11 Best Christmas Side Dishes That'll Make You Look Like a Pro

Forget boring sides this holiday season. These 11 show-stopping recipes will have everyone reaching for seconds—and asking for your recipes.

1. Make-Ahead Holiday Potatoes That’ll Be Gone in Minutes

Close-up of cooked potato wedges topped with herbs on a spoon. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Domino Potatoes Perfect for entertaining—prep them ahead and watch them disappear from the table. These aren’t your ordinary mashed potatoes.

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2. Skip the Canned Stuff: Homemade Cranberry Sauce Done Right

A white bowl filled with cranberry sauce on a plaid fabric background, accompanied by a halved pomegranate and star anise. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Keto Cranberry Sauce Forget that gelatinous blob from the can. This fresh, tart sauce is what cranberry dreams are made of—and it takes 20 minutes.
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3. The Green Bean Casserole That Changed the Game

A blue speckled dish filled with green bean casserole topped with crispy fried onions, served with a silver serving spoon. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Creamy Green Bean Casserole You’ve probably had the traditional version a hundred times. This one? It’s the real deal—creamy, crispy, and absolutely craveable.
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4. Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: Fancy Meets Easy

Bundles of asparagus wrapped in crispy bacon are arranged on a wooden board, accompanied by lemon slices, salt, and pepper. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus This looks like you spent hours on it. Spoiler: you didn’t. Just bacon, asparagus, and a grill—that’s it. That’s the magic.
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5. These Brussels Sprouts Will Convert the Haters

A cast iron skillet with roasted potatoes and herbs beside a slate board with sliced cooked meat on a wooden table. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Brussel Sprouts au Gratin Creamy, crispy, and absolutely loaded with cheese and garlic. Even the Brussels sprout skeptics are coming back for more.
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6. Why Butternut Squash Needs to Be on Your Holiday Table

A salad with arugula, roasted pumpkin slices, feta cheese, pomegranate seeds, and pumpkin seeds. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Roasted Butternut Squash Sweet, savory, and perfectly seasonal. Roasted until caramelized on the edges, this side is pure autumn-to-winter comfort.
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7. The Ultimate Make-Ahead Holiday Side That Feeds a Crowd

A pot of creamy macaroni and cheese seasoned with black pepper, placed on a burlap cloth near a wooden bowl. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese Creamy, cheesy comfort that keeps everyone happy. Make it ahead, pop it in the oven before guests arrive—holiday entertaining just got easier.
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8. Restaurant-Quality Creamed Spinach (Ready in 20 Minutes)

A skillet with creamy spinach topped with crispy bacon, next to a metal spoon. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Steakhouse Keto Creamed Spinach Elegant enough for the holiday table, simple enough for a weeknight. This tastes like it came straight from a steakhouse.
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9. Smoky Brussels Sprouts + Bacon = Your New Holiday Obsession

A cast iron skillet with roasted Brussels sprouts and crispy bacon, accompanied by a wooden spoon. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

BBQ Glazed Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon If you can only make one Brussels sprouts recipe this year, make this one. Smoky, sweet, and completely irresistible.
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10. The Elegant Side Dish No One Expects (But Should)

A skillet of creamy cabbage and bacon, perfect as a Thanksgiving side dish, sits next to sliced steak on a rustic tray. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Creamed Leeks Recipe Subtle, sophisticated, and seriously delicious. Creamed leeks are the elegant side that’ll have guests asking what they’re eating.
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11. Simple Roasted Green Beans That Prove Easy = Delicious

A white dish filled with seasoned green beans garnished with lemon slices. Two garlic bulbs are placed beside the dish. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Roasted Green Beans Recipe Sometimes simple is best. These roasted green beans are where quality ingredients and minimal fuss collide beautifully.
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Ready to ditch boring sides? Pick your favorites and prep ahead—most of these can be made the day before and reheated. Your Ralph Lauren holiday table will thank you.

Up Next: The Grinch’s Guide to Perfect Roast Beast

A cooked rack of lamb is placed on a platter garnished with herbs. The background includes lit candles and small pumpkins. — Image Credit: Girl Carnivore.

Even the Grinch’s tiny heart would grow three sizes for these showstopping roasts. We’ve perfected every technique, from our famous prime rib that had all of Whoville asking for seconds to a tenderloin that’s worthy of the Christmas feast. These recipes aren’t just dinner – they’re guaranteed to bring joy to every table, and they’re so good that even a Grinch would share.
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