Planning your Christmas dinner menu and looking for easy side dishes to add to your holiday table? These 40 make-ahead Christmas side dish recipes are perfect for feeding a crowd at your holiday feast.
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While Christmas dinner is one of my favorite meals of the year, the last thing I want is to be is stuck in the kitchen all day preparing a big feast. I would rather be spending time with my family enjoying all of our holiday traditions like opening presents, watching Christmas movies, and enjoying all the delicious holiday treats.
That’s why I love finding ways to get a little ahead of the holiday cooking. Being able to prepare some of the Christmas sides in advance is a great way to save time on Christmas day so it feels less stressful. Make-ahead side dishes can be prepped the day before and ready to bake, reheat and then serve when it’s time for your holiday dinner.
So, to make your holiday meal planning easier this Christmas, I thought I would share some easy make-ahead sides that include creamy potato dishes, veggies, fresh holiday-inspired salads, and comforting casseroles that can be prepped ahead of time so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying all the holiday fun.
Looking for more easy and festive Christmas recipes?
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- 40 Festive Christmas Party Food Ideas
40 Make-Ahead Side Dishes for Christmas Dinner
Take the stress out of your Christmas dinner with these make-ahead side dish recipes. You can prepare them in advance to save time on Christmas Day and serve them for potlucks, Christmas dinner or any holiday gathering.
1
Little Nonni
Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
Orzo pesto pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano is an easy and flavorful dish that's ready in under 30 minutes.
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2
Semi Homemade Kitchen
Cranberry Fluff Salad
This light and creamy cranberry fluff salad is made with canned cranberries, pineapple, and Cool Whip. It's an easy no-bake holiday favorite!
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3
Chef Ani
Roasted Carrots with Spicy Maple Glaze and Pistachios
Spiced Maple Glazed Roasted Carrots with Pistachios is easy, delicious, and perfect for any holiday dinner.
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4
Tessie's Table
Easy Southern Broccoli Casserole
Cheesy broccoli casserole with a buttery Ritz cracker topping that's perfect to make the day before and bake it when you need it.
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5
Here to Cook
Cauliflower Stuffing
This cauliflower stuffing recipe is a healthy replacement for your traditional stuffing with a variety of delicious flavors.
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6
The Chaotic Table
Apple Sausage Stuffing
This apple sausage stuffing is made with savory sausage, Granny Smith apples, toasted bread, fresh herbs, and chicken stock for an easy holiday side dish.
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7
Craving Something Healthy
Low Sugar Cranberry Orange Relish
This fresh, low-sugar cranberry orange relish takes less than 10 minutes to make with fresh (or frozen cranberries), an orange, and nuts.
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8
The Sage Apron
Golden Beet Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
Golden Beet Salad is made with marinated beets, golden raisins, toasted walnuts and a delicious homemade Honey Tarragon Vinaigrette
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9
Hip Hip Gourmet
Cream Cheese Corn Recipe
This cream cheese corn is creamy, buttery, and packed with sweet and savory flavor that everyone will love.
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10
Home Cooking Collective
Brioche Dinner Rolls
Made from a buttery, enriched dough, these brioche dinner rolls will be the hit of your holiday meal. An overnight chill yields a soft, fluffy pull-apart texture and allows you to prep ahead.
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11
Crayons and Cravings
Party Potatoes
Party potatoes with cream cheese and sour cream is the ultimate rich and comforting mashed potato recipe for Christmas dinner or potlucks.
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12
The Lavender Apron
Creamy Cucumber Salad with Dill
Creamy cucumber salad with dill, made the French way with crème fraîche or the Baltic way with sour cream. Salted first so it stays creamy.
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13
100 Days of Real Food
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Creamy, naturally sweet mashed sweet potatoes are quick, healthy, and perfect for holiday dinners!
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14
Organically Addison
Southern Mac and Cheese
This Southern mac and cheese is creamy, cheesy and so delicious and great for the holidays.
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15
Risa’s Family Kitchen
Big Soft Fluffy Dinner Rolls
Irresistibly soft and buttery, these Big Soft Fluffy Dinner Rolls are a perfect side for holiday with 35 rolls made with each batch.
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16
Bless This Meal
Garlic Double Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Garlic Double Cheddar Mashed Potatoes mashed silky smooth and baked under bubbly cheese. It's a delicious holiday side dish everyone will love.
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17
Thanksgiving Mommy
Oven Roasted Vegetables
Easy oven roasted vegetables with carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes is a simple side dish for your Christmas dinner.
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18
Recipes From a Pantry
Christmas Salad
This festive Christmas pasta salad is not only light and colorful but also loaded with creamy baby mozzarella, crunchy veggies, and a tangy dressing.
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19
State of Dinner
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes (with Heavy Cream)
These creamy and flavorful make-ahead mashed potatoes can be prepped 3 days ahead for stress-free entertaining!
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20
Budget Delicious
Festive Christmas Focaccia Bread
Celebrate the holidays with homemade Christmas focaccia bread, soft, fluffy, and easily decorated with festive herbs and veggies.
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21
An Edible Mosaic
Easy Fresh Cranberry and Orange Relish
Made with fresh cranberries, orange juice + zest, and the perfect amount of sugar, this easy 10-minute relish is deliciously sweet and tangy.
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22
The Oregon Dietitian
Easy Green Bean Casserole From Scratch
This easy green bean casserole from scratch uses fresh green beans and a creamy mushroom sauce with no canned soup needed!
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23
The Bluster and The Burrow
Spinach Squares
These cheesy spinach squares are a nostalgic family favorite—crispy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. They are perfect for holiday gatherings as they come together with just a few ingredients.
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24
Spend With Pennies
Scalloped Potatoes
This scalloped potatoes recipe, has layers of potatoes baked in a creamy sauce (cheese optional), and makes for the perfect comforting holiday side.
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25
The Forked Spoon
This Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
This creamy, crispy-topped casserole tastes just like the one from your childhood, and the slow cooker does all the work.
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26
Modern Honey
Easy Mac and Cheese
This easy, creamy, cheesy homemade mac and cheese recipe is perfect for adding to your Christmas dinner menu.
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27
Mae's Menu
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
This scalloped sweet potato recipe is creamy, savory, and simple with no roux required. A perfect holiday side.
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28
Packed For Life
Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
This roasted beet and goat cheese salad is fresh, earthy, and a little fancy, but still easy enough to wipe up for holiday dinners.
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29
Southern Food and Fun
Garlic Herb Roasted Baby Potatoes
Garlic herb roasted potatoes, crisp outside and fluffy inside. It's an easy and delicious side dish for your holiday table.
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30
Little Black Skillet
Streusel-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
This streusel-topped sweet potato casserole recipe skips the marshmallows and goes straight for the good stuff: a buttery, brown sugar-pecan crumble that's perfect for your holiday dinner.
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31
She's Not Cookin'
Easy Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
Everyone will love this loaded cheesy Brussels sprouts side dish that is perfect for the holidays even non veggie lovers.
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32
Small Town Woman
Ham Casserole
This ham casserole is made with pasta, onion, broccoli, and smoked ham in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, perfectly seasoned with garlic, thyme, and marjoram.
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33
Seasonal Cravings
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Creamy, golden and comforting, creamy scalloped potatoes are a classic side that’s perfect for Christmas dinner!
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34
Neighbor Food
Stove Top Stuffing in the Oven
Store bought Stove Top Stuffing is baked in the oven with fresh veggies and herbs for a shortcut holiday side dish that tastes homemade!
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35
Whole New Mom
Brussels Sprout Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries, Pomegranates, Feta Cheese, Almonds, and Granny Smith Apples and Honey Mustard Vinaigrette is perfect for your holiday table.
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36
Get Inspired Everyday!
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
These easy-to-make cheesy mashed potatoes are based on the super popular twice-baked potatoes. Whether you make them with the classic bacon, cheddar, and green onion combination or with prosciutto and sage, everyone is going to love these.
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37
Dear Crissy
Yam Casserole With Marshmallows
Sweet and creamy yam casserole with marshmallows, brown sugar, and butter is an easy holiday side dish for Christmas.
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38
A Cedar Spoon
Cheesy Butternut Squash Orzo
Cheesy Butternut Squash Orzo is a warm, cheesy dish mixing orzo, roasted butternut squash and a creamy cheese sauce topped with fresh sage.
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39
Quiche My Grits
Cranberry Brussels Sprouts
Cranberry Brussels Sprouts with maple glazed carrots will make the perfect side dish for your holiday meal.
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40
Kitchen Ready Betty
Asparagus Tomato Salad
Try this easy asparagus tomato salad recipe, perfect as a side dish or light main, packed with fresh ingredients.
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Don’t forget your holiday dessert!
- 48 Deliciously Festive Christmas Desserts
- 36 Festive Christmas Cheesecake Recipes
- 35 Holiday Peppermint Desserts
- 30 Easy Gingerbread Dessert Recipes
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