This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more info please check out my Disclosure Policy. Appreciate your support!

Ask anyone their favourite part of Christmas dinner and I bet most say the trimmings. So here are all my Christmas side dishes and vegetables in one place: 19 of them, from crispy roast potatoes and sticky parsnips to sprouts, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. Every one is gluten free and dairy free, so everyone at the table can tuck in.

My top pick

Crispy rosemary roast potatoes in an oval baking dish on a white marble background.

Rosemary Roast Potatoes

Rated 4.85 from 20 reviews

Roast potatoes are one of my absolute favourite parts of Christmas dinner, and these are my go-to whenever we have guests over. Just 4 ingredients, and you can get them ready up to 2 days ahead.

I make them every year, and I know you will love them.

P.S planning the whole meal? My 29 Vegan Christmas Recipes has mains and desserts too, and my Christmas Recipes page has even more festive ideas to browse.

Christmas Roast Potatoes and Potato Sides

Roast potatoes are the side everyone fights over, so there are plenty of ways to do them here, plus two creamy potato bakes.

1. Rosemary Roast Potatoes

rosemary infused roast potatoes in a baking dish on a white marble background
4.85 from 20 votes

Rosemary Roast Potatoes

My go-to roasties for Christmas Day: Maris Pipers roughed up and roasted in hot oil with rosemary until really crunchy. The recipe shows three stages you can do up to 2 days ahead, so the morning is far calmer.

“Brilliant recipe! Made them like this last Christmas and have made them this way ever since. Loved all the extra information to help make the recipe. Thanks”

SueRead all reviews

2. Air Fryer Roast Potatoes

air fryer roast potatoes served in a white bowl with fresh rosemary.
5 from 5 votes

Air Fryer Roast Potatoes

When the oven is full of everything else, these crisp up in the air fryer with rosemary and garlic granules. You can freeze a batch for up to 6 months and crisp them up again in 5 to 7 minutes.

“These are absolutely brilliant! Such a great way to make ordinary potatoes a little more exciting. Will definitely be making again!”

★★★★★AllanRead all reviews

3. Parmentier Potatoes

Parmentier potatoes close up.
5 from 1 vote

Parmentier Potatoes

Little cubes of potato roasted with garlic and rosemary, so you get crispy edges on every side. You can prep them ahead and keep them in the fridge or freezer until it is time to bake.

4. Hasselback Potatoes

top view of hasselbacks in white baking dish with herbed salt seasoning showing.
5 from 2 votes

Hasselback Potatoes

Potatoes sliced thinly, fanned out and roasted with rosemary, thyme and flaked sea salt. A real showstopper on the table, and the chopstick trick in the recipe stops you cutting all the way through.

“First time making these, had some trouble keeping the slices even but basically all went well. I used dried spices as I was stuck at home, snow storm outside, but it worked fine.”

★★★★★SallyRead all reviews

5. Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes close up.
5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

The same showstopper made in the air fryer, with rosemary, thyme and a little garlic and onion powder. Ready in 45 minutes, and they freeze for up to three months.

“These were AMAZING!!”

★★★★★GabbyRead all reviews

6. Smashed Potatoes

Smashed potatoes with olives.
4.67 from 3 votes

Smashed Potatoes

Baby potatoes squashed flat and roasted with olive oil, cider vinegar and whole garlic cloves until crisp and golden. Add olives if you like, or keep them plain next to the roast.

“Crispy, delicious and easy to make. The perfect side dish for any meal :)”

★★★★★FayRead all reviews

7. Vegan Dauphinoise Potatoes

vegan dauphinoise potatoes in baking dish with spoon
5 from 3 votes

Vegan Dauphinoise Potatoes

Thin slices of potato baked in a creamy cashew sauce with thyme and Dijon mustard, with a vegan cheese on top. Rich and comforting, and completely dairy free.

8. Boulangere Potatoes

boulangere potatoes.
5 from 2 votes

Boulangere Potatoes

Potato and onion layered up and baked in vegetable stock with thyme and dairy free butter. A lighter choice than dauphinoise that soaks up the gravy beautifully.

Christmas Vegetables

A traditional Christmas dinner in the UK means sprouts, parsnips and carrots next to the roasties. Here are my favourite ways to cook them, plus cauliflower cheese and some quick greens.

9. Roast Parsnips

mustard maple glazed parsnips in white bowl on backdrop
5 from 4 votes

Roast Parsnips

Parsnips roasted in a sticky Dijon mustard and maple syrup glaze, with just 5 ingredients. They are just as good the next day, so leftovers are no bad thing.

“I like the fact my fussy grandson and youngest child ate them without complaining they weren't that famous freezer brand. Left overs in my family that would have been a miracle I made 2 kilos and 8 people demolished them.”

★★★★★GeoffRead all reviews

10. Smashed Brussels Sprouts

crispy brussel sprouts on grey baking tray with herbs on top.
5 from 1 vote

Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Sprouts boiled until just soft, squashed flat and roasted with rosemary, thyme and a drizzle of maple syrup. The crispy edges win over most sprout doubters.

11. Roasted Sprouts with Oranges & Walnuts

roasted sprouts front
5 from 2 votes

Roasted Sprouts with Oranges & Walnuts

Sprouts roasted with orange, whole garlic cloves and walnuts, then scattered with pomegranate seeds. Make them the day before and warm them through for 5 to 10 minutes.

12. Roasted Root Vegetables

Roasted Root Vegetables on a roasting tray.
5 from 1 vote

Roasted Root Vegetables

Rainbow carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, beetroot and red onion roasted with garlic and rosemary. Your carrots and parsnips sorted in one tray, and you can prep it the day before.

13. Vegan Cauliflower Cheese

Cooked Cauliflower Cheese in black skillet pan. Pan is displayed on white marble background
4.75 from 90 votes

Vegan Cauliflower Cheese

A creamy cheese sauce made from cashews, nutritional yeast and almond milk, poured over cauliflower and baked. Rated 4.75 from 90 reviews, and you can freeze it before it goes in the oven.

“Brilliant recipe!! It tasted great! The cheese sauce was easy to make too and it was really creamy!! I used dried yeast and sprinkle the cheese on top and baked! Yummy,yummy!”

★★★★★ClareRead all reviews

14. Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli

Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli served on a plate.
4.75 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli

Tenderstem broccoli air fried with garlic, onion powder and a pinch of chilli, then finished with lemon. Ready in 7 minutes, so it is a bit of green you can cook right at the end.

“These came out perfect! A little crisp on the outside and still tender inside. Will be making again :)”

★★★★★HollyRead all reviews

Yorkshire Puddings, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce

Yes, Yorkshire puddings at Christmas! All three of these can be made ahead, which frees up the hob on the day.

15. Vegan Yorkshire Puddings (Gluten Free)

Yorkshire puddings towered on a blue/black plate covered in gravy.
4.64 from 148 votes

Vegan Yorkshire Puddings (Gluten Free)

Egg free and gluten free Yorkshire puddings that still rise, made with 5 ingredients. The most rated recipe in this list with 148 ratings, and they reheat from frozen in about 8 minutes.

“BEST Yorkshire pud I’ve ever made or had!!”

★★★★★RitaRead all reviews

16. Best Mushroom Gravy

mushroom gravy served in a metal pot.
4.75 from 8 votes

Best Mushroom Gravy

Chestnut mushrooms, red onion, rosemary, thyme and tamari, with a spoonful of cacao for depth. Ready in 20 minutes, and you can make it ahead and reheat it on the day.

“James I love this recipe, I've made it three times already - thank you. I didn't strain the veg kept it in the gravy (chopped it up small to begin with) served with a wellington and everyone loved it.”

PeppaRead all reviews

17. Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Homemade Cranberry Sauce
5 from 3 votes

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Fresh cranberries simmered with maple syrup and a pinch of salt, done in 10 minutes. It keeps in the fridge for up to 7 days, so make it early in Christmas week.

“A simple yet fantastic recipe! I made this over the weekend and have frozen the majority in preparation for Christmas Day. We did have some with our roast this Sunday and it was absolutely delicious!”

★★★★★RozRead all reviews

Boxing Day Sides

Something fresh and tangy for the leftovers plate on the 26th.

18. Red Cabbage Slaw

Red cabbage slaw salad served on a plate.
5 from 1 vote

Red Cabbage Slaw

Red cabbage and carrot with fresh mint and parsley in a cider vinegar dressing. A crunchy, fresh side for Boxing Day, and it keeps in the fridge for up to four days.

“The addition of mint makes this a perfect summer salad. Great accompaniment to add to any meal. Thank you James”

★★★★★DebbieRead all reviews

19. Pickled Beetroot

Pickled beetroot served on a white plate.
4.50 from 2 votes

Pickled Beetroot

Beetroot pickled with coriander seeds, mustard seeds and peppercorns. Make it at least 3 days ahead and it keeps for up to 6 weeks in the fridge, perfect for a Boxing Day spread.

“This worked really well, had the beetroot in salad today and it was delicious!”

★★★★★GinaRead all reviews

Stuffing and braised red cabbage are lovely next to all of these too, so add them to the table if Christmas isn’t complete without them in your house.

My Make-Ahead Plan for Christmas Sides

All of these timings come from the notes on each recipe card, so Christmas Day itself is mostly roasting and warming through.

  • Weeks ahead (freezer): Vegan Yorkshire Puddings and Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes (up to 3 months), Air Fryer Roast Potatoes (up to 6 months), Rosemary Roast Potatoes (par boiled or roasted, up to 3 months), plus the Parmentier Potatoes and Vegan Cauliflower Cheese, frozen before baking.
  • Up to 6 weeks ahead: Pickled Beetroot. It needs at least 3 days in the fridge before it is ready, and keeps for up to 6 weeks.
  • A few days ahead: Homemade Cranberry Sauce (up to 7 days in the fridge), Best Mushroom Gravy (cool, keep in the fridge and reheat) and the Rosemary Roast Potatoes, which keep in the fridge for up to 2 days at any of the three stages in the recipe.
  • The day before: Make the Roasted Sprouts with Oranges & Walnuts and the Roasted Root Vegetables, then warm them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
  • On the day: The Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli takes 7 minutes, so cook it right at the end while everyone sits down.

I hope these 19 Christmas side dishes help you plan a calm, delicious Christmas dinner. Please leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on the recipes you make and let me know how you get on in the comments.

FREE GUIDE

Get Christmas dinner sorted early

A free plan with make ahead recipes, a countdown and freezer labels

About James Wythe

Hey, I'm James! A fully qualified health coach, cookbook author, full time food blogger and new dad with over 1 million followers. I started this journey after a sudden illness left me bed bound for 2 years and housebound for 4 years! I’m here to help you make healthy and delicious food for you and your family in less time!

You May Also Like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *