We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (2024)

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (1)

There's nothing that brings people together over the holidays quite like dinner — and no holiday dinner is complete without a spread of Christmas side dishes to sop up juicy prime rib, complement savory Christmas ham or contrast meaty roast beef. We gathered all of our best dishes for the occasion, including crisp winter salads, warming roasted veggies and potatoes in every form: mashed, smashed, roasted, even air-fried.

What sides should you have for Christmas dinner? First, think about the dietary restrictions of your guests. Use olive oil instead of butter in at least one side dish for any lactose-intolerant or dairy-free guests to enjoy. Hold the bacon on the Brussels sprouts if you have vegetarian Christmas party-goers or people who don't eat pork. Think twice before adding nuts to a salad or flour to something otherwise gluten-free. We included options for all of these guidelines and more — without sacrificing flavor, of course.

After you've noted everyone's dietary needs, consider varying the side dishes for the best flavor experience: Got the carbs covered? Be sure to include a fresh salad or garlicky vegetable side dish to lighten up Christmas dinner. If everything leans a little savory, consider adding something sweet like butternut squash or sweet potato. Or if your table already looks a little too orange and brown, look into adding green, red and purple pops of color (and flavor!). With your menu complete, you're almost ready to get the party started — just don't forget about a round of Christmas appetizers and Christmas co*cktails to kick things off!

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1

Winter White Bean and Radicchio Salad

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (3)

This bitter lettuce salad not only looks great, but it's also a delicious, bracing contrast to any holiday roast.

Get the Winter White Bean and Radicchio Salad recipe.

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2

Fresh Green Bean Casserole

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (4)

With cheese, crispy breadcrumbs and meaty mushrooms in a secret-ingredient creamy sauce, no one will be able to resist this classic side.

Get the Fresh Green Bean Casserole recipe.

RELATED: 23 Thanksgiving Green Bean Recipes to Complete Your Turkey Day Menu

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3

Lemony Brussels Sprout Salad

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (5)

Add some dramatic flair to your feast with this side salad that's chock full of cheese, dried fruit and nuts.

Get the Lemony Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.

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4

Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (7)

Blanched green beans are a classic side, but this dish takes the unexpected route by mixing in wild mushrooms, red chile and garlic butter.

Get the Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans recipe.

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5

Best Focaccia Bread

Fluffy, salt-topped bread will fit right in with your holiday spread. Just be sure to have an extra pan in the oven.

Get the Best Focaccia Bread recipe.

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6

Roasted Root Vegetables

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (10)

Sprucing up a tray of veggies can be as easy as a sprinkle of spices, a squeeze of fresh lemon and a drizzle of honey.

Get the Roasted Root Vegetables recipe.

RELATED: 24 Easy Vegetable Side Dishes That Go With Any Main

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7

Butternut Squash Mac 'n’ Cheese

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (11)

Sometimes a simple weeknight dinner, starring canned butternut squash, can double as a side dish. Scale it up for a larger crowd.

Get the Butternut Squash Mac 'n’ Cheese recipe.

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8

Garlicky Kale & Pea Sauté

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (12)

Balance that hearty roast with a plate of delicious and garlicky greens.

Get the .

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9

Brussels Sprouts With Pepitas and Figs

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (14)

These aren't any boring Brussels sprouts. Pack this vegetable side dish with crunchy pumpkin seeds and dried figs for the ultimate partner to your Christmas ham.

Get the Brussels Sprouts with Pepitas and Figs recipe.

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10

Scalloped Hasselback Potatoes With Cheddar

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (15)

This cheesy masterpiece is almost too pretty to eat. But it's also way too delicious not to, so go ahead and chow down.

Get the Scalloped Hasselback Potatoes with Cheddar recipe.

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11

Roasted Carrots and Red Onions

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (17)

This sweet and savory side, tossed with an orange-sherry vinegar dressing, goes with just about any main.

Get the Roasted Carrots and Red Onions recipe.

RELATED: 12 Easy Carrot Recipes That'll Spruce Up Your Easter Meal

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12

Spinach and Gruyère Potato Casserole

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (18)

Cheese and potatoes truly make everything better (yes, even Christmas).

Get the Spinach and Gruyère Potato Casserole recipe.

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13

Vegetarian Antipasto Salad

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (20)

Leaving out the salami ensures that this salad doesn't clash with your roast — and makes it a fit for your vegetarian friends.

Get the Vegetarian Antipasto Salad recipe.

RELATED: 55 Healthy Vegetarian Recipes for an Easy Weeknight Dinner

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14

Mashed Potatoes With Buttery Sliced Scallions

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (21)

Add some interest to this year's mash with fresh herbs, scallions and a pinch of lemon zest.

Get the Mashed Potatoes with Buttery Sliced Scallions recipe.

RELATED: 46 Easy Mashed Potatoes To Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side

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15

Parsnip and Potato Mash

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (22)

Sneak an extra veggie on the table by adding parsnips to your creamy mash. Bonus: they also add an earthy sweetness to this classic side.

Get the Parsnip and Potato Mash.

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16

Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (23)

This monochromatic number may look simple but it's loaded with flavor, thanks to salty capers, Parmesan and a honey-Dijon vinaigrette.

Get the Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad recipe.

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17

Crispy Golden Smashed Potatoes

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (24)

These are basically mashed potatoes with a golden, crispy crust. Side dish goals realized.

Get the Crispy Golden Smashed Potatoes recipe.

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18

Roasted Beet and Orange Salad

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (26)

Put two stars of cold-weather cooking, beets and oranges, front and center in this colorful side.

Get the Roasted Beet and Orange Salad recipe.

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19

Sweet Potato Baked Pasta With Hazelnut Brown Butter

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (27)

Bring a creamy, cozy main to this year's celebration and you'll be the hit of the party. Wait until the last minute to add the buttery hazelnut topping.

Get the Sweet Potato Baked Pasta with Hazelnut Brown Butter recipe.

RELATED: 56 Best Sweet Potato Recipes That Are Perfect for Any Fall Occasion

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20

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (28)

Not your average sprouts, these are doused in a sweet-spicy combo of maple syrup, sriracha and hot paprika.

Get the Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts recipe.

RELATED: 7 Best Air Fryers of 2023, Tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute

We Gathered All Our Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes Right Here (2024)

FAQs

What do most people cook for Christmas dinner? ›

Here they are, the holiday classics! These are the top-rated main dish and side dish recipes you need for a perfect traditional Christmas dinner. They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What are examples of side dishes? ›

Side Dishes
  • Potato Side Dishes.
  • Coleslaw.
  • Applesauce.
  • Fries.
  • Curry Side Dishes.
  • Sauces and Condiments.
  • Stuffing and Dressing.
  • Hushpuppies.

What is a good accompaniment to ratatouille? ›

Ratatouille can be served as a first course with bread; it can also be served as a side dish, as you would any vegetable side. However, I most enjoy serving ratatouille as a main-ish dish; that is, as an anchor to a summer's dinner. I love serving it with flatbread or artisanal crackers and a good array of cheeses.

What are the top 5 Christmas dinner dishes? ›

Top 10 Christmas Dinner Recipes
  • Maple-Bourbon-Brined Turkey.
  • Tarragon Crusted Roast Beef.
  • Classic Bread Stuffing.
  • Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pecans.
  • Pillsbury™ Tourtière.
  • Roasted Rosemary-Onion Potatoes.
  • Crispy-Coated Lemon-Pepper Salmon.
  • Perfect Apple Pie.

What is the most popular Christmas food in the world? ›

What is the most popular food at Christmas around the world?
  • Christmas fried chicken (Japan) In Japan, Christmas time is the season for KFC. ...
  • Pavlova (Australia & New Zealand) ...
  • Stollen (Germany) ...
  • Baklava (Greece) ...
  • Tamales (Costa Rica) ...
  • Julbord (Sweden) ...
  • Sochivo (Russia) ...
  • Three Kings Cake (Mexico)
Dec 12, 2019

What is the best side dish in the world? ›

30 best side dishes
  • Cauliflower cheese.
  • Epic summer salad.
  • Quick kimchi.
  • Roasted carrots.
  • Easy pilau rice.
  • Ultimate roast potatoes.
  • Giant couscous & tomato salad with zhoug-style dressing.
  • Best ever macaroni cheese.

What is the most ordered side dish? ›

What Is the Most Popular Side Dish in America?
  • French Fries. Thinly sliced potatoes deep-fried until crispy, often served with ketchup, mayonnaise, or vinegar. ...
  • Macaroni and Cheese. ...
  • Mashed Potatoes. ...
  • Baked Beans. ...
  • Garlic Bread. ...
  • Cornbread. ...
  • Green Beans. ...
  • Corn on the Cob.

How do you use side dish in a sentence? ›

These mushrooms make a delicious side dish. Serve roasted vegetables as a side dish with roast chicken. Would you like the salad as an appetizer or as a side dish with your entrée?

What meat goes with ratatouille? ›

Easy Grilled Chicken Breasts

This recipe is especially ideal if you've got really fresh and seasonal veg in your ratatouille. The plainer chicken breast really allows the veggies' flavors to pop, while still being really delicious.

What is a French appetizer? ›

Simple toasted bread, blinis, cucumber slices, or pumpernickel bread are regularly used as a base that's spread with ingredients such as cheese, crème fraîche, or sour cream, while common flavorings include condiments and herbs such as lemon juice, lemon zest, horseradish, mustard, dill, and capers.

What is the dish called at the end of ratatouille? ›

“BUT IT IS A PEASANT DISH….” Your telling me its not colored pepperoni? it's confit byaldi, a mix between the ratatouille sauce and vegetables and the tian presentation. That's why in the movie Anton is eating a stew in his childhood flashback which is ratatouille, but the tian reminds him of the meal his mom made!

How to prepare the perfect Christmas dinner? ›

To help, we've put these tips together with the help of our expert chefs from our kitchens.
  1. Organisation. ...
  2. Brine your Turkey on Christmas Eve. ...
  3. Have you got the right equipment for the job? ...
  4. Prep your veg the night before. ...
  5. Get your timings for the big day sorted. ...
  6. Keep it fun, get the family involved.

What is voted the best part of the Christmas dinner? ›

Top 10 best parts of the Christmas dinner
  • Roast potatoes (58 per cent)
  • Roast turkey (43 per cent)
  • Pigs in blankets (43 per cent)
  • Stuffing (23 per cent)
  • Gravy (21 per cent)
  • Yorkshire pudding (20 per cent)
  • Sprouts (17 per cent)
  • Parsnips (14 per cent)
Jun 21, 2024

What is the best meat for Christmas dinner? ›

If you're looking for a truly standout centerpiece, Prime Time Butcher presents their top 12 meat selections for the most festive and delicious Christmas dinner:
  • All Natural Boneless Turkey Roast. ...
  • All Natural Whole Turkey. ...
  • All Natural Duck. ...
  • Dry Aged American Rack of Lamb. ...
  • Dry Aged Chuck Roast. ...
  • All Natural Crown Roast of Pork.
Dec 18, 2023

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