Quiz: How Fast Can You Name the Thanksgiving Side From Its Description?

If you clicked on this quiz, chances are Thanksgiving is your holiday. You’re the one who prepares the dishes and puts on a feast for the family, so you know that you can ace this challenge, right? Well, let’s see how well you do. Can you match the Thanksgiving side dish to the description?

How did you do? Do you get to claim the title of King or Queen of Thanksgiving dinner? If you got all eight right, you definitely do, and maybe we could score an invite. Don’t worry if you missed a few. After all, there were a few that aren’t widely traditional, depending on the part of the United States you’re from.

The Most Popular Thanksgiving Sides Nobody Wants to Be Without

While you can certainly enjoy ambrosia salad and you may love to put on a great, glazed carrot treat, there are certain Thanksgiving sides that people cannot celebrate without. They are relatively easy to make, filling, and delicious additions that make the turkey meal feel complete.

Mashed potatoes are one of them. Sure, some people love roast potatoes, but buttery mashed potatoes are arguably far more essential. They can be made with milk, heavy cream, or even sour cream, and however you do it, they serve as the perfect vehicle for the rich gravy. You know the potatoes always go first.

Another type of potato that people look forward to is the sweet potato, and the sweet potato casserole is a must. The best thing about this side is that it can be debated as a dinner or dessert side, and much of this will depend on the spices that you mix in. Some will do chopped pecans, while others add mini marshmallows. The sweet and nutty notes help to add a much-needed contrast to the savory dishes.

After all, you likely have another sweet side dish on the table. Cranberry sauce is a must with the turkey. It cuts through rich flavors from the gravy, turkey, and vegetables, and you can cheat with the canned jelly without anybody caring. If you are going to make it yourself, simmer the whole cranberries with some sugar and orange zest, and everyone will ask for it year after year.

Then there’s the stuffing. How can you have turkey dinner without the dried bread cubes, onions, and fresh herbs? You can make this in the bird while you cook the turkey, or you can opt for a completely separate side dish. Either way, it’s delicious with the gravy poured all over it, making the middle soft and tender to contrast the crispy edges.

One side that doesn’t always feel needed but has a long history of being perfect is the green bean casserole. It was invented in 1955, and it’s become a favorite ever since. Not only is this a fun way to get your greens in, but it’s also an affordable option, especially for this Thanksgiving.

Keep up with the Mental Floss quiz page for more trivia challenges.