27 Stove-Top Sides When The Oven’s Full

Most people joke about uncomfortable family moments at Thanksgiving, but the real headache is trying to cook a full feast in a standard 30-inch oven. Juggling pans, rotating trays, and negotiating oven space feels like its own sport. That’s why having a lineup of stovetop sides makes the whole week feel easier and much less chaotic. You still get food that tastes like it belongs on a Thanksgiving table, but you don’t have to play appliance Tetris to make it happen.

Creamy Mashed Yuca

This mashed yuca softens completely on the stove and turns creamy with just a few ingredients. It works as a fun alternative to mashed potatoes and frees up oven space. It scoops well next to roasted meats and other holiday dishes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Yuca

Goat Cheese & Spinach Mashed Sweet Potatoes

These sweet potatoes mash smoothly on the stove and get richness from goat cheese. They bring color to the table and fit in nicely with a lineup of side dishes. They heat well on the stovetop without needing extra attention.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese & Spinach Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes

These purple sweet potatoes mash into a smooth, herb-filled side that cooks entirely on the stove. The color alone adds something fun to the table. They stay easy to reheat on low heat if dinner timing shifts.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes

Utica Greens

These stovetop greens cook with prosciutto, peppers, and cheese until they soften and pick up plenty of flavor. They bring a bold side to the table without touching the oven. They also pair well with pasta, meat, or anything else you’re serving.
Get the Recipe: Utica Greens

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

These smashed potatoes mix Greek yogurt and roasted garlic into a creamy stovetop mash. They stay consistent and smooth, which helps them hold up next to big mains. Keeping them on the stove helps with timing.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon & Goat Cheese

These green beans cook quickly on the stove and bring sweetness, saltiness, and creaminess to the plate. They fit the theme perfectly since you don’t need oven space at all. They stay bright and flavorful even alongside heavier dishes.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon & Goat Cheese

Parsnip Puree

This parsnip puree softens on the stove and turns into a smooth side with garlic, butter, and rosemary. It works as a lighter alternative to mashed potatoes when you want something different. It stays warm easily on the back burner until everything else is ready.
Get the Recipe: Parsnip Puree

Crispy Fried Broccoli

This skillet broccoli hits the table fast, which helps a lot when the oven’s packed and you still need something hearty. The florets crisp up on the stove, then get coated in a cheesy garlic sauce that makes the whole dish feel extra comforting. It works well with anything on a holiday menu and holds its own next to the bigger mains.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Fried Broccoli

Potato Sausage

This one-pan mix of browned sausage, soft potatoes, and onions cooks fully on the stove, which keeps things simple when the oven’s busy. The potatoes soak up the flavor from the sausage, so each bite tastes rich without much effort. It works for breakfast, lunch or dinner, which makes it a flexible option during a hectic week.
Get the Recipe: Potato Sausage

Cheesy Stove Top Scalloped Potatoes

These scalloped potatoes skip the oven entirely and simmer in a creamy cheddar sauce until they’re soft and comforting. They’re a great fit when you want something classic but don’t have baking space left. The whole dish comes together in a pot, making it easy to manage around everything else you’re cooking.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Stove Top Scalloped Potatoes

Chicken Gravy

This chicken gravy cooks quickly on the stove and works even if you don’t have drippings on hand. It thickens into a smooth sauce that brings life to mashed potatoes or roasted meat, which helps round out the meal when oven space is tight. Keeping it on the stovetop makes it easy to reheat and adjust as needed.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gravy

Creamed Spinach and Parsnips

This stovetop combo cooks gently until the vegetables soften and the creamy sauce pulls it together. It brings balance to heavy holiday plates and saves you from juggling more casseroles in the oven. It reheats easily, which helps during a busy dinner spread.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach and Parsnips

Italian Mac and Cheese

This mac and cheese cooks straight on the stove and uses Italian cheeses to make the sauce rich and comforting. It’s easy to stir and finish without babysitting a bake time. It pairs well with anything that’s waiting in the oven and fills out the meal without extra work.
Get the Recipe: Italian Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Green Beans

These green beans cook in one skillet with garlic and bacon, then get finished with melted cheese. Everything happens on the stove, which frees up oven space for the bigger dishes. The beans keep their texture, making them a dependable side during a heavy holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Green Beans

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

These mashed potatoes come together quickly on the stove and stay smooth and creamy without any extra steps. The garlic brings a little extra flavor, which works well alongside all the rich mains. They stay easy to manage since you can keep them warm right on the burner.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Colcannon

This potato and greens mash softens completely on the stove and brings a comforting feel to the plate. The greens fold in easily, making the dish feel complete without much prep. It mixes well with anything else you’re serving and doesn’t need the oven at all.
Get the Recipe: Colcannon

Cranberry Sauce

This cranberry sauce simmers on the stove until it thickens and becomes the bright side everyone expects. It can be made ahead or kept warm on a back burner, which saves room in the oven for the bigger dishes. Its sweet, tart flavor cuts through heavier foods and balances the plate.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Sauce

Green Bean Curry

This green bean curry cooks in one pot and brings bold flavor without a long prep time. The sauce coats the beans and turns them into a filling side that fits well when you need something comforting and stovetop friendly. It helps break up all the rich dishes that usually crowd the table.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Curry

Bacon Fried Corn

This corn softens in a skillet and soaks up the salty bacon flavor, making it a great choice when you’re steering clear of the oven. It cooks quickly and stays easy to manage as the rest of dinner comes together. The mix of sweet and salty works well next to heavier mains.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream

These mashed potatoes get extra smooth on the stove with the addition of sour cream. They hold up well next to holiday mains and can stay warm over low heat without drying out. Everything happens in one pot, which keeps things simple when the oven is full.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream

Colorful Veggie Salad with Broccoli & Cauliflower

This fresh stovetop-free salad brings crunch to the table when everything else feels heavy. The mix of vegetables holds up well next to warm dishes and gives the meal some balance. It’s easy to prep ahead, which helps clear space for other sides.
Get the Recipe: Colorful Veggie Salad with Broccoli & Cauliflower

Butter Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions

These mushrooms and onions soften in a skillet and take on a rich, buttery flavor. They make a great stovetop side because they cook fast and pair well with almost any main dish. They also reheat easily if you need another warm side at the end of cooking.
Get the Recipe: Butter Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions

Orzo Risotto

This orzo cooks on the stove until it becomes creamy like risotto, making it a good option when the oven isn’t available. The pumpkin adds a seasonal touch without any extra steps. It feels hearty enough to stand with the main meal and stays simple to manage.
Get the Recipe: Orzo Risotto

Italian Homemade Cheesy Potato Gnocchi

These cheesy gnocchi cook fully on the stove and turn soft and comforting in a béchamel sauce. The leeks add plenty of flavor without much prep. It’s a great choice when you want a filling side that doesn’t compete for oven space.
Get the Recipe: Italian Homemade Cheesy Potato Gnocchi

Garlic Butter Green Beans

These green beans cook fast in a skillet with garlic and parmesan, giving them a big flavor boost without much work. They’re perfect when the oven is already full and you still need something fresh on the table. They pair easily with any main dish.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Green Beans

Southern Green Beans

These green beans simmer low on the stove with onions and bacon until they turn tender. They stay hands-off once they’re going, which helps during busy cooking days. They bring a savory, comforting addition to the plate.
Get the Recipe: Southern Green Beans

Wild Rice Salad

This wild rice salad is a stovetop make-ahead dish that can be served warm or at room temperature. It gives you a break from heavier sides and fits well into a holiday spread without needing the oven at all. The chewy texture makes it feel substantial.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Salad