55 Christmas Side Dishes to Round Out Your Holiday Feast
From crisp salads to creamy casseroles, these stellar sides deliver major flavor.
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There’s so much to love about the holiday season, and Christmas dinner is way up there on our reasons why. Once you’ve settled on a show-stopping roast beef or ham recipe, it’s time to bring in the full crew of Christmas side dishes to round out the big meal.
From fresh, punchy winter salads and cozy fall recipes to creamy spuds and crowd-pleasing casseroles, we’ve got it all covered in this stacked round-up. Jazz up classic roasted veggies with a flavorful glaze or create a new holiday dinner tradition around a “special side.” You can also use this as an opportunity to experiment with produce you may not be as familiar with.
Whatever lineup you decide on, be sure there’s some variety in your spread: Add a light and healthy recipe to the mix to cut through all that meat and dairy. Paired with your favorite Christmas cocktails or holiday desserts, these scrumptious Christmas side dishes will make your holiday one to remember — and repeat — for years to come.
Mashed Potato Casserole
Whip up these irresistibly creamy spuds up to 2 days in advance — then bake to hot, golden brown perfection when ready to serve.
Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
RELATED: 46 Easy Mashed Potatoes to Help You Find the Ultimate Holiday Side
Honey Butter Parker House Rolls
Set out a basket of these fluffy, pull-apart rolls and you’ll be the MVP of Christmas dinner, guaranteed.
Creamed Spinach
This rich, saucy dish makes it so easy to eat your greens (a little cream and cheese don’t hurt, either!).
Get the Creamed Spinach recipe.
Roasted Parsnips with Hazelnuts and Madeira Glaze
A syrupy, spiced glaze and crunchy, tarragon-flecked hazelnut topping make the humble root vegetable a side to swoon over.
Get the Roasted Parsnips with Hazelnuts and Madeira Glaze recipe.
Stuffing-Stuffed Kabocha Squash
Earthy-sweet squash filled with everyone’s favorite savory side is sure to be a crowd-pleasing addition to your holiday table. It doubles as a vegetarian main!
Escarole Salad with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
Finely chopped preserved lemon provides a lovely pop of brightness to this crisp, refreshing salad perfect for balancing out heartier fare.
Get the Escarole Salad with Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette recipe.
Mushroom Lovers’ Soup
Creamy, dreamy and vegan (yep, really!), this umami-packed soup has ‘shrooms pureed into the broth and roasted as a crispy topping.
Get the Mushroom Lovers’ Soup recipe.
RELATED: 40 Cozy Fall Soup and Stew Recipes
Roasted Root Vegetables
Sprucing up a tray of veggies can be as easy as a sprinkle of coriander and cumin, 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
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
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 Green Bean Recipes to Complete Your Turkey Day Menu
Roasted Carrots and Red Onions
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
Best Focaccia Bread
Fluffy, salt-topped bread will fit right in with your holiday spread. All you need is a bowl and a baking pan!
Get the Best Focaccia Bread recipe.
Roasted Pears
Once roasted, these pears take on a honey-like sweetness that pairs well with most savory mains, including prime rib and chicken.
Get the Roasted Pears recipe.
Kohlrabi and Apple Salad
Tart apples and salty Parm are a wonderful match for the crunchy cruciferous vegetable’s natural sweetness. Easy — and elegant!
Get the Kohlrabi and Apple Salad recipe.
RELATED: 10 Best Kohlrabi Recipes
Air Fryer Green Beans
Fresh tarragon and a tangy shallot and mustard vinaigrette add oomph and welcome acidity to the lanky legume.
Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.
Apple-Chestnut Stuffing
Tender apples, buttery chestnuts and aromatic herbs make the crowd-favorite side even cozier. Get ahead and prepare the stuffing a day before, then bake it to serve.
Get the Apple-Chestnut Stuffing recipe.
RELATED: 28 Best Leftover Stuffing Recipes
Puttanesca Polenta Bake
Briny tomato sauce topped with cheese-broiled polenta rounds is the unique, all-star Christmas side you didn’t know you needed.
Get the Puttanesca Polenta Bake recipe.
RELATED: 43 Easy Potluck Dishes
Winter Green Salad
This crisp, punchy salad celebrates winter’s bounty of hardy vegetables, like frisée, endives and radicchio. Guests will crave the note of freshness!
Get the Winter Green Salad recipe.
RELATED: 41 Healthy Christmas Recipes That Are Delicious and Light for the Holidays
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan Crisps
Savory shards of baked cheese are enough to convince any sprout-haters at the table to change their minds, stat.
Get the Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan Crisps recipe.
RELATED: 38 Brussels Sprouts Recipes That Will Have You Asking for Seconds
Cheesy Bay Biscuits
Old Bay compound butter and extra-sharp Cheddar pack these craggy drop biscuits with so much flavor. Snag one before they’re gone!
Get the Cheesy Bay Biscuits recipe.
Orange- and Garlic-Roasted Broccoli
Crushed cumin seeds and citrus lend delicious brightness and something special to simple roasted broccoli.
Joy (she/her) is an assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she develops and tests recipes to ensure both deliciousness and accuracy before they appear in titles like Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Woman’s Day, Prevention and Country Living. After graduating from UChicago with a major in political science, she made the (best) decision to pursue her passion for food by enrolling in pastry school and working at her dream restaurant, Gramercy Tavern. Before joining the GH team, Joy assisted on cookbook and editorial shoots, ran an Instagram micro bakery, and worked as a freelance writer and developer with bylines appearing in Eater, Food52, Simply Recipes, Food Network and more. Joy has a special place in her heart for croissants and tiramisu, and is always on the hunt for the next cafe to explore in the city (a journey that never ends!).
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