From creamy potatoes to crisp salads, these Christmas potluck ideas will be a hit on the holiday dinner buffet.
116 Christmas Potluck Sides for 12 or More
Roasted Asparagus
This tasty roasted asparagus recipe is a great Christmas potluck idea. Not only does it come together quickly, but it calls for just a handful of items. We all look forward to this side dish each year. —Vikki Rebholz, West Chester, OH
Here are some more Christmas side dishes you’ll love.
Festive Tossed Salad with Feta
I serve this colorful salad when we have guests over for dinner because it goes with just about any main entree and is a snap to toss together with packaged greens. Dried cranberries and feta cheese add a delightful touch. —Kate Hilts, Fairbanks, AlaskaAdd some more greens to your table with these Christmas salad recipes.
Freezer Mashed Potatoes
Can you freeze mashed potatoes? You bet you can! I always make these freezer mashed potatoes and give them to my kids when they go away to school. All they have to do is keep them in the freezer until it’s mashed potato time! —Jessie Fortune, Pocahontas, ArkansasChestnut Dressing
I enjoyed this chestnut stuffing when I spent my first holiday with my husband, Mike. It’s a family recipe his mother has been making for years and is a great Christmas potluck idea. Italian seasoning and chestnuts add flavor and texture. —Sharon Brunner, Mohnton, PennsylvaniaOrange and Olives Salad
My grandmother made sure this orange and olives salad was on our holiday table every year. It's so light and simple to make. And it looks pretty on the table! —Angela David, Lakeland, FloridaSourdough, Sausage and Blueberry Dressing
I was looking in my pantry for raisins to make a dressing just like my mom’s. I was out, but I spied a bag of dried blueberries and thought, Why not? Michigan is known for its blueberries, second only to cherries, so this is a delicious nod to my home state. It’s one of my go-to Christmas potluck ideas.—Teri Rasey, Cadillac, MichiganDuo Tater Bake
I made this comforting Christmas potluck idea and it was a winner with my family. They said to be sure to include it at every holiday dinner. It’s a keeper! —Joan McCulloch, Abbotsford, British ColumbiaSpecial Radicchio-Spinach Salad
Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad combines mint, chipotle pepper and honey to create a refreshing Christmas potluck idea. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, CaliforniaSweet Potato Pone
Sweet potatoes are among my favorite vegetables, and this sweet potato pone is my absolute favorite way to prepare them. Not only is it an eagerly anticipated side dish for Christmas dinner with family and friends each year, but also I make it to dress up ordinary meals. You can almost serve it as a dessert! —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New YorkKick your holiday dinner off with some easy Christmas appetizers.
Holiday Creamed Spinach
My mother made a variety of spinach dishes when I was growing up. This rich, delicious creamed version is the only one that stayed with me through the years and makes for a great Christmas potluck side. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, UtahWild Rice with Dried Blueberries
I love the combination of rice and fruit, so this is a go-to Christmas potluck idea at my house. I toss in mushrooms and toasted almonds to enhance the flavor. You can also include dried cherries or cranberries if you’d like. —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, KansasChive & Onion Hash Brown Potatoes
A friend once told me about a potato dish her mother used to make. She remembered that Swiss cheese and butter were standouts. Here's my re-creation—and my friend actually liked it better than her mom’s version. —Barb Templin, Norwood, MinnesotaOld-Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese
Bring back the taste of days gone by with this ooey-gooey classic. A little ground mustard and hot pepper sauce give this old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese just the right spice. —James Backman, Centralia, WashingtonEvery holiday celebration needs some fun cocktails and these festive Christmas drinks are the best way to imbibe.
Sweet Potato Souffle with Pecans
My grandmother makes this Christmas potluck idea every holiday. It’s just so full of love and memories (and pecans!) that it needs to be shared. —Natalie Gray, Moreland, GeorgiaSausage, Kale and Squash Bread Pudding
Who said bread pudding has to be for dessert? I love to serve this for brunch or dinner when I want something hearty and a little unusual. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, WisconsinChive Smashed Potatoes
No need to peel the potatoes—in fact, this is the only way we make mashed potatoes anymore. They’re chunky, tasty and attractive. And the flavored cream cheese is a delightful twist! —Beverly Norris, Evanston, WyomingSlow-Cooker Citrus Carrots
These carrots are yummy, simple and are a solid Christmas potluck idea. The recipe is from my mom, who tweaked it a bit to suit her tastes. You can make this dish a day in advance and refrigerate it until needed. Then just reheat it before the party! —Julie Puderbaugh, Berwick, PennsylvaniaEasy Scalloped Potatoes
We all loved my mom’s super-rich scalloped potatoes. I tweaked her recipe to keep all the flavor, but cut the fat. The cheese blend is the clincher. It’s my favorite Chritmas potluck idea. —Diane Bramlett, Manteca, CaliforniaStollen Butter Rolls
Looking for a Christmas potluck idea? My family members enjoy my stollen so much and say it’s just too good to be served only on holidays. I created this buttery, less-sweet dinner roll version. —Mindy White, Nashville, TennesseeApple, Butternut and Sausage Dressing
I'd heard about using squash in dressing, so I combined four things I love into one dish: apples, butternut squash, bacon and maple sausage! Now, it's one of the most requested dishes during the holidays. —Brenda Crouch, Ansley, NebraskaRound out your holiday meal with these Christmas dinner ideas.
Maple-Gingerroot Vegetables
My family loves this recipe because it brings out the lovely flavors of the vegetables. Even my children enjoy it—they love the drizzle of maple syrup! It’s a tasty way to introduce kids to turnips, rutabaga and parsnips, too. —Kelli Ritz, Innisfail, AlbertaFried Onions and Apples
Since a lot of delicious onions are grown in our state, they are always part of my menu. This tangy side dish is good with pork and beef. The inspiration for this unusual combination was a prolific apple tree!—Janice Mitchell, Aurora, ColoradoSicilian Brussels Sprouts
I love to make this dish because the flavors jumping around in your mouth keep you coming back bite after bite. Other nuts can be used in place of the pine nuts. — Marsha Gillett, Yukon, OklahomaCranberry Roasted Squash
I created this Christmas potluck idea when I wanted a warm, fragrant side dish. The aroma of the cranberries and squash cooking in the oven is just as heavenly as the flavor itself. —Jamillah Almutawakil, Superior, ColoradoCoconut-Bourbon Sweet Potatoes
What is it about sweet potatoes that unnerve some people? For those who firmly state they hate a yam because of the color or texture, the rich addition of coconut, bourbon and spices might just win them over. —Rebecca Anderson, Driftwood, TexasCheesy Slow-Cooked Corn
My family really likes this creamy, cheesy Christmas potluck idea—and it’s so easy to make. Even those who usually don’t eat much corn often ask for a second helping. —Mary Ann Truitt, Wichita, KansasPotluck Macaroni and Cheese
You'll always have a winner at the potluck when you bring macaroni and cheese. Here's an extra-rich, creamy version for the slow cooker. —Jennifer Blondek, Chicopee, MassachusettsCornbread Dressing with Oysters
My father's dressing bakes separately from the turkey and is simply delicious. The secret is to prepare the corn bread first, let it cool and then crumble it to form the base for the rest of the ingredients. My father always added oysters to give the dressing a special flavor. —Nell Bass, Macon, GeorgiaBrown Sugar Sweet Potatoes with Apples
This foolproof Christmas potluck idea is easy to prepare and makes a beautiful alternative to traditional sweet potatoes. To save time, make it ahead, allow it to cool and refrigerate it up to two days. Put the mashed potatoes back in the slow cooker set to low for about two hours before serving. Add a bit of apple cider or water if needed. —Judy Batson, Tampa, FloridaSkillet Rolls
Baking these rolls in a skillet makes them soft and tender. My family requests them for holiday dinners and other special occasions. I most enjoy them split and spread with butter and black raspberry jelly.Dried Cherry & Sausage Dressing
Apples and dried cherries add a sweet-tart flavor to my homemade stuffing. It makes a holiday dinner memorable. —Connie Boll, Chilton, WisconsinCranberry Pineapple Salad
Impress dinner guests with this delightfully different take on traditional cranberry sauce. The nuts add a tasty crunch. —Dorothy Angley, Carver, MassachusettsThese easy Christmas dinner recipes are wonderful when your holiday season is extra-busy.