Christmas Side Dishes

Mashed Potatoes with Butter and Thyme | Brent Hofacker

Christmas dinner may have a turkey, ham, roast beef, or another centerpiece at the middle of the table, but the side dishes are often what people look forward to most.

Mashed potatoes covered in gravy, stuffing with crisp edges, buttery rolls, roasted vegetables, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, and rich casseroles are the foods that make Christmas dinner feel complete.

The best Christmas side dishes do more than fill the plate. They add color, texture, freshness, and comfort while balancing the richness of the main course.

Whether you are planning a traditional family feast, an elegant Christmas dinner, a casual buffet, or a smaller holiday meal, these Christmas side dish ideas can help you build a menu that feels festive without becoming overwhelming.

🥔 Mashed Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes are one of the most dependable Christmas side dishes.

They pair with turkey, ham, roast beef, prime rib, pork, chicken, and many vegetarian main dishes. They also provide the perfect place for gravy, which may be their greatest contribution to Christmas dinner.

For classic mashed potatoes, use a fluffy potato such as russet or Yukon Gold and combine it with butter, warm milk or cream, salt, and pepper.

You can also add roasted garlic, sour cream, cream cheese, Parmesan, chives, or fresh herbs.

Mashed potatoes are particularly useful for entertaining because they can often be prepared ahead and gently reheated before dinner.

🧄 Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes provide a little more flavor while remaining familiar enough for almost everyone at the table.

Roasted garlic gives the potatoes a mellow sweetness rather than a sharp garlic flavor.

They pair especially well with roast beef, prime rib, pork roast, chicken, and turkey.

Finish them with butter and chopped parsley or chives for a simple side that feels slightly more special than everyday mashed potatoes.

🥔 Roasted Potatoes

Crispy roasted potatoes are an excellent alternative to mashed potatoes.

Small potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, red potatoes, or fingerlings can all be roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and herbs.

Rosemary and thyme work particularly well for Christmas.

The contrast between the crisp exterior and fluffy interior makes roasted potatoes ideal with prime rib, roast beef, pork, chicken, or salmon.

They are also convenient because they can roast alongside many holiday main dishes.

🧀 Potatoes Au Gratin

Potatoes au gratin make Christmas dinner feel instantly richer.

Thin slices of potato are layered with cream, cheese, and seasoning and baked until tender and golden.

Gruyère, cheddar, Parmesan, or a combination of cheeses can be used.

This is an especially good side dish with ham or roast beef.

Because it is rich, you generally do not need another heavy potato dish if au gratin potatoes are already on the menu.

🥛 Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are another classic Christmas choice.

They are traditionally made with thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce, creating a softer and more delicate dish than heavily cheese-based au gratin potatoes.

Scalloped potatoes pair beautifully with ham, pork, turkey, and roast chicken.

They can also be assembled ahead, making them useful when you want to reduce Christmas Day preparation.

🍠 Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole brings color and sweetness to the Christmas table.

Some versions are topped with marshmallows, while others use pecans, brown sugar, oats, or streusel.

For a less sweet version, simply mash sweet potatoes with butter, salt, cinnamon, and a small amount of maple syrup or brown sugar.

Sweet potatoes work particularly well with ham, turkey, and pork.

🍠 Roasted Sweet Potatoes

If a sweet potato casserole feels too rich, roasted sweet potatoes are a simpler alternative.

Cut sweet potatoes into cubes or wedges and roast them with olive oil and salt.

You can keep them savory with rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, or garlic, or lean into holiday flavors with maple syrup, cinnamon, or a little brown sugar.

They pair especially well with pork, ham, turkey, and vegetarian dishes.

🍞 Classic Stuffing

Stuffing is one of the most traditional holiday side dishes.

A basic version uses bread cubes, celery, onion, butter, herbs, and broth.

Sage, thyme, parsley, and rosemary give stuffing its familiar holiday aroma.

You can keep it simple or add sausage, mushrooms, apples, cranberries, chestnuts, pecans, or wild rice.

Stuffing works especially well with turkey and chicken, but it can also accompany pork or vegetarian holiday dishes.

🌽 Cornbread Stuffing

Cornbread stuffing offers a slightly sweeter, more rustic alternative to traditional bread stuffing.

Combine crumbled cornbread with onion, celery, herbs, butter, and broth.

Sausage, pecans, cranberries, apples, or herbs can add more flavor.

This side works beautifully with turkey, ham, chicken, or pork.

🥕 Glazed Carrots

Glazed carrots add bright color to a Christmas plate.

They can be cooked with butter, honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, or fresh herbs.

The slight sweetness complements salty or savory main dishes such as ham, turkey, pork, and roast beef.

Glazed carrots are also easy to make on the stovetop, which helps when the oven is already crowded.

🥕 Roasted Carrots

Roasted carrots are a simple but elegant alternative.

Roasting brings out their natural sweetness and creates caramelized edges.

Toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme, or finish them with honey, maple syrup, or balsamic glaze.

Rainbow carrots can make the Christmas table especially colorful.

🌱 Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts have become a holiday favorite because their slightly bitter flavor balances rich Christmas foods.

Roast them until the outer leaves become crisp and caramelized.

They can be served simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper or dressed up with balsamic glaze, bacon, maple syrup, Parmesan, cranberries, or pecans.

They pair particularly well with roast beef, turkey, ham, pork, and chicken.

🥓 Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

For a richer version, combine roasted or sautéed Brussels sprouts with crisp bacon.

The salty bacon balances the slightly bitter sprouts and makes this side particularly good alongside turkey, ham, or roast beef.

A little maple syrup or balsamic vinegar can add sweetness and acidity.

🫘 Green Beans

Green beans provide a fresh, simple counterpoint to heavier Christmas foods.

Steam or sauté them with butter, garlic, salt, and pepper.

For more flavor, add toasted almonds, lemon zest, Parmesan, shallots, or bacon.

Green beans work with virtually any Christmas main course and are a good choice when the rest of the menu includes several rich casseroles.

🥘 Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole remains one of the classic holiday comfort foods.

Its combination of green beans, creamy sauce, and crisp onions makes it especially familiar at traditional Christmas gatherings.

It works well with turkey, ham, roast chicken, and pork.

Because it can often be assembled ahead, it is also practical for entertaining.

🥦 Roasted Broccoli

Roasted broccoli may not be the first side people associate with Christmas, but it works beautifully on a holiday table.

Roasting creates crisp edges and a deeper flavor than steaming.

Finish it with lemon, garlic, Parmesan, or toasted nuts.

It is an especially good choice when the rest of the menu is rich and creamy.

🥦 Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli casserole offers a more indulgent option.

Broccoli can be combined with cheese sauce, rice, crackers, breadcrumbs, or crispy onions.

This kind of casserole works particularly well at casual family Christmas dinners and buffets.

🥬 Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is a classic accompaniment to roast beef and prime rib.

Tender spinach in a creamy sauce provides a rich side dish without requiring much space on the plate.

Nutmeg, Parmesan, garlic, or cream cheese can deepen the flavor.

Because it is rich, pair it with simpler potatoes or vegetables rather than several additional heavy casseroles.

🧅 Roasted Root Vegetables

Roasted root vegetables are colorful, seasonal, and easy to prepare.

Combine carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, red onions, or beets and roast them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.

Rosemary and thyme work especially well.

A tray of root vegetables can replace several individual vegetable sides while still making the table feel abundant.

🎃 Roasted Winter Squash

Butternut squash, acorn squash, delicata squash, and other winter varieties are ideal for Christmas.

Roast them with olive oil and herbs for a savory side or add maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, cranberries, or pecans for something sweeter.

Winter squash works particularly well with pork, turkey, chicken, and vegetarian main dishes.

🧀 Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese has become an essential holiday side in many families.

Its creamy richness works particularly well with ham, turkey, barbecue-style meats, and other savory mains.

For Christmas dinner, baked macaroni and cheese provides a crisp golden topping and can be assembled before guests arrive.

Cheddar is the classic choice, but Gruyère, Gouda, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, or other cheeses can add extra flavor.

🌽 Corn Pudding

Corn pudding is soft, slightly sweet, and wonderfully comforting.

It falls somewhere between cornbread and a creamy casserole and pairs especially well with ham, turkey, pork, and roast chicken.

It is also easy to portion for a crowd and works well on a Christmas buffet.

🌽 Creamed Corn

Creamed corn is another simple comfort-food side.

Fresh, frozen, or canned corn can be cooked with butter, cream, salt, and pepper until rich and tender.

A touch of Parmesan, herbs, or cream cheese can make it feel more festive.

🥗 Winter Salad

A fresh winter salad can completely change the balance of Christmas dinner.

Mixed greens combined with apples, pears, dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, pecans, walnuts, goat cheese, feta, or blue cheese create a side that feels seasonal without being heavy.

Finish it with a vinaigrette rather than a creamy dressing to provide some acidity alongside rich meats and casseroles.

🍎 Apple and Cranberry Salad

Apples and cranberries naturally feel at home at Christmas.

Combine sliced apples with greens, dried cranberries, pecans or walnuts, and a mild cheese.

A maple, cider, or balsamic vinaigrette works well.

This kind of salad pairs especially nicely with pork, ham, turkey, and roast chicken.

🍞 Dinner Rolls

Warm dinner rolls may be simple, but they rarely go untouched.

Soft rolls with butter are perfect for soaking up gravy or making small sandwiches with leftover meat.

Homemade rolls are wonderful, but good-quality store-bought rolls can make Christmas dinner much easier.

Warm them just before serving.

🧈 Herb Butter Rolls

You can make simple rolls feel more festive by brushing them with melted butter mixed with garlic or herbs.

Parsley, rosemary, thyme, or chives all work well.

Sprinkle them with flaky salt before serving.

🍒 Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce provides sweetness and acidity that helps balance a rich Christmas dinner.

It is especially good with turkey, chicken, pork, and ham.

Homemade cranberry sauce can be flavored with orange zest, cinnamon, apple, maple syrup, or warm spices.

It can also be made several days ahead, making it one of the easiest Christmas sides to prepare in advance.

🍎 Applesauce

Applesauce is a simple but excellent accompaniment to pork and ham.

For Christmas, warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves can make it feel more seasonal.

Homemade applesauce can be prepared ahead and served either warm or chilled.

🥣 Gravy

Gravy deserves to be treated as a side dish in its own right.

Turkey gravy, beef gravy, chicken gravy, pork gravy, or mushroom gravy can bring the entire Christmas plate together.

Make enough.

Running out of gravy is one of those holiday problems best avoided through generous planning.

🍄 Mushroom Gravy

Mushroom gravy is useful for vegetarian Christmas dinners and also works beautifully with mashed potatoes, roast beef, pork, or stuffing.

Mushrooms provide savory depth without requiring meat drippings.

It can often be made ahead and reheated before dinner.

🎄 Best Christmas Side Dishes for Ham

Ham pairs especially well with potatoes, sweet flavors, and fresh vegetables.

Good choices include scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, glazed carrots, green beans, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, winter salad, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce.

Because ham is salty and often glazed, balancing it with fresh or slightly acidic sides can keep the meal from feeling too heavy.

🦃 Best Christmas Side Dishes for Turkey

Turkey naturally works with classic holiday flavors.

Serve it with mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, rolls, and winter salad.

If you want to keep the menu manageable, choose one potato dish, one vegetable casserole, one fresher vegetable, and stuffing rather than trying to serve every traditional side at once.

🥩 Best Christmas Side Dishes for Prime Rib

Prime rib pairs particularly well with rich but simple sides.

Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, creamed spinach, roasted Brussels sprouts, green beans, glazed carrots, Yorkshire pudding, horseradish sauce, and winter salad all work beautifully.

Because the meat is already rich, avoid making every side equally heavy.

🌱 Best Vegetarian Christmas Side Dishes

Many Christmas side dishes are naturally vegetarian or easily adapted.

Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, stuffing made with vegetable broth, Brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, winter squash, macaroni and cheese, salads, cranberry sauce, rolls, corn pudding, and mushroom gravy can all be part of a vegetarian holiday menu.

If the meal is entirely vegetarian, choose at least one hearty side or centerpiece with substantial texture, such as mushroom Wellington, stuffed squash, vegetable pot pie, or baked pasta.

⏰ Make-Ahead Christmas Side Dishes

Make-ahead sides can make Christmas Day much easier.

Mashed potatoes can be prepared ahead and reheated. Cranberry sauce can be made several days in advance. Many casseroles can be assembled the day before and baked when needed.

Stuffing ingredients can be prepared ahead, vegetables can be washed and chopped, and salad dressings can be mixed in advance.

The goal is to leave as little chopping, measuring, and mixing as possible for the final hour before Christmas dinner.

🔥 Easy Christmas Side Dishes

If you want to simplify the meal, choose sides that require minimal hands-on work.

Roasted carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, a simple salad, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, roasted Brussels sprouts, and baked sweet potatoes are all relatively straightforward.

There is nothing wrong with combining homemade dishes with a few convenient shortcuts.

Christmas dinner does not become more meaningful because you made every component from scratch.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Christmas Side Dishes for a Crowd

For large gatherings, choose sides that scale easily.

Mashed potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, roasted vegetables, corn pudding, rolls, and salads can all be prepared in large quantities.

Buffet-style serving is often easiest.

Use large baking dishes, slow cookers, and serving bowls so guests can serve themselves and return for seconds.

🍽️ How Many Side Dishes Do You Need?

The number of side dishes depends on the size of the gathering and how elaborate you want the meal to feel.

For a small Christmas dinner, two or three sides may be plenty.

For a medium-sized gathering, four or five sides usually provide enough variety.

For a large family feast or buffet, you may want six or more, particularly if guests have different preferences.

The key is variety rather than quantity.

A good Christmas plate might include one potato, one bread or stuffing, one green vegetable, one colorful vegetable, and one fresh or acidic side.

You do not need three kinds of potatoes just because they are all delicious.

Although nobody at the Christmas table is likely to complain if you do.

🎁 Build a Balanced Christmas Plate

When choosing Christmas side dishes, look at the menu as a whole.

If your main dish is rich, add fresh vegetables or salad.

If you are serving several casseroles, choose a simple roasted vegetable.

If the meat has a sweet glaze, include something tangy such as cranberry sauce or vinaigrette-dressed salad.

If mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese are both essential family favorites, keep the vegetable sides lighter.

The best Christmas dinner does not necessarily have the most dishes.

It has dishes that taste good together.

❤️ The Side Dishes That Become Traditions

Christmas side dishes have a way of becoming family traditions almost accidentally.

Maybe someone makes the same stuffing every year. Maybe the macaroni and cheese disappears before everything else. Maybe nobody is particularly interested in green bean casserole during the rest of the year, but Christmas would feel strange without it.

Those familiar dishes help make the holiday recognizable.

So serve the classics your family loves, try one or two new ideas when you feel like it, and do not worry about creating the perfect Christmas menu.

If people are passing bowls around the table, asking for seconds, and saving just enough room for dessert, you have probably done everything right.