18 Easy Side Dishes for the Holidays and Beyond

Updated:

September 13, 2025

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Try a new recipe during the holidays this year. Who knows, these easy side dishes could start a new family tradition that you’ll want to make all year.

Many families have food traditions around the holidays, and it comforts us to bring those traditions forward for the next generations. Often, we find that side dish servings are the best part of our meal and these special recipes are also the most replicated from year to year, and generation to generation. These easy side dishes I’m sharing with you today just might become one of those special ones that you make year after year.

Easy Side Dishes for more than just the holiday season

In my mother’s house, Thanksgiving dinner consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and candied sweet potatoes. We have the same thing, every year without variation. I have fond memories of standing by as my grandfather smashed the mashed potatoes by hand. He made the creamiest, melt in your mouth potatoes and we have not been able to replicate them since he passed away.

Now that I no longer live near my parents and cannot get home for the holidays, I have the freedom to choose new food traditions for my family. We’re branching out, taking some of the old recipes and adding a dose of fresh to the mix. This is easily done with side dishes, which can be adapted to any taste.

Most people think of side dishes like potatoes and pasta. Recipes abound on Pinterest for these items, so we won’t be sharing many of them here. Not in the traditional sense anyway.

Instead, we’ll incorporate recipes with fresh ingredients and other pantry items that you are likely to have on hand.

These holiday side dishes are easy!

They can be:

  • made ahead, refrigerated, and reheated the day of the event.
  • made ahead, frozen, and then cooked.
  • cooked in a pot off the stove or out of the oven.
  • and some can even be made in 20 minutes or less so they are quick and easy.

You’ll find that these recipes are so good they will be used for holiday gatherings any time of year. Whether for the holidays or not, planning out your meals will greatly help alleviate stress!

A white bowl full of harvest salad with a napkin and fork to the right, a small pitcher of dressing behind it with a wicker cornucopia.

Dishes to make ahead and refrigerate or freeze

We all look for shortcuts during the rush of the holidays. Easy side dishes that can be made ahead and refrigerated can alleviate much of the stress. You’ll find that while these tasty recipes may use traditional fall and winter ingredients, they have been combined in a new way.

If you are looking for the ultimate no stress holiday gathering, make your easy side dishes far in advance and freeze them. Many of the recipes from the make ahead and refrigerate category will also work well in the freezer. You can safely freeze these for up to 30 days without any loss of texture. This works even better when you can make the dish in a freezer safe container.

Need some dessert ideas or a hostess gift? Try our 35 Holiday Cookie Recipes!

Easy Side Dishes to cook off the stove

Is there ever enough cooking area? Unless you have a professional kitchen, probably not. This year why not utilize your slow cooker, instant pot, or skillet and free up the oven and stove top.

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Why not try a new recipe during the holidays this year? Who knows, maybe you’ll start a new tradition and find an easy side dish that your family will want to eat all year long. Incorporate a mix of crock pot, pressure cookers,  and freezer meals, to the make ahead mix and you’ll save even more time. What is your favorite holiday side dish?

1
A plate of creamy Brussels sprouts gratin with a silver fork on the side. The dish is placed on a white, decorative plate. A striped cloth napkin is partially visible next to the plate.
www.littlefiggy.com
Creamy Brussel Sprouts Au Gratin – Little Figgy Food
Check out this recipe
2
A partially eaten baked frittata in a white ceramic dish, perfect for easy side dishes. Filled with green asparagus, red bell peppers, and cheese, it boasts a golden, slightly crispy top. A portion has been removed, revealing the moist texture inside—a delightful complement to any meal.
www.tasteofhome.com
Overnight Asparagus Strata
Check out this recipe
3
A glass bowl filled with a colorful quinoa salad, featuring black beans, diced red and yellow bell peppers, and corn, placed on a rustic wooden surface.
bargainbriana.com
Black Bean Quinoa Salad
Check out this recipe
4
A bowl of shrimp and pasta salad with macaroni, shrimp, and chopped green vegetables. The text "Aunt Bee's Shrimp & Pasta Salad" is at the top. Fresh dill and chopped green onions are scattered around.
www.theseasonedmom.com
Aunt Bee’s Shrimp and Pasta Salad
Check out this recipe
5
A bowl of creamy risotto topped with ground meat and garnish, with visible mushrooms and herbs. The dish is set on a wooden table with a striped cloth napkin underneath. The words "Attainable Sustainable" are in the corner.
www.attainable-sustainable.net
Creamy Mushroom Risotto with Spinach and Sausage
Check out this recipe
6
A white ceramic bowl filled with creamy, yellow corn grits is placed on a rustic wooden table. The texture of the grits looks smooth and slightly thick.
homespunseasonalliving.com
Butternut Squash Grits
Check out this recipe
7
A bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts mixed with pecans and bacon pieces on a wooden surface. The sprouts are charred and combined with the crunchy pecans and crispy bacon, creating a colorful and appetizing dish.
www.growforagecookferment.com
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Maple Pecans
Check out this recipe
8
A baked casserole in a white dish contains broccoli, melted cheese, crispy fried onions, and crackers—an easy side dish delight. A serving spoon is inside, and a portion has been removed, unveiling the creamy texture beneath. The dish rests invitingly on a wooden board.
www.tasteofhome.com
Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli Casserole
Check out this recipe
9
A glass jar filled with creamy mushroom and garlic sauce sits on a wooden surface. Surrounding the jar are whole mushrooms and a bulb of garlic, adding a rustic touch to the composition.
www.thepioneerwoman.com
Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Check out this recipe
10
A crockpot filled with creamy mashed potatoes, garnished with chopped parsley on top, resting on a light countertop.
www.spendwithpennies.com
No Boil Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Check out this recipe
11
A golden-brown pie in a cast-iron skillet on a marble surface, garnished with herbs. Beside it is a bottle of 2015 La Crema Monterey Pinot Gris and a glass, with a folded blue napkin partially visible.
www.lacrema.com
How to Make a Skillet Chicken Pot Pie – La Crema
Check out this recipe
12
A spoonful of cooked pinto beans mixed with bacon and jalapeño slices is lifted from a bowl, offering an enticing taste of easy side dishes. The dish is garnished with cilantro, set against a blurred backdrop of lime and greenery.
www.yellowblissroad.com
Slow Cooker Mexican Beans
Check out this recipe
13
Close-up of a spoonful of creamy rice with parmesan cheese. The text reads "Instant Pot savory parmesan rice" on the image, highlighting it as one of the easy side dishes perfect for any meal.
www.recipesthatcrock.com
Electric Pressure Cooker Rice- Parmesan
Check out this recipe
14
A bowl of creamy garlic mushrooms garnished with parsley. The mushrooms are covered in a rich, creamy sauce. Text at the top reads "Creamy Garlic Mushrooms" with "CakesCottage.com" underneath.
cakescottage.com
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms
Check out this recipe
15
A fork lifts a portion of loaded mashed potatoes from an oval dish, perfect for those seeking easy side dishes. The dish is topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, and chopped parsley, with the gooey cheese stretching from the fork. A light-colored cloth rests beneath the dish.
www.lowcarbmaven.com
Loaded Cauliflower (low carb, keto)
Check out this recipe
16
A fresh salad on a white plate features baby spinach leaves, sliced red and green apples, and chopped nuts, likely pecans. The leaves appear lightly dressed, adding a sheen to the vibrant ingredients.
www.reformationacres.com
Spinach, Apple, and Bacon Salad
Check out this recipe
17
A white bowl brimming with harvest salad showcases rice, pecans, and zucchini, crowned with an applesauce vinaigrette. On a wooden table rests a glass container of dressing. Text overlay reads "Harvest Salad Applesauce Vinaigrette.
Harvest Salad with Applesauce Vinaigrette
Check out this recipe
18
A fresh spring salad with quinoa, asparagus, radish slices, pecans, and greens graces a neutral-colored plate. The bold text overlay proudly announces "Spring Salad Recipes," inviting you to savor the vibrant flavors of the season.
Spring Salad Recipes
Check out this recipe
19
A plate with microgreens, sliced avocados, and various colorful vegetables. Text overlay reads: "Fill in seasonal eating gaps with microgreen salads.
How to Make Microgreen Salads – a recipe for filling in seasonal eating gaps
Check out this recipe
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Thanks for sharing!

1 thought on “18 Easy Side Dishes for the Holidays and Beyond”

  1. I can vouch for how good Kathie’s recipe for butternut squash grits is–they turn out amazing (and they go really well with grilled shrimp!). 🙂

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