What pasta-and-cheese dish is a common Thanksgiving side in parts of the U.S. South?

Macaroni and cheese is a common Thanksgiving side dish in parts of the U.S. South.

The dish combines cooked macaroni with a cheese sauce or melted cheese, then may be baked until browned. Although it is now associated with home cooking across the United States, it has a particularly strong place in Southern holiday meals, where it can appear beside turkey, dressing, greens, and sweet potatoes.

Macaroni and cheese is not a universal Thanksgiving requirement. Regional menus vary widely, and families may serve it as a casserole, prepare it entirely on the stovetop, or use several cheeses. Its presence also reflects the broader history of Southern cuisine, in which baked casseroles became practical dishes for feeding large gatherings.

A common mix-up is treating macaroni and cheese as a main course or confusing it with pasta dishes such as baked ziti. At Thanksgiving, it is generally served as a rich side, often prepared ahead and finished in the oven while the turkey rests.