It’s hard to imagine Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, ever being on the sidelines instead of in the spotlight, but these side dishes speak for themselves. Actually, Ina Garten’s best holiday side dishes are so good, they just might steal the spotlight from your entree (unless you’re making one of her dinner recipes). No one understands simple, elegant celebrations more than Garten, and her party ethos shines through in these recipes. From classics like baked beans to unexpected sides like savory bread pudding, these Ina Garten side dishes are more than worthy of celebration. But if you want leftovers, trust us – you’ll want to make more than one of these recipes.
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Maple Baked Beans
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Sweet and smoky maple baked beans pair beautifully with a glazed ham or other pork entree. Serve the leftovers for breakfast the next day with a few eggs baked right in, and you’ll be your family’s hero.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Winter Slaw
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A lot of holiday meals are hopelessly heavy, but Garten’s crunchy winter slaw brightens the entire menu right up. Crunchy bitter greens are dressed in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing, and are served with pile of shaved Parmesan on top and a sprinkling of dried cranberries.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Sour Cream Corn Bread
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Sour cream makes this the most moist, rich corn bread you’ve ever had. It’s perfect for scooping up beans and gravy and sauces, or toasted with salted butter and jam.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Roasted Broccolini & Cheddar
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This recipe is barely a recipe, but the flavors are incredible. Broccolini is roasted, then paired with cheddar and lemon juice to create a vegetable side you will legitimately not want to stop eating.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Emily’s English Roasted Potatoes
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These are called Emily’s English roasted potatoes. The Emily in question? None other than Mary Poppins herself, Emily Blunt, and her 4-ingredient roasted potato recipe is just as magical as her character.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Fig & Goat Cheese Toasts
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Served as a side or an appetizer, these craveable fig and goat cheese toasts will be the talk of your dinner. The combination of sweet, tangy, crunchy, and smooth will keep you going back for bite after bite.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
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We’ve always had a soft spot for twice-baked potatoes, but swapping out regular spuds for sweet potatoes makes this side dish really special. Garten uses Taleggio cheese in her recipe, but if you can’t find it, swap it for Brie.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Puréed Potatoes with Lemon
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Mashed potatoes are delicious, but you need something fancier for the holidays. Garten’s puréed potatoes with lemon will do the trick nicely, and the pop of citrus will help brighten up the rest of your feast.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Mushroom & Leek Bread Pudding
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Boring old stuffing is for the rest of ’em. Garten favors a savory bread pudding, this one studded with mushrooms and leeks.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.
Roasted Cauliflower Snowflakes
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We just can’t get over how cute it is to call these roasted cauliflower florets “snowflakes.” They do have a lacy, icy appearance, thanks to the roasted cauliflower’s color and the topping of Japanese panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Get the recipe from Barefoot Contessa.