From creamy potatoes to roasted veggies, these simple side dishes are the real stars of Christmas dinner and ones everybody loves.
We Love a Good Side!
Christmas dinner might have a showstopping roast , but the sides are what make the meal feel special! From buttery rolls and creamy mashed potatoes to cozy casseroles and bright, holiday-fresh veggies, these Christmas side dishes are tried, tested, and family-approved.
Many are make-ahead or slow-cooker friendly to save oven space (hallelujah), and most use simple pantry staples . We lean on classics like funeral potatoes , green beans , and creamed corn , plus a few festive salads and sweet-tart cranberry sides to balance the richness.
Start with our Top 10 favorites, then browse the veggie must-makes, prep-ahead lifesavers, and slow-cooker helpers to build your dream menu. Tie on an apron, turn up the carols, and let’s fill those plates!
PRO TIP: Pin or bookmark this list so you’re ready with the most festive and crowd-pleasing Christmas side dishes when the holidays roll around!
Table of Contents Top 10 Most Loved Best Christmas Sides
Our top 10 Christmas side dishes are the ultimate holiday must-makes. They’re easy, festive, and guaranteed to steal the spotlight on your table!
1 Dinner Rolls Recipe
Dinner Rolls Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
Our dinner rolls recipe delivers a soft, buttery best-loved recipe, perfect for holidays or any occasion and impossible to resist.
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2 Glazed Carrots
Glazed Carrots
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Tender, tasty, and ready in a flash, sweet brown sugar glazed carrots are a four-ingredient side dish that's always a crowd-pleaser.
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3 Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
These buttery, delicious mashed potatoes are the best! They're easy, creamy and the perfect side to any meal.
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4 Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
This is our favorite way to enjoy Brussel Sprouts. This recipe is simple and always gets rave reviews.
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5 Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Funeral Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Funeral Potatoes are a family classic, can be made ahead of time and are one of the most delicious sides you'll ever try!
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6 Twice Baked Potato Recipe
Twice Baked Potato Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
Easy twice baked potatoes are loaded with sour cream, cheese, bacon, and seasonings for the perfect savory side or main dish!
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7 Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
This is the cheesiest, creamiest, altogether best homemade mac and cheese you'll ever make! The whole family will definitely approve!
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8 Creamed Corn
Creamed Corn
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Better than the canned version, this smooth and buttery creamed corn recipe is easy, cheesy, and delicious!
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9 Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes
Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Simple roasted sweet potato cubes are flavor bombs coated in cheesy, spiced magic that'll make them your new go-to.
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10 Kale Salad Recipe
Kale Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Sweet Kale Salad is topped with chunks of apple, candied pecans, dried cranberries, and bacon, served with a homemade sweet dijon vinaigrette!
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Classic Veggie Sides
11 Sauteed Green Beans Recipe
Sauteed Green Beans Recipe
Total Time: 12 minutes minutes
Sauteed green beans are a quick and easy stovetop side that is packed with flavor and comes together in minutes!
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12 Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Fresh Green Bean Casserole
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Fresh green bean casserole is so easy to make and so delicious that it will become a holiday staple in your home.
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13 Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Sweet honey glazed carrots are simple and ready in 15 minutes, the perfect side dish for any meal, especially holidays!
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14 Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe
Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
With a handful of ingredients, and 30 minutes bake time – crispy, seasoned oven roasted red potatoes will add flavor to any meal!
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15 Brussel Sprouts and Bacon Recipe
Brussel Sprouts and Bacon Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
A great way to enjoy Brussel Sprouts is with Bacon! This dish is simple and so tasty.
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16 Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipe
Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Simple, flavorful, and healthy Oven roasted vegetables take less than 10 minutes of prep work! Nothing beats yummy veggies roasted in the oven!
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17 Parmesan Crusted Potatoes Recipe
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 42 minutes minutes
Crispy, cheesy parmesan crusted potatoes are baked to perfection and full of flavor. They are a finger-licking good side!
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18 Roasted Green Beans Recipe
Roasted Green Beans Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes minutes
They're healthy, simple and perfect to serve as a side dish at Christmas.
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19 Parmesan Brussel Sprouts Recipe
Parmesan Brussel Sprouts Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
These Parmesan Brussel Sprouts are a new favorite side dish. The roasted parmesan makes a wonderful crunchy texture and adds a delicious layer of flavor!
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20 Green Beans Almondine
Green Beans Almondine
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Crisp green beans meet lemon, garlic, and toasted almonds in this easy, elevated side dish – green beans almondine, ready in just 20 minutes!
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21 Red Potatoes Recipe
Red Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Glazed potatoes are simple, tasty and the perfect way to enjoy potatoes on Christmas Day.
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22 Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Candied Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 18 minutes minutes
Simply tasty candied sweet potatoes are caramelized in butter and brown sugar, making them a favorite side dish.
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23 Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Garlic mashed potatoes are creamy, flavorful, and easy to make – the perfect comforting side dish to elevate any meal.
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Make Ahead Christmas Sides
If you’re like us, you want to do as much work as possible beforehand so that Christmas Eve and day aren’t crazy. These are all sides that you can prepare or fully make ahead of time which makes the day so much easier.
24 Christmas Salad
Christmas Salad
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
This Christmas salad is filled with pops of fresh seasonal fruit and dressed to perfection in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette!
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25 Apple Pecan Salad
Apple Pecan Salad
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Topped with a poppyseed dressing, fresh apple pecan salad is a delectable combination of flavors and textures.
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26 Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe
Ham and Potato Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
This quick prep cheesy ham and potato casserole is freezable and can easily be doubled for a favorite side to feed a crowd!
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27 Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Deliciously creamy Sweet Potato Casserole with a crunch topping is a must-have for holidays and family meals!
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28 Cranberry Salad Recipe
Cranberry Salad Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Simple Cranberry Salad has the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It's a delicious side dish or refreshing dessert!
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29 Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes minutes
Fresh cranberry sauce tastes amazing with every other dish on your Thanksgiving table. Make it ahead of time for less stress!
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30 Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes stay creamy and fluffy after reheating, easy to prep up to two days ahead for stress free holiday dinners.
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31 Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Sausage Stuffing Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
With a quick prep, this savory sausage stuffing recipe can easily be made ahead of time for a must during the holidays.
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32 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Twice baked potatoes in casserole form! filled with potatoes, cheese, sour cream, bacon, and more. It's the perfect side dish to any holiday or dinner.
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33 Homemade Stuffing Recipe
Homemade Stuffing Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
This homemade stuffing, made with sourdough bread, is exactly what you need to pair with your Thanksgiving turkey!
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34 Green Bean Salad Recipe
Green Bean Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Crisp and flavorful green bean salad is seasoned with garlic, feta, and lemon for a tasty side, perfect to accompany any dinner!
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35 Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe
Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 55 minutes minutes
With a homemade cream sauce, and layers of parmesan and cheddar cheese, these potatoes au gratin are so rich and creamy!
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36 Pistachio Salad Recipe
Pistachio Salad Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
This easy pistachio salad is light, fluffy, and made with just 4 simple ingredients—perfect for any holiday or potluck!
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37 Jiffy Corn Pudding Recipe
Jiffy Corn Pudding Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Jiffy Corn Pudding bakes creamy and sweet with golden edges, quick to mix with pantry staples, perfect for holidays, potlucks, and weeknights.
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38 Brussel Sprout Salad Recipe
Brussel Sprout Salad Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Full of shredded Brussel sprouts, pomegranate seeds, sliced almonds, and a little bit of shaved parmesan, this colorful salad has the perfect amount of crunch!
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39 Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
Cornbread Stuffing Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Savory cornbread stuffing is the perfect side dish, especially for holiday meals! The texture is perfect and the flavor is delicious!
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Slow Cooker Sides
Another way to save time on the holiday is to use the slow cooker! These crock pot Christmas sides are simple, prepped in no time and save the day.
40 Crockpot Green Beans Recipe
Crockpot Green Beans Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Just a few ingredients make the yummiest green beans ever! Simple Crockpot Green Beans is one of our go-to side dishes for any meal!
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41 Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Creamy crock pot scalloped potatoes are a great side to any meal. You only need a few ingredients and the slow cooker!
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42 Crockpot Mac and Cheese Recipe
Crockpot Mac and Cheese Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this crock pot mac and cheese is so simple, cheesy, and delicious!
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43 Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Dinner wouldn't be complete without rich, flavorful crock pot creamed corn! It's creamy, buttery, and preps in minutes – a holiday favorite!
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44 Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Total Time: 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Creamy, cheesy crockpot mashed potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any meal. They are SO easy to make – especially for busy holidays!
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Breads + Rolls
Soft, buttery, and begging for cranberry honey butter . You can’t go wrong with any of these bread recipes!
45 Potato Rolls Recipe
Potato Rolls Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Potato rolls are soft, fluffy, and buttery homemade dinner rolls that stay fresh longer thanks to creamy mashed potatoes in the dough.
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46 Parker House Rolls Recipe
Parker House Rolls Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
Warm and fluffy Parker House rolls are elevated to new heights when served with a pat of sweet honey butter.
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47 Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe
Easy Yeast Rolls Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
With just 4 ingredients, these easy yeast rolls are ready in under an hour and are perfect for a light snack or served with dinner.
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48 Crescent Rolls
Crescent Rolls
Total Time: 2 hours hours 32 minutes minutes
Flaky homemade crescent rolls are soft and tender. They are perfect for Sunday dinner or a holiday gathering!
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49 Garlic Knots Recipe
Garlic Knots Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Buttery-soft homemade garlic knots whip up in under 20 minutes and make a perfect side for pizza, pasta, or salads!
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50 Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe
Total Time: 22 minutes minutes
This golden flaky buttermilk biscuits recipe is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Enjoy them on their own, with jam, or smothered in gravy!
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Combine carrots, water, butter, and brown sugar in a pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Cover and reduce the heat to cook on low for approximately 6 minutes.
Keeping covered, turn the heat back to high and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the water is evaporated and carrots are tender, another 5–6 minutes.
Remove from the heat and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Variation: For some extra flavor and texture, add ⅓ cup pine nuts or chopped, toasted walnuts or pecans after simmering for the first 6 minutes.
Oven Directions: Place baby carrots in a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with brown sugar and drizzle on melted butter. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.
Serving: 1 g , Calories: 73 kcal , Carbohydrates: 6 g , Protein: 0.1 g , Fat: 6 g , Saturated Fat: 4 g , Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g , Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g , Trans Fat: 0.2 g , Cholesterol: 15 mg , Sodium: 4 mg , Potassium: 10 mg , Fiber: 0.01 g , Sugar: 6 g , Vitamin A: 209 IU , Vitamin C: 0.01 mg , Calcium: 8 mg , Iron: 0.05 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These all look so good! I’m getting so excited for christmas dinner!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Thank you so much!! I am too!!