Make your holiday meal planning easy so you can relax and spend time with your family and friends. Here are 32 Holiday Side Dish recipes to give you ideas for your next holiday dinner! All of these vegetable side dishes are gluten-free, and most can be made ahead of time!
Jump to:
- Gluten-free side dish recipes to make holiday meal planning easy!
- ❤️ Why you'll love this holiday side dish recipe collection
- Favorite Potato Sides for your Holiday Table
- Carrot and other Root Vegetable Side Dishes
- Acorn and Butternut Squash Recipes
- Cauliflower and Broccoli Side Dishes
- 4 Recipes for Sweet Potato Sides
- Green Bean Side Dish Recipes
- Asparagus Side Dish Recipes
- Favorite Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Recipes
- Don't forget the Cranberry Sauce!
- Readers' Favorite Holiday Dinner Salad
- 🗒 More Helpful Holiday Recipe Collections
Gluten-free side dish recipes to make holiday meal planning easy!
Holiday celebrations like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter are wonderful times to gather with our friends and families and enjoy great food!
Whether your festive meal features turkey, ham, beef, salmon, roast chicken or is vegetarian or vegan, vegetable side dishes are often the supporting cast to the star of your show. Most of us would admit that vegetable sides are the best part of a holiday feast!
Deciding on side dishes to serve at your next holiday dinner can sometimes be challenging. Yes, you could serve the same old ones you serve every year. Or you could try one or two new ones, just for a change!
❤️ Why you'll love this holiday side dish recipe collection
I've done the work for you and created this collection of my best gluten-free holiday side dish recipes. Here are ideas to please everyone around your table.
Consider the needs of your family and close friends, too. Do they have food sensitivities or allergies? Are they following a special diet?
All of these Holiday Side Dish Recipe Ideas are gluten-free, many are dairy-free, some are keto, paleo, or vegan. Some are cooked on the stovetop, some roasted in the oven, and others are cooked in an air fryer or an Instant Pot.
There is something for everyone in this round-up of vegetable side dishes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's or other special holidays. I've sorted them by type of vegetable, so for example, you'll find all the squash recipes together.
If you're looking for pre-dinner party snacks, you'll find lots of appetizer ideas in 21 Easy Finger Food Appetizers, 5 Tips for Making Crostini or 7 Holiday Spiced Nuts Recipes.
Looking for healthy winter salads to serve with your holiday dinner? You'll find inspiration in 15 Best Winter Salad Recipes.
Scroll through this list of easy vegetable side dishes and click on the green buttons to take you to the complete, printable recipes.
Favorite Potato Sides for your Holiday Table
Crispy Lemon Oven-Roasted Potatoes
These Lemon Oven-Roasted Potatoes are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and have the bright flavour of fresh lemons.
Crispy Lemon Oven-Roasted Potatoes
Crispy Grilled Potatoes with Blue Cheese, Chives and Bacon
There's nothing not to love about these Crispy Grilled Potatoes with Blue Cheese, Chives and Bacon. Cooked in foil on the grill, they're easy to make!
Crispy Grilled Potatoes with Blue Cheese, Chives and Bacon
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe is so easy to make! Pillowy mounds of fluffy potatoes with garlic-infused butter and sour cream make a delicious side dish. Garlic mashed potatoes are perfect for holiday meals!
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Cranberry Pistachio Jasmine Rice
Jasmine Rice Pilaf flavoured with sweet dried cranberries and salty pistachios! This Instant Pot rice dish is perfect for holiday dinners. Ready in 15 minutes!
Instant Pot Cranberry Pistachio Jasmine Rice
Carrot and other Root Vegetable Side Dishes
Apple Cider Roasted Root Vegetables
These Apple Cider Roasted Root Vegetables are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with a rich caramelized flavour.
Apple Cider Roasted Root Vegetables
Roasted Carrots with Honey-Mustard Glaze
Roasting carrots intensifies their natural flavour. Adding this honey-mustard glaze put them "over the top!" These Roasted Carrots with Honey-Mustard Glaze make an ideal holiday side dish.
Roasted Carrots with Honey-Mustard Glaze
Air Fryer (or Oven) Roasted Carrots with Feta and Pistachios
Learn how to cook carrots in an air fryer or how to roast carrots in the oven to make these flavourful Mediterranean Roasted Carrots with Feta and Pistachios.
Air Fryer (or Oven) Roasted Carrots with Feta and Pistachios
Acorn and Butternut Squash Recipes
Honey Balsamic Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts
This honey balsamic roasted acorn squash makes a tasty, colourful side dish for any fall or winter dinner. Takes less than 30 min. Great for holiday meals!
Honey Balsamic Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts
Garlic Parmesan-Crusted Roasted Acorn Squash
Round out a fall or winter meal with tender slices of this Garlic Parmesan-Crusted Roasted Acorn Squash. Add fresh herbs to make this tasty side dish.
Garlic Parmesan-Crusted Roasted Acorn Squash
Air Fryer Acorn Squash with Maple and Cinnamon
This Air Fryer Acorn Squash recipe makes a perfect fall side dish! Hints of cinnamon and maple syrup enhance the natural sweetness of acorn squash.
Air Fryer Acorn Squash with Maple and Cinnamon
Maple Dijon Roasted Butternut Squash
It's a little sweet, a little spicy and this crispy Maple Dijon Roasted Butternut Squash is an ideal side dish for a fall or winter dinner.
Maple Dijon Roasted Butternut Squash
Air Fryer Butternut Squash with Feta and Sage
Tender cubes of butternut squash, lightly seasoned and served with feta cheese crumbles and toasted sage leaves, make an easy side dish!
Air Fryer Butternut Squash with Feta and Sage
Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Rich autumn flavours and rustic warm colours make this Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries a favourite choice for fall or winter!
Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Cauliflower and Broccoli Side Dishes
Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower with Bacon and Cheese
This low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes will surprise you! With the silky texture of mashed potatoes and the delicate flavour of cauliflower, this loaded mashed cauliflower keto side dish is topped with bacon and cheese.
Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower with Bacon and Cheese
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole with Bacon
This low-carb Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole with Bacon is guaranteed to be devoured! It's creamy, cheesy and full of flavour. With only 2 carbs per serving, this dish is keto-friendly.
Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole with Bacon
Honey-Dijon Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
This vegetarian Broccoli Salad is mayo-free but tastes even better with Honey-Dijon Dressing. Great for potlucks and parties!
Honey-Dijon Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
4 Recipes for Sweet Potato Sides
Rosemary Garlic Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Rosemary Garlic Smashed Sweet Potatoes are roasted with garlic-herb butter and topped with Parmesan. An ideal side for winter, Thanksgiving or holiday meals.
Rosemary Garlic Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Make-Ahead Duchess Sweet Potatoes
Dress up your holiday dinners with these Make-Ahead Duchess Sweet Potatoes. Here's an easy savoury recipe that can be made in advance.
Make-Ahead Duchess Sweet Potatoes
Baby Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter
Baby Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter make a striking side dish. Slice potatoes thinly keeping the base intact, fan out accordian style, and baste with garlic herb butter.
Baby Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter
Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad with Maple Walnuts and Bacon
This Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad with Maple-Glazed Walnuts, Pomegranate and Bacon makes a nutritious lunch or a festive salad for a holiday dinner.
Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad with Maple Walnuts and Bacon
Green Bean Side Dish Recipes
Sautéed Garlic Parmesan Green Beans with Pecans
These Garlic Parmesan Pecan Green Beans are ideal for a holiday dinner. Cooked on the stove-top, part of this easy recipe can be prepared ahead of time.
Vegetarian Green Bean Bundles with Garlic Butter
Wrapped with a chive, these Vegetarian Green Bean Bundles will add a "wow" factor to a special meal. Drizzled with garlic browned butter, they make a spectacular side dish.
Vegetarian Green Bean Bundles with Garlic Butter
Sesame Ginger Green Beans
These sesame ginger green beans are tender crisp and a little spicy. A quick keto, paleo and vegan side dish, flavoured with sesame, garlic, ginger and jalapeño.
Sesame Ginger Green Beans
Asparagus Side Dish Recipes
Sesame Miso Air Fryer Asparagus
Learn to cook asparagus in an air fryer to make Asparagus with Sesame Miso Sauce. This vegetarian and vegan side dish makes tender, slightly crispy asparagus with amazing flavours.
Sesame Miso Air Fryer Asparagus
Charred Asparagus with Warm Citrus Sauce
Crunchy almonds, lemon, orange and garlic add bright flavours to fresh asparagus in this recipe for Charred Asparagus with Warm Citrus Sauce.
Charred Asparagus with Warm Citrus Sauce
Favorite Brussels Sprouts Side Dish Recipes
Air Fryer Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Crispy air-fried Brussels sprouts seasoned with balsamic vinegar and bacon make a crave-worthy side dish! This Ninja air fryer recipe makes a gluten-free, keto-friendly side dish you'll want to make again and again!
Air Fryer Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
An ideal side dish of Brussels sprouts sautéed with crispy pancetta, garlic and onions and finished with a squeeze of bright lemon juice.
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Cranberries
These Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Cranberries are a classic side dish for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners. Lightly seasoned with maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon, this is an easy recipe you can make a day or two in advance.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Sweetened with apples and cranberries, this shredded Brussels Sprout Salad is a perfect side dish for a fall or winter meal.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Don't forget the Cranberry Sauce!
Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce with Triple Sec
This Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce is our family's favourite. It's lightly flavoured with orange juice, cinnamon and cloves and (optionally) spiked with Triple Sec.
Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce with Triple Sec
Sugar-Free Cranberry Orange Sauce with Monkfruit
Avoid extra sugar and sweeten your holiday cranberry sauce with natural 0-calorie Monkfruit sweetener! This sugar-free cranberry-orange sauce is quick and easy to make. Add blueberries for more natural sweetness!
Sugar-Free Cranberry Orange Sauce with Monkfruit
Readers' Favorite Holiday Dinner Salad
Pomegranate Mandarin Salad with Avocado and Feta
This Pomegranate Mandarin Salad with Avocado and Feta is a festive salad for any winter meal! It's bursting with fruit rich in Vitamin C, crunchy pecans and creamy avocado. Top it with crumbled feta or goat cheese.
Pomegranate Mandarin Salad with Avocado and Feta
Which of these gluten-free side vegetable dish recipes will you make this holiday season? Let me know your favorites in the comments section below!
Ella
I'm going to make that beautiful holiday salad this year!
Denise
This is really helpful! I want to try a few new sides this year, so I'm loving this list. Think I'll try those Parmesan Pecan Green Beans first! Thanks!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Denise--glad to hear it! I know you'll love those beans!