Thanksgiving is a day all about family, friends, football and, of course, food.
And though turkey is the star for most families that eat meat, there’s plenty of variety to be found in Thanksgiving feasts, especially in side dishes.
It’s where creativity and personal preferences shine, so we thought, why not try to discover which side dish is the favorite of our Salisbury Daily Times and Hagerstown Herald-Mail readers?
So, here’s our poll to make your voice heard, with a couple qualifiers. Yes, gravy, and for adult consumers, beer/wine did make the list, but desserts did not. That’s a whole new ballgame (and hey, there’s also Christmas time for that.)
After a list of our 15 contenders, make your voice heard in the poll at the bottom of this story, in which you can vote until 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. Here goes!
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Candied yams
No matter what you call them and how sweet you want them, sweet potatoes star on almost all Thanksgiving tables, and this candied variety is a popular pick.
Collard greens
For those who bring a touch of Southern flavor to their Thanksgiving feast, collard greens are a top choice.
Cranberry sauce
Often the most divisive of Thanksgiving side dishes, but cranberry sauce definitely has its fans, so stick up for it!
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Creamed spinach
Often made with, of course, cream, and parmesan cheese too, but there are many varieties of this Thanksgiving favorite to choose from.
Glazed carrots
Every Thanksgiving table could use a burst of color, and carrots bring that and big flavor too.
Gravy
Is gravy a side dish or a topping? That’s a debate for another day, but one thing’s for sure, it’s definitely a Thanksgiving hit.
Green bean casserole
Green beans get a bad — and we think undeserved rap — for being bland, but there’s easy ways to dress them up for an enticing casserole.
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Macaroni and cheese
Is this a side dish fit for Thanksgiving tables? Many people say yes and adopt the BBQ plate favorite for their holiday feast.
Mashed potatoes
This might just be the gold standard of Thanksgiving side dishes, and of course it doubles up as a way to use up all that gravy you prepared.
Oyster dressing (stuffing)
For many on the Eastern Shore and beyond, oysters are often added to stuffing, giving the Thanksgiving favorite a regional appeal.
Potatoes au gratin
Potatoes and cheese? How could you go wrong when you’re rounding out your Thanksgiving table.
Sweet potato casserole
Yes, we love sweet potatoes, so they’re starring in four ways on this list. It’s up to you if one of those is your favorite side dish.
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Sweet potato biscuits
You might prefer rolls, but we landed on biscuits for this list, and yes as another vessel for those versatile sweet potatoes.
Traditional stuffing
It’s the ultimate thing to go with your prized Thanksgiving turkey since, most often, it gets the honor of cooking inside your big bird.
Wine/beer/cocktails
Whether it’s as a reward after preparing your epic holiday feast or just at the table to be enjoyed with family and friends, spirits indeed often help spread the holiday cheer.
