60 Christmas Vegetable Dishes to Round Out Your Holiday Menu
Make room for these healthy (and healthy-ish) sides.
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Christmastime is always full of delicious food, from the party appetizers to the delectable Christmas desserts. But that doesn't mean you should forget about vegetables. Done the right way, veggies are every bit as delicious and festive as a Christmas roast at the center of the holiday table. They add a variety of color, texture, flavor, and of course vitamins to the whole meal. And don't worry, there's also plenty of crispy bacon, creamy sauces, and melty cheese in this mix.
You'll find a bounty of winter vegetables in season to create Christmas vegetable dishes like like squash, beets, carrots, parsnips, and onions. It's also a great time to break out frozen veggies like peas and green beans for a quick last-minute side dish to add some freshness to your holiday menu. Think of vegetable side dishes like the aptly named Ultimate Winter Salad—it's loaded with roasted potatoes, dark leafy greens, and pomegranate seeds. Or, bake a Christmas casserole—you can just toss all of the ingredients into one dish and serve it hot from oven to table.
From cozy soups to fresh and crunchy tossed salads, there is a vegetarian Christmas dish on this list for every palate. Between all of the cookie swaps and holiday gatherings, you'll want to make room for these healthy Christmas recipes and those that are, you know, healthy-ish. It's all about balance, right?
Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon
Want to make veggies appealing to everyone, even picky eaters? Smother them in cheese, bacon, and buttery crackers. No one can resist a big scoop!
Get Ree's Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole with Bacon recipe.
Fried Mashed Potato Balls
If you make mashed potatoes one night, save the leftovers and make these crispy bites the next day! The soft and creamy center is made even better with mozzarella cheese.
Get Ree's Fried Mashed Potato Balls recipe.
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Roasted until crisp and golden and then basted with a sweet-tart balsamic glaze, these sprouts will balance out the richness of a Christmas main course like ham or beef.
Get the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates
Why make plain ol' green beans when you can make them tangy and sweet and savory and crunchy all at the same time? Beyond the pomegranate seeds, you'll also find shallots, ginger, and pistachios.
Get Ree's Sautéed Green Beans with Pomegranates recipe.
Roasted Carrots with Honey Herb Butter
Roasting carrots brings out their natural sweetness. Adding honey heightens their flavor even more while the herbs and a dash of vinegar balance out the dish for a perfect savory-sweet side.
French Onion Potatoes au Gratin
What do you get when you combine two of the best French dishes ever created? Why you get the best side dish for any main course you'd want to serve! It's creamy and cheesy and layered with flavor.
Get Ree's French Onion Potatoes au Gratin recipe.
Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash
Yes, even on a holiday, you should get your greens. This way, they're so much tastier. This salad is packed with creamy goat cheese, cranberries, and roasted pumpkin seeds!
Get Ree's Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash recipe.
Lyonnaise Potatoes
They may sound fancy, but really these are simply slices of spuds fried in a skillet with bacon, onions, and garlic. Of course, simple clearly doesn't mean bland! Everything is better with bacon.
Get Ree's Lyonnaise Potatoes recipe.
Smashed Brussels Sprouts
These smashed sprouts make an excellent side dish or an appetizer. They're coated in panko and parmesan for extra crispy flavor and served with a zesty dipping sauce made from scatch.
Get the Smashed Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Everyone loves a crispy baked potato. But don't waste that precious oven space! Use your trusty air fryer instead. It's a very hands-off recipe that yields delicious results.
Get the Air Fryer Baked Potato recipe.
Roasted Asparagus with Cajun Hollandaise
Asparagus is pretty easy to find, even in the winter. And the best way to bring out its flavor is by roasting it. Make it extra special for the holidays with a spicy hollandaise!
Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza
Talk about an easy appetizer! Using thawed puff pastry cuts the prep time down significantly, so you'll have this ready for your guests in just over a half hour.
Get Ree's Mushroom Puff Pastry Pizza recipe.
Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Sweet, smoky, and savory: Now that's an enticing side dish! Oh, and it's a bit tart, too, thanks to some dried cranberries. There won't be a boring bite in the bunch.
Get the Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe.
Butternut Squash Casserole
Yes, this casserole features seasonal butternut squash. But it also has caramelized onion, kale, bacon, almonds, and gruyère. The combination will most certainly wow a crowd.
Get the Butternut Squash Casserole recipe.
Cabbage Salad
Reasons to make this salad: All of the ingredients are easy to find come wintertime and you can make it in advance to make the holiday easier. Oh, and it's really delicious, too, obviously.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Spinach Casserole
If you like creamed spinach, then you'll definitely love this casserole. The crispy fried onions and crunchy breadcrumbs take it over the top!
Get the Spinach Casserole recipe.
Carrot Salad
This salad has everything you want in a side: crispy, crunchy, zingy, and sweet. Plus, it only takes ten minutes to make, which is exactly what you need to hear during a busy holiday season.
Get the Carrot Salad recipe.
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are incredible versatile and can shine whether you add sweet, spicy, or savory flavors to them. In this case, it's all three! Plus, they're a mix of crunchy and creamy, too.
Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Stuffed Artichokes
Are these artichokes delicious? They get dipped in melted butter―need we say more? They're also stuffed with cheese if you really need another reason.
Get the Stuffed Artichokes recipe.
Roasted Delicata Squash
You don't even need to peel this squash before you roast it. Talk about a Christmas miracle! That means it takes only ten minutes of prep for so much flavor.
Get the Roasted Delicata Squash recipe.
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