Thanksgiving is the one meal of the year where every single side matters as much as the turkey. The casseroles, the rolls, the cranberry sauce, the gravy – this is the dinner where people actually fight over the last spoonful. I have put together this Thanksgiving collection from my best restaurant copycat sides and rolls, all of which are family-tested and make excellent holiday additions.
Every recipe below works for Thanksgiving but is also great year-round. Many can be made 1-2 days ahead (saving precious oven space on the big day), and all of them come with my testing notes so they turn out perfect even if you have never made them before. Bookmark this page and refer to it as you plan your Thanksgiving menu.
Last updated: June 2026
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- Iconic Thanksgiving Sides (4 recipes)
- Breads & Rolls (3 recipes)
- Holiday Mains (Beyond Turkey) (3 recipes)
- Comfort Sauces & Sides (2 recipes)
Iconic Thanksgiving Sides
The casseroles and sides that define a Southern Thanksgiving table.
- Cracker Barrel Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (Pecan Streusel Copycat)
I have been chasing this recipe for years. Every Thanksgiving, my family would pile into Cracker Barrel on the drive… - Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole Recipe (Copycat at Home)
I have ordered Cracker Barrel’s hash brown casserole so many times that I finally had to crack the code at… - Texas Roadhouse Loaded Sweet Potato Recipe (Copycat)
I still remember the first time a Texas Roadhouse loaded sweet potato landed on my table. I thought there had… - Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe (Copycat Skillet Side)
I have been recreating Cracker Barrel recipes for years, and honestly, the fried apples are the one dish my family…
Breads & Rolls
Warm bread basket worthy of any Thanksgiving spread.
- Cracker Barrel Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe (Copycat Flaky)
I have made a lot of biscuits in my life, but Cracker Barrel’s tall, flaky buttermilk biscuits are the ones… - Texas Roadhouse Rolls Recipe with Cinnamon Butter (Copycat)
I have been chasing that Texas Roadhouse basket of rolls for years. You know the one – those glossy, pillow-soft… - Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread Recipe (Honey Wheat Copycat)
You know that moment when the server sets down that basket of warm brown bread at Cheesecake Factory and you…
Holiday Mains (Beyond Turkey)
If turkey is not your thing, these mains stand alone beautifully.
- Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe (Copycat Southern Classic)
I have made a lot of meatloaf in my life, but Cracker Barrel meatloaf has always had a special hold… - Cracker Barrel Country Fried Steak Recipe (Copycat with Gravy)
I have been making country fried steak for years, but the first time I ordered it at Cracker Barrel I… - Cheesecake Factory Chicken Madeira Recipe (Copycat at Home)
I still remember the first time I ordered Chicken Madeira at the Cheesecake Factory. I was out with my sister…
Comfort Sauces & Sides
The little details that finish a holiday plate.
- Texas Roadhouse Ranch Dressing Recipe (Copycat at Home)
I have been obsessed with Texas Roadhouse ranch dressing for years. Every single time I sit down at one of… - Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe (Copycat at Home)
I have been chasing this recipe for years. Every time my family and I sit down at Cracker Barrel and…
Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Without Losing Your Mind
The single biggest tip for hosting Thanksgiving is to make as many sides as possible 1-2 days ahead. Cracker Barrel sweet potato casserole reheats beautifully (assemble Wednesday, bake Thursday morning). Hash brown casserole is the same. The rolls can be shaped Wednesday night and baked fresh Thursday morning. Make a timeline, prep everything you can ahead, and let the oven do the heavy lifting on the day of. Every recipe on this page has make-ahead instructions in the storage section.
More Copycat Recipes
- All Copycat Restaurant Recipes (98+ tested)
- Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipes
- Texas Roadhouse Copycat Recipes
- Chick-fil-A Copycat Recipes
Happy cooking,
Julia
I'm Julia. I cook restaurant copycat recipes at home and share what works. Every recipe on this site is tested at least three times in my own kitchen before I publish it.