65 Best Christmas Dinner Side Dishes

Would Grandma really be all that upset if you tried a new stuffing this holiday? Her cornbread stuffing is undoubtedly delicious and nostalgic, but what if we switched it up a bit this year and tried something new? Enter: flaky, savory-sweet croissant stuffing.

Get the Croissant Stuffing recipe.

We’re not crying, you’re crying. Sure, our eyes might be stinging from peeling and slicing this many onions, but we’re also claiming these tears as happy tears, because a simple, versatile dish with this much cheese can only be happy, right? Right.

Get the Tennessee Onions recipe.

Saffron rice is quite possibly the most beautiful side dish to grace any dinner table. Colored with the reddish threads from saffron flower stigmas and paired with bright red pomegranate seeds, this rice has a subtle yet fragrant aroma that’ll enhance the flavor of the meat you serve alongside it.

Get the Saffron Rice recipe.

If a pan of scalloped potatoes and a bag of chips got together, these domino potatoes would be their love child. Crisp and buttery on the edges, but soft and creamy in the center, these potatoes will reset the bar for everything you thought a potato could be.

Get the Crispy Domino Potatoes recipe.

Here we give Brussels a simple cacio e pepe-inspired upgrade that gives us the vibes of the more adult version of cheese over broccoli. A generous amount of cracked black pepper is also key for these easy Brussels sprouts that are the perfect side for any holiday or dinner table.

Get the Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts recipe.

Potatoes au gratin is a classic, but it’s long overdue for an upgrade. Enter: bundles! Thin-skinned red potatoes get sliced, layered in parchment, smothered in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky sauce, then baked until steaming and tender. Best part? Less mess!

Get the Potato Gratin Bundles recipe.

Been hitting the eggnog a little too hard, and craving something lighter to help counteract it? This is dish is fully dairy-free, without sacrificing any decadence. This recipe uses canned coconut milk, nutritional yeast, and umeboshi paste to amp up the creamy texture in this vegan take on creamed spinach.

Get the One-Pot Creamy Vegan Greens recipe.

Roasted carrots are a classic easy side dish that we turn to time and time again, whether we’re serving up a holiday dinner or a quick weeknight meal. One of our favorite ways to serve them? Topping them with a balsamic glaze that makes them feel extra special (without a ton of work).

Get the Balsamic Glazed Carrots recipe.

Using homemade pizza dough and pesto is great, but if you go the store-bought route, this star bread takes very little effort. A few twists, and you have a green-speckled star to dazzle as the center of your holiday spread.

Get the Pesto Pizza Stuffed Star Bread recipe.

Fans of our viral potato au gratin stacks, gather ’round! These cheesy scalloped potato and ham stacks are bound to be your next go-to side dish. They’re just like the OG, but to make them their own thing, we added thinly sliced ham and topped each stack with melty cheddar cheese.

Get the Cheesy Scalloped Potato & Ham Stacks recipe.

What do you get when you take mac & cheese on a shopping spree to the fanciest cheese shop you know and shower it with gold leaf? Million-dollar mac. Showcasing a trifecta of bougie (and delicious) cheeses and a crispy crunchy panko topping, this irresistible comfort food in a casserole will take center stage on any table it hits.

Get the Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese recipe.

This rice pilaf recipe has enough going on to be the main event, but can also be the supporting role for roasted meats and fish. A crunch from the almonds, a freshness from the herbs and lemon, and a sharp, briny punch of feta all combine for the perfect bite.

Get the Lemon-Herb Rice Pilaf recipe.

We’ll take Brussels any which way, but we especially love giving them an extra decadent treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.