50 Best Christmas Sides to Make Your Holiday Menu Extra Magical
Pair these tasty dishes with a traditional roast of ham or prime rib.
A big holiday ham or roasted prime rib might be the centerpiece of your Christmas dinner table, but if there's one thing Ree Drummond always says, it's that: "You can never have too many sides!" So, channel your inner Pioneer Woman by filling your Christmas menu with a collection of crowd-pleasing accompaniments, from cheesy casseroles to caramelized vegetables.
Whether you're looking for innovative ideas to use up all that winter produce or you're aiming for traditional dishes oozing with nostalgia (hello, green bean casserole!), this list of Christmas sides has it all! Below, you'll find family-friendly favorites that everyone in the room is sure to love, such as fluffy cornbread made in a cast-iron skillet, roasted Brussels sprouts topped with dried cranberries, and pillowy buttermilk biscuits flavored with herbed butter. Besides all the usual suspects, we also have unique options like stuffed acorn squash, cauliflower gratin, and twice-baked sweet potatoes. And since the Christmas season can be hectic, you’ll also spot tons of time-saving recipes, such as Christmas Crock-Pot dishes, air-fryer sides, and make-ahead casseroles.
Keep scrolling to round off your holiday feast with these tasty Christmas sides!
Crispy Potatoes Halves with Cilantro Garlic Sauce
Upgrade classic roasted potatoes with a bold cilantro-garlic sauce (which also happens to be an on-theme green color!). With its crispy texture and tangy topping, this dish will be the talk of the table.
Get Ree's Crispy Potatoes Halves with Cilantro Garlic Sauce recipe.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberries
Make Brussels sprouts even more festive by garnishing them with dried cranberries. Not only will this Christmas side look festive, but it'll also give your guests a satisfying mix of flavors: sweet, salty, and tart.
Get Ree's Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberries recipe.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Featuring broccoli, rice, and cheese, this Christmas casserole is straight comfort food. Sure, it'll satiate your guests' stomachs, but it's also a clear winner for hosts: Store it in the fridge days ahead or in the freezer up to two months in advance!
Get Ree's Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato casserole is a must during the holiday season, and Ree's iteration has all the best of the original, yet the individual portions make serving even simpler. Not to mention, the melted marshmallows almost look like fallen snow!
Get Ree's Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Parmesan Herb Popovers
This Christmas side has the perfect balance of textures and flavors: It's soft yet crispy, herby yet cheesy. Although these popovers will add a fancy flair to your table, they’re so easy to make.
Get Ree's Parmesan Herb Popovers recipe.
Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon
This comforting masterpiece makes getting your veggies in a lot more fun. Smothered in cheese and topped with buttery crackers, this Christmas side will have even the pickiest eaters going back for seconds.
Get Ree's Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon recipe.
Green Beans Almondine
Save some space in your oven by opting for this veggie-packed Christmas side, which is made entirely on the stovetop. The green beans are simple yet packed with flavor, thanks to butter, garlic, shallots, and almonds.
Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.
French Onion Potatoes au Gratin
Take your potatoes up a notch by layering them with caramelized onions and lots of gooey cheese. Since this Christmas side takes only 30 minutes to make, it's a lifesaver for anyone pressed for time.
Get Ree's French Onion Potatoes au Gratin recipe.
Roasted Carrots with Honey Herb Butter
It's true: Butter makes everything better. But have you tried honey-herb butter? These roasted carrots get a bold upgrade with a sweet-yet-savory topping made with honey, vinegar, mustard, parsley, chives, and salt.
Cornbread Casserole
Cornbread is a crowd-pleasing favorite, but what might grab (and hold) your guests' attention even more is a pudding-like mixture made in casserole form and topped with a drizzle of hot honey.
Get the Cornbread Casserole recipe.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
This Christmas side dish is roasted until golden and basted with a sweet-tart balsamic glaze. Case in point? It'll become your new favorite way to eat Brussels sprouts!
Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash
Since you'll probably have plenty of comfort food on the table, why not add a pop of freshness to your spread? With acorn squash, pepitas, goat cheese, and dried cranberries, this Christmas side is anything but boring!
Get Ree's Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash recipe.
Baked Orecchiette with Bacon Breadcrumbs
Cheesy baked pasta is always a good idea, especially during the winter months. This recipe sneaks in a healthy dose of spinach, but with bacon breadcrumbs and loads of cheese, no one will notice!
Cheddar Biscuits
Instead of serving a side of plain ol' biscuits during Christmas dinner, try this cheesy version. It has the classic flaky texture, yet the added layer of melted cheddar makes it simply irresistible.
Get Ree's Cheddar Biscuits recipe.
Mashed Potato Casserole
If you thought mashed potatoes couldn't get any better, just wait until you try this recipe. Loaded with bacon, cheese, fried onions, and potato chips, it's an innovative twist on a holiday staple!
Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
Cajun Green Bean Casserole
Add a little spice to this classic holiday casserole with Cajun seasoning and hot sauce stirred right into the filling. Plus, the pop of red bell peppers brings fun Christmas colors to the dish.
Get Ree's Cajun Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Cabbage Salad
This crunchy salad is loaded with refreshing apple slices and toasty pecans. It's a great way to balance out all the heavier items on your holiday table.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Herb Focaccia
If you stocked up on fresh herbs for the holidays, then this homemade focaccia bread is a no-brainer! Every bite is packed with parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Get the Herb Focaccia recipe.
Spinach Casserole
Getting your family to eat their spinach is easy when it's in the form of this cheesy holiday casserole! Top it with crispy fried onions and even picky eaters will love it.
Get the Spinach Casserole recipe.
Broccoli Cheese and Cracker Casserole
The combination of broccoli and cheese sauce is a Drummond family favorite! Add buttery crackers to the mix and you'll have yourself a merry Christmas side dish.
Get Ree's Broccoli Cheese and Cracker Casserole recipe.
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