You'll Want to Make These Casseroles and Gratins for Thanksgiving Dinner

Sweet potatoes are a staple fall ingredient. Here, the root vegetable is thinly sliced and baked in a dish with a sage-infused cream and sage leaves. The result is an impressive French-style casserole that tastes as good as it looks. 

Green bean casserole is often made with canned ingredients, but our version gives the dish a Martha-level spin. Fresh green beans bring a welcome brightness while the wild mushrooms, roasted chestnuts, and buttered breadcrumbs add depth of flavor. 

While potato gratin may be more well known, this cauliflower version of the dish is we think, even better. Cauliflower is cooked with butter, flour, and Gruyère cheese then placed in a gratin dish, topped with a bread-crumb mixture, and baked until golden-brown color. 

A meat sauce flavored with seasoned ground beef and sweet Italian sausage is layered with a homemade three-cheese mixture and dry lasagna noodles in our favorite lasagna. The timeless baked dish is a holiday must-have. 

Our elevated version of the beloved side dish features gouda, sour cream, and cremini mushrooms while Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper punch up the flavor. 

Sweet and white potatoes come together in this rich casserole. Milk and butter add the creaminess and sage is the star flavor; it's an earthy herb that's so right for fall food.

Pumpkin brings a sweet, autumnal flavor to every dish it touches. Here, it's puréed and topped with a pecorino cheese-breadcrumb mixture. This super-seasonal gratin comes together in just 45 minutes. 

Casseroles have a reputation for being cheesy and filling. This sweet potato and cauliflower gratin is a little different. It's prepared with a lightened béchamel sauce that gives the dish a welcome richness without weighing it down. With this on your holiday table, you'll have plenty of room for dessert.

A fresh take on green bean casserole, this dish starts with the beans, red bell pepper, and button mushrooms. Another thing that sets it apart from the rest is its fried shallot topping. Save time the day of Thanksgiving by cooking the shallots and assembling the casserole ahead of time. 

Inspired by the cheesy deliciousness of fondue, this gratin will steal the show at Thanksgiving. Raclette cheese gives the twice-baked potatoes an unbeatable level of creaminess. This clever recipe uses the potato skins as a crispy garnish.

Give classic corn casserole a twist by adding a touch of spice. Chipotle chiles, green bell peppers, and pepper jack cheese take the beloved dish to the next level. Serve it with salsa, cilantro, and a dollop of sour cream. 

Gruyère cheese melts so well and is the perfect ingredient in homemade cheese-sauce. Here, it transforms a humble spinach gratin with its nutty flavor. A toasted breadcrumb topping adds the necessary crunchy textural element. 

This vegetarian casserole could also be a main. It's packed with hearty honeynut squash (the diminutive cousin to the butternut) along with buttery, creamy brie cheese and sweet yet pungent caramelized leeks. 

No holiday would be complete without macaroni and cheese. Our easy-to-make version has been a favorite for years. Elbow macaroni is mixed with a creamy béchamel sauce and sprinkled with three cheeses before baking. 

If you have vegetarian guests attending Thanksgiving dinner, this vegetable lasagna is a perfect dish to add. to the mix. Layers of ricotta, zucchini, and lasagna noodles make a hearty baked pasta that even carnivores can get behind. 

Take classic mashed potatoes to the next level in a few easy steps. Start as you would any mashed potato recipe—by boiling the starch until tender—then mix the diced potatoes with butter, sour cream, and half and half until creamy. Transfer the potatoes to a baking dish and top with a butter-mustard-breadcrumb mixture before baking for a creamy dish with a piquant crunchy topping.

Save prep time the day of Thanksgiving by making some sides a day or two early, like this baked pasta. Assemble the dish with sauce, cheese, kale, Italian sausage, and jumbo shells the night before and pop it into the oven before serving.

Sweet and earthy butternut squash is the autumnal vegetable to work into your Thanksgiving feast. Keep it simple, like this recipe does, and the gourd will speak for itself. Slice and layer it in a baking dish with kale and parmesan.