The main course gets all the attention, but side dishes make a winter dinner. These easy winter side dish recipes round out cold-weather meals with roasted vegetables, creamy potatoes, cheesy bakes and comforting classics. Every dish here is simple to make, feeds a crowd, and pairs beautifully with roasts, holiday hams and weeknight chicken. A great side dish does not compete with the main — it completes the plate, adds color to the table, and gives everyone something to reach for.
Why Winter Sides Deserve a Plan
Winter is the season of the side dish. Cold-weather vegetables like carrots, squash, green beans and potatoes are at their sweetest, and they roast, mash and bake into the coziest companions for any main course. Sides are also the easiest way to feed a crowd: a big tray of roasted carrots or a bubbling dish of mac and cheese stretches dinner for very little money. Plan two or three sides for a holiday table — one green, one potato, one cheesy — and the meal takes care of itself.
1. Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
Roasted carrots are proof that the simplest vegetable can steal the show. Our honey garlic butter roasted carrots come out of the oven sweet, glossy and caramelized at the edges, with a buttery garlic glaze that clings to every piece. Winter carrots are naturally sweet, and roasting concentrates that sweetness even more. Serve them next to roast chicken or pork, or pile them onto a holiday plate where their bright color wakes everything up.
2. Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Few dishes say cozy winter dinner like a cheesy broccoli casserole bubbling out of the oven. Our cheesy broccoli casserole bakes tender broccoli in a rich, creamy cheese sauce under a golden topping, and it is the side dish that even the picky eaters ask for by name. Assemble it in the morning, bake it when dinner is nearly ready, and let it rest a few minutes so the sauce sets.
3. Crack Green Beans
Green beans get a serious upgrade in this recipe, and the name tells you why. Our crack green beans roast with a savory, buttery glaze until they are tender with crisp, caramelized edges. They are the kind of side dish that vanishes from the serving bowl before the main course is even touched. Use fresh beans when you can, and do not crowd the pan, because space is what gives them those golden edges.
4. Crispy Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is winter’s sweetest vegetable, and roasting brings out its best. Our crispy butternut squash comes out of the oven with caramelized edges and a soft, sweet center, seasoned simply so the squash itself does the talking. Toss it into salads, serve it beside a roast, or eat it straight off the pan with a sprinkle of parmesan.
5. Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
No winter table is complete without mashed potatoes. Our creamy garlic mashed potatoes whip up smooth, buttery and rich, with just enough garlic to keep them interesting. They are the ultimate comfort side: simple, filling and loved by absolutely everyone. Make them ahead and reheat gently with a splash of milk and butter.
6. Cheesecake Factory Mashed Potatoes
Restaurant-style mashed potatoes at home? Yes, please. Our Cheesecake Factory mashed potatoes are silky, buttery and indulgent, with a rich flavor that tastes like a special occasion. They pair with everything from steak to roast chicken, and they turn an ordinary weeknight dinner into something memorable.
7. Ina Garten Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Scalloped potatoes are pure comfort, and this version adds ham for a dish that eats like a meal. Our Ina Garten scalloped potatoes and ham layers thinly sliced potatoes in a creamy sauce until tender and golden. It works as a side dish or a main, and it is a brilliant way to use up leftover holiday ham.
8. Joanna Gaines Scalloped Potatoes
Joanna Gaines knows cozy cooking, and these scalloped potatoes prove it. Our Joanna Gaines scalloped potatoes bake thinly sliced potatoes in a creamy, cheesy sauce until bubbling and golden. Slice the potatoes evenly so they cook at the same speed, and let the dish rest ten minutes before serving so the sauce sets.
9. Bobby Flay Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is the side dish that doubles as the star. Our Bobby Flay slow cooker mac and cheese cooks low and slow until creamy, cheesy and completely irresistible. The slow cooker does the work while the oven stays free for the main course — a lifesaver on holidays. Stir it once halfway through and top with extra cheese before serving.
10. Joanna Gaines Creamy Mac and Cheese
Some mac and cheese recipes are good; this one is great. Our Joanna Gaines creamy mac and cheese bakes elbow macaroni in a rich, velvety cheese sauce with a golden top. It is the side dish kids request by name and adults secretly eat straight from the dish. Serve it beside fried chicken, barbecue or a holiday ham.
11. Ina Garten Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes are at their best in winter, and this casserole is the coziest way to serve them. Our Ina Garten sweet potato casserole bakes mashed sweet potatoes under a buttery, crunchy topping until the edges bubble. It is sweet, rich and deeply comforting, and it belongs on every holiday table. Make it the day before and bake it fresh.
12. Ina Garten Corn Casserole
Creamy, sweet and golden, corn casserole is the side dish that quietly steals the show. Our Ina Garten corn casserole bakes sweet corn in a rich, custardy base until it is soft, buttery and just set. It pairs with almost everything on a winter table, from roast turkey to glazed ham. Make a double batch for a crowd, because the first one never lasts long.
13. Paula Deen Green Bean Casserole
No winter table feels complete without a green bean casserole, and this Southern classic is the one to make. Our Paula Deen green bean casserole bakes tender green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce under a crunchy onion topping. It is rich, familiar and exactly the comfort food cold nights call for. Assemble it ahead and bake until golden.
14. Mission BBQ Green Beans
Smoky, savory and a little bit different, these green beans bring barbecue flavor to the winter table. Our Mission BBQ green beans cook green beans with smoky, savory seasonings until tender and full of flavor. They are a great change from the usual casseroles, and they pair perfectly with grilled meats, barbecue and roast chicken.
15. Cozy Butternut Squash Risotto Bliss
Risotto as a side dish feels fancy, but this one is wonderfully simple. Our cozy butternut squash risotto bliss stirs sweet roasted squash into creamy, cheesy rice for a side that tastes like a restaurant dish. Serve it beside roast chicken or pork, or let it be the star of a meatless dinner with a big salad. Stir often and add warm broth a little at a time.
How to Plan Winter Sides for a Crowd
Pick One Green, One Potato, One Cheesy
The easiest holiday formula is one green vegetable, one potato dish and one cheesy bake. That mix covers every taste at the table and looks beautiful together. For the green, choose crack green beans or the Paula Deen green bean casserole above; for potatoes, creamy garlic mashed potatoes or Ina Garten smashed potatoes; for cheesy, any mac and cheese on this list. Add a chili’s loaded mashed potatoes or mashed potatoes with cream cheese if the crowd is big.
Make Ahead Where You Can
Most winter sides reheat beautifully, so do the work early. Assemble casseroles the day before and bake them fresh. Mash potatoes ahead and reheat them with butter and milk. Roast vegetables can be cut a day ahead and roasted just before dinner. For more holiday planning, our easy Thanksgiving stuffing recipes and grandma’s Thanksgiving stuffing are classic sides that also make ahead well, and the easy Christmas side dishes roundup has more seasonal ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many side dishes should I serve for a holiday dinner?
Three to four sides is the sweet spot for a holiday table: one green vegetable, one potato or starch, one cheesy or creamy dish, and one bread or stuffing. For a regular weeknight dinner, one or two sides is plenty.
Can I make winter side dishes ahead of time?
Yes. Most casseroles can be assembled a day ahead and baked fresh. Mashed potatoes reheat well with a splash of milk and butter. Roasted vegetables are best made fresh, but you can cut and prep them the day before to save time.
How do I keep mashed potatoes warm?
Keep them in a slow cooker on warm with a little extra butter on top, or in a covered dish in a low oven. Stir in a splash of warm milk before serving to bring back the creamy texture.
What sides go best with roast chicken?
Roasted carrots, mashed potatoes, green beans and a simple salad are classic partners for roast chicken. A cheesy side like mac and cheese or a corn casserole also works beautifully for a heartier meal. For more vegetable ideas, our easy winter vegetable recipes roundup has plenty.
Can I freeze leftover side dishes?
Most casseroles and mashed potatoes freeze well for up to three months. Roasted vegetables lose some texture after freezing, so they are best eaten fresh. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.
Final Thoughts
A winter dinner is only as good as its sides. These easy winter side dish recipes give you everything you need: roasted vegetables for color, creamy potatoes for comfort, cheesy bakes for the crowd, and a few classics for the holiday table. Pick your favorites, plan one green, one potato and one cheesy, and let the sides carry the meal — one warm, generous dish at a time.