Between all the hearty casseroles and meat mains, you’ll want some veggies on your plate this Christmas. To help you craft your best Christmas menu yet, we’ve curated a collection of Christmas vegetable side dishes that will complement your ham or roast. From traditional Christmas side dishes like sweet potato casserole and green beans to soon-to-be traditions like Swiss chard with portobellos or spinach gratin, here are our best Christmas vegetable side dishes.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Allrecipes Magazine
Roasting Brussels sprouts gives them a sweet, caramelized taste. “This is my favorite way to make Brussels sprouts,” says reviewer minka m.
Sesame Green Beans
Dianne
Green beans are fried with sesame seeds and then simmered in chicken broth for a tender yet crisp result: “…the beans were bright green fresh and with a just right taste of sesame from the oil and seeds,” says reviewer naples34102.
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
CookinCyn
This creamy, cheesy gratin is going to be your new favorite way to enjoy Brussels sprouts. “The cream takes away the bitterness you usually find in Brussels,” says recipe creator Creative Caterer. “This is a family favorite during the holidays!”
Merritt’s Butternut Squash Gratin
Godivagirl
The herbed cheese and breadcrumb topping adds a savory touch to sweet winter squash. But first, learn how to peel and cut butternut squash.
Onions Baked with Rosemary and Cream
moloch16
The blend of onion and rosemary will summon everyone to the dinner table with its fragrant aroma. Slow roasting onions gives them a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s hard to resist.
Chef John’s Sweet Potato Casserole
Allrecipes
If the classic marshmallow topping is too sweet for your tastes, try Chef John’s subtly sweet maple syrup and pistachio topping — it’s sure to stand out from the crowd.
Honey and Rosemary Sweet Potatoes
LilSnoo
Keep things simple with these sweet and salty baked sweet potatoes. The honey and rosemary glaze caramelizes as it bakes, creating a crisp outside and tender inside.
Danish Christmas Red Cabbage
Soup Loving Nicole
“In Denmark it is traditional to serve a cooked pickled red cabbage for the Christmas Eve dinner,” says recipe creator LILLELI. “This is my mother’s, and it is so easy to make and will be a great side dish to any roast duck, turkey or goose.”
The Most Delicious Green Beans
AnneHJ
Skip the green bean casserole and go for this casserole layered with green beans, onion, bacon, and almonds drizzled in an apple cider vinegar and sugar glaze.
Chef John’s Candied Yams
Photo by Chef John.
“Sure, everyone knows orange-fleshed sweet potatoes aren’t really yams, but it makes for a shorter name,” says Chef John. “I’m not a huge sweet side dish person, but I make an exception for these candied yams that use lemon instead of orange juice as a sweetener.”
Roasted Butternut Squash with Onions, Spinach, and Craisins
Allrecipes Magazine
Here’s a fresh, seasonal salad you’ll want on your holiday table. Butternut squash, red onion, fresh spinach, dried cranberries, and pecans make a combination fit for a special occasion.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Vegetables With Thyme and Maple Syrup
Photo by Allrecipes.
Put winter root vegetables on display in simple form, including sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips.
Chef John’s Creamy Corn Pudding
Chef John
“Corn pudding doesn’t get the same attention as some other holiday side dishes, but it’s a real crowd-pleaser that pairs perfectly with all your favorite special-occasion meats,” says Chef John of this traditional holiday side dish.
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Browned Butter and Toasted Marshmallows
My Hot Southern Mess
If you’re having a scaled down holiday this year, try swapping the casserole for these whole, twice-baked sweet potatoes.
Savory Swiss Chard with Portobellos
AllrecipesPhoto
“Absolutely delicious way to make Swiss chard. It has a comforting flavor and beautiful presentation,” says recipe creator TiffanyRae. “The colors are amazing and I often prepare this for family for Christmas dinner paired with standing rib roast and mashed potatoes and gravy.”
Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes
France C
A stovetop pressure cooker makes super fluffy, flavorful mashed potatoes every time. This recipe can be adjusted for an electric pressure cooker as well.
Pommes Anna with Gruyere
lutzflcat
Buttery, tender Yukon gold potatoes are layered with Gruyere cheese and sautéed onions in this rich French dish.
Easy Creamed Onions
bd.weld
Tiny and sweet, creamy pearl onions make an excellent pairing for succulent meats like ham or beef.
Honey Glazed Carrots and Pears
Baking Nana
Pears and carrots are tossed in a sweet glaze of brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a vegetable dish that’s just as much a dessert as a side dish!
Christmas Roasted Vegetables
Buckwheat Queen
Butternut squash, delicata squash, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, red potatoes, and carrots combine in this root vegetable medley. “It’s a great side dish for beef, as well as pork and poultry,” says recipe creator Snowbunny.
Parmesan Roasted Acorn Squash
Allrecipes Magazine
Acorn squash is often overlooked, but it makes an excellent alternative to all the sugary squash and sweet potato recipes you usually have this time of year. Here it’s roasted simply with Parmesan cheese and fresh thyme.
Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts
Buckwheat Queen
Whether or not you roast them on an open fire, chestnuts make any side dish instantly festive. Allrecipes Allstar Buckwheat Queen describes it as, “A must have on your holiday table.”
Fresh Spinach Gratin
Buckwheat Queen
With the exception of the breadcrumb topping, you can assemble this gratin ahead of time. Fresh spinach and Swiss cheese combine to make a rich side dish fit for the holidays.
Mom’s Zesty Carrots with Horseradish
lutzflcat
Horseradish adds a spicy bite to sweet carrots without overwhelming the dish: “Don’t let the word ‘horseradish’ scare you away from this recipe. Its flavor is there, but is subtle,” says Allrecipes Allstar lutzflcat.
Sweet Potato and Gruyere Gratin
lutzflcat
A Gruyere sauce with fresh herbs adds a savory flair to sweet potatoes.
More Christmas Recipe Inspiration:
naples34102