34 Healthy Christmas Side Dishes
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023Whether you're entertaining the whole family or just hosting a small get-together this year, these healthy Christmas side dishes will be a hit with everyone.
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Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus
This roasted asparagus is so easy for celebrations because you can serve it hot or cold. The red and green ingredients make it extra special for Christmas! —Jannine Fisk, Malden, Massachusetts
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Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa Salad
With Brussels sprouts for the green and cranberries for the red, I make a cheery Christmastime salad. Refreshing and versatile, it works with any kind of nut or dried fruit. —Cameron Stell, Los Angeles, California
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Roasted Apple Salad with Spicy Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
We bought loads of apples and needed to use them. To help the flavors come alive, I roasted the apples and tossed them with a sweet dressing. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Roasted Carrots with Cilantro-Walnut Pesto
Lightly baked and lightly flavored, this carrot dish uses cilantro, walnuts, olive oil, garlic, parsley, Parmesan cheese and basil. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
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Avocado & Garbanzo Bean Quinoa Salad
This delicious quinoa avocado salad is high in protein and holds well in the fridge for a few days. If you make it ahead, add avocados and tomatoes right before serving. —Elizabeth Bennett, Seattle, Washington
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Thyme-Roasted Vegetables
The smell of our house as this is baking calls everyone to dinner. Normally, it serves eight, but my husband’s been known to have more than just one serving at a time. It’s that good.—Jasmine Rose, Crystal Lake, Illinois
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Perfect Winter Salad
This is my most-requested salad recipe. Serve it as a side salad along with your holiday meal, or enjoy it for lunch the next day with cubed turkey or chicken on top. —DeNae Shewmake, Burnsville, Minnesota
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Deluxe German Potato Salad
I make this salad for all occasions—it goes well with any kind of meat. I often take this salad to potlucks, and there’s never any left over. The celery, carrots and dry mustard are a special touch not usually found in traditional German potato salad. —Betty Perkins, Hot Springs, Arkansas
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Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Sure, it’s simple and healthy but, oh, is this roasted broccoli delicious. Cutting the stalks into tall “trees” turns an ordinary veggie into a standout side dish. —Holly Sander, Lake Mary, Florida
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Holiday Lettuce Salad
Light with a hint of sweetness, this lettuce salad recipe will make everyone excited to eat their fruits and vegetables. —Bryan Braack, Eldridge, Iowa
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Air-Fried Radishes
Radishes aren’t just for salads anymore. These fried radishes make a colorful side for any meal. Plus, they’re quick to make in your air fryer. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Easy Grilled Squash
This is grilled butternut squash recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook with fresh produce. I usually make it when I am grilling steak or chicken. —Esther Horst, Monterey, Tennessee
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Roasted Beet Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Beets, oranges and spinach sprinkled with goat cheese make a scrumptious new blend for a mixed green salad. The combination may seem unlikely, but I guarantee it will become a favorite. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Oven-Dried Tomatoes
We owned an organic greenhouse and business that included classes. I had 100 tomato varieties to work with, so I started oven-drying them and taught my students, too. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Pomegranate Persimmon Salad
To bring some sunshine to the table, I toss up a bright salad of persimmons and pomegranate seeds, dressed with a puckery vinaigrette. —Linda Tambunan, Dublin, California
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Ramen Noodle Salad
With added crunch from ramen noodles and sunflower seeds, plus a sweet, glossy dressing, this lively salad is a definite crowd-pleaser! —Beverly Sprague, Baltimore, Maryland
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Great Grain Salad
I can’t think of a better dish to round out a meal. My grain salad features all my favorite nuts, seeds and fruits. Try adding grilled chicken to make it a meal on its own. —Rachel Dueker, Gervais, Oregon
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Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad
If you want something new to try for your Thanksgiving menu, toss this salad together. Fresh spinach leaves are tossed with toasted almonds and dried cranberries and drizzled with poppy seed dressing. It’s likely to become a holiday tradition at your house, too. —Michelle Krzmarzick Torrance, California
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Fresh Broccoli Salad with Lemon
The slightly sweet flavor of this salad's dressing is a great contrast to the rich bacon. You can substitute cauliflower for the broccoli if you prefer. —Janet Roth, Tempe, Arizona
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Cranberry-Pecan Wheat Berry Salad
I love to experiment with different grains and wanted to give wheat berries a try. My whole family goes nuts for this salad, especially my mom. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
This salad is a simple and delicious way to eat your superfoods! It gets even better in the fridge, so I make it ahead. I use my homemade honey mustard dressing, but any type works just fine. —Alexandra Weisser, New York, New York
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Orzo Vegetable Salad
Heading to a potluck and need something to share? Tangy lemon dressing over cool orzo and vegetables is everything you want in a light side dish. —Terri Crandall, Gardnerville, Nevada
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Hungarian-Style Green Beans
A vacation to Hungary inspired this flavorful side of green beans with paprika and mushrooms. Being a vegetarian, I welcome these tasty ideas. —Sherry Johnston, Green Cove Springs, Florida
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Crunchy Apple Mixed Greens Salad
Whenever our staff celebrates a birthday or a special occasion, "Mary's Apple Salad" is always at the top of the wish list! The ingredients can also be prepared the day before and put together in a flash for our teachers' 20 minute lunch time.—Mary Robertson, Louisville, Kentucky
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Bow Tie & Spinach Salad
With pasta salads, it’s easy to change up ingredients. We like to add grilled chicken and pine nuts, and sometimes we substitute black beans for the chickpeas. —Julie Kirkpatrick, Billings, Montana
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Steakhouse Mushrooms
I got this recipe from a friend back when we were in nursing school. Whenever my husband is cooking meat on the grill, you can bet I'll be in the kitchen preparing these mushrooms. —Kenda Burgett, Rattan, Oklahoma
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Perfect Winter Salad
This is my most-requested salad recipe. Serve it as a side salad along with your holiday meal, or enjoy it for lunch the next day with cubed turkey or chicken on top. —DeNae Shewmake, Burnsville, Minnesota
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Honey-Thyme Butternut Squash
This golden, honey-sweetened squash is just as hearty and comforting as your favorite potato dish. With its bright color, it makes an attractive side for special autumn meals. —Bianca Noiseux, Bristol, Connecticut
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Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
I order cauliflower mash every time we visit our favorite restaurant. Lucky us; one night, I figured out how to make it at home. It was so easy! —Jean Keiser, West Chester, Pennsylvania
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Cran-Orange Couscous Salad
I often create salads for summer using a variety of healthy, filling grains. This version with tender couscous is amped up by the bright flavors of oranges, cranberries, basil and a touch of fennel. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
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Eggplant Fries
My kids love this snack—and I like that it’s healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these veggie sticks are broiled, not fried, so there’s no guilt when you crunch into them. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California
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Honey Garlic Green Beans
Green beans are great, but they can seem ordinary on their own. Just a couple extra ingredients give them sweet and salty attitude. This is definitely my family’s favorite way to enjoy them. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
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Cranberry-Walnut Sweet Potatoes
If you ask me, the best part of a holiday dinner is the sweet potatoes! You can make the sauce up to a day ahead—just leave out the walnuts until you’re ready to serve. —Mary Wilhelm, Sparta, Wisconsin
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Crispy Seasoned Polenta Squares
Crisp polenta squares make a delightful side for a variety of main dishes. Sun-dried tomatoes and just the right amount of seasoning make them seem special…a dollop of sour cream adds the finishing touch! Shelly Fisher – Hermiston, Oregon
Originally Published: December 20, 2018
