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Food is certainly an integral part of my family holiday celebrations. From the traditional Thanksgiving turkey to the Christmas ham or roast, a hefty helping of meat is often expected. But what I really love, and look forward to, are the sides. That’s why I’m super excited to share this fantastic collection of side dish recipes!
Many of my favorite side dish recipes are things from my childhood. Even though our day-to-day fare was simple, my mom went over the top for Thanksgiving and Christmas, beginning her baking and cooking several days in advance and creating an amazing spread.
Admittedly, my holiday meals are much simpler, and rarely do I spend days in the kitchen, but the sides are still fabulous. And these days, I try to focus on healthy ingredients. That said, I do still have a few favorites from my childhood that I can’t pass up! I’ve even reworked some of the recipes my mom used to make to better fit our traditional foods lifestyle. A total win!
29 Healthy Holiday Side Dish Recipes
Breads
- Sourdough Savory Buns
- Swirl Bread
- Sourdough Cornbread (made in the Instant Pot)
- Bacon Buttermilk Cornbread
- Rosemary Pepper Biscuits (use sprouted flour for a gut-friendly traditional style biscuit)
- Farmhouse Cheddar Biscuits (use sprouted flour for a gut-friendly traditional style biscuit)
Salads
- Winter Salad
- Cold Roasted Root Veggie Salad (You can make this a day or two ahead of time!)
- Simple green salad with homemade dressing
- Cheeseball Salad Parfait
Veggie & Potato Dishes
- Green Bean and Bread Cube Sauté
- Creamy Corn Casserole
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole (made in the Instant Pot to free up oven space)
- Baked Sweet Potatoes (budget-friendly and so easy to make)
- No-Fail Caulitatoes
- Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Bacon-y Green Beans & Mushrooms
- Creamy Green Bean Casserole (no canned soup but still with the crispy onions)
- Honey Balsamic Glazed Carrots
- Sourdough Stuffing
Fruit Dishes
- Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry Relish
- Honey-Sweetened Apple Cinnamon Salad
- 5-Spice Apple Chutney
- Homemade Applesauce
- Raw Apple or Pear Sauce
More Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- 34 Simple Dessert Recipes
- 21 Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes
- 20+ Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
- Healthy Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
- 35 Delicious Christmas Breakfast Ideas
- 47 Recipes for a Happy Instant Pot Thanksgiving and Christmas
