47 Fall Sides That My Family Actually Fights Over

ByMandy

Autumn gatherings sound peaceful until someone tries grabbing the last spoonful of one of the 47 fall sides that my family actually fights over. Plates pile up, elbows get involved, and someone always makes a joke about starting a referee system. That’s when you know these dishes hit the right note.

Close-up of a creamy, golden-brown macaroni and cheese dish with a crunchy breadcrumb topping reminiscent of comforting funeral potatoes. A spoon is partially submerged in the cheese sauce.
Funeral Potatoes. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy and garnished with fresh thyme and cracked black pepper.
Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

When plates are passed around at dinner everyone goes straight for a scoop of Mashed Potatoes before anything else. There’s always that one person grabbing extra because it’s just that good. Soft and creamy hits all the right notes for comfort food. This side never gets skipped and leftovers rarely last.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes

Sautéed Kale

A white bowl filled with sautéed kale and sliced garlic, with a fork lifting a portion from the bowl.
Sautéed Kale. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Sometimes the healthy pick becomes the most wanted. Everyone goes back for Sautéed Kale because it’s bright and has a kick. It adds fresh crunch that stands out next to heavier dishes. Even picky eaters reach for it more than once.
Get the Recipe: Sautéed Kale

Cabbage Casserole

A close-up of a baked casserole dish filled with creamy cabbage gratin, topped with a golden breadcrumb crust, with a serving spoon partially visible.
Cabbage Casserole. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Plates fill up quickly when this hearty side dish is served. Layers in Cabbage Casserole make fans ask for more before the pan is empty. It offers a mix that keeps everyone coming back for another bite. Always causes squabbles over who gets the last corner.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Casserole

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Close-up of a creamy macaroni and cheese dish with visible black pepper seasoning.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Creamy dishes always bring competition for extra helpings at dinner. That’s exactly what happens with Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese when it hits the table. It’s cheesy and rich with a little sweet kick everyone likes. Spoons scrape the baking dish clean every time.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables

A white dish with roasted root vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, red onions, and sweet potatoes, garnished with fresh dill and thyme.
Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

When color pops out on the tray forks start flying in for bites. Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables keep sides fresh with natural sweet and smoky bits. It looks fancy but tastes comforting enough to cause fights for the last piece. Always disappears quicker than expected.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables

Jalapeño Honey Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread muffins topped with sliced jalapeños in white paper liners, arranged on a wooden surface.
Jalapeño Honey Cornbread Muffins. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

No one can resist grabbing one of these soft golden muffins. Sweet meets a little heat in Jalapeño Honey Cornbread Muffins which means hands reach for seconds fast. These work with everything else on the plate. Count on someone asking if there’s more in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Honey Cornbread Muffins

Corn Casserole

Corn casserole in a casserole dish with a portion removed.
Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Dinner lines slow down because everyone scoops extra of this one. Corn Casserole feels warm and refreshing at the same time with every bite. The pan never has leftovers and people sneak extra squares on their plates. Not a crumb remains once it gets served.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole

Beet Salad

A close-up of a salad featuring chopped beets, cucumber, feta cheese, walnuts, and fresh herbs on a white plate.
Beet Salad. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Fresh with just the right amount of crunch gets people to fight for the last helping. Beet Salad stands out with color and makes a simple plate something special. Its cool finish works well with rich mains. Even folks who aren’t sure jump in for more.
Get the Recipe: Beet Salad

Southern Cornbread

Close-up of two stacked pieces of cornbread with melted butter on top, showcasing a golden-brown crust and moist, crumbly texture.
Southern Cornbread. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Family tables light up when crumbly soft Southern Cornbread comes out in wedges. People stack slices high hoping for more butter on top. No meal feels quite complete without this. Those last slices always start a scramble for who gets them.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread

Tuna Noodle Casserole

A baking dish filled with golden-brown baked tuna noodle casserole, topped with breadcrumbs and garnished with chopped parsley.
Tuna Noodle Casserole. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Just one scoop creates some argument among those who want seconds. Creamy texture wrapped around noodles makes Tuna Noodle Casserole everyone’s favorite. Plates are loaded down quickly and no one passes up a pan with this inside. Always leaves someone hoping for leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cucumber Salad Jar (Asian Style)

A glass jar filled with sliced cucumbers, red onions, and herbs in pickling liquid, with two metal forks placed inside.
Cucumber Salad Jar (Asian Style). Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Crisp and light jars pull everyone in when supper gets crowded. Tangy hits put Cucumber Salad Jar (Asian Style) on top as a refreshing side. Textures make spoons clink as folks reach for more. Once it’s gone people ask why there wasn’t a double batch.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad Jar (Asian Style)

French Onion Casserole

A baked casserole dish filled with creamy macaroni and cheese, topped with a golden-brown breadcrumb crust and garnished with fresh herbs.
French Onion Casserole. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Smells waft in and soon plates start filling with cheesy layers. Each bite of French Onion Casserole feels rich enough to keep people coming back for seconds. Spoons scrape even the browned edges every single time. This is what starts family squabbles over the last chunk.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Casserole

Sweet Potato Wedges

Roasted sweet potato wedges sprinkled with herbs on parchment paper.
Sweet Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When wedges hit the plate hands move quick to grab a few. Smoky with a sweet spin Sweet Potato Wedges stand out beside ordinary sides. No one wants to miss out so they pile up their portion fast. Always leads to someone asking for more.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Wedges

Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown casserole being served.
Hashbrown Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

At dinner this often steals the spotlight from the main dish. That creamy bake in Hashbrown Casserole brings everyone to fill up their plates right away. It’s a classic side that stirs up talk about who gets leftovers. Last piece always draws a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole

Garlic Knots

Close-up view of freshly baked garlic knots with parsley and seasoning, resting on a parchment-lined baking tray.
Garlic Knots. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When baskets land on the table grab them before someone else does. Garlic Knots bring fluffy bites with simple flavor that everyone craves. No basket sticks around for more than a few minutes. It’s the first thing people ask about when they walk in hungry.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Knots

Potato Casserole

Potato Casserole being served.
Potato Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Don’t underestimate how quickly this vanishes once it’s served. Each spoonful of Potato Casserole has a combo people love and plates fill fast. Family gatherings often lead to friendly battles for more of this pan. Everyone wants to get the last scoop.
Get the Recipe: Potato Casserole

Baked Zucchini

Roasted zucchini halves garnished with chopped parsley on a white plate.
Baked Zucchini. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

A green side that turns heads when it’s this crisp. Easy to stack up on plates Baked Zucchini comes out light but doesn’t stick around for long. It’s gone quickly especially with the way everyone talks it up. Sneak a round early or miss out.
Get the Recipe: Baked Zucchini

Egg Casserole

A casserole dish containing egg casserole.
Egg Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Any plate with this on it is guaranteed to get attention. Layers in Egg Casserole make it tough to pick just one slice. It pleases with every bite and disappears faster than most sides. Always the first pan to go empty.
Get the Recipe: Egg Casserole

Antipasto Salad

A bowl of salad with mixed greens, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes, and roasted red peppers.
Antipasto Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Mixed up bright colors lead everyone to scoop up extra when dinner starts. The variety packed inside Antipasto Salad means no plate looks boring. Great addition to richer mains for balance. People get competitive over the last bite every time.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Salad

Hamburger Casserole

A close-up of a spoon lifting a portion of hamburger casserole, showcasing baked macaroni and cheese layered with ground meat and topped with lettuce and creamy sauce.
Hamburger Casserole. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Dinner gets lively when serving generous helpings of this. Simple flavor makes Hamburger Casserole stand out with fans grabbing extra scoops. It’s hard to keep leftovers when plates get filled high. Always a subject of happy debate on who took the last serving.
Get the Recipe: Hamburger Casserole

Crunchy Onion Rings

A close-up of crispy, golden-brown onion rings sprinkled with chopped parsley and black pepper on a white parchment-lined surface captures perfection in every bite.
Crunchy Onion Rings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Plates stacked high mean someone will always want more. Crispy bites in Crunchy Onion Rings get people reaching fast and dipping away. A dish gets emptied quickly thanks to simple flavors. These make any meal feel like an event.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Onion Rings

Big Mac Sliders

Two sloppy joe sliders with melted cheese and ground beef filling stacked on a plate, with lettuce and a bowl in the background.
Big Mac Sliders. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Sandwiches as sides bring fun to family feasts every time. People jump at Big Mac Sliders since they’re easy to grab and go. No one leaves this behind even if heaps of other dishes are available. Always wanted at every meal and finished off first.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Sliders

Sweet Potato Cubes

Sweet potato cubes on a plate with a dipping sauce.
Sweet Potato Cubes. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

These cubes of flavor go faster than expected at any meal. Roasted edges mean Sweet Potato Cubes stand out on plates and extra helpings happen fast. Friends and family scoop up extras before the pan cools. Last bite always causes a funny argument.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cubes

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

A casserole dish with zucchini and cheese on it.
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cheesy layers add excitement when it’s side time. Everyone wants a big square of Cheesy Zucchini Casserole when passing plates. No pan makes it past the first round of serving. Family always asks for seconds of this one.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Mississippi Mud Potatoes

A baked dish with melted cheese, diced pineapples, browned bacon, and chopped green onions on top.
Mississippi Mud Potatoes. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Hands jockey for space when this loaded pan arrives. Mississippi Mud Potatoes have a richness that gets thumbs up every time. Even those not into potatoes reach for more. Quick wipeouts prove it’s a side people fight over.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Mud Potatoes

Macaroni Salad

A spoon lifting a serving of creamy macaroni salad with diced red onion and fresh herbs, with pepper sprinkled on top.
Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Forks clash in the bowl as everyone scrambles for scoops. The easy bite of Macaroni Salad keeps things chill but competitive at the table. It soaks up anything served alongside. No leftovers means it always gets requested again.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad

Crack Chicken Casserole

Close-up of a baked apple crumble dessert in a ceramic dish, featuring a golden-brown crumbly topping.
Crack Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

People pile this high and hope it does not run out early. Rich flavor with a creamy twist puts Crack Chicken Casserole in the spotlight. Heavy spoons keep stealing the last bit. The fight for the pan is real at every meal.
Get the Recipe: Crack Chicken Casserole

Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes

Three baked sweet potatoes topped with minced meat, melted cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions on a white plate.
Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Forks chase bites once these make their way down the serving line. Savory mixes with sweet in Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes for a combo that’s impossible to ignore. Quick hands grab extra for round two. Friendly family arguments always happen for the last bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes

Baked Potato

Baked potatoes on a serving dish with sour cream and fresh parsley.
Baked Potato. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When foil-wrapped sides appear everyone lines up. Simple but filling Baked Potato lets people stack on what they love. It goes with any meal without fail. Second helpings make these disappear quickly.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato

Focaccia Bread

Slices of focaccia bread topped with rosemary and flaky salt, arranged on brown parchment paper.
Focaccia Bread. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Baskets of this fluffy bread circle the table and vanish fast. Every square of Focaccia Bread finds a taker before mains hit. It works with soup or alone and always draws extra attention. Bread plates remain empty at the finish.
Get the Recipe: Focaccia Bread

Hasselback Potatoes

Roasted hasselback potatoes on a baking sheet with parmesan.
Hasselback Potatoes. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Rows of sliced potatoes look too tempting not to grab. Cheesy crisp bites from Hasselback Potatoes find fans who pile them up first. It’s a side that catches eyes and triggers competition. Extra slices always spark a playful fight.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Potatoes

Baked Rice

A close-up of a bowl of oven-baked fried rice mixed with colorful vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, and scallions, with a spoon resting inside.
Baked Rice. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Plain looking but quietly grabs repeat servings from everyone. Each scoop of Baked Rice works with hearty main meals. It’s the kind of side people keep coming back for. Empty bowls tell the story as the meal ends.
Get the Recipe: Baked Rice

Pumpkin Soup

A mouthwatering close-up of pumpkin soup garnished with a swirl of cream, crunchy pumpkin seeds, a crispy slice, and aromatic sage leaves.
Pumpkin Soup. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Bowls steaming get snatched up before anything else. Smooth creamy bites in Pumpkin Soup have a warm feeling. Spoons clink as everyone hopes for another ladle. The soup pot empties quickly every time.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup

Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice-baked potatoes topped with melted cheese and chopped green onions on a baking sheet.
Twice Baked Potatoes. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Faces light up when these golden halves show up on the tray. Each Twice Baked Potatoes is stuffed and crisp, which means folks hustle to take more. Side plates fill up quickly as people hunt for seconds. The race for the last one is always a thing.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potatoes

Gnocchi

A bowl of gnocchi topped with grated cheese, fresh basil, and black pepper.
Gnocchi. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When these little pillows land on the table everyone wants a pile. Fluffy bites in Gnocchi pair up with all sorts of mains. Forks fly as second helpings disappear fast. Plates get cleaned before anyone knows it.
Get the Recipe: Gnocchi

Ravioli Casserole

Close-up of a baked dish with ravioli, mushrooms, asparagus, and melted cheese on top.
Ravioli Casserole. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Cheesy layers grab family attention fast at dinner. Hearts set on Ravioli Casserole always cause chatter about splitting the last serving. It pairs great with everything else and wins fans every time. Spoons scrape for every last bit in the pan.
Get the Recipe: Ravioli Casserole

Honeycrisp Salad

A bowl of mixed greens salad with sliced Honeycrisp apples, walnuts, and crumbled blue cheese.
Honeycrisp Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Crisp cool salads get snapped up when they look like this. Honeycrisp Salad turns simple greens into something special with crunch in every forkful. People race for seconds once it’s tasted. Never has leftovers for lunch the next day.
Get the Recipe: Honeycrisp Salad

Easy Cornbread Casserole

A portion of a cheesy, golden-brown savory cornbread casserole is being lifted from the dish, showing its flaky crust and gooey cheese filling.
Easy Cornbread Casserole. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

No one questions why this gets spooned out first. Easy Cornbread Casserole pairs crispy edges with soft centers in a way folks love. Heaping portions fill plates quickly. The dish never makes it past the first round.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cornbread Casserole

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries with a dipping sauce.
Sweet Potato Fries. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When fries are on the side table expect hands reaching fast. Sweet Potato Fries don’t last ten minutes once people start piling them up. Slightly sweet edge makes everyone come back for more. Someone always claims the last pile.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries

Pizza Casserole

A close-up of a baked pasta dish with melted cheese, pepperoni slices, and herbs, showing a serving being lifted, revealing gooey cheese strands.
Pizza Casserole. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Dinner chatter always circles back to who took the last piece. Gooey slices in Pizza Casserole start disputes over the leftovers. Cheese and layers keep people asking for more. No one leaves without help.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Casserole

Leek and Potato Soup

A bowl of creamy soup garnished with sautéed green onions and herbs.
Leek and Potato Soup. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Bowls fill fast when soup pots make the rounds. Smooth bites of Leek and Potato Soup catch everyone’s attention for seconds. Warm spoonfuls bring friendly fights for last tastes. The pan always finds a way to be wiped out.
Get the Recipe: Leek and Potato Soup

Marry Me Chicken Casserole

A casserole dish filled with baked pasta topped with melted cheese and garnished with chopped herbs.
Marry Me Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

The rich layers here always draw attention at the dinner table. Every scoop of Marry Me Chicken Casserole means heavy competition for the next bite. Seconds run out fast. Stories get made over missed slices.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Casserole

Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta

A white dish filled with cooked fusilli pasta, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms in a creamy sauce, with a silver fork resting inside.
Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Pasta sides rarely disappear as quick as this one does. Creaminess from Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta gets people scooping big portions instantly. Bowls clear off quickly leaving crumbs behind. Requests come in for another batch every time.
Get the Recipe: Boursin Cheese Baked TikTok Pasta

Yellow Squash Casserole

Squash casserole being served with a wooden serving spoon.
Yellow Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Squash turns into a favorite when baked into golden layers like these. Yellow Squash Casserole finds fans asking to spread extra across plates. Oven pans never make it past round one. The last spoonful always starts a debate.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Squash Casserole

Taco Pasta Salad

A bowl of fusilli pasta mixed with ground beef, black beans, chopped tomatoes, and herbs, garnished with lime wedges.
Taco Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Main dishes barely get noticed beside this bold side. Layers in Taco Pasta Salad pack plates thick and make the family pay close attention. Each bowl ends up scraped out before the other salads. Fights over the leftovers are common.
Get the Recipe: Taco Pasta Salad

Jamaican Red Beans and Rice

A bowl of stew with bread and carrots.
Jamaican Red Beans and Rice. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Colorful bowls are quickly filled as guests eagerly help themselves to second servings. Jamaican Red Beans and Rice dish delivers a wonderful combination of cool texture and hearty flavor, making it a crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Jamaican Red Beans and Rice

Funeral Potatoes

Close-up of a creamy, golden-brown macaroni and cheese dish with a crunchy breadcrumb topping reminiscent of comforting funeral potatoes. A spoon is partially submerged in the cheese sauce.
Funeral Potatoes. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

The bake on these guarantees a race to scoop first at dinner. Cheesy crisp edges in Funeral Potatoes start friendly side battles for extra bites. People keep reaching for more until the pan is done. This one always ends up empty.
Get the Recipe: Funeral Potatoes

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