26 Thanksgiving side dishes ranked from healthiest to unhealthiest

Hers' list of 10 healthiest Thanksgiving dishes.
Hers

1. Roasted Brussels sprouts

2. Butternut squash soup

3. Awesome sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing

4. Simple roasted butternut squash

5. Quick yeast rolls

6. Squash casserole

7. Grandma's green bean casserole (tied)

7. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms (tied)

9. Best green bean casserole (tied)

9. Slow cooker stuffing (tied)

10 healthiest Thanksgiving side dishes
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Hers' list of 10 unhealthiest Thanksgiving side dishes.
Hers

1. Candied sweet potatoes

2. Grandmother's buttermilk cornbread

3. Awesome and easy creamy corn casserole

4. Creamy au gratin potatoes

5. Yummy sweet potato casserole

6. Cream corn like no other

7. Homemade mac and cheese

8. Buttery cooked carrots

9. Bread and celery stuffing

10. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe

Thanksgiving Side Dishes Ranked From Healthiest to Unhealthiest

(Recipes can be found here and here.)

1. Roasted Brussels sprouts

2. Butternut squash soup

3. Awesome sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing

4. Simple roasted butternut squash

5. Quick yeast rolls

6. Squash casserole

7. Grandma's green bean casserole (tied)

7. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms (tied)

9. Best green bean casserole (tied)

9. Slow cooker stuffing (tied)

11. Winter fruit salad with lemon poppy seed dressing

12. Chef John's perfect mashed potatoes

13. Cranberry sauce (tied)

13. Sweet dinner rolls (tied)

15. Homesteader cornbread

16. Grandma's corn pudding

17. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe

18. Bread and celery stuffing

19. Buttery cooked carrots

20. Homemade mac and cheese

21. Cream corn like no other

22. Yummy sweet potato casserole

23. Creamy au Gratin potatoes

24. Awesome and easy creamy corn casserole

25. Grandmother's buttermilk cornbread

26. Candied sweet potatoes     

Thanksgiving Side Dish Nutrition: Trends and Insights          

Nutrition can vary greatly across different Thanksgiving side dishes. Here are the best and worst options in each category surveyed to help find the sides that work best for your dietary priorities. 

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Protein?

Dishes with the most protein                                                                                    

  1. Homemade mac and cheese
  2. Creamy au gratin potatoes
  3. Awesome sausage, apple, and cranberry stuffing

Dishes with the least protein    

  1. Cranberry sauce
  2. Buttery cooked carrots
  3. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Fiber?

Dishes with the most fiber

  1. Chef John's perfect mashed potatoes
  2. Butternut squash soup, simple roasted butternut squash, and candied sweet potatoes (tied)

Dishes with the least fiber        

  1. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms
  2. Homesteader cornbread, grandmother's buttermilk cornbread, quick yeast rolls, sweet dinner rolls (tied)

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Calories?

Dishes with the most calories

  1. Grandma's green bean casserole
  2. Homemade mac and cheese
  3. Creamy au gratin potatoes

Dishes with the least calories

  1. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms
  2. Cranberry sauce
  3. Roasted Brussels sprouts

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Saturated Fat?

Dishes with the most saturated fat

  1. Homemade mac and cheese
  2. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe
  3. Creamy au gratin potatoes

Dishes with the least saturated fat

  1. Cranberry sauce
  2. Roasted Brussels sprouts, simple roasted butternut squash, and quick yeast rolls (tied)
  3. Homesteader cornbread

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Net Carbs?

Dishes with the most net carbs

  1. Homemade mac and cheese
  2. Candied sweet potatoes
  3. Creamy au gratin potatoes

Dishes with the least net carbs

  1. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms
  2. Roasted Brussels sprouts
  3. Grandma's green bean casserole

Which Thanksgiving Side Dishes Have the Most Sugar?

Dishes with the most sugar

  1. Candied sweet potatoes
  2. Cranberry sauce
  3. Yummy sweet potato casserole

Dishes with the least sugar

  1. Homemade mac and cheese
  2. Mouth-watering stuffed mushrooms
  3. Garlic mashed potatoes secret recipe

Methodology: How Scores Were Calculated

Hers looked at 26 side dish recipes that received more than 1,000 reviews on Allrecipes.com, since that means they've been well-tested by plenty of home cooks. Using that list, Hers analyzed six different types of nutritional content in one serving of each recipe. Hers ranked protein and fiber favorably, while dishes high in calories, saturated fat, net carbs, and sugar received lower scores. Additionally, a 2x multiplier was used when scoring protein and saturated fat.

Get the data. 

3 Tips to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner While Prioritizing Your Health

It's possible to strike a balance between enjoying a celebratory Thanksgiving feast and keeping health goals in check. Here are three tips to help you feel great all day long.

  1. Start the day with a healthy breakfast: You may be tempted to skip breakfast, but enjoying a well-rounded morning meal could help reduce your appetite later in the day. Breakfast may also help energize you and motivate you to move around throughout the day. 
  2. Enjoy everything in moderation: Consider the nutritional content of each dish on your Thanksgiving plate and adjust your portions thoughtfully. You don't have to give up candied sweet potatoes or buttermilk cornbread. Instead, consider opting for smaller portions of the unhealthier dishes and fill more of your plate with healthy options.  
  3. Go for an after-dinner walk: Taking a walk right after dinner can help prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking. Plus, walking in general can be an effective, low-impact way to lose or maintain weight.  
10 unhealthiest Thanksgiving side dishes
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An table of assorted holiday side dishes and recipes.
Cara Leigh Harbstreet // Shutterstock