Got your main dish picked out but still deciding what goes alongside it? These christmas dinner side dishes give you plenty to choose from, including golden potatoes, colorful vegetables and casseroles with browned tops.
There’s even a little salad inspiration if your menu needs some greens.
You can keep things simple or go all out with pretty potato swirls. Pick a few favorites that work with your main, rather than feeling like you need to make everything!
Christmas sides worth saving
herb-topped mashed potatoes
We’re starting off strong with this bowl of mashed potatoes. I love the little green herbs scattered over the swirls, with that golden pool right in the middle.
If you want to follow this serving idea, use a wide bowl so your garnish isn’t hidden in one small spot.
carrots with colorful toppings
How pretty are these carrots? The browned ends and glossy orange color look so good beneath the walnuts, dark red dried fruit and chopped herbs.
Try serving yours on a long platter with the carrots pointing in the same direction. There’s no need to hide those little green tops.
brussels sprouts with pecans
This Brussels sprout dish may just be one of my favorites here. I love the browned cut sides next to the cranberries and pecan pieces.
If plain sprouts aren’t what you have in mind for Christmas, save this combination for your menu. There’s plenty going on without a casserole topping.
green bean casserole
The onion topping is my favorite part of this dish! Long green beans and sliced mushrooms peek through the golden pieces, with pale sauce visible around the serving spoon.
Read also: 20 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes and Ideas for Your Next Meal
Bring yours to the table in its baking dish if you want to keep that generous, help-yourself presentation.
golden potato gratin
I am obsessed with the way these potato slices fan around the skillet. The browned patches and little green herbs make the whole dish look extra inviting.
If you want a potato side that feels a little dressier than mash, this is a lovely one to save.
roasted parsnips and carrots
Don’t want to add nuts or dried fruit to your vegetables? No problem!
This honey-roasted parsnip and carrot idea keeps the focus on long pieces with browned edges.
I love the mix of orange, yellow and deep purple. Try a few lemon wedges alongside yours, like the ones pictured here.
marshmallow sweet potato casserole
Who else is drawn straight to that toasted marshmallow topping? The spoonful shows bright orange sweet potato underneath, with pecan pieces tucked into the browned top.
Save this one if you like a sweet side on your holiday plate. I’d pair it with a simpler green vegetable rather than another sweet-topped dish.
stuffing with walnuts
There’s so much to love in this stuffing, from the golden bread pieces to the walnuts scattered across the top. The dark red dried fruit adds a pretty bit of color too.
Read also: 20 Sweet Treat Ideas With Chocolate, Berries and Plenty of Sprinkles
If you want to copy the presentation, leave a few larger bread pieces visible instead of smoothing everything flat.
golden yorkshire puddings
How cute are these little Yorkshire puddings? I love their tall golden sides and hollow centers.
You could serve a tray like this alongside roast beef with gravy in a separate jug. That way, everyone can add as much as they like.
wild rice with pecans
If you’re looking for something other than potatoes or bread, this rice idea is for you. Dark wild rice grains are mixed with pale rice, pecan pieces and bright red dried fruit.
The rosemary sprig on top is such a pretty finishing touch.
creamed spinach
Don’t want another big tray of roasted vegetables? Try creamed spinach instead.
This version has a generous scattering of grated cheese over the greens.
I’d serve it in a smaller bowl beside a platter of potatoes, with a spoon ready for those extra little helpings.
pomegranate kale salad
This salad is so pretty for Christmas. I love the bright pomegranate seeds against the dark kale, with white crumbles, green seeds and orange pieces mixed throughout.
If your menu already has plenty of baked sides, a colorful salad like this gives you another direction to go.
golden potato swirls
Okay, these little potato swirls are adorable. The ridges have browned tips, with chopped herbs scattered over the tray.
Choose a duchess potato recipe if you want to try this shape yourself. I’d leave the swirls visible on a flat serving platter rather than piling them into a bowl.
squash with goat cheese
I am in love with this color combination. Orange butternut squash, white goat cheese and red pomegranate seeds look gorgeous together.
The walnut pieces and green herbs add even more detail. Keep this one in mind if you want your vegetable side to have its own toppings rather than a separate sauce.
golden corn casserole
The corn fans are going to love this idea! The pictured serving has whole kernels throughout and a golden, cheesy-looking top.
I’d keep the serving simple, just like this. A scoop of corn casserole doesn’t need a pile of herbs or extra toppings to look inviting.
parker house rolls
Sometimes a dish of golden rolls is exactly what the table needs. These Parker House rolls sit in neat rows with shiny tops and a scattering of salt flakes.
You could bring them out in the baking dish or arrange them in a lined bread basket.
bacon-wrapped green beans
This is another green bean idea, but it’s a little different from the casserole above. Each small bundle has a strip of browned bacon around the middle.
I love how the beans extend out on both sides. Try lining the bundles up on a platter so everyone can pick one up easily.
deep red cabbage
Want a little more color on your plate? This glossy red cabbage has such a gorgeous deep shade.
You can see a cinnamon stick and star anise sitting among the ribbons.
I’d serve this beside golden potatoes so neither side gets lost on the plate.
little hasselback potatoes
I know the potato swirls above are pretty, but these little hasselbacks are another favorite. Mostly because those thin slices open up into such cute fans.
The browned skins and chopped green herbs look lovely together. Choose a hasselback potato recipe if you want this sliced style instead of mash.
colorful roasted vegetables
Last but definitely not least, we have this colorful platter of roasted vegetables. I love the deep red beet pieces next to the orange carrots and pale golden chunks.
Read also: 20 Anti Inflammatory Lunch Meal Prep Ideas With Colorful Bowls and Salads
The green leaves scattered over the top keep the presentation simple. A wide platter like this is a lovely way to show off the whole mix.