The main course may get most of the attention, but the side dishes are what fill out a Christmas dinner plate. This list includes familiar favorites like stuffing, whipped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce, along with newer options worth serving beside ham, turkey, or prime rib. There are creamy casseroles, roasted vegetables, homemade breads, and a few dishes with unexpected ingredients. We counted down 23 Christmas sides, with the most popular choice saved for the number 1 spot.
23. Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad
Roasted butternut squash and chopped Tuscan kale make the base of this salad, with dried cranberries and goat cheese adding sweet and tangy notes. Toasted pine nuts and salted pepitas bring plenty of crunch. The smoky dressing combines mayonnaise, buttermilk, lime juice, honey, garlic, and chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. Roast the squash until tender, toast the pine nuts until fragrant, then toss everything together. The sturdy kale holds up well after dressing, making this a good option for holiday meals.
22. Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans
Wild rice is cooked with garlic, onion, celery, fresh thyme in chicken or vegetable broth. Once the rice is tender, dried cranberries are stirred in along with toasted pecans for some crunch. The recipe comes together with some butter, parsley, black pepper and salt to enhance, not overwhelm, the rice. Sweet, savory, hearty, this side dish makes a nice alternative to stuffing or potatoes. Serve along side a roast chicken, ham, turkey…whatever floats your boat. It’s delicious, versatile, makes plenty and is perfect for make-ahead dishes since it reheats really well. Make it the day before.
Wild Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans
Ingredients
Method
- Rinse the wild rice.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook onion and celery for 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and thyme. Cook 1 minute.
- Add rice and broth. Bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer on low for 45 to 50 minutes.
- Drain any extra liquid.
- Stir in cranberries, pecans, parsley, salt, and pepper.
21. Sweet Biscuits
Soft and tender, these biscuits are perfect alongside any holiday roast or glazed ham. Serve them warm, slathered in butter and drizzled with honey. Granulated sugar in the dough gives them a touch of sweetness, while heavy cream and Greek yogurt give them a cake-like softness. Cold butter helps them stay tender. Bake the biscuits at 425 degrees until the tops are lightly golden and the bottoms are crispy and darker in color. Coarse sugar sprinkled on top adds a delicate crunch.
20. Maple Roasted Root Vegetables
These oven-roasted carrots, parsnips, sweet potato and red onion make an easy side dish to accompany holiday fare. The veggies are flavored with olive oil and fresh thyme, and drizzled with pure maple syrup during the last 10 to 15 minutes of roasting for sweetness and caramelization. The colorful combination is pretty on the table. Roasted veggie sides are great during the holidays as it leaves your burners free for mashed potatoes, gravy, etc. Roast the vegetables at 425 degrees until tender, with browned edges. Use two baking sheets so the veggies have enough room to roast rather than steam.
Maple Roasted Root Vegetables
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 425°F.
- Toss vegetables with oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Spread on 2 sheet pans.
- Roast for 25 minutes.
- Drizzle with maple syrup and toss.
- Roast 10 to 15 minutes more, until caramelized.
19. Garlic Knots
Store-bought pizza dough keeps these garlic Parmesan knots easy enough for a busy holiday meal. The dough is cut into 10 strips, tied into knots, and baked until soft and golden. As they bake, melted butter is mixed with minced garlic, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and salt. Brush that mixture generously over the hot knots right after they come out of the oven. Serve them warm alongside an Italian Christmas dinner, with a bowl of heated marinara sauce on the table for dipping.
18. Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Crispy bacon and brussels sprouts cooked in its fat with browned, caramelized sprout edges. It’s a great side for your holiday roast and it’s a one-pan recipe. Cook the bacon until it’s crisp, remove, then cook Brussels sprouts in the bacon fat. Add the bacon back right before serving. Cover briefly to steam the Brussels until tender, cook, uncovered, until nicely browned for deeper, more complex, delicious flavor. Salt and pepper lightly because the bacon is quite savory.
17. Creamed Spinach
This classic steakhouse side is thick and cheesy. It’s easy to prepare using frozen chopped spinach. Onions and garlic provide additional flavor. The sauce is made with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese and it takes only a few minutes to make. Once thickened, spinach is stirred into the sauce and cooked just long enough to heat it. This easy recipe makes a delicious accompaniment to a prime rib or other holiday roasts and goes well with beef, potatoes, and traditional Christmas dinner fare.
Creamed Spinach
Ingredients
Method
- If using fresh spinach, boil the leaves for 2 minutes then drain (If frozen skip this step)
- Melt butter in a large skillet or pot over medium heat.
- Cook onion for 4 minutes.
- Add garlic. Cook 30 seconds.
- Whisk in cream.
- Simmer until thick, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in cream cheese, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Add spinach, salt, and pepper. Cook until hot.
16. Honey Cornbread
This homemade cornbread skips the box mix but remains simple to make. Buttermilk keeps the crumb moist and tender, while honey provides all of the sweetness. Cornmeal gives each square its familiar texture and flavor, making it a good match for gravy, barbecue, chili, or a holiday dinner. The batter comes together in two bowls before baking in an 8-inch square dish until golden and cooked through. It can also be adapted with gluten-free flour, though the gluten-free version may need a few extra minutes in the oven.
15. Christmas Deviled Eggs
Creamy and tangy, these easy-to-make deviled eggs have a punchy filling of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sweet relish and horseradish. Make them thick enough to pipe into pretty swirls , sprinkle with sweet paprika and serve on your holiday appetizer spread, or as a dish at your Christmas dinner. They can be made ahead of time, even the day before, and chilled in the refrigerator until it’s time to eat them, leaving you to pay attention to everything else on your holiday to-do list.
14. Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire pudding is a classic partner for prime rib, with crisp, golden edges and a soft, eggy center ready to catch plenty of gravy. The simple batter combines eggs, whole milk, flour, and salt, then rests for 30 minutes before baking. Beef drippings are heated in a muffin tin until extremely hot before the batter goes in, helping each pudding puff high in the oven. Keep the oven door closed while they bake, then serve them immediately while they are still tall, crisp, and warm.
Yorkshire Pudding
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk eggs, milk, and salt.
- Whisk in flour until smooth.
- Rest batter 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 450°F.
- Add 1 teaspoon drippings to each cup of a 12-cup muffin tin.
- Heat the tin in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Fill cups halfway with batter.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes without opening the oven.
- Serve right away.
13. Broccoli and Cheddar Bake
Served alongside beef, poultry, or fish, this Broccoli Casserole will tempt even the most reluctant of vegetable eaters. The tangy bite of the sharp cheddar coupled with a creamy combination of eggs, cream of mushroom soup and mayonnaise make this veggie irresistible. Steam broccoli first, squeezing out as much of the liquid as possible so the casserole won’t be runny. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, pour into an 8 inch baking dish and bake until browned and bubbly. Serve warm, great for holidays.
12. Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
These Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots will become your favorite holiday recipe. Carrots simmered on the stovetop until tender, coated in a glossy, thickened glaze of butter and brown sugar. They’re so easy to make, and cooking them on the stove frees up valuable oven space for the roast, casseroles and all of your other favorite side dishes. Sweet and colorful, they’ll be a holiday dinner success. Serve them alongside your favorite Christmas main dish while still warm.
Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Ingredients
Method
- Add carrots, water, and salt to a large skillet.
- Cover and simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until just tender.
- Uncover and cook until the water evaporates.
- Add butter and brown sugar.
- Cook, turning often, until glossy and caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Season with pepper. Top with parsley and flaky salt.
11. Jalapeño Corn Casserole
Wonderful alongside barbecue, a holiday dinner or a bowl of chili. This corn casserole is a bit of cornbread and a bit of corn pudding. Sweet corn muffin mix, whole kernel corn and creamed corn mingle with sour cream to bake up creamy and soft. Pickled jalapeño adds a kick, just enough to take the edge off the sweetness of the casserole. Sharp cheddar goes on top and melts in the last few minutes in the oven.
10. Parker House Rolls
Fluffy inside and golden-brown on the outside, Parker House rolls are too good not to serve. Made with a yeasted dough that includes milk, egg, and a little sugar, the Parker House rolls are brushed with melted butter before being formed and baked. They’re given another brush of butter as soon as they come out of the oven, this time accompanied by a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. The process includes letting the dough rise until doubled before rolling and forming it, then letting the formed rolls rise again in the baking pan before baking.
9. Loaded Mini Hasselback Potatoes
Perfect for serving alongside your holiday roast, these bite-size Hasselback potatoes also make a great appetizer for your next dinner party. Thinly sliced into an accordion design, the mini potatoes are baked until garlic butter permeates the potatoes and crispy edges form around each layer while the insides remain tender. Once out of the oven, they’re smothered in sharp cheddar cheese and returned to the oven until bubbly. Guests will be reaching for potato after potato as soon as they’re garnished with a dollop of sour cream, some crisp bacon bits and fresh chives and brought to the table.
8. Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
This sauce is another great item to have on hand for holiday cooking. Fresh orange adds a nice citrusy bite to go along with your turkey. And any leftovers make great turkey sandwiches the next day. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare. Simply simmer together fresh cranberries, orange juice and zest, a pinch of nutmeg and sugar. Crush some of the berries for a chunkier texture. Sauce will continue to thicken as it cools, so refrigerate until ready to serve.
7. Brussels Sprouts Casserole with Crispy Onions
This take on traditional green bean casserole swaps Brussels sprouts in place of the green beans but keeps the creamy sauce and crunchy fried onions. Cooked until a rich brown with fresh thyme, button and cremini mushrooms lend a deep, savory note. Blanched Brussels sprouts and browned mushrooms are combined with a garlicky half-and-half and whole milk sauce, then baked until browned and bubbly. Added during the last few minutes in the oven, crispy fried onions bring a salty crunch to this beautiful casserole that’s sure to be a hit on your holiday table.
6. Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble
A crisp, crunchy, toasty layer of browned pecans covers a sweet potato casserole that begs to be served as a side for holiday meals. Brown sugar lends the filling some sweetness, cinnamon adds some warmth, and milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla round out a creamy filling of mashed sweet potatoes. A crumbly mixture of brown sugar, flour, melted butter, and chopped pecans is spread over the filling and bakes for about 30 minutes in the oven until the topping is crispy and the potatoes remain soft. It’s a sweet treat, but also perfectly complements turkey or ham.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Crumble
Ingredients
Method
- Boil sweet potatoes until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 dish.
- Mash potatoes.
- Beat in filling ingredients until smooth.
- Spread in the dish.
- Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle on top.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the topping is crisp.
5. Potatoes Au Gratin with Corn and Gruyere
Richly layered with thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes and sweet corn, this gratin is perfect alongside a holiday roast, think turkey, ham, prime rib, etc. There’s no flour in the creamy, garlicky sauce, just warm the cream with butter and cheese. We suggest nutty Gruyere, which gets even nuttier as it bubbles in the oven. Spoon potatoes and corn into a baking dish, cover with cheese sauce, top with more Gruyere and bake until potatoes are tender and cheese is bubbly and golden.
4. Classic Herb Stuffing
Soft and moist in the middle with plenty of crunchy edges, that’s what makes bread stuffing a holiday favorite. Made with crusty Italian or French bread, this recipe is seasoned with fresh herbs and classic stuffing flavors including celery, onion, butter, sage, garlic, parsley, and thyme. The chicken broth and eggs keep it moist, while the bread is toasted before combining with other ingredients so it will keep its shape. It’s first baked covered and then baked until golden and crispy on top. Use a casserole dish for lots of crispy edges.
Classic Herb Stuffing
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 300°F.
- Toast bread cubes on sheet pans for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Raise oven to 375°F. Butter a 9×13 dish.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onion and celery for 8 minutes.
- Add garlic, sage, and thyme. Cook 1 minute.
- Toss bread, vegetables, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Whisk eggs and broth. Pour over bread and toss.
- Spread in the dish. Cover with foil.
- Bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 minutes more until golden and crisp.
3. Brie Mac and Cheese
After 15 to 20 minutes, out of the oven comes heavenly cheese sauce bathing short pasta with a blanket of Ritz cracker crumbs melted with butter. The result? Golden and crisp on top; creamy, cheesy, and garlicky on the bottom. Brie lends a decidedly creamy consistency to the cheese sauce, perfect for your Christmas dinner, and is complemented with other cheesy flavorings including Parmesan and Swiss. Balanced with savory flavors of garlic and mustard, this elevated take on macaroni and cheese will surely please adults and kids alike.
2. Green Bean Casserole
This classic green bean casserole features a crispy, golden-brown topping and creamy filling. Instead of canned soup, it’s filled with fresh green beans, browned cremini mushrooms and homemade cream sauce. A mixture of chicken broth and whole milk forms the basis of the sauce, and garlic, butter, salt and black pepper add plenty of flavor. Half of the crispy fried onions get mixed into the casserole before it’s baked, adding an extra dimension of crunch. The rest goes on top during the last few minutes of baking, resulting in the perfect, crispy, golden-brown topping.
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Boil green beans for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Cook mushrooms until browned, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add garlic. Cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in flour. Cook 1 minute.
- Whisk in broth and milk. Simmer until thick.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in green beans and half the onions.
- Pour into a 2-quart baking dish.
- Bake 20 minutes.
- Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes more.
1. Whipped Potatoes
These Whipped Potatoes are incredibly easy to prepare with only five ingredients and one pot. Whip together fork-tender russet potatoes with salted butter, whole milk, garlic powder, and onion powder with an electric hand mixer for a light, smooth texture with minimal effort. Serve these creamy Whipped Potatoes hot with another pat of butter and lots of gravy. Whipped Potatoes are the perfect addition to any holiday menu. Try these Whipped Potatoes at Christmas dinner. Ready in less than 30 minutes. Stop mixing potatoes when they reach a smooth consistency to avoid gummy potatoes.
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