45 Best Christmas Side Dishes That Deserve a Spot on Your Holiday Table

Putting together the perfect Christmas dinner menu is no easy feat. Even once you settle on the main dish — a tried-and-true classic like Christmas ham, turkey (not just for Thanksgiving!) or something more unconventional — you still have to come up with a balanced assortment of Christmas side dishes to round out the meal. Snag a few favorites from your Thanksgiving spread (stuffing, Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes, to name a few) and consider a few unique side dishes for an extra festive table.

You'll find crowd-pleasing recipes to fit every need, whether you're eyeing Christmas salads full of the season's best, traditional dishes to complement your main or healthy Christmas recipes that are packed with delicious flavor. Whether you're on the hunt for side dishes for prime rib or some standout side dishes for ham, we've gathered some real winners. With recipes for roasted butternut squash, buttery rolls, glazed carrots and other veggie-heavy trimmings, your menu is guaranteed to please every palette at your Christmas table, vegetarians and meat lovers alike. And since you already have a million other things to do on Christmas day, we made sure that all of these tried-and-tested recipes are super quick and easy to make, so you can spend your holiday cozying up with the people you love most — and not in the kitchen.