30 Unexpected Holiday Sides That Will Steal The Show

The holidays are all about celebrating great food and great company. With so much going on this time of year, it's tempting to stick with tried-and-true classics when it comes to planning your meals. But serving repeats year after year can make for stale dinners and bored diners. So, instead of sticking with the same old holiday recipes, why not mix it up this season with some unexpected dishes? 

Injecting new life into your holiday menu doesn't necessarily mean scrapping everything and starting from scratch. You can still keep your favorites on hand while mixing them up with some fresh, fun, and unique side dishes to add some flair to your spread. We've made it easy for you by putting together a round-up of our best show-stopping sides that will surprise and delight your guests. Some are riffs on classics; others veer further off the beaten path -– all are sure to elevate any holiday feast.

Every holiday meal needs some kind of bread on the table so diners can sop up all the delectable sauces and gravies. Instead of going with traditional dinner rolls, try this monkey bread, which wows not just with its taste and texture but also with its fun and festive presentation. Using canned biscuit dough keeps preparation simple, while the rainbow of different cheeses and seasonings adds big punches of flavor to every bite. 

Recipe: Cheesy Savory Monkey Bread

Fluffy, flavorful quinoa makes a fantastic holiday side dish. This grain's naturally nutty taste melds well with fall and winter flavors and needs only a few deftly added herbs — here, we use parsley, oregano, and thyme — to give it just the right seasoning. Plus, quinoa is full of fiber, protein, and other important nutrients, so you can feel good adding this superfood to your holiday recipe repertoire.

Recipe: Perfectly Seasoned Quinoa

Risotto may seem like a rather time-consuming and labor-intensive side to add to a holiday menu. But in an Instant Pot, the dish comes together with very little hands-on work and in nearly no time at all. This satisfyingly creamy, cheesy side adds a layer of sophistication and elegance to your meal, and no one has to know you took a shortcut to get it on the table.

Recipe: Instant Pot Risotto Alla Parmigiana

Serving greens as part of a holiday meal is a must, and there are so many ways to make them. While salads and sautés are what typically come to mind, you can give your guests an unexpected twist on greens with these kale chips. Curly kale works best as it develops ridges of crunchy texture along its edges. These chips serve as a great crispy contrast if you have a lot of side dishes with softer consistencies.

Recipe: Easy Baked Kale Chips

Everything seasoning may have made a name for itself on bagels, but it's proven to be an incredibly versatile spice blend on everything from meats to popcorn to roasted veggies, like cauliflower. The mix of garlic, onion, and seeds adds just the right pop of savory flavor and texture to mellow cauliflower, which gets nicely tender and golden-brown in the oven. Everything seasoning is fairly easy to find these days, but you can also make your own.

Recipe: Everything Roasted Cauliflower

There may not be an easier way to bring a smile to your guests' faces than with this super easy, only three-ingredient Pigs in a Blanket. Canned dough and pre-cooked mini hot dogs make easy work of this classic cocktail party snack, which is sure to delight kids and adults alike when served as an appetizer or side dish for your holiday meal. Don't forget to put a dipping sauce or two on the table.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Pigs In A Blanket

While many recipes for collard greens call for eons of long, slow cooking time, this quick version can be on the table in less than half an hour. Bacon provides flavorful fat for sautéeing the greens as well as a crispy, crunchy textural element that makes each bite pop with flavor. A dash of chili flakes adds just a bit of heat and can be adjusted depending on how much spice your guests can handle.

Recipe: Quick Bacony Collard Greens

Far from the bland, bitter Brussels sprouts you may be used to, this recipe takes the once-underrated vegetable to new heights. These sprouts are coated with a deceptively simple glaze that perfectly balances sweetness and zing from the blend of maple syrup and spicy Dijon mustard. Slicing the sprouts in half and roasting them in the oven allows them to soften on the inside while developing a nicely caramelized exterior.

Recipe: Maple-Dijon Brussels Sprouts

There are about a million ways to make roasted potatoes, and some methods can leave you with boring, one-note spuds. But this recipe, inspired by Greek flavors, delivers on all fronts. The combination of multi-colored potatoes gives the dish visual appeal, while the blend of dried herbs and punch of lemon juice adds bright and zesty flavors. Making sure the potatoes aren't crowded in the roasting pan will maximize their crispy edges.

Recipe: Greek-Style Roasted Potatoes

This recipe turns colorless, mild-tasting cauliflower into a dramatically presented, explosively flavor-packed dish that's sure to impress meat-eaters and vegetarians alike at your holiday table. Leaving the cauliflower whole and brining it before cooking gives the vegetable a gorgeous look and impressive depth of flavor worthy of a main dish. This is a labor-intensive recipe, but it is worth every step.

Recipe: Baked Whole Cauliflower with Indian Spices and Mint

This festive dish is made for holiday parties. While you may think of the cheese ball as a cocktail party hors d'oeuvre, it works just as well as a dish served with a more formal meal. Who wouldn't want to spread a soft, creamy mix of cheese and crunchy bites of almonds on a cracker or piece of bread in between bites of turkey? A food processor makes this recipe a cinch, and you can form the ball in advance to make things even easier.

Recipes: Classic Cheddar Cheese Ball

This salad is chock full of the flavors of winter and fall, making it the perfect cold vegetable dish to include on a holiday menu. The maple syrup, soy sauce, and spice-roasted almonds take this salad to the next level, adding a smoky, sweet, salty crunch to each bite. The colorful blend of ingredients makes this dish just as much a pleasure to look at as it is to eat.

Recipe: Easy Broccoli Salad

When it comes to luxurious, indulgent ways to prepare potatoes, this recipe is hard to beat. Baked in a creamy sauce and topped with a golden layer of cheese, this rich dish may just be the pinnacle of potato perfection when it comes to impressive holiday sides. A mandoline will give you the best results by ensuring thin, even slices of potato, but careful cutting with a kitchen knife can work, too.

Recipe: Classic Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

Sweet potatoes often show up on the holiday table in the form of a casserole or pie, but these rich root vegetables really don't need anything but heat to turn them into a delicious side. If you've got a little bit of extra space in the oven, you can throw these potatoes in wherever there's room and let them bake through in less than an hour. Diners can top them with the usual baked potato fixings, like sour cream, butter, bacon, and chives.

Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato

Suppose you're looking to really wow your guests with flavor; these Vietnamese-inspired crab cakes are the perfect holiday side dish. Fish sauce, soy sauce, and lime juice add a savory tang, along with ginger and chili, to spice things up. Fresh crab meat is ideal if you're lucky enough to get your hands on some, but imitation crab can work in a pinch — these cakes will still taste delicious.

Recipe: Nước Chấm Crab Cake