A Christmas table feels more complete when the sides offer a little variety. These Christmas side dishes bring together creamy potatoes, fresh salads, tender vegetables, and comforting casseroles, with cranberry and apple flavors woven through the list. There are choices for a traditional turkey dinner, a glazed ham, or a smaller family gathering.
Think about both texture and cooking space as you choose. A crisp salad can balance a rich cheese dish, while a slow cooker side leaves an oven rack available. Pick a few favorites that fit your main course, then plan which parts you can prepare ahead.
1. Cheesy Boursin Scalloped Potatoes
Thin Yukon Gold potato slices bake in a creamy sauce made with garlic-and-herb Boursin, milk, and cream. Mozzarella melts across the top, while fresh chives add a gentle onion finish. Cover the dish first so the layers soften, then uncover it for golden spots. Let it rest before scooping.
Serve these cheesy Boursin scalloped potatoes beside your favorite holiday roast.
2. Pear Walnut Salad with Cranberries and Goat Cheese
Fresh pear slices, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries sit over tender mixed greens in this colorful salad. Chilled goat cheese adds creamy crumbles, and a lemon-Dijon dressing brings a bright finish. Slice the pears and dress the leaves close to serving so everything keeps its fresh texture.
Balance richer dishes with this pear walnut salad with cranberries and goat cheese.
3. Crockpot Bacon Green Bean Casserole
Canned green beans and cooked bacon warm together in a creamy mushroom sauce seasoned with Worcestershire and garlic powder. Fried onions go inside for flavor, with another portion saved for a crisp topping. Drain the beans thoroughly, and add those final onions just before serving.
Keep the oven available with this crockpot bacon green bean casserole for your holiday table.
4. Brown Sugar Glazed Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Overlapping sweet potato rounds bake beneath a buttery brown sugar and maple glaze. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla give the dish warm flavor without a marshmallow topping. Covered baking softens the slices, while an uncovered finish thickens the sauce and browns the edges. Rest before serving.
Spoon these brown sugar glazed scalloped sweet potatoes alongside turkey or a savory holiday roast.
5. Healthy Chopped Christmas Salad
Finely chopped kale and cooled quinoa make a hearty base for pomegranate, dried cranberries, and toasted walnuts. Goat cheese adds a creamy finish, while cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon brighten the dressing. Massage the kale briefly, then save the nuts and cheese for the last step.
Bring fresh color to dinner with this healthy chopped Christmas salad beside warm casseroles.
6. 5-Ingredient Jiffy Corn Casserole
Whole kernel corn, creamed corn, Jiffy mix, sour cream, and butter come together in one bowl. The casserole bakes with a golden top and a soft, spoonable middle that falls between cornbread and corn pudding. Drain only the whole kernel corn, and avoid overmixing the batter.
Add this 5-ingredient Jiffy corn casserole to a Christmas menu with ham and vegetables.
7. Orange Amaretto Cranberry Sauce
Cranberries simmer with orange juice, zest, and sugar until the berries burst into a glossy sauce. Amaretto adds gentle almond flavor, with some stirred in after cooking, so this version retains alcohol. Chill the sauce to let it thicken, keeping a few berries partly whole.
Make this orange amaretto cranberry sauce ahead to serve with turkey, stuffing, or holiday pork.
8. Herb Roasted Potatoes with Blue Cheese
Red and yellow baby potatoes roast with olive oil and dried dill until their cut sides brown. Blue cheese, fresh chives, and parsley go on afterward, leaving creamy pieces among the crisp edges. Dry the potatoes thoroughly and give them room on the sheet pan.
Try these herb roasted potatoes with blue cheese alongside roast chicken or roast beef dinner.
9. Apple Cranberry Stuffing
Dry bread cubes soak up broth, butter, and eggs in this savory stuffing with apples and dried cranberries. Onion, celery, sage, and thyme bring familiar holiday flavor. Baking covered keeps the center moist, while the final uncovered stage makes the bread on top lightly crisp.
Include this apple cranberry stuffing when your Christmas meal needs a comforting side for turkey.
10. Slow Cooker Honey Butter Baby Carrots
Baby carrots cook with honey, butter, salt, and pepper until tender enough to pierce with a fork. Their own juices create a thin, glossy coating, so there is no need for extra water. Gently stir near the end to coat the carrots without breaking them.
Serve these slow cooker honey butter baby carrots with savory meats and a potato side.
11. Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Salad
Raw Brussels sprouts become easy to eat when shaved into fine ribbons. Apple, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and Parmesan add juicy, chewy, crunchy, and salty bites. A honey-Dijon dressing coats the salad, followed by a short rest to soften the leaves slightly before serving.
Choose this cranberry Brussels sprouts salad for fresh crunch beside your creamy potatoes and Christmas roasts.
12. Cheesy Sausage Potato Casserole
Browned smoked sausage and diced Yukon Gold potatoes bake with onion in a homemade cheddar sauce. Sour cream adds tang, while smoked paprika deepens the savory flavor. Cover the dish until the potatoes soften, then add the remaining cheddar for a bubbling finish. Serve smaller portions as a hearty side.
Bring this cheesy sausage potato casserole to your Christmas table.
13. Butternut Squash Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Roasted squash, fluffy quinoa, dried cranberries, pecans, and feta give this salad plenty of texture. Red onion and parsley add freshness, while maple Dijon dressing brings a sweet, tangy finish. Cool the squash and quinoa before combining, then toss gently to keep the cubes intact.
Offer this butternut squash cranberry quinoa salad beside roast turkey for a colorful Christmas meal.
14. Paula Deen’s Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Elbow macaroni cooks briefly before joining sharp cheddar, milk, sour cream, and condensed cheese soup in the slow cooker. Eggs give this version a soft, custardy texture. Gentle heat helps the mixture set without drying the edges, making it a rich side that leaves oven space free.
Spoon up Paula Deen’s crockpot mac and cheese with your favorite Christmas vegetables.
15. Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad
Freshly shredded carrots and crisp apple chunks meet dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in this uncooked salad. Mayonnaise and Greek yogurt make a light creamy dressing with honey and lemon. Coat the cut apples with lemon promptly, then combine everything close to serving for the best crunch.
Add this apple cranberry carrot salad beside roasted meats and warm holiday dishes.
16. Brown Butter Butternut Squash Casserole
Mashed butternut squash gets a nutty flavor from browned butter, with maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg adding warmth. Eggs help the filling set beneath a pecan and brown sugar crumble. Drain the cooked squash well so the casserole stays creamy, then allow a short rest after baking.
Share this brown butter butternut squash casserole with all your Christmas dinner guests.
17. Crockpot Southern Bacon and Green Beans
Fresh green beans cook slowly with crisped bacon, onion, garlic, and chicken broth. The beans become tender as they take on smoky flavor, and a final spoonful of butter adds richness. Cook the bacon first and soften the onion in its drippings before filling the crockpot.
Pair these crockpot Southern bacon and green beans with potatoes and your holiday roast.
18. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Yukon Gold potatoes are boiled and mashed with butter, warm milk, and sour cream before cheddar, bacon, and green onions join them. More cheese and bacon finish the top, which turns melted and golden in the oven. Mash gently to keep the potatoes fluffy rather than sticky.
Make this loaded mashed potato casserole for a comforting side at Christmas dinner.
19. Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts (with Cranberries and Pecans)
Halved Brussels sprouts roast cut side down until browned outside and tender inside. Toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and thick aged balsamic vinegar join them after roasting, keeping the nuts crunchy and the fruit chewy. Give the sprouts space and serve promptly for the crispest edges.
Round out dinner with these balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and pecans for Christmas.
Final Thoughts
The best Christmas side dishes fit your meal and the way you like to cook. Start with one comforting favorite, such as creamy potatoes or stuffing, then add a vegetable and a fresh salad. Cranberry sauce can bring a tart bite, especially when the rest of the plate is rich.
Check the cooking methods before you settle on the menu. A slow cooker dish can help when the oven is full, and several salads let you prepare components early. Save crisp toppings and delicate greens for the finish, then bring everything together with enough time to sit down and enjoy dinner.