When it comes to holiday gatherings, the sides and appetizers often steal the spotlight. These recipes are designed to bring a memorable touch to your table, with flavors that will have your family talking long after the meal is over. Simple to prepare and crowd-pleasing, they’re perfect for the busy holiday season when you need dishes that impress without extra fuss. From the first bite, these 17 holiday sides and appetizers will become must-haves for years to come.
Tabbouleh Salad with Feta
Though a refreshing and flavorful dish, this tabbouleh salad with feta feels more suited for summer gatherings rather than holiday festivities. With its light, herby flavors, it doesn’t align well with the more comforting, crowd-pleasing holiday dishes that people look forward to. While delicious, it’s not the kind of side that will likely become a holiday favorite your family talks about for years.
Get the Recipe: Tabbouleh Salad with Feta
Baked Butternut Squash Chips
These baked butternut squash chips are a simple yet impressive snack that brings a seasonal twist to holiday gatherings. Light, crunchy, and quick to prepare, they are perfect for balancing out heavier dishes while still being memorable. They’re an easy way to surprise guests with something new. Expect these chips to become the go-to holiday snack everyone talks about.
Get the Recipe: Baked Butternut Squash Chips
Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
These fried ripe sweet plantains bring a unique twist to holiday sides with their sweet and savory balance, making them a memorable dish your family will talk about for years. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they add a comforting, familiar flavor to the holiday table. Quick to make, they’re a simple yet standout addition to any gathering. Once your guests try them, they’ll be requesting this dish every holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Fried Halloumi Salad
While this fried halloumi salad offers a tasty mix of crispy cheese and greens, it may not fit the heartier theme of holiday sides and appetizers. Its light and fresh elements make it more suitable for casual meals rather than a festive holiday spread. This refreshing salad works well as an everyday option, but it may not stand out during a big holiday feast.
Get the Recipe: Fried Halloumi Salad
Puff Pastry Pumpkin Pockets with Caramelized Onions
These puff pastry pumpkin pockets offer a quick and delicious appetizer for your holiday gathering, capturing the flavors of the season without much effort. The buttery pastry and caramelized onions will leave guests impressed and asking for more. Perfect for when you need something easy but memorable, this appetizer brings festive flair to any holiday table. Watch as these pockets become the dish your family asks for at every gathering.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Pumpkin Pockets with Caramelized Onions
Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
This kale apple salad offers a fresh contrast to traditional holiday sides, bringing a light and zesty option to the table. With the poppy seed dressing and sweet apple slices, it’s an easy-to-prepare dish that could complement heavier mains. However, its lightness might not capture the attention of guests as much as more indulgent sides. It’s a fresh bite amidst richer fare, but may not be the star of the holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
My Favorite Vegan Tofu Stuffed Mushrooms
These tofu-stuffed mushrooms are a perfect choice for the holiday table, adding a hearty and flavorful bite that guests will talk about for years. Easy to prepare and bake, they fit effortlessly into busy holiday cooking while still impressing everyone with their rich filling. This dish offers a great balance of convenience and crowd-pleasing potential. Watch as these mushrooms disappear faster than the main course.
Get the Recipe: My Favorite Vegan Tofu Stuffed Mushrooms
Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli, and Peppers
These roasted lemon potatoes, broccoli, and peppers pack bold flavors that are sure to be a hit at your holiday gathering. The tangy lemon and turmeric bring something new to the table, giving your traditional sides some competition. This dish is easy to prepare in 40 minutes and adds a fresh, colorful element to the holiday spread. You’ll likely find yourself making this dish for years to come as it becomes a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Lemon Potatoes, Broccoli, and Peppers
Cranberry Apple Stuffing
This cranberry apple stuffing is the ultimate holiday side that will have your guests talking long after the meal. With a mix of sweet and tart flavors, it offers a refreshing twist on a classic dish, making it a standout at any gathering. Ready in 45 minutes, it’s simple but impactful, bound to be requested year after year. It’s the kind of stuffing that might just steal the spotlight from the turkey.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffing
Creamy Baked Feta Dip with Dates, Hazelnuts, and Honey
This creamy baked feta dip is a showstopper for holiday entertaining, combining sweet and savory elements in a dish that feels gourmet without the fuss. Quick and easy to prepare, it’s perfect for last-minute holiday gatherings where you still want to impress. The balance of flavors will leave your guests raving and asking for the recipe. By the end of the night, this dip will have its place on the holiday menu for years to come.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Baked Feta Dip with Dates, Hazelnuts, and Honey
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
This butternut squash wild rice pilaf offers a flavorful and elegant side that complements any holiday feast. Combining the earthy flavors of wild rice with tender butternut squash, this dish will have your family asking for it year after year. It’s easy to prepare in under an hour, making it a practical addition to the table that still feels special. Be prepared for this side to compete with the main course for attention.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Almond, Cranberry and Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole
This almond, cranberry, and sweet potato stuffing casserole is a perfect addition to any holiday spread, combining sweet and savory flavors that will keep everyone talking. With seasonal ingredients like cranberries and sweet potatoes, it’s a crowd-pleasing side that’s easy to prepare. Ready in under an hour, it’s a simple but festive dish that fits perfectly with the holiday theme. Watch it become a holiday staple as soon as your family gets a taste.
Get the Recipe: Almond, Cranberry and Sweet Potato Stuffing Casserole
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
This air fryer butternut squash is a quick and flavorful side that adds a bold, roasted flavor to your holiday spread. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s the perfect time-saver without sacrificing taste, making it an instant crowd-pleaser. Your family will be asking for this side for many holiday seasons to come. With minimal effort, it might just become the most requested dish at the table.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
These air fryer sweet potatoes bring a rich, caramelized flavor to the holiday table with minimal prep and cooking time. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a fluffy and flavorful side that will quickly become a new favorite. Perfect for any holiday meal, these sweet potatoes will be a dish your family talks about for years. Expect to be asked for the recipe before the plates are cleared.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer
Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Creamy, cheesy, and comforting, these scalloped potatoes are a classic side that will overshadow even the main course at your holiday dinner. They’re easy to prepare and bring hearty layers of flavor, making them a dish your guests will rave about for years. This simple but indulgent side is bound to become a permanent fixture at holiday gatherings. Be ready for the requests to bring this dish back every year.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
These cheesy loaded twice-baked potatoes are the ultimate comfort food for the holiday season. With creamy, rich flavors, they’re a standout side that might even outshine the turkey. Easy to prepare, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone, becoming a holiday staple for years to come. After one bite, your guests may not even care about the rest of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pomegranate, and Balsamic
These crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts are a festive side that brings a perfect blend of crunch and tang to your holiday feast. The balsamic glaze, feta, and pomegranate seeds give this dish a seasonal flair, making it a showstopper at any gathering. Easy to prepare in the air fryer, this side adds bold flavors with minimal effort. Expect it to be a dish your family remembers and requests again next year.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pomegranate, and Balsamic
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