If you are looking ahead to a big huge holiday party this Christmas then I’m sure you need quite a few amazing Christmas side dishes for a crowd. I’ve rounded up over 40 amazing delicious recipes here that you will love. Are you looking for something healthy, something you can make in the air fryer, something low carb, or something classic but fancy?
You’ll find it all here!
Picking Christmas Side Dishes for a Crowd
Planning a Christmas party can be exciting and daunting all at the same time. After all, you get to be surrounded by your family and friends and bring them all magic and cheer and memories to last a lifetime.
But then again…
YOU are responsible for bringing all your family and friends magic and cheer and memories to last a lifetime this year!
…gulp.
But don’t fear, even if you are planning for a big crowd at Christmas this year the best thing you can do is to plan ahead, and I can really help you in that facet. I love Christmas and I write a lot about it on my blog.
So not only can I help you with this post with plenty enough amazing Christmas side dishes to choose from that you won’t have to look anywhere else, but also with:
- Christmas Appetizers to Please a Crowd
- 17 Christmas Casseroles You’ll Love
- Christmas Party Games that are Fun and Entertaining (for large groups)
- a free printable Christmas Menu Planner
- and so much more… here are all my Christmas archives to help you out this year!
Because I want you to have the best holiday ever this year and hopefully help minimize the stress of hosting for you a bit too.
Christmas Side Dishes for a Crowd
I have found 41 recipes of all sorts for your Christmas side dishes but split them up into a few categories to help you find what you’re looking for.
First, you will find your make-ahead and Crockpot Christmas side dishes (because sometimes having one or two done ahead of time makes a world of difference.)
Then you’ll find your healthy Christmas side dishes like those that are gluten free, low carb. etc.
The next section is cold Christmas side dishes, because sometimes it’s really hard to have one more thing that needs to be kept warm all at the same time. A festive holiday salad could be just the extra side you need.
And finally, you’ll find fruit and vegetable side dishes. Now this doesn’t have to mean just steamed or sautéed veggies. It’s pretty much any holiday side featuring a fruit or veggie in it.
Now, let’s find the perfect sides for your holiday together.
Make-Ahead and Crockpot Christmas Side Dish Recipes
Slow Cooker Green Beans
These tasty Southern Style Green Beans can be easily made ahead in the crockpot so that you can free up your time and cooking space for the main course!
Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes
There is nothing quite like a creamy, cheesy potato side dish. This gluten-free scalloped potatoes recipe features roasted garlic for a delicious flavor boost. Plus, it’s easy to make in advance, making it perfect for your busy holiday!
Super Creamy Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
This Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe is so creamy, and packed with flavors! It is super easy and quick to make and only requires a few ingredients. The best thing is that you can make it in under 30 minutes in the Instant Pot.
Cheddar Corn Biscuits
These Cheddar Corn Biscuits are the perfect combination of flaky and soft! Packed with flavor and the sweetness of corn. Plus, they can be made ahead of time & frozen too!
Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
Slow cooker red cabbage with apples is a delicious, comforting dish. It’s amazing to serve with Christmas lunch or dinner. This braised red cabbage is also a healthy side dish, so it’s good to add to your menus regularly.
Healthy Christmas Side Dishes
At the bottom of this post you will find another set of “veggie” Christmas side dishes which are of course pretty healthy too. But the recipes you will find in this section tend to lean more toward special diet types of healthy foods like low carb and gluten free.
Keto Cauliflower Stuffing
Easy keto cauliflower stuffing is flavorful, caramelized, herby, and savory. With 10 minutes of prep, it’s the perfect low carb side dish for your Thanksgiving table!
Gluten Free Sweet Potato Casserole
Need a delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This dairy free Gluten Free Sweet Potato Casserole will not disappoint. It’s filled with creamy mashed sweet potatoes and topped with a sweet, crunchy oatmeal topping. Drizzle it with maple syrup and you have a winning side dish. {gluten free, dairy free}
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa
If you’re looking for healthy acorn squash recipes, this quinoa-stuffed acorn squash is easy and delicious. It’s filled with a sweet and savory blend of tender apples, crispy pancetta, parmesan cheese, and healthy, protein-rich quinoa.
This gluten-free stuffed acorn squash makes a great light main course or holiday side dish. Make it vegetarian by skipping the pancetta and upping the parmesan. Make it vegan by swapping parmesan for nutritional yeast.
Whole Roast Buttercup Squash (or Any Winter Squash)
Whole Roast Buttercup Squash (or Any Winter Squash) is super easy if you bake it in one piece. Just wash and pop in the oven. When it’s done it will cut with a butter knife!
Gluten-Free Mac’n Cheese
Now this is sort of healthy, it IS still Mac’n Cheese. But this gluten free Mac and Cheese version adds a bit of a twist on a classic favorite side dish for you this Christmas.
Creamy Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
If you have anyone in your family (or yourself) who is dairy-sensitive you don’t have to miss out on all the goodness of creamy mashed potatoes this Christmas with this Dairy Free Mashed Potato Recipe.
Gluten Free Corn Casserole
You don’t have to give up classic comfort food just because you are gluten-free. This Gluten Free Corn Casserole is a simple side dish that will be a hit on your Thanksgiving or Christmas table and no one will know it’s gluten-free.
Baked Cheesy Cauliflower
If you are looking for a simple, quick yet extremely delicious side dish for your Christmas dinner, this Baked Cheesy Cauliflower (or Cauliflower Cheese) recipe is perfect for you. You can even indulge in this on a low carb or Keto diet plan.
Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole
This modern green bean casserole recipe is a casserole in name only. We deconstructed and elevated the traditional Thanksgiving side dish by using fresh green beans, a creamy homemade mushroom sauce, and even homemade fried onions.
Cold Christmas Side Dishes
It’s really helpful to have some cold side dishes at your Christmas gathering too. It’s really easy to run out of cooking space between all the different dishes you are preparing for Christmas.
Having some cold side dishes will free up space on the stove and in the oven.
Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad
Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad is a delightfully sweet and savory dish full of flavor and texture. Crispy prosciutto, sliced pears, walnuts, shallots, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and peppery arugula tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette. Make it in 20 minutes
Festive Winter Salad Recipe
I love this winter salad recipe. It’s holiday-ish, the flavors are addictive, it’s got lots of texture, and it has a fabulous citrus sweet and tangy dressing.
Ready in 15 minutes or, with shortcuts, 5 minutes! So add this pretty salad to your holiday spread and make it as simple or as complex as you like.
Pomegranate Wild Rice Salad
This wild rice winter salad recipe is fantastic for a holiday table. Many of the flavors are winter holiday favorites, it is simple to throw together, and it is absolutely beautiful! Now, let’s dive in!
Cranberry Jell-O Salad
Cranberry Jello Salad is made with cherry Jello, whole cranberries, pecans, and crushed pineapple. It’s a favorite congealed salad to serve as a holiday side dish!
Vegetable and Fruit Side Dishes
All of these recipes contain fruit or vegetables. Many are just veggies like roasted carrots or glazed asparagus, but a lot also just feature veggies like spinach quiche or apple stuffing.
Apple Sage Stuffing
This Simple Apple Stuffing recipe is sure to make this holiday season all the more delicious. Sweet apples add a new level of awesome to buttery-savory stuffing. Simple to whip up and full of fresh herbs and flavor. It’s the perfect compliment to any turkey or Thanksgiving dinner!
Butternut Squash au Gratin
Butternut squash au gratin is the cheesy delicious side dish your holiday table is missing! This perfect Fall recipe features velvety butternut squash baked in a gruyere cream sauce and topped with golden, buttery breadcrumbs.
Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic and White Wine
Sautéed Mushrooms with Garlic and White Wine is a healthy, gluten-free side that is loaded with flavor and comes together quickly. These buttery mushrooms call for just a few ingredients, including mushrooms, garlic, parsley, and white wine
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Apples
In this fall dish, we have butternut squash roasted with tart, fresh cranberries and sweet apples. This roasted veggie and fruit side dish adds a pop of color and flavor to any spread of food this holiday season!
Marinated Brussels Sprouts with Maple Balsamic
These tasty brussel sprouts with bacon will become your new favorite holiday side dish. The secret to getting them to come out perfectly is roasting them on a super-high heat!
Roasted Potatoes with Mushroom Side Dish
These perfect Roasted Potatoes with Mushrooms make a scrumptious addition to your next meal! This simple blend of potatoes, mushrooms, and pancetta is seasoned with a clove of flavorful garlic and then roasted to perfection. It’s then garnished with fresh tarragon and dill to make an excellent side dish to pair with any meal.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
With crunchy pecans and a little bit of sweet brown sugar, these Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes will be your new favorite side dish at dinner. Whether you’re making a casual weeknight dinner or planning your holiday meals, you will want these delicious potatoes on the table.
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan and Rosemary
These crispy air fryer sweet potatoes are a great side dish for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus I love that you can make them in the air fryer because having more ways to cook your Christmas meal is always a huge help!
Roasted Acorn Squash – Easy Healthy Side Dish
This tasty and healthy oven roasted acorn squash is a great side dish to serve during the holidays and is filled with flavors everyone will love.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Air fryer butternut squash – a basic yet flavorful dish to cook with 6 ingredients. A vegan, gluten-free, and easy butternut squash recipe to make with little effort. A fabulous side dish to go with a main meal.
Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots
With winter comes the season of all things roasted, including these delicious honey roasted carrots and parsnips. What a beautiful but healthy side dish for your Christmas gathering.
French Onion Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes, smothered in a French Onion mixture coated with plenty of cheese and baked to perfection. Onion soup meets scalloped potatoes in this French Onion Potatoes recipe, for a dish you’ll want over mashed potatoes any day.
Honey Butter Skillet Corn
Honey Butter Skillet Corn is a simple side dish that pairs perfectly with a main meal. So quick and easy to prepare, you can make it last minute for holidays, potlucks, or family get-togethers.
Golden Roasted Beets with Cherries
These golden roasted beets with cherries are such a colorful, healthy, and festive side dish that you will be proud to be serving them at your next party.
Herb Potatoes: Your New Favorite Potato Recipe
If you are looking for the perfect side dish or holiday recipe, look no further! This recipe for Herb Potatoes is quick, easy, and beyond delicious. Ready in under 30 minutes, it is the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Make them today.
Spinach Ricotta Pie
Mom’s Spinach-Ricotta Pie – One of the most delicious dishes ever! It’s perfect as an appetizer, side dish, or even a vegetarian entrée.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
There is no better side dish than this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad! It’s packed with all the veggies, nuts, seeds, and the best olive oil/vinegar mix for maximum flavor!
French Roasted Mini Potatoes
By roasting bite-sized potato cubes instead of larger spuds, you achieve superior crispness per bite in less roasting time. As the potatoes roast, the exterior moisture evaporates from the small cubes, leaving lots of crunchy edges contrasting the soft, steamy interiors. Try French roasted mini potatoes for one of your Christmas side dishes this year.
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Made with layers of tender potatoes and a rich, creamy, aromatic sauce, Scalloped Potatoes with Cheese make for something classically delicious. With a few simple ingredients, this homemade scalloped potatoes recipe comes together in a snap and is the BEST Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving side dish ever!
Sour Cream Green Bean Casserole
This sour cream green bean casserole is a classic holiday comfort food at its finest! This green bean casserole uses fresh green beans and sour cream instead of cream of mushroom soup.
Zucchini Casserole
This delicious Zucchini Casserole is a cheesy, creamy, and comforting side dish made with fresh zucchini and yellow squash, mayonnaise, sour cream, panko breadcrumbs, and lots of cheese. It’s so easy to make and pairs perfectly with all your dinnertime favorites like chicken, beef, or fish.
Maple Roasted Carrots
This is a really tasty way to serve up carrots. And using rainbow carrots for this Maple Roasted Carrots Recipe is a great way to make this Christmas side dish even more fantastic.
Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole adds a new twist by including both marshmallows and pecan streusel in this favorite holiday recipe. It’s a beloved side dish at every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal!