You wouldn’t serve pulled pork without smokey baked beans, would you? Or fried chicken without some kind of slaw?

A Thanksgiving bird absent the traditional fixings would be a sad, scant holiday meal. We know that the stuffing, potatoes and even that weird Jell-O salad (ye gods!) are essential for making the moment—and the bird—soar.

Side dishes may lack the star power of a main dish but they do much of the heavy lifting in a memorable meal. A good side dish will complement and elevate the other items on a plate; it will balance and contrast with the main. Side dishes help telegraph a meal’s culinary roots, while shoring up its nutritional impact. No longer the bit-part supporting actor of professional or home kitchens, the side dish is ready for its star turn this fall.