30 Christmas Side Dishes for Your Festive Feast

The holidays are right around the corner, and these Christmas side dishes are the perfect addition to your family’s feast. 

I’m talking sweet potatoes, crispy sprouts, and more!

30 Best Christmas Side Dish Recipes

You can’t go wrong with any of these dishes any time of year. But they’re extra special during the holidays.

After all, what’s a perfectly roasted turkey without a selection of holiday sides?

So whether your family sticks to the classics or you’re looking to branch out, there’s a Christmas side dish for everyone on this list.

Ready to find a new holiday favorite? Let’s dive in!

1. Yorkshire Pudding

This traditional classic is the perfect addition to any meal, but especially a Christmas meal! 

This dish is full of nostalgia for grandma’s house and the simpler times shared there.

Try making your own with this recipe. It will be just as good as hers.

This is a delicious side to your turkey dinner!

2. Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Need more green Christmas side dish recipes? This roasted Brussels sprouts recipe checks all the boxes. It’s delicious, savory, and oh-so-easy. 

If you have the Brussels sprouts, you’re almost there. All they require is a simple garnish of salt, pepper, and olive oil. 

They come out of the oven with crispy edges and super tender insides. Delicious!

3. Trisha Yearwood Sweet Potato Casserole

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that Trisha Yearwood knows southern cooking!

Capture the flavors of the South this holiday season with this yummy sweet potato casserole. 

It’s the perfect pairing of sweet and salty, and that crumbly pecan crust takes it to a whole new level. 

It will make you forget all about marshmallows.

4. Cranberry Rice Pilaf

Give rice pilaf some Christmas cheer by adding some cranberries to the mix!

There is room on every plate for this filling side, and even picky eaters will enjoy this creamy rice dish.

The tart berry bursts through the nutty pilaf flavor for a delicious Thanksgiving side dish.

Why limit yourself to just Christmas? This easy side dish for the holidays is good enough to be enjoyed all year round.

5. Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are the luxurious cousin of the potato family. This recipe is indulgently creamy and buttery. 

And those tender potatoes just melt in your mouth. Dare I say it’s even better than mashed potatoes? 

Don’t worry, this recipe is so easy! It all comes together in creamy deliciousness in under an hour.

6. Stuffing

It wouldn’t be a list of Christmas sides if I forgot to mention stuffing! This is a traditional dish for holiday meals and a long-time favorite.

It’s a savory blend of onion, garlic, thyme, and rosemary. What’s not to love with all of those spices?

This sophisticated dish is the perfect blend of bread, spices, and a few seasonal vegetables.

7. Green Beans Almondine

Quick, easy, and fancy. It’s just how I like my tasty side dishes. Green beans Almondine sounds fancy, but it’s really just beans and almonds!

Lightly blanched green beans retain their festive green color and amazing crunch. When paired with nutty almonds, the flavors are amazing. 

And with a little butter and garlic, everyone will eat their greens this Christmas!

8. Christmas Roast Potatoes

If you want a potato side dish that strays from the norm, you have to check out these Christmas roast potatoes. 

They’re like little potato flavor bombs! The outside gets nice and crunchy in the oven, and the insides are so tender they’re like mashed potatoes. 

And with a handful of fresh herbs and garlic, these spuds will go fast at the dinner table.

9. Popovers

Ditch boring dinner rolls and upgrade to these fun and festive popovers! Light and fluffy popovers are as delicious as they are adorable.

Their whimsical shape and airy texture make them the perfect Christmas side dish.

Cook up the magic of the Christmas season with a pan of hot and fluffy Christmas popovers!

10. Mashed Potatoes

Looking for the most heavenly fluffy mashed potato recipe? This is the last recipe you’ll ever need. 

This recipe is for all the mashed potato purists. It’s a simple combo of cream, potatoes, and butter. That’s it!

When combined, it creates the perfect bowl of spuds you’ve ever had.

Don’t settle for boring instant potato flakes this Christmas.

11. Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips

Bring on the color (and nutrition) with this vibrant honey-roasted carrots and parsnips recipe!

Let me tell you why this duo works so well. The carrots deliver a kiss of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the earthy notes of parsnips. 

Seasoned with honey, spices, and walnuts, it’s a super fancy Christmas side that’s easy to whip together.

12. Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce might be a signature Thanksgiving side, but no holiday table is complete without it if you ask me.

And making your own is easier than you think. 

Ocean Spray cranberry sauce only requires three ingredients: sugar, water, and cranberries. 

It cooks down on the stove in about 40 minutes and tastes better than anything from a can.

13. Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is the MVP side dish of the holidays. Why? Because everyone is in it for those crispy fried onions!

But Paula Deen’s recipe may make you love the inside as much as the crust.

 It’s so creamy and delicious and uses fresh green beans for added crispiness.

14. Whipped Sweet Potatoes

This whipped sweet potato recipe walks that delicate line between sweet and savory. 

The sweet potatoes deliver a kiss of sweetness that pairs perfectly with savory herbs, cream, and butter. 

When tossed into a food processor, they’re incredibly light, fluffy, and amazing.

15. Broccoli Cheese Bake

It’s a tale as old as time. Tender cooked broccoli crowns are smothered in rich cheese sauce, and then baked to perfection.

The oven adds a crispy top layer but leaves a soft center. Each bite is a little different, but all delicious!

Weeknight steamed broccoli and shredded cheese get an upgrade in this casserole bake.

16. Apple Cranberry Coleslaw

Add a taste of the South to your Christmas table this holiday season with this apple cranberry coleslaw.

Traditional coleslaw dresses up in its Christmas best with chunks of apple and bursts of juicy cranberry.

It’s a savory-sweet combination that can’t be beat!

The red of the fruits and green of the cabbage is a Christmas color combination that looks as festive as it tastes!

17. Dinner Rolls

Want to take your holiday feast over the edge? Watch everyone trip over themselves to get to your homemade dinner rolls. 

Anything you buy at the store just can’t compare. They’re so light and fluffy with a super buttery crust. 

They take a little time, but well worth the effort.

18. Christmas Hasselback Potatoes

These Christmas Hasselback potatoes look like something from a fancy restaurant. But they are easier than you think!

What makes this dish work so well is that all those rich spices and butter ooze into every nook and cranny of the potato. 

Plus, they look spectacular on the Thanksgiving dinner table.

19. Sweet Potato Risotto

Sweet potato may not be the first ingredient that comes to mind when you think of risotto, but after trying this recipe, it will be!

The sweet potato adds a flavor fusion that compliments the risotto flavor so well.

Rice and potato in one bite? What could be better than this sweet potato risotto?

20. Paula Deen’s Corn Casserole

If anyone knows Southern cooking, it’s Paula Deen. And her corn casserole is a must-try at your next holiday party. 

It’s part cornbread, part casserole, and 100 percent delicious. But what makes it better than cornbread is that super cheesy crust. Who can say no to cheese?

My mouth is watering just thinking about this sweet, cheesy casserole.

21. Carrot Soufflé

Don’t worry, it’s not actually a soufflé. While it’s just as light, fluffy, and elegant as a souffle, there’s no complicated baking knowledge needed. 

It’s incredibly sweet, yet earthy, with a smooth texture that is hard to resist. 

And unlike traditional soufflés, it’s hard to mess up.

22. Carrot Casserole

What I love most about this carrot casserole recipe is it’s simple and affordable.

So if you spent all your funds on Christmas presents, you need this recipe in your life. 

This easy side dish for Christmas is so easy. It’s rich and creamy, thanks to a simple can of cream of celery soup that pairs perfectly with sweet carrots. 

23. Corn Au Gratin

If you have never tried cheese and corn in the same bite, you are missing out!

This dish replaces traditional potatoes with a corn au gratin that is just as sweet as it is savory. 

Lovers of the potato will still enjoy this twist on the traditional dish. It will be love at first spoonful.

24. Glazed Carrots

Here’s yet another simple and affordable carrot recipe. These glazed carrots are so elegant and pretty. 

All you need is a little butter and brown sugar to draw out the natural flavors of those baby carrots.

And for a pop of color and freshness, garnish with herbs like dill or parsley.

25. Bacon Fried Cabbage

Cabbage is a universal vegetable that goes with any entree and any seasoning.

Fill the crevices of your cabbage steak with bacon grease and fry it up in a pan for a crispy cabbage filled with bacon flavor.

Everybody loves bacon. Add a little extra to your holiday fare with this bacon fried cabbage recipe.

26. Butternut Squash Soup

I love a good soup course at my holiday table. This butternut squash soup expertly captures the flavors of the season. 

It’s creamy, elegant, and comes together in a flash! 

The sweet and nutty flavors of butternut squash pair perfectly with root veggies and light seasoning. 

27. Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are good. But crab-stuffed mushrooms are even better. 

The gentle sweetness of crab pairs so well with the rich, meaty flavors of mushrooms and parmesan cheese. They may be a little tedious, but well worth the effort. 

You better make a lot, because these little morsels disappear fast!

28. Roasted Beet Salad

As much as I love canned beet recipes, this one is all about wonderfully roasted beets!

The natural flavor of the beet is drawn out of the root through the roasting process and then elevated with so many delicious salad mix-ins.

Never eat a boring salad again with this roasted beet salad recipe in your back pocket.

29. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Chickpea Salad

Three favorite ingredients in one exciting dish. This warm salad is a protein-packed vegan dish that everyone can enjoy this holiday season.

Make space at your table for plant-based people with this quinoa chickpea salad.

30. Braised Red Cabbage

You’ll feel like Gordon Ramsay with this delicious dish. Braise colorful red cabbage for a slightly charred taste and beautiful presentation.

Red is the color of the Christmas season, and this cabbage brings the festivities!