47 Winter Side Dishes to Make This Season

Shredded Gingered Brussels Sprouts

Even people who normally don’t care for Brussels sprouts will ask for a second helping of these. It’s one of our favorite winter side dishes. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

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Sour Cream Noodles

This fast and flavorful dish is requested often at my house, where it's going to be a mainstay for years to come. I think noodles and sour cream make the perfect pair. —Judy Robertson, Russell Springs, Kentucky

Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes

These rosemary sweet potatoes are simply one of the best recipes we've ever made. Roasting them brings out all of the wonderful sweetness! —Kristin Stone, Little Elm, Texas

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

Boiled Potatoes

Cook a big pot of red potatoes, and you’ll not only have a fuss-free side dish, but a head start on other meals. Add butter and parsley to the portion of boiled potatoes you’re serving immediately, then refrigerate the rest.

Sautéed Broccoli

I invented this sauteed broccoli recipe while looking for a different way to cook broccoli that was lower in fat and sodium. Quick, colorful and tasty, it makes a quick and easy accompaniment to a variety of meals.—Jim MacNeal, Waterloo, New York

Southern Mac and Cheese

Southern mac and cheese is an uncomplicated comfort food favorite that uses affordable ingredients for a super rich dish.

German Potato Salad Recipe

This authentic German potato salad recipe came from Speck’s Restaurant, which was a famous eating establishment in St. Louis from the 1920s through the ‘50s. I ate lunch there almost every day and always ordered the potato salad. When the owner learned I was getting married, he gave me the recipe as a wedding gift! —Violette Klevorn, Washington, Missouri

Jalapeno Cheese Bread

This savory jalapeno cheese bread has a spicy Southwestern flair. It makes a great accompaniment to chilis and stews. Top it with sweet cream butter and watch it disappear. —Julie Delisle, Ste-Sabine, Quebec

Slushy Fruit Salad

A fresh fruit salad can take some time to prepare and needs last-minute assembly. That's why I often rely on this make-ahead frozen fruit salad when entertaining a crowd. —Judy McHone, Springfield, Illinois

Mushroom Casserole

This meatless mushroom casserole is one of my all-time favorites. Loaded with mushrooms and draped in a rich sauce, it’s a home-style side dish that will have everyone scooping up seconds.—Rosemary Janz, Concord, North Carolina

Steak Fries Recipe

Seasoned to perfection, these herbed steak fries from our Test Kitchen make a quick and tasty side dish for casual suppers. A great way to dress up frozen fries in a hurry!

Cornbread Sausage Stuffing

I made this cornbread sausage stuffing over 45 years ago as part of a special dinner I prepared to thank our wonderful family for all of their help when we bought our first home. It’s a family favorite to this day. —Ruth Seitz, Conesville, Iowa

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Buttermilk mashed potatoes are just as creamy and fluffy as traditional mashed potatoes and require little (or no!) butter. Our recipe includes a little garlic to add a sweet, rich character to the tangy mash.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

There are lots of ways to personalize this roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon recipe to your own tastes, but it all starts with perfectly roasted sprouts. Oven temps vary, so keep an eye on them to make sure they get crisp but don’t burn. —Karen Keefe, Phoenix, Arizona

Cheesy Potatoes

As a four-generation Idaho family, we love our potatoes and cook with them in every way possible. I have served these cheesy potatoes for weddings, family dinners and special occasions. They’ve become a favorite of many. —Karla Kimball, Emmett, Idaho

Butternut Squash and Kale Gratin

This casserole is packed with layers of flavor but uses only a few choice ingredients. It's easy to put together and versatile because you can use whatever winter squash you have on hand. Even your kids will be coming back for seconds of this incredibly decadent side dish! —Pamela Gelsomini, Wrentham, Massachusetts

Easy Popovers

These easy popovers make even an inexpensive meal fun and special. —Lourdes Dewick, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Creamy Celery Root and Pearl Onions

I have made creamed onions for several recent holidays and wanted to change the recipe, so I decided to add celery root. Celery root is perfect with the onions, and the creamy sauce is addicting! —Tina Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Maple Miso Sweet Potato Casserole

This recipe takes a beloved holiday side dish and gives it a savory twist. —Sara Schwabe, Bloomington, Indiana

Roasted Garlic Twice-Baked Potato

The creamy texture flavored with the roasted garlic makes this potato side dish a winner. It's easy to prepare and a perfect choice to accompany a hearty meat entree.

Cajun Rice

A variety of vegetables makes this delicious Cajun rice casserole a hit with everyone. I team up generous servings with garlic bread and a tossed salad.—Rose Kostynuik, Calgary, Alberta

Crock-Pot Grits

These Crock-Pot grits are as low-fuss as it gets. Making grits in the slow cooker takes just minutes of hands-on time, and they'll be ready whenever you are.

Green Bean and Cauliflower Casserole

One of the most classic winter side dishes, I like to make a savory homemade cream sauce for the timeless green bean casserole. This time I added another vegetable for a delicious twist that sets my casserole apart from the rest! You can omit the vermouth if you’d like by substituting another half cup of chicken broth. —Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Carrot, Parsnip and Potato Gratin

Thanks to a challenge in the TOH online community a few years back, my husband and I tried parsnips and discovered that we liked them! In fact, I started growing them in my garden and have been trying new things with them, including this recipe. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Brussels Sprouts Brown Betty

I had the idea to make a savory version of the family-favorite brown betty using vegetables in place of fruit, while keeping the classic crunchy bread crumb topping. The result is a creamy, decadent side that will turn anyone into a Brussels sprouts fan. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah

Butternut Squash Jumble

I took this to a potluck one year when I couldn’t go home for the holidays, and it was a huge hit. It’s something different without being too nontraditional. It’s also good at room temperature, so it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re trying to figure out serving times. I like Gorgonzola for this, but any blue cheese would work. If you can find the precrumbled cheese, even better. —Kara Brocious, Indianapolis, Indiana

Citrus Rainbow Carrots

I grow lots of carrots and I’m always experimenting with ways to serve them. The first time I made this citrusy recipe for my husband, he said it tasted like Christmas! Although he calls them my "Christmas carrots," they're tasty anytime; I especially like serving them at Easter, with the array of carrots available in early spring. It's easy to prepare, and can easily be doubled to serve a large group. To save time, I sometimes cut up the carrots several days in advance. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Sausage, 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, Wisconsin

Winter Beet Salad

To save a little time on this sweet and savory beet salad, we recommend using packaged salad greens in this original recipe. The simple dressing is easy to assemble. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Greek-Style Stuffed Acorn Squash

With a truckload of acorn squash in my pantry, I wanted to make stuffed squash in lots of different ways. A bottle of Greek seasoning got my creativity flowing. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Cathead Biscuits

Southerners are known for giving their recipes colorful names. This one got its name because each extra-large drop biscuit is as big as a cat’s head. The treats are crisp and golden outside, soft and pillowy inside, and filled with scallions, cheddar cheese and just the right amount of black pepper. These cathead biscuits are quick to fix and simple to make—you don’t even have to roll out the dough. —Cheryl Day, Back in the Day Bakery

Orange Rosemary Carrots

Our whole family loves rosemary, and I grow it along with carrots in my garden every year. This is a delicious recipe to use them both together. —Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah

Hot German Potato Salad

This hot German potato salad is a deliciously downsized version of a favorite picnic salad. —Jennie Voigt, Marathon, Wisconsin

Baked Onion Rings Recipe

These crispy, lightly browned rings from Della Stamp of Long Beach, California are a healthy alternative to the deep-fried version. Thyme and paprika enhance the flavor of the tender onions.

Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

My family and friends love the warm and inviting flavors of the luscious citrus butter, smooth cream cheese, sweet dates, fresh sage and toasted pecans that surround and capture the deliciousness of sweet potato in every bite of this side. —Brenda Watts, Gaffney, South Carolina

Rum Vanilla Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite winter side dishes — this jazzed-up version combines vanilla with rum to create a rich flavorful sauce that’s far from the usual! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Icebox Rolls

I remember my mom making these rolls almost every Saturday so they'd be ready to bake on Sunday for company or someone just dropping by. Although they take a little time to prepare, they're really not all that difficult to make. And there's nothing in the stores that can compare to them! —Jean Fox, Welch, Minnesota

Cauliflower au Gratin

Count on this dish to make new vegetable converts. Whenever I serve it, people ask me for the recipe. Sometimes I’ll substitute broccoli for all or half the cauliflower, and the green veggie tastes just as good! —Jacki Ricci, Ely, Nevada

Caraway Cheese Bread

We enjoy cheese in a variety of ways. In this savory bread, cheddar cheese blends beautifully with just the right amount of caraway.

Pear and Gorgonzola Salad

This quick, easy recipe really showcases pears. When I have leftover cooked chicken, I often add it to the recipe to make a main dish salad. —Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina

Sweet Potato Pilaf

The combination of sweet potatoes, bacon, asparagus and kale makes this simple Sweet Potato Kale Pilaf taste amazing! To save time and dishes, you can easily cook the rice in an Instant Pot and also use it to saute the other ingredients. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Glazed Marsala Carrots with Hazelnuts

Need unique winter side dishes? This carrot recipe is elegant enough for company and is easy enough to make when you want to serve something special on a weeknight. Marsala wine makes it so deliciously different and unlike any other carrot recipe you’ve tasted. —Barbara Morris, South Amboy, New Jersey

Warm Potato Salad

My mother-in-law was from the Bahamas and famous for her cooking, including this warm potato salad. Everyone knew her affectionately as ‘Momma’. Every Sunday after church she set out a feast not just for her family, but for anyone who was hungry in her neighborhood. —Pamela Vitti Knowles, Hendersonville, North Carolina