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.
