What’s a Christmas meal without the sides? These 13 festive side dishes will elevate your main course. From time-saving, super-crispy roast potatoes and no-peel potato salads to make-ahead fresh salads, comforting breads and colourful vegetable dishes, there’s a mix of easy, impressive and flavour-packed options to suit every table.
Crispy Skin-On Roast Potatoes
No Christmas table is complete without roast potatoes. These stay super crispy without even peeling—just chop, parboil and roast for a golden, crunchy result every time.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Feta & Pomegranate
This roasted butternut salad is bright, colourful and full of texture. Creamy feta, jewel-like pomegranate seeds, a tangy miso dressing and crunchy candied pumpkin seeds combine for a festive side that looks as good as it tastes.
Peach & Halloumi Salad with Chilli Jam
Ready in about 10 minutes with just five ingredients, this peach and halloumi salad is a quick way to add freshness to your spread. The salty halloumi and sweet peaches are a perfect match, and a drizzle of chilli jam adds a delightful kick.
Stuffing Balls with Cranberries & Pecans
These juicy stuffing balls are studded with dried cranberries and pecans for a festive twist. They can be prepared up to three days ahead and baked just before serving—an easy, crowd-pleasing side.
Garlic Butter Potatoes
Simple ingredients deliver maximum flavour in these garlic butter potatoes. They’re easy to make in large batches and pair well with a wide range of mains—comforting, buttery and irresistible.
Miso Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Labneh
Sweet potato wedges glazed in miso and roasted until caramelised are irresistible. Serve them warm or cold on a bed of creamy labneh with a bright chilli-lime salsa for a bold, memorable side.
Crispy Dukkah Potatoes with Aioli & Pink Tahini
Take roast potatoes up a notch with fragrant dukkah seasoning. Piled over garlic aioli and finished with a vibrant pink tahini, these potatoes are aromatic, crunchy and addictive.
Green Goddess Salad
This chopped green goddess salad is bright and refreshing. It uses simple ingredients—cabbage, cucumber and spring onion—tossed in a creamy vegan green dressing that holds up well and pairs with many mains.
Pesto Potatoes with Crispy Prosciutto & Burrata
Baby potatoes tossed with bright basil pesto and finished with creamy burrata and shards of crispy prosciutto make for an elegant, fresh side that’s sure to impress.
Courgette & Peach Salad with Lime Salsa
Delicate courgette ribbons and ripe peaches tossed with a lively lime-and-chilli dressing balance sweet, salty, sour and spicy notes. It’s light, addictive and a great foil for richer mains.
Spicy Gochujang Potato Salad
Spiked with gochujang, this potato salad is a spicy, tangy alternative to classic versions. It’s ideal for BBQs or as a make-ahead side—and you don’t need to peel the potatoes.
Smacked Cucumber Salad
Bright, crunchy and ready in five minutes, this smacked cucumber salad is a refreshing palate cleanser. A quick smash with a rolling pin, a chop and a toss with a salty-spicy dressing is all it takes.
Quick Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls (No Yeast)
These soft, garlicky dinner rolls require no yeast or kneading and bake in about 35 minutes. Mix flour and yogurt, shape into balls, bake and brush with garlic-herb butter for irresistible warm rolls.
Pesto Orzo Salad
Easy, flavourful and crowd-friendly, this pesto orzo salad mixes cooked pasta with pesto, tomatoes, cheese and olives. It keeps well and brings Mediterranean brightness to the table.
Easy No Knead Chilli Cheese Focaccia
A great starter for novice bakers, this no-knead focaccia is soft and airy with minimal effort. Top it with chilli oil and cheese for a savoury, shareable bread that complements any festive spread.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Miso & Tomato Pesto
This whole roasted cauliflower is a showstopping vegetarian centerpiece that also works beautifully as a side. It’s marinated with an Asian-inspired glaze and served with a bold tomato pesto—an impressive, flavour-forward addition to any festive table.