Simplify your holiday menu planning with our tips for choosing side dishes and collection of easy vegetable recipes, many of which can be made ahead.

Four photo collage: Green bean casserole, roasted acorn squash, Brussels sprouts, pearl onions.

Choosing your main course is the easy part when it comes to planning a holiday menu. Adding side dishes that complement your entree is a little bit more of a challenge.

How to choose the vegetables for your holiday menu

When choosing vegetable recipes for your holiday menu you’ll want to consider three major points; flavor combinations, preparation methods, and family preferences.

Flavor combinations:

Consider the primary flavors in your main dish and choose one or two side dishes with similar characteristics, and one or two with contrasting flavors. For instance:

Preparation methods:

When planning a holiday meal, there can be a myriad of dishes to prepare. Since you’re most likely already using the oven to roast beef, pork, or turkey, a make-ahead, oven-baked vegetable side dish can be a great way to simplify. Consider easy choices like:

Family favorites:

Consider what your family has enjoyed in the past. If mashed potatoes are a perennial favorite and you want to add variety to your menu, consider a dish extra flavor but similar texture.

Whatever your holiday meal, all these easy vegetable recipes work well with classic entrees like turkey, roast pork and roast beef and should help make your holiday meal a memorable occasion.

Easy Vegetables for Your Holiday Menu

Green Beans with Toasted Walnuts and Shallots

Oven-roasting green beans gives them a slight sweetness that pairs perfectly with the sautéed shallots and toasted walnuts in this versatile side dish.

Riced Cauliflower Gratin

This easy cauliflower gratin recipe is made with frozen riced cauliflower and makes a delicious, low-carb alternative to potatoes or pasta.

Green Beans and Tomatoes Oreganata

An Italian-inspired side dish of green beans and diced tomatoes topped with buttered crumbs and grated parmesan cheese.

Maple Roasted Acorn Squash w/Winter Fruit Compote

These buttery, oven-roasted acorn squash filled with a sweet winter fruit compote make a delicious side dish to serve with baked ham, roast pork or turkey.

Southern-Style Green Beans

Slow cooked with smoky bacon and sweet onions, these Southern-style green beans are sure to become a family favorite.

Buttered Peas and Parsnips

This simple twist on classic peas and carrots makes an easy and versatile side dish.

Creamy Braised Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Walnuts

Fresh Brussels sprouts braised in cream and combined with toasted walnuts makes a company-worthy side dish perfect for serving with roast pork, beef, turkey or chicken.

Thyme-Roasted Pearl Onions

Perfect for serving with roast chicken, turkey or pork, this easy side dish of roasted pearl onions is flavored with a simple combination of fresh thyme, butter and honey.

Roasted Green Bean, Pepper and Shallot Salad

Roasted green beans, sautéed shallots and sweet bell pepper combine with a mustard vinaigrette to make a simple, make-ahead salad that's perfect for company meals.

Marmalade Glazed Carrots

Orange marmalade and Dijon-style mustard add a distinctive, sweet and tangy flavor to rounds of steamed fresh carrots.

Crumb Topped Green Bean Mushroom Bake

An easy, make-ahead side dish of fresh green beans and sauteed mushrooms with a crumb topping.

Garlic Braised Green Beans

Fresh green beans are braised in broth with garlic and onions to make a mellow, versatile side dish that goes with a wide variety of entrees.

Root Vegetable Puree with Shallots and Thyme

A silky purée of turnips, parsnips and carrots flavored with caramelized shallots and fresh thyme makes a nice side dish for roast turkey, chicken or pork.

Roasted Onion Medley

We've roasted a trio of onion varieties and tossed with them crispy bacon, fresh thyme and a drizzle of maple syrup for a sweet-savory side dish to serve with roast beef, pork or turkey.