Best Christmas Side Dishes and Trimmings (2024)

Christmas isn’t complete without a generous pile of little sausages rolled in bacon. These juicy, bite-size pigs in blankets are so easy to make you’ll have enough to serve as a canapé at the pre-Christmas drinks party as well as plenty for Christmas dinner.

Try this pigs in blankets with sage recipe

Adding a little of your favourite Christmas tipple to the sprouts gives them a delicious edge. Coupled with the satisfying crunch of toasted almonds, this recipe is enough to sway even the most fervent of sprout-shunners.

Try this marsala-glazed sprouts with toasted almonds recipe

Roast potatoes are easy to make but tricky to perfect. This simple recipe holds secret to getting them crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Try this perfect crunchy roast potatoes recipe

These elegant roasted onions are filled with a spicy lamb mince but the dish works just as well with a Christmas stuffing. These delicious spheres make a great addition to the usual spread of trimmings.

Try this spicy filled roasted stuffed onions recipe

These caramelised roasted parsnips make a perfect winter side dish. Drizzled with pungent truffle oil and rolled in salty Parmesan, this recipe will give the Christmas dinner a new lease of life.

Try this roast parsnip spears dipped in Parmesan and thyme recipe

These delicious stuffing balls are moist on the inside and beautifully crisp and golden on the outside. They make an ideal accompaniment to a classic Christmas roast but will also go well with a variety of cooked meats.

Try this chestnut and port stuffing recipe

This recipe uses juicy blackberries to flavour and colour red cabbage beautifully. A great side dish, this works well with all sorts of cooked meats, particularly the richness of a turkey.

Try this braised red cabbage with blackberries recipe

Chestnuts and stuffing go hand in hand and this delicious recipe is perfect for Christmas. The tang of the cranberries cuts through the richness of turkey beautifully while the deep, earthy flavour of chestnuts pulls the whole dish together.

Try this chestnut and cranberry stuffing recipe

Cranberry sauce is a must have on the Christmas table. Not only does it go well with turkey but also goose and other festive meats.

Try this cranberry and orange sauce recipe

This wintery side dish is the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas roast. Serve up with the classic turkey or any other centrepiece for a nutritious and sweetly flavoursome dish.

Try this roast sweet carrots with cranberries, candied orange and rosemary recipe

Spruce up your sprouts this Christmas with the earthy flavours of chestnuts and pancetta.

Try our brussels sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta recipe

Don't have time to make your own cranberry sauce from scratch? This is the perfect compromise.

Try our cheat's cranberry sauce recipe

A great, traditional bread sauce that is quick and easy to make for Christmas day.

Try our traditional bread sauce recipe

Christmas is not complete without pigs in blankets. The drizzle of honey makes them irresistible.

Try our pigs in honey blankets recipe

If you are short of time, use a good brand of ready-made chicken stock and simply follow the recipe from step two.

Try our simple giblet gravy recipe

Master the perfect fluffy and crispy roast potato to accompany your Christmas Day lunch.

Try our roast potatoes cooked in goose fat recipe

These caramelised carrots will make the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas turkey. If you prefer, you can replace half of the carrots with parsnips.

Try our caramelised carrots recipe

Anna says: 'For Danes like me, this is a must at Christmas. It teams well with roast pork, can be made days in advance and freezes well.'

Try Anna Hansen's braised red cabbage recipe

Christmas isn't complete without the trimmings and using duck fat will get your vegetables perfectly crisp.

Try our parsnips and potatoes roasted in duck fat with thyme recipe

The sweetness of the beetroot and red onion mixes perfectly with the chestnuts in this delicious side dish - the perfect alternative to the traditional red cabbage recipe.