Switch up your side dish game to avoid a holiday menu slump this season. Don’t limit yourself to canned green beans and instant mashed potatoes that go untouched at the dinner table.
These delicious sides will make your Christmas dreams come true:
Focaccia
Impress your holiday guests with this deceptively easy focaccia. There’s no kneading, and the recipe requires only a handful of everyday ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Keep things simple with garlic and butter, or add herbs and vegetables for a special touch.
Easy No-Knead Focaccia Bread Recipe
Roasted Carrot Soup
Nothing says “happy holidays” like a warm, cozy bowl of soup. Roasted carrot soup is an equally beautiful and delicious addition to your festive feast. Spicy fresh ginger pairs beautifully with the carrots, and coconut milk gives the soup a thick, silky consistency.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Freshen up your Christmas dinner table with a shaved Brussels sprout salad. This vegetarian-friendly salad starts with a base of thinly sliced Brussels. Add pine nuts, dried cranberries, and grated cheese, and toss everything in a light dressing for a crowd-pleasing, healthy side.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe
Cheese Balls
It wouldn’t be a proper celebration without these seasonally inspired cheese balls. They combine goat cheese with sage, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds. Every bite has the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, making them hard to resist.
Green Beans
Instead of bland green bean casserole or garlic green beans, shake things up this season by serving them with cranberries, bacon, and goat cheese. With this recipe, you’ll look forward to eating your vegetables for once. The dish has an irresistible combination of flavors and textures that’ll keep you returning for more.
Green Beans with Cranberries, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Recipe
Hasselback Potatoes
If you love all things potato, try making them hasselback style. The technique involves slicing the potatoes partway through to keep them intact.
This allows the potato’s exterior to crisp up while the interior stays soft and tender. Once you try hasselback potatoes, you’ll never want to mash them again.
Corn Casserole
Don’t forget the corn casserole this season. It’s a comforting Christmas staple with everything you could want in a delicious holiday food. This traditional Southern recipe has much to love, from the juicy corn kernels to the hearty cornbread base and cheesy topping.
Paula Deen’s Corn Casserole Recipe
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash is a no-fail option for all your winter celebrations. Roasting the squash deepens its flavor, enhancing the natural sweetness. This side dish is so tasty and satisfying that no one will realize it’s healthy.
Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe
Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls
Indulge in a batch of heavenly garlic pull-apart rolls. These buttery Italian morsels might steal the show at your Christmas dinner. Their light, pillowy texture soaks up all the garlicky goodness, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
Garlic Pull-Apart Rolls Recipe
Creamed Spinach
Cheese makes everything better, including vegetables. Creamed spinach is one of the best ways to get your greens in during the holidays without feeling like a chore. The key is a rich blend of cream cheese, heavy cream, and parmesan that completely transforms the otherwise blah spinach.
Rice Pilaf
While rice pilaf sounds fancy, it’s surprisingly simple to make. This recipe pays homage to the season with ingredients like cranberries and pecans. Everyone will want a second serving of the savory wild rice-based side.
Rice Pilaf with Cranberries and Pecans Recipe
Sausage and Herb Stuffing
Stuffing is an essential component of your Christmas festivities. It’s a familiar favorite that’s the perfect side to prime rib, ham, and more. This version uses sausage and seasonal herbs to create a dish that holds its own on your piled-high plate.
Easy Sausage and Herb Stuffing Recipe
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Revisit your favorite childhood holiday memories with creamy baked mac and cheese. Don’t settle for powdered cheese—this recipe uses cheddar and Gruyere for maximum flavor. Once you dig into this mouthwatering pasta, leaving leftovers will be hard.
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
French Onion-Stuffed Onions
Instantly elevate your Christmas menu with this unique French onion-inspired side. It’s a fun and creative twist on classic French onion soup with stuffed onions atop bread. This dish features all the salty and cheesy flavors you love about the soup in one party-ready snack.
French Onion-Stuffed Onions Recipe
Braised Cabbage
Forget everything you thought you knew about cabbage. There’s no better way to prepare the vegetable than by braising it in broth and spices. You’ll end up with a hearty, comforting holiday side that’s surprisingly good for you.
World’s Best Braised Green Cabbage Recipe
See more mouthwatering side dish ideas
Some sides are so tempting that they outshine the main course. Satisfy your appetite with these delicious side dish recipes.
14 Irresistible Sides That Outshine the Entree
Pair your meal with the perfect cocktail
Make the most of the holidays by mixing up some Christmas-inspired beverages. You’ll want to sip these festive drinks all season long.
15 Holiday Cocktail Recipes That Aren’t Eggnog
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
