53 Christmas Dinner Side Dishes to Round Out Your Holiday Feast
In many households, the main dish is a given, or a choice between two or three standards. But your Christmas dinner sides have a little more flexibility. This year you could deck the family table with platters of mashed potatoes or Yorkshire puddings the way Grandma always made them—but also include a great-looking new salad, a spicy rice dressing, or a cheesy, crusty gratin. Offer around a basket of hot, steamy dinner rolls or pillowy popovers; trim your polenta with crispy fried sage leaves and your cauliflower with a crunchy Parmesan crumble. There are as many options as ornaments on the tree—scroll down for a few of our favorite Christmas dinner sides from the Epicurious archives.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/53Green Beans Amandine
For Christmas dinner sides that have a vintage vibe, consider this perennial crowd-pleaser made with blanched green beans, plus a relish tray full of pickled, crunchy bites. Add the twice-baked potatoes below if you know what’s good.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone3/53Our Favorite Mashed Potatoes
A mountain of buttery mashed potatoes is a soft landing place for whatever you’re roasting as a Christmas dinner main dish. These Yukon golds are light and fluffy.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh5/53Twice-Baked Potatoes With Cheddar and Garlic
Mary McCartney7/53Yorkshire Puddings
This recipe makes individual puddings, baked in a muffin pan, but you can also bake one large pudding in a high-sided pan and then cut it into portions.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich8/53Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower
You’ll roast this cauliflower until it’s nearly tender before adding the Parmesan and getting everything beautifully caramelized.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi9/53Simple Classic Stuffing
In many households, a roast turkey commands attention at the center of the Christmas dinner table every year. And can you really serve turkey without a big pan of savory dressing?
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka10/53Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta and Garlic
A little pancetta and garlic goes a long way toward flavoring these roasted brussels sprouts, which readers have been making—and loving—since they first appeared in Gourmet in 2001.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine11/53Dauphinoise Potatoes
There are a million potato recipes battling for your attention, but starting those spuds off in a bath of thyme-scented cream is one of the best ways to go.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini. Salad Bowl Courtesy of Heath Ceramics.13/53Torn Potatoes of Many Colors With Chile-Lime Butter
Tearing potatoes gives them more surface area—which means more delightful crispy bits. This many-hued Christmas side adds more color to the table than any fussy flower arrangement.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini14/53Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash Polenta
This make-ahead side dish has gooey pockets of Fontina throughout. It’s wonderful with a pork loin or a ham that has a brown sugar–mustard glaze.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich15/53Parker House Rolls
These fluffy rolls are poised to sop up all your gravy—and if there are any remaining in the basket after the holiday meal is done, they’ll be the perfect vehicle for leftovers.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich16/53Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Fried Onions
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell19/53Creamy Potato and Leek Gratin
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton20/53Escarole, Pear, Parmesan, and Basil Leaf Salad
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi22/53Sweet Potato Casserole With Easy Candied Pecans
Only 20 minutes of active prep time are needed for this cozy sweet potato recipe. The crackly crust will beat out any marshmallow-topped version you’ve made before.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell23/53Porcini Popovers
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Laura Rege24/53Roasted Cauliflower With Parmesan-Panko Crumble
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich26/53Steamed Savoy Cabbage and Mustard Greens With Bacon
David Cicconifood styling by Rhoda Boone29/53Spicy Broccoli Rabe
This plate of bracing broccoli rabe with Parmesan and pine nuts is all you need alongside a Christmas lasagna dinner—or the full seven-fish feast.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell30/53Cheesy Corn Spoon Bread
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell32/53Crispy Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes
Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott33/53Winter Chicories With Date and Anchovy Dressing
Struggling to find winter salads that feel holiday-worthy? Start with the prettiest bitter greens you can find.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Ali Nardi34/53Cheesy Potato and Kale Gratin
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne36/53Creole Rice Dressing
It’s not the holidays in Louisiana without this savory, garlicky, spicy rice dressing. And as soon as you taste this version, you won’t be able to celebrate without it either.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian37/53Luxe French Potatoes
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson39/53Our Favorite Stuffing With Cornbread and Sausage
This stuffing is the best of both worlds, made with both crusty country bread and cornbread. There’s also savory breakfast sausage and plenty of parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton40/53Kale Salad With Brussels Sprouts, Apples, and Hazelnuts
Photo by Johnny Miller41/53Roasted Cauliflower With Lemon Zest, Parsley, Capers, and Jalapeño
Briny capers and thinly sliced jalapeño give this cauliflower dish some kick.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson42/53Sheet-Pan Roasted Squash and Feta Salad
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell44/53Whipped Potatoes With Horseradish
Still not sure what to serve with your holiday roast? We can recommend quite a few potato recipes, but this one is a favorite.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich45/53Glazed Shallots With Chile and Thyme
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson46/53Endive, Romaine, and Orange Salad for Two
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott49/53Radicchio and Citrus Salad With Burrata
A lovely way to serve cheese and salad—and fruit!—at once. Serve this one alongside an elaborate salmon strudel or slowly roasted fennel-rubbed pork.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz50/53Slow-Cooked Green Beans With Harissa and Cumin
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich51/53Wild Rice Dressing
You can call this rice dressing or stuffing—or just a holiday-appropriate grain salad with mushrooms and pecans.
