious, and wonderfully peaceful Thanksgiving.

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WHAT'S INSIDE...

• ​Cheesy Mashed Potatoes​
• ​Potatoes Dauphinoise​
• ​Sweet Noodle Kugel​
• ​Easy Grilled Vegetable Salad​
• ​Classic Green Bean Casserole​
• ​Herbed Bread & Celery Stuffing​

​Cheesy Mashed Potatoes​

Soft, creamy, cheesy, and slightly smoky, these mashed potatoes with cheese have everything going for them.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Potatoes Dauphinoise​

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 from 10 votes

Potatoes Dauphinoise are potatoes, cream, cheese, and a French lineage. They're like scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin but are even more fancy but without being fussy. We really don't think comfort food gets any more comfort-y than this.

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​Sweet Noodle Kugel​

Noodle kugel, a popular Jewish casserole often enjoyed during holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is made with egg noodles, creamy custard, dried fruit, and, sometimes, a sweet, crunchy topping. This traditional recipe is wicked versatile and can be gobbled up warm or cold, for breakfast, as a side, or for dessert.

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​Easy Grilled Vegetable Salad​

Feel free to swap in your favorite veggies in this easy grilled vegetable salad.

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​Classic Green Bean Casserole​

This classic green bean casserole, made with green beans, mushrooms, and a cream sauce, is a Thanksgiving tradition. Just say no to the can opener.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​

​Herbed Bread & Celery Stuffing​

This herbed bread and celery stuffing, made with celery, onion, thyme, basil, and parsley, is a sort of basic blank canvas of a stuffing that will satisfy you as-is or make a terrific foundation for your other embellishments. Lovely with chicken as well as turkey.

​☞ ​Try this recipe​