Christmas is a very special time of the year for many people around the globe, whether you celebrate it for religious reasons or not. Often, people will choose to make large and elaborate meals to serve at this time of year.
Picking out just the right side dish to go along with your special holiday meal can feel like an overwhelming challenge. A good Christmas side dish is warm and cozy, just like the holiday itself.
We’re here to help give you one less thing to worry about this holiday season. We’ve picked out 17 fantastic Christmas side dishes; we’ve even included recipes to make your life easier!
Contents
17 Christmas Side Dishes
We know the holiday season can often put people in a rush, so we won’t waste any more time with formalities. Let’s get right into it!
1. Cheesy Asparagus Casserole
Many people choose to serve asparagus as part of a Christmas dinner. It’s crisp and healthy, making it understandable why it’s a favorite.
But this is the holiday season- who needs to be healthy right now? Throw together some asparagus and some delicious cheese, and you’ve got yourself the foundation for a warm, delicious casserole that will have your guests begging for more.
https://kaseytrenum.com/cheesy-asparagus-casserole-keto-recipe/
2. Roasted Red Potatoes
Roasted red potatoes are a very common side dish in general. They have a pretty simple taste, meaning that they can be molded to fit the needs of any meal.
But certainly don’t mistake them for boring; with the right amount of salt or spices added in, roasted red potatoes can burst with flavor in your mouth. They’re a great yet easy way to add more substance to your Christmas dinner.
https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/roasted-red-potatoes/
3. Mashed Potatoes
Is it really any surprise that mashed potatoes made the list? They’re another really common side dish, and for good reason: who could resist the creaminess, the softness, and the savoriness?
Mashed potatoes are often served for Thanksgiving, but who said they have to be restricted to just one holiday? They’re such a staple side dish that people will probably think poorly of you if you don’t offer them with your Christmas dinner!
https://www.loveandlemons.com/mashed-potatoes/
4. Brussels Sprouts
Okay, okay, we know that even during the holiday season health still matters to some people. And that’s perfectly okay- we don’t want you to feel left out of this list!
That’s why we’re suggesting brussels sprouts. They have a distinct flavor that’s sure to bring life to any Christmas dinner, and they’re plenty healthy and nutritious. Plus, they’re simple to make and easy to come by.
https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/brussels-sprouts-with-bacon/
5. Cornbread
While this might seem like more of a fall side dish than a winter one, we encourage you to not skip out on considering cornbread for your Christmas dinner.
Savory and warm, a good slice of cornbread is exactly what anyone needs to fend off the chill on a cold Christmas Eve. It’s nice and filling, too, which is great if you’re looking to put on a few extra pounds just in time to play Santa.
https://www.blessthismessplease.com/the-best-cornbread-recipe/
6. Roasted Butternut Squash
Sometimes, it can be hard to think of a healthier side dish option that still tastes really good, even for the picky eaters in our lives. That’s where we think butternut squash comes in!
Among the different healthier side dish options you can offer, butternut squash is one of the sweeter. This will make it much more palatable to anyone you’re serving on Christmas, while still giving you the knowledge that you’re serving something relatively healthy.
https://www.jessicagavin.com/roasted-whole-butternut-squash/
7. Buttery Rolls
If you’re looking for the simplest and cheapest side dish possible, don’t worry. We’ve got you. Just go to your local grocery store and pick up a few ingredients, along with some butter.
When it’s time to serve your Christmas dinner, pop these rolls into the oven and then add some butter. You’ll have a savory, delicious side dish to serve in no time at all. Perfect for when you just don’t have time for one more thing to do!
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/soft-dinner-rolls/
8. Mushrooms
If you want to kick your meal up a notch in terms of fanciness and unusualness, we think mushrooms are just for you. There are lots of different mushrooms that can be combined together to make an amazing dish.
Mushrooms have a nice, earthy taste to them, so keep that in mind when trying to decide whether or not to use them as a side dish. Not all types of Christmas entrees will go with mushrooms, so pick carefully!
https://cakescottage.com/2014/08/26/roasted-garlic-herb-mushroom-medley-recipe/
9. Candied Yams
For the sweet teeth in the group, we’ve got candied yams next on our list. These aren’t just a Thanksgiving side dish- are you noticing a pattern in our list yet?
Candied yams are a staple holiday side dish. They’re sweet and delectable, two things we often expect around this time of year. Plus, if you want, they can even serve as a dessert!
https://iheartrecipes.com/baked-candied-yams-soul-food/
10. Buttermilk Biscuits
If rolls and butter sound a little too plain and boring to you, but you still want something simple and cheap, these buttermilk biscuits will be for you.
Even making them from scratch, won’t take you as much time or energy as some of the other side dishes we’re suggesting on this list. They’ll still turn out just as amazing, however, and we’re sure you’ll appreciate the flaky, buttery taste!
https://www.browneyedbaker.com/buttermilk-biscuits/
11. Roasted Vegetables
We suggested roasted red potatoes earlier, but some people want to change things up. Or maybe you don’t really like roasted potatoes. Either way, no judgment here!
Roasted vegetables are healthy yet tasty; they’re a great option for anyone who wants a vegetable side dish, but can’t make up their mind on one specific side dish to serve. They’re pretty common, too, so you can rest assured they’ll be popular enough.
https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/easy-roasted-vegetables/
12. Sweet Potato Casserole
Everyone loves a good sweet potato casserole. It’s delicious and will satisfy even your pickiest of eaters, we’re sure. For extra bonus points, we suggest smearing some marshmallows on top.
If you happen to have any casserole leftover after dinner, you can always offer it up for dessert! That’s a bonus from having a dish that’s so sweet, yet not so sweet that it doesn’t work as a side dish.
https://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/sweet-potato-casserole/
13. Stuffing
Usually, when people think of stuffing, they think of Thanksgiving. But, once again, like many other side dishes on this list, stuffing doesn’t have to be just a Thanksgiving thing.
It’s warm, hearty, and savory, three great characteristics of an ideal Christmas side dish. Your guests will especially appreciate it besides ham or some type of poultry.
https://www.foodiecrush.com/best-easy-stuffing-recipe/
14. Potato au Gratin
This is a really cheesy take on classic potatoes. And by really cheesy, we mean, really cheesy. You’ll be dumping loads and loads of cheese on these potatoes for sure.
What you’ll end up with is something absolutely delicious, an out-of-this-world side dish that is sure to please anyone who comes by to take part in your Christmas dinner. Who doesn’t love some good cheese?
https://www.recipetineats.com/potatoes-au-gratin/
15. Fried Zucchini
If you happen to have an air fryer on hand, then try out some fried zucchini alongside your Christmas dinner. This is a bit of an exotic side dish that’s sure to get you noticed by every single one of your guests.
The crunchiness of fried zucchini will contrast nicely with many other common elements of a Christmas dinner, while not feeling like you’re eating fair food instead of a holiday meal. Plus, fried foods are always popular with the kids!
https://lilluna.com/fried-zucchini-recipe/
16. Creamed Kale
Kale is often considered a superfood by many for its amazing nutritional qualities, so it’s perfect for anyone out there who absolutely cannot, under any circumstances, have a meal without some kind of healthy component.
By creaming your kale, you’ll offer a new burst of flavor that will bring new life to this otherwise somewhat-plain vegetable. We’re sure your guests will appreciate that.
https://themom100.com/recipe/creamed-kale-with-parmesan/
17. Green Bean Casserole
Maybe plain green beans aren’t for you. And that’s okay! Throwing them into a casserole will work just fine, especially for a holiday meal like Christmas dinner.
Since green bean casserole is warm and savory, it’ll fill the needs of a Christmas side dish quite well. In fact, we think it could easily become a staple side dish in your annual Christmas dinner!
https://casserolecrissy.com/green-bean-casserole/
Wrap-Up
And there you have it! 17 awesome Christmas side dishes to serve this holiday season. Remember that a great Christmas dinner is warm, cozy, and savory- so your side dishes need to incorporate that as best as possible. Happy holidays!
17 Christmas Side Dishes
Ingredients
- Cheesy Asparagus Casserole
- Roasted Red Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cornbread
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Buttery Rolls
- Mushrooms
- Candied Yams
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Roasted Vegetables
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Stuffing
- Potato au Gratin
- Fried Zucchini
- Creamed Kale
- Green Bean Casserole
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe from the list above.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prepare and enjoy in 30 minutes or less!