Holiday meals are all about sharing dishes that bring everyone to the table, but sometimes the sides and appetizers steal the spotlight. These 17 recipes are so full of flavor and crowd-pleasing appeal that they may just outshine the main course. From savory to indulgent, each dish is designed to impress and leave a lasting impression on your guests. Get ready for these sides and appetizers to become the star of your holiday spread, with everyone asking for them year after year.
My Favorite Vegan Tofu Stuffed Mushrooms
These tofu-stuffed mushrooms bring rich, hearty flavors to your holiday table, proving that even vegan dishes can steal the spotlight. Simple to prepare and packed with garlic and savory tofu, they fit seamlessly into any holiday spread. Guests will rave about this standout appetizer long after the meal. These mushrooms might just make everyone forget there was a main course.
Get the Recipe: My Favorite Vegan Tofu Stuffed Mushrooms
Cranberry Apple Stuffing
This cranberry apple stuffing adds a sweet and tart twist to the traditional side, elevating it to show-stealer status. Easy to prepare in 45 minutes, it’s the type of side that will make guests forget the main course as they pile it onto their plates. With its vibrant flavors, this dish will quickly become a holiday favorite. Expect to hear requests for it year after year.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffing
Baked Butternut Squash Chips
These light and crunchy butternut squash chips are the perfect balance of simple and surprising, offering a seasonal snack that will draw attention at your holiday gathering. With just a few ingredients and quick preparation, they’ll add a fresh twist to the meal. As guests reach for more, you’ll know this snack is destined to be the family’s new holiday must-have. These chips will disappear faster than any main course.
Get the Recipe: Baked Butternut Squash Chips
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
A perfect holiday side, this butternut squash wild rice pilaf delivers both flavor and heartiness that can easily outshine the main dish. The nutty wild rice and sweet squash come together in a side that’s both elegant and practical, making it an unforgettable part of your holiday spread. Guests may start asking for this dish long before they talk about the turkey.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli, and Peppers
With bold lemon and turmeric flavors, this roasted vegetable dish adds a punch to the holiday table, making it a strong contender to overshadow any main course. Its easy 40-minute prep makes it a quick favorite for busy cooks, and the result is a side everyone will be talking about. Don’t be surprised when this dish steals the show and becomes a new holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli, and Peppers
Fried Halloumi Salad
The crispy fried halloumi in this salad brings a unique texture and flavor that will stand out among the usual holiday dishes. Its lightness makes it a refreshing contrast to heavier sides, while its simplicity ensures it will be a crowd favorite. This salad might just become the side your guests remember more than anything else on the table.
Get the Recipe: Fried Halloumi Salad
Best Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Dip Recipe (Zaalouk)
This Moroccan Zaalouk dip brings bold flavors to the holiday table, offering a lighter option that still delivers a powerful punch. Made in advance and full of rich roasted eggplant and tomatoes, it brings an international flair that will make it a memorable part of your spread. Your guests will be talking about this dip long after the main course is forgotten.
Get the Recipe: Best Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Dip Recipe (Zaalouk)
Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Creamy, cheesy, and rich, these scalloped potatoes are bound to overshadow the turkey at your holiday dinner. Simple to prepare, they bring comforting layers of flavor to the table, making them an instant favorite. Your guests will likely be talking about these potatoes long after the main meal, and they’ll surely expect them at every holiday from now on.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
This air fryer butternut squash delivers bold, rich flavors with perfectly roasted cubes that will impress your guests. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a quick side dish that doesn’t compromise on taste. This simple but flavorful squash is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, and you may find yourself making it for holiday after holiday. Prepare to hear plenty of requests for this dish.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Fried Cheese Balls
Crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside, these fried cheese balls will grab attention as the perfect appetizer or side. Quick to prepare, they’ll become an instant favorite that guests will keep coming back to. By the end of the night, it’ll be these cheese balls—rather than the main dish—that everyone’s raving about. Don’t be surprised if they become a holiday staple.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cheese Balls
Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
These air fryer sweet potatoes are the perfect side, with their rich, caramelized flavors and fluffy texture stealing the spotlight from the main course. In just 20 minutes, they become a holiday favorite that’s sure to be requested again and again. By next year’s feast, this dish will be in high demand, and you’ll be making extra just to keep up.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
These cheesy loaded twice-baked potatoes bring comfort and flavor to the holiday table in a way that could easily outshine the turkey. Creamy, rich, and indulgent, they are exactly what guests crave during the holidays. Once they’ve had a taste, everyone will be asking for these potatoes every year, and they’ll soon become a holiday favorite that can’t be left out.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
Asparagus and Ricotta Tart
This asparagus and ricotta tart delivers a creamy, flaky, and savory side that can hold its own next to any holiday main course. With a delicate blend of asparagus and creamy ricotta, it’s a side that will stand out for both its taste and presentation. Be prepared for this tart to steal some of the attention away from the main dish and become a requested favorite at every gathering.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Ricotta Tart
Classic Mushroom Bourekas
These mushroom-filled bourekas are flaky, savory pockets of flavor that will draw everyone’s attention at the holiday table. Easy to prepare and full of richness, they’ll add a touch of sophistication to your spread. Guests will be talking about these bourekas long after the meal is over, and they might just outshine everything else on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Classic Mushroom Bourekas
Colombian Cheese Arepas
These golden, cheesy Colombian arepas are an irresistible holiday side that can easily steal the show. With their rich texture and simple yet bold flavors, they’ll quickly become a family favorite. Expect these little pockets of cheesy goodness to be one of the most talked-about dishes on your holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Cheese Arepas
Spinach Colcannon
This spinach colcannon takes traditional mashed potatoes to a new level, making it a memorable and flavorful side that stands out among the rest. The combination of creamy mashed potatoes with the freshness of spinach makes this dish a comforting addition that could easily outshine the main course. After tasting it, guests will keep coming back for more, and it will quickly become a holiday classic.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Colcannon
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pomegranate, and Balsamic
These crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts are more than just a side—they’re a bold dish that will grab attention with their tangy balsamic drizzle, sweet pomegranate, and salty feta. Quick to prepare and bursting with flavor, they’ll likely be remembered as the most exciting dish of the meal. Expect these Brussels sprouts to become the talk of the table for many holidays to come.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pomegranate, and Balsamic
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