It’s the big roast that gets all the attention, but let’s be honest: We’re all here for the sides! From smoky brussels sprouts with chorizo to stuffed baby portobello mushrooms, these easy-to-make dishes will go with just about everything. Here, a lovely assortment of side dishes to add to your holiday dinner.
Winter Citrus Fruit Salad
Balance out the heavy sides and salty meats with this light and refreshing fruit salad from Good Housekeeping. Tangy grapefruit with sweet oranges and clementines are offset by the fresh yogurt. Drizzle some honey over the top for some added sweetness, and don’t forget the pomegranate seeds for a bit of crunch!
Old-Fashioned Scalloped Pineapple
This is a special treat for your holiday table. Similar in texture and preparation to a bread pudding, this Taste of Home recipe for combines the pineapple with milk, sugar, and butter. The bread cubes soak up the pineapple juices and custard for a delicious side that is excellent with roast pork … or for dessert with a scoop of ice cream!
Christmas Pasta Salad
If most of your holiday side dishes are on the rich side, this Food Network recipe can help you lighten things up. This pasta salad is festive and fun with just the right amount of zip from white wine vinegar. Bonus: The pesto can be made up to three days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container.
Cabernet Cranberry Sauce
There are two staples at just about every Christmas feast: red wine and cranberry sauce! The Spruce Eats just so happens to combine the two beautifully with a recipe that even includes a surprise guest—a dash of cayenne—to brighten the sauce even more.
Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
It’s called a Christmas feast for a reason, and Cooking with Paula Dean offers a decadent side with this recipe. This dish comes together in only three steps, so you’ll spend longer recovering from stuffing yourself, but those sweet memories will be so worth it!
Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad
In our opinion, you can never really go wrong when avocados and/or goat cheese are included in a dish. Which makes this Delish recipe the light and lovely addition your holiday table has been waiting for. It’s versatile, too; swap in feta if you prefer or whatever salad green your family likes best.
Blistered Green Beans with Tomato-Almond Pesto
Switch up the standard green bean casserole with these crisp-tender blistered green beans tossed with a vibrant cherry tomato sauce from Bon Appétit. The sauce, which is a spin on a classic romesco, has added body and crunch from ground almonds and a touch of smoky spice from paprika.
Smoky Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo
This recipe from H-E-B Cooking Connection is a sweet, smoky dish that can be thrown together in under 20 minutes. The Brussels sprouts caramelize beautifully in the pan and the chorizo adds a savory South Texas twist.
Gluten-Free Cranberry-Bacon Dressing
Don’t be fooled by this gluten-free recipe: It’s surprisingly good. Chef Belinda from H-E-B Cooking Connection uses gluten-free hot dog buns for the base and then flavors it all with cranberries, bacon, celery, and spices. We doubt your guests will even realize there’s no wheat!
Savory Potato Gratin
Had your fill of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving? This holiday, opt for this colorful scalloped potato gratin from one of our favorite places in The Woodlands: Ristorante Tuscany. These golden-brown spuds with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage are the perfect side dish for your Christmas ham or beef tenderloin.
Stuffed Baby Portabella Mushrooms
The filling for these bite-sized stuffed mushrooms from Chef Chemo Barrera at The Well in San Antonio is inspired by a creamy green bean casserole. They’re great as a side dish or an appetizer.
Find some of our favorite holiday-worthy serving pieces here!
Bee & Willow TM Christmas Serving Bowl in White/Red ($20)
Godinger Tree Server Tiered Stand ($46)
Woodland Berry Serving Platter ($79)
Lenox Holiday Jewel 3-Pc Serving Set ($31)
Your “good taste” column has great suggestions of recipes. I’ve been preparing holiday meals for 63 years and I’m burnt out trying to figure what to cook. What is nice is now we can visit our children, but, they still would like me to prepare recipes that I cooked when they were children. At my age I tend to forget a lot of the ingredients, this is where YOUR suggestions come in handy.
THANK YOU!
Carita-Thank you so much for the kind feedback. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! 🙂