26 Delicious Christmas Side Dishes for Your Holiday Table
I don’t know about you, but I think the side dishes are one of the best bits of Christmas dinner! I love having loads of different things on the table so everyone can help themselves to whatever they fancy. We all have our favorites in our house, and I always end up making far too much food, but that’s all part of Christmas, isn’t it?
I’ve put together some of my favorite Christmas side dishes, including all the usual things like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables, as well as a few different ideas if you fancy changing things up a bit this year. I love a traditional Christmas dinner, but I’m always happy to find an excuse to add something cheesy or a little bit different to the table!
The tricky bit is getting everything ready at the same time without spending the whole day in the kitchen. I’ve tried to include a good mix of recipes here, with plenty of easy options that won’t give you too much extra work. You might even find something that becomes a regular part of your Christmas dinner from now on!
Why You’ll Love These Recipes
- There’s loads to choose from. I’ve included all the usual Christmas favorites like stuffing and mashed potatoes, along with some cheesy dishes, roasted veggies, and a few things you might not have thought of serving at Christmas.
- They’re easy to make. I don’t want to spend the whole of Christmas Day stuck in the kitchen, so I’ve included plenty of recipes that don’t take loads of effort.
- Great if you’re feeding a crowd. Christmas dinner can be a bit of a juggling act when you’ve got lots of people to feed, and these recipes are great for making sure there’s plenty to go around.
- You can mix things up a bit. I love a traditional Christmas dinner, but I also like adding something different to the table each year. There are plenty of ideas here if you fancy trying something new.
- The whole family can tuck in. We’ve all got our favorites when it comes to Christmas dinner, so I’ve tried to include a good mix of dishes that everyone can enjoy.
Stuffing and Traditional Christmas Sides
1. Apple Stuffing
Stuffing is always a must on our Christmas dinner table, and I love the little bit of sweetness the apple adds to this one. It goes so well with roast turkey, gravy, and all the other Christmas dinner favorites.
GET THE RECIPE2. Herb and Vegetable Stuffing
This is a lovely traditional side dish with plenty of flavor from the herbs and vegetables. It’s the kind of thing that goes with pretty much everything on your Christmas dinner plate, especially once you’ve added a generous helping of gravy!
GET THE RECIPE3. Stuffing Biscuits
These are a fun way to serve stuffing at Christmas, especially if you fancy doing something a bit different from the usual stuffing dish. They’re packed with those lovely savory flavors, and I love that everyone can just grab one or two to add to their Christmas dinner plate.
GET THE RECIPE4. Sweet Potato Casserole
I think it’s nice to have something a little sweeter alongside all the savory Christmas dinner dishes, and this is a lovely way to do it. It’s creamy, comforting, and makes a nice change from the usual potatoes.
GET THE RECIPE5. Sausage Gravy
This is a really hearty, comforting addition to the Christmas table, especially if you’re serving biscuits. It’s rich, creamy, and full of savory sausage flavor. I wouldn’t mind having some of this for Christmas morning breakfast either!
GET THE RECIPEChristmas Potato Side Dishes
6. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with a big bowl of creamy mashed potatoes at Christmas. The garlic gives these a little extra flavor without being too overpowering, and they’re so good with plenty of gravy poured over the top.
GET THE RECIPE7. Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Anything I can make in the slow cooker at Christmas is a winner for me! These potatoes are lovely and creamy, with plenty of cheese and bits of ham mixed in. It’s one less thing to worry about fitting in the oven when you’re trying to get Christmas dinner ready.
GET THE RECIPE8. Chicken Bacon Ranch Potato Bake
If you fancy something a bit different from the usual Christmas potatoes, this is a good one to try. You get tender potatoes, chicken, crispy bacon, and plenty of ranch flavor all baked together. It’s quite a filling dish, so you could even serve it as part of a more relaxed Christmas buffet.
GET THE RECIPE9. Mini Loaded Baked Potatoes
I love these little potatoes! They’re a fun change from the usual mashed or roasted potatoes, with all those lovely toppings packed into each one. They’re just the right size for adding a couple to your plate, and I can see these going down really well at a Christmas buffet too.
GET THE RECIPE10. Slow Cooker Swamp Potatoes
The name might sound a bit strange, but don’t let that put you off! These are packed with flavor, and I love that you can just pop everything in the slow cooker and leave it to do its thing. Anything that frees up a bit of oven space on Christmas Day gets my vote!
GET THE RECIPE11. Tater Tot Casserole
This is a good one if you want something a bit more filling on the Christmas table. I love the crispy tater tots on top, and it’s the sort of comforting dish that everyone can just dig into. It would work really well for a more relaxed Christmas dinner or buffet too.
GET THE RECIPE12. Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad
Not everything on the Christmas table has to be served hot, and this is a good one if you’re putting together a buffet or having a more relaxed Christmas meal. It’s lovely and creamy with plenty of onion flavor, and you can get it ready ahead of time so there’s one less thing to do on the day.
GET THE RECIPE13. Potato and Feta Salad
I quite like having a few lighter dishes on the table at Christmas, especially when there’s so much rich food to choose from. The salty feta goes really well with the potatoes, and it’s a nice option to have alongside all the heavier Christmas sides.
GET THE RECIPECheesy Christmas Side Dishes
14. Baked Mac and Cheese
You can’t beat a big dish of creamy, cheesy pasta, and I think it deserves a place on the Christmas dinner table too! It’s lovely and comforting with that golden baked top, and it’s always a good option to have when you’ve got kids or fussy eaters coming for dinner.
GET THE RECIPE15. Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac and Cheese
If you’re going to have mac and cheese at Christmas, you might as well go all out! This version has chicken, bacon, and plenty of ranch flavor mixed into all that lovely cheesy pasta. It’s definitely more filling than your usual side dish, but I think it would go down really well at a Christmas buffet.
GET THE RECIPE16. White Chicken Chili Mac and Cheese
This one’s a bit different from your usual cheesy pasta dish, with tender chicken and all those lovely white chili flavors mixed in. It’s creamy, filling, and has a little extra kick to it. I’d definitely serve this at a Christmas buffet where everyone can help themselves to a bit of everything.
GET THE RECIPE17. Mac and Cheese Bites
These little cheesy bites are such a fun way to serve a family favorite at Christmas. They’re crispy on the outside with lovely gooey cheese in the middle, and you can just pop a few on everyone’s plates. I think they’d be especially popular with the kids!
GET THE RECIPEChristmas Vegetable Side Dishes
18. Baked Brussels Sprouts and Carrots
I always like to have a good mix of vegetables with Christmas dinner, and these are a lovely way to get a bit of color on the table. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the carrots and gives the Brussels sprouts those tasty crispy edges. Even people who aren’t usually keen on sprouts might be tempted to try a few!
GET THE RECIPE19. Maple Glazed Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
If you’ve got anyone coming for Christmas dinner who insists they don’t like Brussels sprouts, I’d be tempted to serve them these! The crispy bacon and sweet maple glaze add so much flavor, and they look really good on the Christmas table too. I could quite happily eat a few of these before dinner’s even ready!
GET THE RECIPE20. Brown Sugar Roasted Root Vegetables
I think roasted vegetables are one of the best parts of Christmas dinner, especially when they get those lovely caramelized edges. The brown sugar adds just enough sweetness without being too much, and they taste so good alongside roast turkey and all the trimmings. I always end up putting far too many on my plate!
GET THE RECIPE21. Balsamic Grilled Vegetables
I know we tend to think of roasted vegetables at Christmas, but grilling them is a lovely way to do something a bit different. The balsamic gives them a really nice tangy flavor, and those slightly charred edges are delicious. They’re a good way to add some color to the table without making another heavy side dish.
22. Honey Butter Skillet Corn
Corn is always popular in our house, and adding honey and butter makes it even better! It’s sweet, buttery, and so easy to throw together when you’ve already got plenty of other things to cook.
GET THE RECIPE23. Braised Collard Greens
With all the potatoes, stuffing, and cheesy dishes on the Christmas table, I think it’s nice to have some greens in there too! These are cooked until they’re lovely and tender, with plenty of savory flavor. They’re especially good with a bit of gravy from your Christmas dinner mixed in.
GET THE RECIPE24. Air Fryer Summer Squash
My air fryer always comes in handy when I’ve got a lot of cooking to do, and Christmas is definitely one of those times! This is a really simple way to cook squash, giving it lovely golden edges while keeping it tender inside. It’s also one less dish taking up space in the oven, which is always a bonus on Christmas Day!
GET THE RECIPEChristmas Salads and Fresh Sides
25. Apple, Walnut and Blue Cheese Salad
I do like having a fresh salad on the Christmas table to go alongside all the rich, comforting food. The crunchy apples and walnuts work so well with the creamy blue cheese, and there’s a lovely mix of sweet and savory flavors. It adds a bit of crunch to your plate too, which is always welcome with a big Christmas dinner!
GET THE RECIPE26. Red Cabbage Slaw
The gorgeous purple color of this slaw makes it look really pretty on the Christmas table! It’s fresh and crunchy, which is just what you need when you’ve got a plate full of rich Christmas food. I like serving it alongside all the traditional sides to give everyone a bit of variety.
GET THE RECIPEI hope you’ve found a few Christmas side dishes here that you’d like to add to your Christmas dinner this year! I always think it’s the sides that make the meal feel extra special, and I love having plenty of different things for everyone to choose from. Just don’t forget to leave a bit of room for dessert!
