Ever wondered why Grandma missed out on these 33 holiday side recipes? Get ready for a flavorful journey! Amp up your holidays with a mix of Grandma’s classics and modern twists. These dishes aren’t just recipes; they’re like tasty tales waiting to be savored at your festive gathering.
Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped Potatoes are a holiday side dish that is both filling and visually impressive. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes are baked with a creamy garlic sauce to create a tender and savory delight that’ll leave you questioning how you ever had a holiday meal without them.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes
7 Layer Salad
This epic 7 Layer Salad will have you questioning how it never made it to your holiday table before. It isn’t just colorful and appealing; it’s layered with a variety of textures and flavors that blend beautifully. With veggies, cheese, and bacon, this salad appeals to both adults and kids for a delicious, nutritious holiday side.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad
Cauliflower Steaks
Who knew cauliflower could be transformed into an amazing holiday side dish? Cauliflower Steaks are unbelievably delicious, satisfying, and healthy. They’ll have everyone at the table wondering why Grandma never thought of this before. Trust us; you’ll be going back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Steaks
Hashbrown Casserole
Hashbrown Casserole is the ultimate comfort food for holiday gatherings. This dish takes the humble hashbrown and transforms it into a cheesy, crowd-pleasing side. Once you’ve tried this dish, you’ll be wondering why it wasn’t a part of holiday feasts from the beginning.
Get the Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole
Egg Bites
Treat your holiday guests to tasty Egg Bites that’ll make you wonder why grandma never made them. These mini delicacies pack a lot of flavor, are protein-filled, and can be customized with various additives. A brilliant way to start a festive brunch or as a quick snack on busy holiday afternoons.
Get the Recipe: Egg Bites
Corn Casserole
Corn Casserole is a scrumptious holiday side that truly makes you question why it wasn’t a staple all along. This dish offers a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors that will have your guests craving more. It’s the perfect addition to any festive spread, making you wish it was a holiday tradition sooner.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole
Sweet Potato Cubes
Move over, traditional sweet potato casserole – Sweet Potato Cubes are here to become your new holiday favorite. Tender and sweet, these roasted cubes blend perfectly with your holiday meal lineup in a much fresher way. They’ll leave everyone at the table wondering how grandma missed out on adding them to the menu.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cubes
Egg Casserole – Make Ahead Breakfast
Simplify your holiday mornings with the Egg Casserole – a Make-Ahead Breakfast dish that’s both practical and delectable. It’s packed with savory goodness and will keep everyone full until dinner comes around. Your family will surely wonder why this genius meal-prep dish wasn’t a holiday fixture from the get-go.
Get the Recipe: Egg Casserole – Make Ahead Breakfast
Sweet Potato Fries
Upgrade your holiday side dish game with a twist – Sweet Potato Fries! These crispy, delicious treats bring a fun and casual flair to the holiday table. You and your guests will find yourselves asking why grandma didn’t whip these up to add excitement to the menu.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries
Broccoli Casserole with Crackers
This Broccoli Casserole with Crackers is a fantastic twist on a classic vegetable side. The casserole’s creamy texture, combined with a delightful crunchy topping, creates a luscious side dish that’s perfect for holiday meals. You’ll be asking why grandma skipped making this one all those years.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole with Crackers
Easy Caprese Salad
Bring some Italian flair to your holiday celebrations with the Easy Caprese Salad. This delightful combination of juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella is both light and delicious. It’s so simple yet so satisfying, making you wonder why it wasn’t always on the holiday menu.
Get the Recipe: Easy Caprese Salad
Hash Browns
Crispy, golden Hash Browns are the versatile side dish you never knew you needed at your holiday meals. They pair beautifully with any main course, providing a nostalgic, cozy touch to your feast. The first time you serve these up, you’ll wonder why grandma never thought to include them.
Get the Recipe: Hash Browns
Waldorf Salad
Make room for the classic Waldorf Salad at your holiday meals. This crunchy, fruity, and creamy salad combines apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts for a fresh and satisfying side dish. It’s a timeless favorite that’ll make you question why it hadn’t graced your table sooner.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
A stellar holiday side dish, Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows blends the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with gooey marshmallows to create a warm, heavenly treat. Be ready for the question: “Why didn’t grandma think of adding this mouthwatering delight to the holiday spread?”
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows
Cilantro Lime Rice
Add a pop of flavor to your holiday meals with vibrant Cilantro Lime Rice. This zesty and fluffy rice dish brings a unique and refreshing taste to the table, leaving you wondering why grandma hadn’t thought to jazz up the rice like this before. Get ready for compliments when you serve this one.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Rice
Hasselback Potatoes
Elevate your potato game with Hasselback Potatoes. This visually striking side dish not only looks exquisite, but it also packs an undeniably delicious taste. The next time you host a holiday meal, you’ll be wondering why this Swedish treasure wasn’t a part of your festive feast lineup in the past.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Potatoes
Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Change the way you view Brussels sprouts with this tasty upgrade: Balsamic Brussels Sprouts. The tangy balsamic glaze brings out the best in these mini cabbages, making them an irresistible addition to any holiday meal. You’ll find yourself asking why grandma didn’t prepare them this way years ago.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Fingerling Potatoes
Prepare to fall in love with Fingerling Potatoes as a holiday side. These slender, tender potatoes are a gourmet treat that can be roasted, boiled, or grilled, making them the perfect addition to any feast. It won’t be long before you’re wondering why grandma never introduced them to the family holidays.
Get the Recipe: Fingerling Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
In comes the epic side dish of Green Bean Casserole. Full of crunchy green beans, a creamy sauce, and topped with crispy onions, it’s no surprise this casserole is a favorite. After tasting it, you might wonder why grandma didn’t incorporate this lovely dish into holiday feasts before.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Dauphinoise Potatoes
You’ll be amazed at how simple, yet striking, Dauphinoise Potatoes can be. These elegantly layered spuds, baked to perfection and infused with garlic and cream, take the humble potato up a notch. Questions will arise as to why grandma never brought these divinely satisfying potatoes to the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Dauphinoise Potatoes
French Bread
French Bread has a straightforward charm that’s undeniable. Its perfect balance of a crunchy crust and a soft and fluffy interior makes you question why grandma never served it to compliment her holiday dishes. It’s a holiday side bread that’s destined to shine.
Get the Recipe: French Bread
Sweet Potato Fritters
Sweet Potato Fritters are absolute game-changers. Grated sweet potatoes, skillfully crafted into savory fritters, can truly enhance holiday feasts. It will leave everyone at the holiday table asking why this golden, crispy delight wasn’t in grandma’s recipe collection.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fritters
Crispy Shallots
Consider Crispy Shallots for a vibrant, flavor-packed addition to your holiday meal. These thinly-sliced shallots, with their delightful crunch and slightly sweet flavor, truly elevate any dish. You might wonder why grandma never thought of adding them to the festive spread.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Shallots
Baked Sweet Potato
A Baked Sweet Potato can be both simple and splendid. Its natural sweetness and velvety texture make this humble tuber a truly unexpected star at the holiday table. You may soon ask, why hasn’t this healthful and tasty side always been a holiday staple?
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed Peppers are an exciting holiday side that will pique everyone’s interest. Brightly colored peppers filled with all manner of savory ingredients surely incite curiosity. This may leave you wondering, why didn’t grandma bring these festive delights to the table?
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Peppers
Baked Potato
Let’s not forget about a classic side dish – the Baked Potato. However straightforward it may seem, its fluffy interior and crisp skin make it a standout. With a proper introduction to your holiday spread, you’ll question why grandma didn’t incorporate it sooner.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato
Refried Beans
Refried Beans are hearty, savory, and satisfying, making them an ideal side dish for your holiday feast. Their deep flavor and creamy texture pair well with many main courses, making you wonder why this classic comfort food isn’t a holiday staple.
Get the Recipe: Refried Beans
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole brings together cauliflower’s delightful texture and cheese’s comforting appeal. This indulgent dish wonderfully complements a holiday spread, making you wonder why this cheesy creation wasn’t in grandma’s rotation.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
Salads can be so much more than just lettuce and veggies – just observe the Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa. Its unique blend of sweet corn, tangy lime, and subtle heat adds a refreshing touch to any meal. And it may make you question why grandma never added it to her holiday menu.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
Potato Casserole
Meet Potato Casserole, the comfort food we all need during the holidays. Imagine creamy, cheesy, and tender potatoes that are as warming to the soul as they are pleasing to the palate. Surely, you’ll wonder why this dish didn’t make it to grandma’s holiday lineup.
Get the Recipe: Potato Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole is the ultimate blend of healthful and indulgent. It takes the often overlooked zucchini and turns it into a cheesy, flavor-packed side that will leave you puzzled – why didn’t grandma serve this at her holiday feasts before?
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Southern Mash
Rounding off our epic holiday side suggestions is Southern Mash. This velvety, smooth mash strikes the perfect balance between creamy and fluffy, offering an indulgent, crowd-pleasing dish to your holiday spread. You’ll be wondering why grandma didn’t bless your taste buds with this heavenly treat sooner.
Get the Recipe: Southern Mash
Copycat Chipotle Black Beans
For a hearty and flavorful addition to your holiday table, consider Copycat Chipotle Black Beans. These satisfying, creamy beans add a unique twist to your holiday spread, leaving you to wonder why grandma never included them in her holiday repertoire.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Black Beans