18 Lazy Christmas Sides That Practically Cook Themselves

Spread the holiday cheer with these simple make-ahead sides.

If you’re having trouble coming up with side dishes to bring or serve at your Christmas gathering, we’re here to help. We pulled together a selection of impressive sides that are not only delicious but are simple to make, can be made ahead of time, and won’t be too fussy to reheat or assemble before dinner. Read on to find the perfect shareable potatoes, veggies, salads, and breads that feel fancy enough for a holiday, without a lot of effort.

01 of 18

Crispy Parmesan Potatoes Recipe

Get Recipe: These Crispy Parmesan Potatoes Make Every Meal Better

The potatoes can be made up to a day ahead. To reheat, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the potatoes cut side down on the baking sheet and reheat in a 375°F oven until hot and the Parmesan has recrisped. Alternatively, the potatoes can be reheated in the air fryer.

02 of 18

Brussels Sprout Slaw Recipe

Get Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Slaw Is the Wintry Salad of Your Dreams

“The best part about this Brussels sprouts slaw? It holds up exceptionally well, meaning you can dress it ahead of time to make dinner prep a breeze. Prepare the ingredients up to three days in advance and toss with the dressing up to two hours in advance. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for three days.” —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

03 of 18

Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Rolls Recipe

Get Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Pull- Apart Rolls

“To serve later, let the rolls cool completely (without the butter), then store them in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to three days. Alternatively, wrap the baked rolls in foil and place in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer for up to three weeks. Remove from the fridge and let thaw for a few hours until the rolls are at room temperature.” —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

04 of 18

Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potato Casserole Recipe (Make-Ahead)

Get Recipe: My Make-Ahead Potato Casserole Makes Every Holiday Dinner Easier (and Better)

“This dish is a great make-ahead holiday side. It can be prepped a day or two in advance and refrigerated until ready to cook.” —Jamie Anulewicz, Recipe Developer

05 of 18

Classic Glazed Carrots

Get Recipe: Classic Glazed Carrots

“Store glazed carrots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat them on the stovetop with a little added butter or in the microwave. We do not recommend freezing glazed carrots because their texture after defrosting will be mushy and unappealing.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

06 of 18

Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella Recipe

Get Recipe: Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella is the Ultimate Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dish

“While you can dig into it almost immediately, you can make it up to four hours in advance. Technically, it can hold for even longer because the vegetables won't wilt and the bread will continue to soak up more flavor. I recommend refreshing it right before serving with a generous drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. You may also need to season it with a bit of salt and black pepper.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

07 of 18

Angel Biscuits Recipe

Get Recipe: Angel Biscuits Recipe

“Want fresh-baked biscuits in the morning with minimal effort? Make your angel biscuit dough ahead of time! In fact, letting the dough sit in the refrigerator overnight slows the yeast's rise, which gives the biscuits a better, more complex yeasted flavor.” —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer

08 of 18

Turkish Braised Green Beans

Get Recipe: Turkish Braised Green Beans

“This is a fantastic dish to make ahead as the flavors only improve with time. It will also taste better the next day once all the ingredients have had time to harmonize. You can serve this warm, cold, or at room temperature (the latter being how it is commonly eaten in Turkey)” —Yasmin Khan, Recipe Developer

09 of 18

Challah Rolls Recipe

Get Recipe: Challah Rolls Recipe

“If you want to plan ahead, there are two ways to freeze the challah rolls. After you shape the rolls—but before you do the second rise—pop the unbaked rolls in the freezer until frozen solid, or bake the challah rolls and cool them fully. Then, transfer them into a large zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to two months.” —Micah Siva, Recipe Developer

10 of 18

Brussels Sprouts Gratin Recipe

Get Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Gratin Recipe

“If you're getting ready for a big dinner party or a holiday feast, you can make this dish the day before. Just prepare all of the ingredients in a baking dish, cover, and refrigerate. Then, remove from the fridge, and bake as directed, adding a little extra time since the casserole will be going in cold.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

11 of 18

Lion House Rolls

Get Recipe: Lion House Rolls

“To make the rolls ahead of time, make them through the shaping stage, then instead of giving them a second rise, freeze them on a sheet pan. Once completely frozen, pop them into a freezer bag. They will last at least a month in the freezer.” —Cindy Rahe, Recipe Developer

12 of 18

Bombay Aloo Recipe (Bombay Potatoes)

Get Recipe: Bombay Aloo Recipe (Bombay Potatoes)

The potatoes can be prepared up to the point of adding the fresh lime juice and cilantro, and stored in the fridge for up to four days. They can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through and tossed with the reserved lime juice and cilantro before serving.

13 of 18

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Get Recipe: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

“You can make your mashed potatoes ahead and refrigerate or freeze them. Once prepared, let the mashed potatoes cool completely, then cover and store in the fridge for up to two days or in the freezer for up to two weeks. The high fat content in these mashed potatoes means that they will freeze and thaw just fine.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

14 of 18

Sautéed Fennel With Fennel Fronds Recipe

Get Recipe: Sautéed Fennel With Fennel Fronds Recipe

“You can cook the fennel a day before you plan to serve it. Refrigerate it, tightly covered, and reheat it, covered, slowly in the oven at 300°F for 30 minutes, until warmed through. You could also microwave it in 1-minute intervals until warmed through” —Emily Weinberger, Recipe Developer

15 of 18

Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

Get Recipe: Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

“This casserole can be assembled up to one day in advance, then baked just before serving. If you’re taking the casserole directly from the fridge to the oven, you’ll need to bake it for a few additional minutes. Just test with a fork or probe thermometer to make sure it’s piping hot in the middle (about 170°F).” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

16 of 18

Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe

Get Recipe: Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe

“If you want to get a head start on your holiday cooking, then it’s best to bake this the day before your dinner and reheat it the day of. Reheat it covered loosely with foil to keep the crust from browning too much, until hot all the way through. Remove the foil for the last few minutes of baking so that the crust gets nice and crispy.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

17 of 18

Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe

Get Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe

“Once the casserole is assembled (leaving the bacon and green onions off), cover it with plastic wrap and hold in the fridge for up to five days. When you’re ready to bake, take it out 30 minutes before cooking, remove the plastic wrap, then bake according to the recipe instructions.” —Brianne Ross, Recipe Developer

18 of 18

Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo)

Get Recipe: Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe (Pão de Queijo)

“The baked cheese bread can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for one day or in the fridge for one week. Reheat for several seconds in the microwave or for one to two minutes in the toaster oven before serving. They can also be frozen for up to one month and reheated in a toaster oven or low oven until thawed and crisp.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

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