45 of the Best Christmas Side Dishes

Everyone has their own idea of what makes the Best Christmas Side Dishes for the big day but sometimes its fun to mix them up. With everything from gravy to roast parsnips, stuffing, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce, I’ve featured the best traditional recipes as well as some fun variations!

We all know about the main event whether that is a glorious roast turkey, a traditional roast goose or even a feature nut roast. But I think we all know that its the side dishes that really maketh the Christmas dinner or lunch.

I mean can you even being to comprehend a traditional Christmas roast dinner without gravy and cranberry sauce. I certainly don’t want to!

I’ve scoured the recipes from both Feast Glorious Feast and a selection of other top food bloggers. I’ve included really basic recipes. Simple and easy to make with no extra faff. And then many many options where you can mix it up for something a little different.

As for how to use up leftovers, don’t miss my Leftover Roast Dinner Pizza which is the perfect way to use up all manner of leftovers from any Sunday roast or Christmas dinner.

And it’s not quite a side but don’t forget to stock up on Puff Pastry Mince Pies.

Here we go…

The Best Christmas Side Dishes

Sausages & Stuffing | Potatoes | Sprouts & Greens | Red Cabbage | Carrots & Swede | Roast Parsnips & Veg | Sauces & Gravy | Yorkshire Puddings

Christmas Sausages & Stuffings

Simple Pigs in Blankets

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Pigs in Blankets. My recipe keeps this simple and it’s an easy get ahead recipe too.

Pigs in Blankets (UK Bacon Wrapped Sausages)

Pigs in Blankets are an essential on many Christmas menus. But these tasty bacon wrapped chipolatas are just as great as the centrepiece of an everyday meal, as a cheeky canape or as a side to roast chicken.

Simple Stuffing

Of course truly simply stuffing would be to just whip up a packet mix and leave it at that. My simple recipe takes it only one step further by adding in sausage meat. Well, it is Christmas after all!

Sage & Onion Sausagemeat Stuffing

This Sage & Onion Sausagemeat Stuffing is my pimped up Paxo recipe. Yes we could make it all from scratch but packet stuffing mix is easy and tasty so I make no apologies for this cheat’s shortcut. Sausage meat stuffing is a must on my Christmas table and any other roast dinner for that matter!

Homemade Paxo Stuffing (Sage & Onion)

I've finally figured out the secret to making a delicious Homemade Paxo Stuffing and I'm ready to share it. This classic British sage and onion flavoured roast dinner essential is buttery and full of flavour. Fresh ingredients mean it isn't a direct copycat but even lifelong packet stuffing lovers like me will be converted – it really is better!

Mix it Up!

This selection of recipes includes other “pimp the packet” options with added extras, vegetarian stuffings, traditional stuffings from scratch, a sourdough stuffing from across the pond and a gluten free version of one of my absolute favourites – gingerbread stuffing.

Chestnut, Pecan & Cranberry Stuffing – Taste Botanical

This quick and easy vegetarian stuffing recipe combines the sweet creaminess of chestnuts with onions, crunchy roasted pecans and fruity dried cranberries.

Pork, Sage & Apple Stuffing – Curly’s Cooking

This Pork, Sage & Apple Stuffing very simple to make and absolutely delicious. It is the perfect accompaniment to any roast dinner but especially pork.

Chestnut & Sausagemeat Stuffing – Recipes Made Easy

A traditional stuffing for roast turkey. A delicious stuffing which can be used to stuff the bird or cooked separately

Sourdough Stuffing Recipe – The Feathered Nester

Why make stuffing with sourdough? Try this tender and flavorful sourdough stuffing recipe and you’ll see why it’s the best Thanksgiving side dish!

Gluten Free Gingerbread Stuffing – Gluten Free Alchemist

Gingerbread Stuffing recipe made with gluten free ginger cake.

Christmas Potatoes

To roast, to mash or both?

Simple Roast Potatoes

Personally roast potatoes are a given on the Christmas table. Even if there are no other options, there must be crispy roasties!

How to Roast Potatoes

This is the ultimate How to Roast Potatoes guide. It’s a step by step tutorial of how to make roasties which are both perfectly fluffy and perfectly crispy. Trust me, boiling the potatoes is a step worth taking for the ultimate carb side! And it works every single time.

Next Level Roast Potatoes

If you don’t want to stay traditional this year, try one of these alternative options packed with flavour.

Hasselback Potatoes – Gluten Free Alchemist

How to make Hasselback Potatoes perfectly. Crisp and delicious.

OXO Roast Potatoes – Tastefully Vikkie

These oxo roast potatoes are so simple to make and the perfect companion on a Slimming World roast dinner. They’re crispy roast potatoes with a fluffy inside and only use spray oil for fat.

Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes are one of my favourite side dishes. They go with almost everything from fish to pork chops and even make a great addition to salads, tacos and soups. Talk about versatile! As a bonus my recipe includes my top tip for avoiding that burnt horrible garlic taste.

Roasted Potato Cubes with Rosemary

These Roasted Potato Cubes with Rosemary and Garlic are a very tasty side dish which is ready in no time at all. You might know them as parmentier potatoes or simply cubed potatoes but whatever you choose to call them, these crispy little spuds are terrific!

Simple Mashed Potatoes

If my Dad is to be believed, the world would stop without mash. So for him mash is an absolute given on Christmas day. And any other day ending in a “y”. We like to keep it classic with lots of butter, cream and salt.

The Best Mashed Potatoes – Apply To Face Blog

These are the best mashed potatoes I know. Velvety smooth and buttery they are my family’s favourite. Step by step tutorial and tips.

Totally different Potatoes

Maybe you want to go really out there in which case one of these layered potato options might be for you. Don’t forget that this can always be an “and” situation not an “or”!

Potato Pave – Lost in Food

Potato pave, or compressed potatoes, are a great make-ahead vegetable side dish. Easy to prepare, it can be baked in advance, before heating up.

Christmas Sprouts & Greens

If you think you don’t like sprouts think again. Chances are you’ve just not tried them in the right combination with bacon and/or garlic and cream. If you aren’t a sprout family then chances are you’ll have a cabbage based dish instead so I’ve included some other options in this section too.

Simple Brussels Sprouts

Quickly boiled with a little added bacon. Perfect. Unless you’re veggie in which case maybe don’t include the bacon!

Bacon Brussels Sprouts – Sew White

Everyone should try my Bacon Brussels Sprouts at least once because that is all it will take for you to want to make them again. Quick and easy recipe.

Something different with sprouts

Cream them, roast them, add cheese or go bonkers and cook them in a cheese sauce gratin. Loads of options here!

Roasted Brussels with Parmesan & Garlic – Jo’s Kitchen Larder

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan & Garlic are a game changer. If you are a sprouts fan already you will love this, garlicky, cheesy version for sure.

Creamed Brussel Sprouts – Lost in Food

Creamed brussel sprouts, a great vegetable side dish, great any time over the Winter during sprout growing season but particularly over the festive period.

3 Cheese Sprout Gratin – Kitchen Sanctuary

3 Cheese Sprout Gratin – or maybe we can call it Sproutyflower Cheese? Is a super-quick and easy sprout-take on cauliflower cheese.

Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts – Cook Veggielicious

An absolute must for any Christmas dinner table, these roasted balsamic Brussels sprouts are absolutely divine. Suitable for vegans.

No sprouts? Try cabbage instead!

Cabbage with Bacon, Apple & Cider – Lost in Food

Cabbage with bacon and apple in a cider and mustard cream sauce, a beautiful vegetable side dish and a great accompaniment to roast pork or chicken!

Buttered Cabbage & Leeks with Mustard Seeds – Foodle Club

Buttered cabbage and leeks with mustard seeds is a deliciously different way of preparing cabbage. This is the perfect side dish to accompany your roast or grilled meat.

Christmas Red Cabbage

Red cabbage actually isn’t something I’ve ever had with my Christmas dinner. Its not really a favourite of mine and I can easily live without it. But I know that for many people it is a non negotiable so I’ve included a variety of recipes for you!

Keep it Simple

Actually all of these recipes are pretty simple. Braised cabbage with slight variations on the Christmassy spices!

Braised Red Cabbage – No Apple or Spices

This is the simple Braised Red Cabbage recipe that I've been searching for. With no apple, vinegar and no cinnamon or other spices, the flavour of the cabbage truly has chance to shine. This quick veggie side takes moments to prepare and is truly effortless!

Red Cabbage with Ginger Preserve – Farmersgirl Kitchen

Red Cabbage with Ginger Preserve is a classic baked red cabbage with apples and onions spiced up with sweet ginger preserves. It’s the ideal side dish for autumn and winter days.

Braised Red Cabbage – Jo’s Kitchen Larder

My Braised Red Cabbage recipe is perfect for making ahead! Gently spiced and with subtle sweet & sour notes, it’s an easy side dish for Christmas & beyond!

Christmas Red Cabbage Recipe – Sneaky Veg Blog

A delicious traditional and easy Christmas red cabbage recipe. This classic festive side dish is suitable for vegetarians and vegan.

Christmas Carrot & Swede

Mashed carrot and swede with a bit of butter and pepper was the standard for me at Christmas growing up. And of course I made it for years too.

Classic Carrot & Swede Mash

Roasted Carrot & Swede Mash – Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen

Roasting the vegetables really brings out the flavour in this easy carrot and swede mash recipe. A step-by-step guide of how to make carrot and swede mash.

Just Christmas Carrots

But then after many years I realised that I don’t actually like swede. Isn’t it funny how sometimes we don’t question the traditions?! So now I just make my favourite glazed carrot recipe and wow and I am much happier.

Vichy Carrots with Thyme

Vichy Carrots are cooked according to a classic French method but there is nothing fancy or tricky about this recipe. Earthy carrots are simply cooked down with butter, sugar and fresh thyme to create a sticky glazed and rather decadent side dish. Think carrots are boring? Think again!

Fresh Ginger & Orange Carrots – Family Friends Food

A touch of warming spice and a dash of orange zest make these simple roasted carrots a perfect autumn or winter side dish. Delicious!

Maple Butter Steeped Carrots – Culinary Travels

Braising carrots slowly in butter rather than steaming or boiling them, brings out their natural sweetness, and is healthier than you think as it preserves many of the vitamins. Maple syrup adds a delicate glaze and a rich flavour.

Just Swede For Christmas

If you’re the other way from me and just prefer the swede (or turnip or neeps or rutabaga depending where in the world you are) then these recipes are for you. Although of course there is nothing stopping you from making both a carrot and swede dish. More the merrier right?!

Mashed Swede with Nutmeg – Cook Veggielicious

A wonderfully easy way to prepare this delicious root vegetable. Adding nutmeg to the naturally sweet mashed swede makes it really delicious.

Easy Roasted Swede – Fuss Free Flavours

If you always thought you didn’t like swede try roasting it! Once cooked it is sweet, delicious and a perfect side. After roasting it you will love swede!

Christmas Roast Parsnips & Veg

Perfect Every Time Roast Parsnips

Roast parsnips are probably my favourite vegetable of all time. They’re juicy and sweet. My easy recipe for a classic unglazed parsnip is always my go-to.

The Best Roast Parsnips

The Best Roast Parsnips are golden and crispy on the outside and juicy and tender inside. No skinny burnt ends, no stringy middles, just pure unadulterated crispy roast parsnip joy. They’re just as tasty on the Christmas table as with any roast dinner or just as a simple weekday side.

More than Just Roast Parsnips

Whether you’re looking for fancier parsnips, an all in one vegetable dish, something totally different like onion pudding or a cauliflower cheese, there is no need to choose, just make them all! Or maybe choose a couple.

Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips – Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen

Honey roasted carrots and parsnips with rosemary and thyme – easy to prepare and delicious to eat. The perfect accompaniment to your roast dinner.

Onion Pudding – A Mummy Too

Onion pudding is a doughy and dense combination of suet, flour and onion. It’s a decadent dish with a naturally salty-sweet flavour, and it’s the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner.

Whole Roast Cauliflower Cheese – Lavender and Lovage

Whole Roast Cauliflower Cheese with Wild Garlic: A stunning and very easy to prepare cauliflower cheese that has wild garlic added to the quick cheese sauce

Easy Cauliflower Cheese – Kitchen Sanctuary

This is my easy cauliflower cheese, super simple, without the need for a béchamel sauce. Less effort, less washing up but still with all of the creamy, cheesy flavour!

Easy Christmas Vegetable Gratin – Easy Peasy Foodie

Want to save yourself a lot of hassle and effort this Christmas? Then cook my Easy Christmas Vegetable Gratin! All the key Christmas vegetables in one dish. As a bonus this looks much more difficult than it really is…your guests will think you’ve been slaving in the kitchen all morning, when really …

Christmas Gravy & Sauces

I don’t think of the sauces on a Christmas dinner as optional extras or just a garnish. A really good gravy (turkey gravy for me) is especially essential.

Simple Christmas Gravy

My make ahead gravy recipe is suitable for almost any roast. It uses a chicken base which can be finished off with the juices from any roast.

Get Ahead Gravy From Scratch

This Get Ahead Gravy recipe is perfect to make a good quantity of gravy without last minute stress. Any roast meat juices can be added to finish it off so it’s ideal for turkey gravy at Christmas or Thanksgiving, any Sunday lunch or even bangers and mash!

Alternative Christmas Gravy

Of course not everyone will want a gravy packed with meat flavour and juices. So this vegan alternative is a great alternative gravy option.

The Best Vegan Gravy – Cook Veggielicious

A delicious, hearty vegan gravy recipe that’s packed full of flavour. Perfect for your veggie roast dinner, with mashed potatoes or for Christmas.

Basic Cranberry Sauce

This simple and classic version will hit the spot if you want to upgrade from a pre made option.

Homemade Whole Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Whole Cranberry Sauce is a real cut above anything store-bought. As it only takes around 10 minutes to make, I can't see a time when I'll buy it again. The pure and simple flavour is second to none and the texture is just wonderful.

Homemade Smooth Cranberry Sauce

Making your own Smooth Cranberry Sauce is incredibly simple – it takes less than 15 minutes and can be made with fresh or frozen cranberries. Forget Ocean Spray, this is the cranberry sauce you'll want on your table from now on!

Next Level Cranberry Sauces

Or like with all the other options, you can take it to the next level with these varying methods and flavour additions.

Easy Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce – Farmersgirl Kitchen

Easy Cranberry & Red Wine Sauce is super simple to make with only three ingredients. Serve warm or cold as the perfect accompaniment to turkey, ham, lamb, pork, and game.

Cranberry Compote with Rosemary – Jo’s Kitchen Larder

This Easy Cranberry Compote (Sauce) with Rosemary is not only for Christmas & it’s super versatile! Pair it with cold meats & roasts or sweet treats instead!

Traditional Bread Sauce

I am obsessed with bread sauce at Christmas and you should be too. If you haven’t tried it before, please give it a go, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Homemade Bread Sauce with Panko

This Homemade Bread Sauce recipe is traditional in flavour but super creamy and made with handy store cupboard breadcrumbs. Don’t relegate this classic chicken and turkey accompaniment to Christmas, let’s start eating it all year round!

Christmas Yorkshire Puddings

Any roast dinner without Yorkshires is a sad roast dinner in my opinion. And lets be honest, Christmas dinner is really just the king of roasts.

Perfect Simple Yorkshire Pudding

No faff, no fuss, no fail Yorkshires. No variations needed.

Proper Yorkshire Puddings

My Proper Yorkshire Puddings are like the ones that my grandparents generation made. Golden brown, crispy on top, a little puddingy down below and with a hole which is the perfect gravy receptacle. I’ve has such great feedback from my Yorkie Pud recipe, you should definitely try it too!

So now head to the comments and tell me what your Best Christmas Side Dishes and recipes are!

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