85 of the best side dishes for Christmas day

A tasty, vegetarian alternative that will be loved by all.

Recipe: Vegetarian Stuffing Muffins

The rolled-up bacon on top is simultaneously decorative and delicious, as the fat melts into the stuffing for extra succulence.

Recipe: Pork and Apricot Stuffing with Bacon Roll-Ups

This simple but fragrant side dish of stir-fried broccoli comes together in only minutes!

Recipe: Stir-Fried Broccoli with Garlic & Chilli

These sweet and tender carrots are the perfect addition to any roast. Look for long and thin baby carrots.

Recipe: Caramelised Brown Butter Carrots

Nutty celeriac makes for a luxurious side when smothered in cheese sauce.

Recipe: Creamy Hasselback Celeriac Bake

Creamy whipped feta topped with marinated olives makes for a stunning side dish with meat or roasted vegetables.

Recipe: Whipped Feta Dip with Marinated Olives

Even sprout haters will be converted with these crispy, golden morsels.

Recipe: Crispy Parmesan Sprouts

Somewhere between braised cabbage and a crunchy pickle, this colourful sweet and sour version is equally delicious served warm with a roast, or cold with a festive ham or in sandwiches.

Recipe: Warm Red Cabbage Pickle

You can of course enjoy the potatoes after their first roasting, but re-roasting them (the triple cook) from chilled or frozen will add even more crunch (and save you preparation stress on the day).

Recipe: No Stress Triple-Cooked Roasties

Adapt this recipe to include your favourite salad leaves, fruit, cheese and nuts.

Recipe: Winter Salad Wreath

These crispy potato stacks stand up to any roast potato and require no basting, so you can leave them to do their thing once in the oven.

Recipe: Buttery Potato Stacks

We used premixed dried fruit, but you can use up odds and ends of sultanas, currants, prunes, cranberries, apricots, cherries etc, if you like. Just be sure to finely chop any larger fruit before soaking.

Recipe: Boozy Fruit and Pork Stuffing Parcels

Jazz up your sprouts by cooking them in a cheesy cranberry sauce with a crunchy topping.

Recipe: Brussels Sprout and Cranberry Gratin

Roasting with a sprinkle of cheese brings a crispy texture to the cabbage that makes you question why you eat it any other way!

Recipe: Parmesan Roast Cabbage Wedges

A little twist on the classic roasties. These potatoes are crispy on the outside, buttery-soft on the inside and incredibly moreish!

Recipe: Hedgehog Sage Roasties

The earthy kale pesto really makes the root vegetables dance.

Recipe: Roasted Roots with Winter Pesto

This vibrant and tangy salad is filled with walnuts, goat's cheese and zingy mandarin and pomegranate. Plus, a zesty mustard dressing. Perfect served with a glass of fizz on Christmas day.

Recipe: Mandarin, pomegranate and goat's cheese salad

This simple yet flavourful side requires very little effort. Use dried chilli flakes to taste instead of fresh, if you prefer.

Recipe: Stir-Fried Savoy Cabbage

Our twist on a standard bread sauce. Toasting the bread adds a whack of flavour, as does browning the butter. You can use either brown or white sliced bread.

Recipe: Toast and Brown Butter Sauce

Toad in the hole goes festive! You can make your own pigs in blankets by wrapping 12 raw cocktail sausages in short strips of bacon, if you prefer.

Recipe: Pigs in Blankets Yorkshire Puddings