20 Easy Christmas Side Dishes
These easy Christmas side dishes are perfect for any holiday dinner menu. From cozy casseroles to colorful veggies, many include make-ahead tips to help you save time on Christmas Day.
P.S. You’ll also love our Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Ideas for the next morning.
What Sides I Would Personally Make for Christmas
To pull off an easy Christmas dinner, I personally want a simple (yet delicious) menu that can be mostly prepped ahead of time. So, while I can vouch that each of the side dishes below have been well-tested and are really tasty, I’d personally make these:
- Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad – I love the bright colors and pop of citrus around Christmas.
- Boursin Mashed Potatoes – The Boursin cheese elevates the mashed potatoes to a whole new level.
- Apple Cranberry Sauce – Sweet and just a little tangy and makes the house smell amazing!
Easy holiday main dishes like our Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef or Crockpot Ham would go perfectly with these sides, by the way.
Although I have my favorites, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Christmas side dishes below. I promise!
Christmas Potato Side Dishes
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Rest assured you won’t take home any leftovers of this make-ahead side dish. This cheesy hash brown casserole is made with real food ingredients that are also gluten-free.
Gourmet Boursin Mashed Potatoes
These simple-to-make yet gourmet-tasting mashed potatoes elevate any holiday table or meal. Yukon gold potatoes plus the soft, creamy garlic and herb cheese yield a velvety, moist, decadent side dish. You could also make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
The BEST Boiled Baby Potatoes
Ok hear me out. This is so super simple but one of the best sides I make. My family loves these little potatoes that are seasoned perfectly. Use multi-colored baby potatoes to make this dish holiday-worthy.
Bacon and Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes
These make-ahead potatoes are the quintessential side dish for almost any holiday meal. They are a bit healthier than other twice-baked potatoes yet just as rich-tasting.
Christmas Vegetable Side Dishes
Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans
A kicked-up way to enjoy green beans around the holidays. These green bean bundles take a little work ahead of time, but you can prep them a day or two in advance and bake them on Christmas night. You could try our Garlicky Skillet Green Beans for something a little simpler.
Maple Glazed Carrots
Simple and delicious. These tender carrots carry a hint of sweetness that is complimented perfectly by the savory caramelization that results from roasting in the oven.
Christmas Salads
These are all easy, beautiful, and holiday-worthy salads that can prepped ahead.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
This salad has the perfect combination of Brussels sprouts, savory bacon, crunchy almonds, and shredded Parmesan. These simple ingredients are tossed in a zesty homemade dressing that will have you craving for more.
Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad
This light, flavorful Mandarin Orange Salad includes spinach, dried cranberries, almonds, feta or goat cheese, and mandarin oranges and pairs perfectly with our creamy Citrus Salad Dressing. Serve on special occasions or on any weeknight!
Italian House Chopped Salad
This copycat version of the Midwest-famous Pasta House Co salad is a colorful, crowd-pleasing salad consisting of Romaine and iceberg lettuce tossed with artichokes, sliced red onions, pimentos (in the dressing), croutons, and our amazing Italian Parmesan Dressing.
Autumn Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This popular salad recipe honestly works just as well at Christmas as it does in the fall. You can prep ahead the salad ingredients (except chopping the apple) and the Apple Cider Vinaigrette. Prepare to have people ask for this recipe!
Side Dishes with Bread
Homemade Stuffing
This simple homemade stuffing recipe couldn’t be simpler yet has wonderful depth of flavor. It includes mostly pantry items and only takes about 30 minutes! You’ll never go back to store-bought after this.
P.S. This is super easy to make gluten-free, if needed.
Copycat Cheddar Biscuits
This Red Lobster copycat recipe yields delicious homemade cheddar biscuits. They are a crowd-pleasing side dish that comes together fast and can be frozen for later.
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
You can make delicious, homemade rolls at home! Follow our detailed instructions and pro tips for perfectly soft and fluffy dinner rolls. We also have a recipe for Bread Maker Wheat Dinner Rolls.
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Discover the perfect blend of comfort and flavor with these heavenly biscuits. They are perfectly moist, made with a tender crumbly texture, and have a subtle sweetness that takes a classic biscuit recipe to the next level.
Side Dishes with Fruit
Apple Cranberry Sauce
This easy Apple Cranberry Sauce is like homemade apple sauce but with a delightful holiday twist with the addition of cranberries. The combo helps smooth out the tartness that comes from the cranberries resulting in a delightful side dish to serve anytime during the holiday season!
Classic Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
We’re taking fresh fruit salad to the next level with the perfect combination of colorful fruit and our simple honey lime dressing. Make this classic side dish at your next gathering or simply munch on it throughout the week.
Crock Pot Baked Apples
Core your apples, add the crumble filling, and bake until tender. Your home will smell delicious. Use the recipe as a side dish or even a dessert for the holidays. Enjoy!
10-Minute Cranberry Orange Sauce
Wow your guests at your next holiday meal with this deceptively complex-tasting, make-ahead cranberry orange sauce. It only takes 10 minutes to whip up! The best part is that you can make this in advance and either freeze it or store it in the refrigerator.
More Christmas Side Dish Ideas
6-Ingredient Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This easy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe takes just 6 main ingredients and 18 minutes from start to finish, dirties only one pot, and tastes creamy and delicious! Perfect for a Christmas dinner side dish.
With these easy Christmas side dishes, you can create a meal that feels special without adding stress. Whether you make one or a few, each recipe is designed to bring comfort, flavor, and a little extra joy to your holiday table. Merry Christmas from our kitchen to yours!
Bonus: Activities for Kids at Christmastime
We love celebrating Christmas and creating traditions with our families. So over the years, we created these resources for your family too.
- Easy Christmas Crafts – I bet you have most of these supplies at home.
- Meaningful Christmas Picture Books – Some of our favorite read-alouds for younger children.
- Family Advent Devotional – Grab our free printable 4-week devotional that Rachel wrote for families with kids ages 4-11. It includes weekly Bible readings and fun activities.
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