45 Tasty Side Dishes For Your Christmas Dinner

We all get excited about the entrée being served for a holiday meal, but the stuff of Christmas memories is baked into the sides. Roasts and turkey are to be expected, but dinner wouldn't be complete without grandma's cornbread, your cousin's green beans, or dad's famous potatoes.

Christmas dinner features a spread that varies from home to home, with culturally influenced dishes that can help us trace our family history — no matter how far back it goes. And few things invoke hunger more than the sight of a Christmas plate piled high with the seasonal sides you've been waiting to dig into all year. They're the essential complement to the main event, and when it's time to load up on leftovers, a reheated roast is easy to pass over when it comes to a sublime side. Whether it's a classic recipe or a new twist on an old favorite, Tasting Table has a side dish to please all the palates at your holiday table.

The mild flavor of yellow wax beans creates an ideal foundation for building a flavorful side dish.

Sautéed with delicate shallots and aromatic garlic, wax beans cooked to golden brown bring a textural crunch with a hint of caramelized sweetness to the holiday table. Flavors build with the addition of lemon juice, thyme, and spicy red pepper flakes. This side is finished with baby arugula that gets a quick wilt, adding a peppery punch of flavor and an eye-catching burst of color.

Recipe: Seared Yellow Wax Beans and Arugula

Mashed potatoes get a dose of leafy greens in this traditional Irish dish made with creamy potatoes and cabbage.

Feel free to sub kale or colorful rainbow chard in place of cabbage and sauté in butter with sliced green onions while boiling your russets. Once your potatoes are fork-tender, it's a quick mash and mix with milk and the buttery greens. The whole thing comes together to create a creamy, rich side that will have you considering skipping the ham altogether.

Recipe: Traditional Irish Colcannon

Decadence is the name of the game at Christmas dinner, and this ooey-gooey noodle dish doesn't disappoint.

If you're having Christmas on the coast or are a seafood fan, the perhaps unexpected inclusion of garlicky shrimp adds a tender texture and flavor that upgrades this macaroni and cheese to the next level. Topped with buttery breadcrumbs and baked to bubbly perfection, garlic shrimp mac and cheese makes for a real crowd-pleaser.

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Mac And Cheese

Save the boxed cornbread mix for any other day of the year and impress Christmas dinner guests with scratch-made cornbread dressing that features all the flavors you want in a holiday side.

A southern staple, cornbread dressing is a savory dish that serves up a hint of sweetness guaranteed to bring you back for seconds. It's loaded with celery and shallots and spiced with classic poultry seasoning and sage. Serve it with chopped fresh herbs like basil and parsley, or situate it next to the entrée to help soak up gravy goodness.

Recipe: From-Scratch Cornbread Dressing

Even avid veggie bypassers will enjoy a serving of sweet copper penny carrots.

Aside from being full of flavor, carrots contain an immune-boosting amount of vitamin C to help fight off the cold your cousin brought to the Christmas party. Zesty tomato soup combines with vinegar and a touch of sugar to boost the flavor of the carrots and green bell peppers featured in this dish. This old-fashioned side recipe will invoke memories of holidays passed while providing a pop of color and tangy sweetness to the spread. It also cooks up in about 20 minutes, leaving you time to mingle instead of being trapped in the kitchen.

Recipe: Copper Penny Carrots

This vintage side harkens back to 1953 when chef Leif Elisson at Swedish restaurant Hasselbacken created the accordion-style potato.

Cross-cutting the potatoes opens them up while maintaining their shape, leaving just enough room for the sweet and savory goodness of melted butter mixed with garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and maple syrup to seep into the spuds while they roast in the oven. Garnished with chopped sage, our Hasselback sweet potatoes' soft texture and balanced flavors will surely make them a regular on your holiday menu.

Recipe: Easy Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

These simple artichoke and spinach-stuffed mushrooms are a great option for vegetarians at your Christmas party, but their rich, earthy flavor and meaty texture will likely make them a hit with everyone.

The rich umami essence provided by mushrooms combines with creamy artichoke and spinach to create a hearty, comforting dish that will have diners so distracted they won't realize they're also benefitting from the nutrient-dense side. Who said you can sneak in some vitamins with your cheese?

Recipe: Simple Stuffed Mushrooms

The herbal, mild licorice flavor of fennel makes it an acquired taste, but when caramelized and swiftly braised in flavorful veggie stock, it becomes a side dish that everyone will want to try.

When shopping for fennel, look for tightly-packed, white bulbs with healthy green fronds. Browning the bulb of this herb (yes, fennel is an herb) enhances its natural sweetness and releases its hunger-inducing aroma to entice guests to the table. As an added bonus, fennel aids in digestion, which is something every diner needs after filling up on a Christmas meal.

Recipe: Braised Fennel

Traditionally associated with Hanukkah, we think your Christmas spread could benefit from the essential crunch and rich flavor of latkes, regardless if you or your family members identify as Jewish.

Potato latkes offer a crispy, pan-fried exterior combined with a soft and fluffy interior full of the comforting savory flavor that only a spud can provide. You might even be able to skip a trip to the store, as this easy side dish is made simply with kitchen staples potatoes, onions, and eggs.

Recipe: Classic Latkes

Holiday goodies often include copious amounts of gluten, turning your Christmas feast into a holiday fiasco for sensitive stomachs. There's no reason that dietary restrictions can't be delicious, and nobody will miss a bland dinner roll when they bite into flavorful cornbread instead.

In this recipe, gluten-free all-purpose flour combines with golden cornmeal, eggs, almond milk, and a little sugar to create a classic cornbread that appeals to those with gluten (and dairy) intolerance with a rich and sweet flavor that can be enjoyed by all.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Cornbread

Seasonal harvest flavors are featured in this holiday side salad that is sweet, nutty, and pungent all at once.

Fresh apples bring a mellow sweetness to the earthy greens that serve as the base of this fresh side. A distinctive pop of blue cheese and earthy pecans add a more complex taste, sharpened by the sweet acidity of a balsamic vinaigrette. Its complex flavor profile makes it easy to ensure that your Christmas plate has its requisite amount of greens.

Recipe: Apple Harvest Salad

When you're going for a stunning presentation at your Christmas meal, these simple green beans are deliciously dressed to impress with a generous bacon wrap.

Green beans are a consummate Christmas crowd-pleaser made better when baked in salty bacon sprinkled with a sweet kiss of brown sugar. This easy veggie side tastes great (because bacon) and, despite its simplicity, looks fancy enough for a special holiday meal.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans

Carb-lovers rejoice as mashed potatoes and bread come together to create a super soft, pillowy roll that deserves its place on the holiday table.

Starchy vegetables retain water, and by subbing in mashed potatoes and using the starch-infused liquid they were boiled in to activate the yeast, you are ensuring a moist roll with an ultra-tender texture. Making rolls from scratch can be intimidating to cooks trying to pull off a Christmas feast, but this easy-to-follow recipe makes it simple to fill your bread basket with homemade rolls like it's no big deal.

Recipe: Easy Mashed Potato Rolls

Whether you spoon it on liberally or avoid it altogether, cranberry sauce is a seasonal staple on many holiday tables. If you find the classic fruit sauce to be overwhelmingly sweet, this recipe provides a savory twist that updates the taste while maintaining its traditional tangy essence.

Simmering cranberries in rich chicken stock with sprigs of rosemary, sage, and thyme infuse the sauce with a complex, savory flavor that provides a complimentary counterpart to the main entrée without giving you a toothache

Recipe: Savory Cranberry Sauce

Holiday cooks who are dreaming of ordering Chinese food while preparing Christmas dinner can get a taste of take-out with these delicious scallion pancakes.

These savory pancakes make a great foundation for your holiday meal. Sichuan peppercorns and chopped scallions bring intense flavor to the simple dough that gets fried to crispy perfection in avocado oil. Pile on your favorite holiday foods and use this side to create a flavorful holiday bite.

Recipe: Flaky Scallion Pancakes

For many, it's not officially the holidays until a sweet potato casserole hits the table. And for those who prefer to leave the mini marshmallows to the desserts, this casserole is a real winner.

Once they are spread into the casserole dish, chunky-mashed sweet potatoes get topped with rich, nutty Gruyére cheese and crisp bacon bits. The mild sweetness of the spuds combined with bacon and cheese strikes a salty-sweet balance that will have diners hungry for more.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Bacon

When you're in a Christmas potluck pinch or simply looking to add something a little lighter to your holiday spread, this green bean side dish is an easy go-to that aims to please.

Diners overwhelmed by heavy entrées and overly sweet treats will welcome this veggie dish flavored with pungent garlic and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Parboiling the beans and finishing with a quick sauté maintains the veggie's al dente texture and full flavor. Garnish with lemon wedges to sharpen the veggie flavors with a bit of acidity before serving.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Green Beans

If you bring these deliciously decadent buttermilk biscuits to Christmas dinner, prepare to be the official biscuit provider for all upcoming holiday meals.

Cold butter and two types of cheese ensure that your biscuits bake up with flaky layers full of rich flavors. Biscuit mishaps often happen when the dough gets overworked through kneading and rolling, but because these beauties are drop biscuits, you can feel confident that you will be bringing tender, cheesy buttermilk bites to the table.

Recipe: Easy Buttermilk Biscuits With Cheddar & Parmesan

Vegetarians won't be the only ones loading up on plant-based holiday fare when these flavorful fungi hit the table.

When selecting mushrooms at the store, go for the smaller, more delicate oysters instead of their stalkier-stemmed king oyster cousins. Packed with nutrients, savory umami essence, and a hearty texture, these oyster mushrooms are seared to crispy perfection, soaking up the flavors of shallot and garlic already in the pan. This Christmas side dish is good for the body and the palate.

Recipe: Crispy Seared Oyster Mushrooms

For those who prefer a savory indulgence instead of super sweet holiday desserts, this side of lobster mashed potatoes checks all the boxes.

Even diners who aren't fans of seafood often enjoy the mildly sweet flavor and delicate texture offered by tender, decadent lobster meat. Boiling the potatoes in discarded lobster shells infuses the spuds with the mellow crustacean flavor before mashing them with butter and cream. Chunks of lobster can be either mixed in or go on top of the creamy mash, creating a side that will rival anything else on the table.

Recipe: Lobster Mashed Potatoes

Overcooked Brussels sprouts are a thing of Christmas past, replaced by an updated recipe that roasts these mini cabbages to crisp perfection.

On top of the improved texture that comes from baking the Brussels at high heat, they are coated with a tantalizingly tangy balsamic glaze that compliments their nutty, mildly bitter flavor. The glaze comes together easily but tastes complex with layers of tart balsamic vinegar, sweet maple syrup, robust brown mustard, and a few dashes of hot sauce. This elevated version of a classic side dish will earn Brussels sprouts a spot on the holiday menu for years to come.

Recipe: Easy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Cold-weather meals just aren't complete without a side of comforting stuffing. This aromatic and flavorful dish smells and tastes like the holidays, and tucking into this savory side lets you know that the season is in full swing.

This traditional side starts with rustic country bread toasted and tossed with classic stuffing ingredients like celery, onion, chicken stock, and thyme. Dried cranberries add a hint of tart sweetness that rounds out the savory flavors, bringing you closer to Christmas with every bite.

Recipe: Autumn Country Bread Stuffing

To ensure your spot on Santa's nice list, sign up to bring these loaded baked potatoes to Christmas dinner.

A baked spud is fine for any other day, but the holidays call for over-the-top potatoes laden with sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Slow-cooking the tubers crisps the skin to golden perfection while ensuring the potato is fluffy and tender inside. Top that with your decadent filling that gets baked in just before serving to create an elevated side dish that is always a crowd-pleaser.

Recipe: Super Slow-Cooked Loaded Baked Potato

Traditionalists who wait all year to eat holiday fare must have their green bean casserole! It's a staple for good reason, as diners of every age can't pass up the sweet flavor and snappy texture of green beans baked with cream of mushroom soup and topped with fried onions.

This classic recipe is simplified by using frozen green beans and canned soup, although homemade soup and fresh green beans can be subbed in if preferred. A surprise kick of Worcestershire sauce will keep guests guessing at the secret ingredient as they come back for another serving of this classic holiday side dish.

Recipe: Classic Green Bean Casserole

An ideal side dish should feature flavors that compliment the entrée but also stand out on its own, and this yam casserole achieves just that feat.

The natural sweetness of the brightly colored tuber is enhanced when mashed with milk, brown sugar, and vanilla. A generous half-stick of butter adds a richness and velvety texture to the yams, which are embellished by a pecan topping. When holiday diners make their way to the entrée, they'll find that the sweet, but not too sweet side elevates savory mains — whether it's turkey, beef, ham, or even veggies.

Recipe: Fresh Yam Casserole

This holiday side dish treats your body just as well as your palate, which can be a tough feat to accomplish during the indulgent holiday season.

A powerhouse vegetable packed with nutrients and fiber, cauliflower has a mild flavor that acts as a blank canvas for other ingredients. After a light boil, cauliflower florets are baked in a rich sauce made from whole milk, butter, Parmesan, and Gruyére cheese to create the bubbly, rich goodness of a classic gratin. The finished dish has a delightful texture that is creamy without being mushy and can compliment any main you plan to serve this Christmas.

Recipe: Cauliflower Au Gratin

Holiday diners looking for something a little lighter can load their plates with this refreshing kimchi salad. This cucumber-heavy side brings cabbage, fresh ginger, scallions, and garlic seasoned with tangy rice vinegar and umami-forward fish sauce together for a quick overnight pickling that yields a bright and tangy dish. Feel free to use gochugaru for a spicier kimchi or togarashi if you're concerned some of your guests won't be able to handle the heat.

In addition to offering a palate-cleansing taste for those who have grown weary of rich and heavy holiday foods, kimchi also aids digestion, helping you to avoid feeling overly full when it comes time for dessert.

Recipe: Refreshing Cucumber Kimchi

Butternut squash is a versatile winter veggie that imparts its mildly sweet and slightly nutty essence to all it's combined with, which easily stands alone as a signature seasonal flavor.

In this recipe, the squash's natural savory-meets-sweet profile is enhanced when seasoned simply with maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and pepper before being roasted to caramelized perfection in the oven. Use pre-cut butternut squash to help make you the holiday hero of side dishes in under 30 minutes.

Recipe: Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash

Every Christmas meal needs a side salad, and opting for a popular favorite is a safe bet when appealing to various tastes. For those willing to don their cold-weather gear and fire up the grill, the payoff is a winter salad featuring a deliciously smoky char from romaine to crouton.

Yes, even the lettuce gets a quick grill in this side salad, bringing out its natural sweetness while maintaining its crunchy texture. Caesar flavors abound when this grilled side gets a generous drizzle from a creamy anchovy and garlic dressing, making the salad taste familiar and unique all at once.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

If you're staying close to home for the holidays but wish you were traveling, try bringing a little bit of Italy to your Christmas table by including a side of fried cardoons.

Also known as artichoke thistles, a cardoon is a Mediterranean vegetable resembling celery that yields a subtle artichoke flavor. Prepping cardoons is a challenge because of their thorny exterior and fiber content that requires a long boil before they can be cooked, but the payoff is worth the effort. After infusing these artichoke thistles with white wine, lemon, and thyme, the cardoon pieces are dredged in seasoned breadcrumbs and fried to crispy perfection while maintaining a creamy interior. Take your taste buds to Rome for Christmas with this unique side dish.

Recipe: Roman-Style Fried Cardoons

When debating between making mashed or baked potatoes for a Christmas meal, opt for the best of both with a deliciously decadent twice-baked potato. 

Few people can pass up this holiday crowd-pleaser, especially with this recipe that takes the filling to the next level. After scooping the fluffy interior of the potato out of the skin, it gets mashed with butter, milk, sour cream, cheese, green onions, and bacon, then returned to its crispy potato shell. Top it with more bacon, cheese, and green onions before its second bake, and enjoy the robust flavors and textures of this ultimate side dish.

Recipe: Ultimate Twice-Baked Potatoes

The holiday season surrounds us with warm and fuzzy feelings that are enhanced even further by our favorite comfort foods, and few things create a blissful bite like a warm, buttery Southern biscuit. 

Recipe developer Jessica Morone uses cornstarch in this recipe to take the biscuit's delicate texture to the next level and advises bakers to grate frozen butter into the dry mix to achieve ultimate flakiness. These helpful tips will yield a fluffy, classic Southern biscuit to sop up all the delicious flavors on your plate.

Recipe: Fluffy Southern Biscuits

Leave the peeler in the drawer when making these easy and flavorful mashed red potatoes. Most of the nutrients in a potato are held in the skin, and including it in your mash creates a side dish with healthy benefits as well as hearty flavor.

In addition to extra nutrition, red potato skin also provides a textural element and pop of color to these mashed potatoes that sets them apart. Bring in rich sour cream, butter, and an entire bulb of roasted garlic to kick a familiar side dish up a notch.

Recipe: Creamy Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

If you're looking to make a dish that is familiar, yet unique, for a Christmas meal, give oyster dressing a go. 

Stuffing is a staple that's often passed over for being boring and dry, but the addition of fresh-shucked oysters to a cornbread base ensures a bite that is moist and full of flavor. Sautéed veggies and oysters simmered in white wine and seasoned with bay leaf, thyme, sage, and red pepper build the complex essence of this extraordinary dressing that will likely make a repeat appearance on the holiday menu year after year.

Recipe: Oyster Dressing

Brussels sprouts have a lot to offer as a veggie side to any meal, and the addition of sweet maple syrup and salty bacon makes them an ideal accompaniment to a holiday dish. 

Not only do these tiny cabbages look appetizing, but they also offer a delightful texture and nutty taste that elevates the flavor profile of a dish as a whole. Slow-roasting the sprouts with bacon and maple syrup further develops the smoky-sweet flavor of this undeniably delicious side dish.

Recipe: Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage often gets passed over as a side option because it can carry an astringent flavor that doesn't appeal to all. These cabbage wedges get their natural bitterness roasted right out of them, leaving a flavorful side dish easily enjoyed by skeptical diners. 

Marinating the cabbage in a lemon-garlic sauce and roasting it in a hot oven changes its flavor profile and emphasizes its natural vegetal sweetness. A light sprinkle of feta cheese brings a hint of richness to this tangy and succulent side dish that might convert guests into cabbage lovers.

Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Wedges

This one-pot wonder of a side is essential during the holidays for any host looking for an easy dish that aims to please. Nobody needs to mess with perfection, and this recipe features classic ingredients that create the ultra-creamy, rich mac and cheese that diners expect and crave. 

Mustard, garlic, and onion powders combined with paprika, salt, and pepper make a spice blend that boosts the flavor of the sharp cheddar cheese without overpowering the dish. Best of all, you can load everything into the slow cooker and enjoy family and friends while this popular side dish comes together.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese

Enjoy eating healthy during the holidays without sacrificing any flavor with a side of green bean casserole. Nutrients abound from the fresh green beans and sautéed baby bella mushrooms that get covered in baked onions with a breadcrumb sprinkle. 

Every bite tastes just as rich as the original recipe when you substitute condensed soup with creamy vegetable broth sauce thickened by a homemade roux. This healthier take on traditional green bean casserole will leave you feeling satisfied without having to loosen your belt.

Recipe: Easy & Healthy Green Bean Casserole

An ideal Christmas side dish, these sweet potato gems lacquered in honey look, smell, and taste like a holiday treat. 

Bite-sized sweet potatoes are tossed in a mixture of olive oil, sweet honey, cinnamon, and lemon juice before being roasted to tender perfection in the oven. The end result is a creamy potato with a spiced sweetness cut by the acidity of the lemon juice. The heightened flavor, aroma, and eye appeal of these glistening roasted sweet potatoes make them a holiday meal must-have.

Recipe: Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Creating a balanced holiday plate means incorporating a variety of complementary flavors and textures, and this shaved Brussels sprouts salad provides all those elements in one side. 

Raw Brussels sprouts have a milder flavor than cooked ones, and their craveable crunch brings much-needed texture to a plate full of rich and creamy dishes. Leave the cranberries for the sauce and opt for sweet dates instead while building flavor layers with sunflower seeds and manchego cheese. Drizzle a simple yet unique agave nectar-mustard vinaigrette to round out this fresh take on a side salad.

Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

By the end of the year, we've all earned a little indulgence at our Christmas meal, and nothing satisfies a craving like a hefty helping of potatoes au gratin. 

It's hard to beat the palatable satisfaction one feels after tucking into a side of creamy potatoes baked in rich cream with melty Gruyère cheese. A hint of piquant garlic cuts through the creaminess, and a sprinkle of fresh chives finishes this classic side that diners wait all year to enjoy.

Recipe: Potatoes Au Gratin With Gruyère

This recipe for a sautéed side salad made famous by the Chesterfield Restaurant in Utica, New York, has been pleasing palates for decades.

Cooked greens make an ideal cold-weather side, adding a bittersweet element that elevates other flavors on your holiday plate. Escarole is a bitter green made milder by a quick sauté with aromatic garlic and onions and vibrant cherry peppers. An essential hit of salt comes from savory prosciutto bits that can be subbed with crushed peanuts if you're trying to keep the dish vegetarian. Finished in the pan with breadcrumbs, sharp Romano cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice, these Utica greens make a delicious side dish.

Recipe: Best Utica Greens

This rich and flavor-packed stuffing boasts an array of seasonal and savory flavors. Toasted rustic sourdough bread combines with either mild or hot Italian sausage and a classic mirepoix blend of carrots, celery, and onion deglazed in white wine to create a dressing with complex flavor layers. 

Once baked, this satisfying side is drizzled with aromatic browned sage butter for a rich hit of herbal flavor.

Recipe: Sourdough Sausage Stuffing

Potatoes are a quintessential Christmas side dish that even the most finicky holiday diner can enjoy. These tender fingerlings are cooked to creamy perfection before resting in rich melted butter infused with smashed garlic that imparts a decadent and piquant flavor. 

After soaking up all that buttery goodness, the potatoes are gently tossed in chopped parsley, adding an essential herbal element to this simple, crowd-pleasing side dish.

Recipe: The Best Parsley Potatoes

The combination of fresh green beans with earthy almonds is a traditional side dish featuring complementary flavors and textures that are sure to please. Green beans are delicious in their simplicity, and adding slivered or delicately sliced almonds dresses the tender veggie up just enough for a holiday table. 

Once parboiled, the beans are sautéed with refreshing lemon juice and butter until tender but crisp and then finished with almonds and a liberal sprinkle of shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to complete this easy side that's packed with fresh flavors.

Recipe: Fresh Green Bean Almondine