Beefing Up Your Christmas Dinner: Perfect Sides for Your Holiday Roast
Delicious recipe ideas for side dishes for roast beef Christmas dinner (and prime rib)! Includes different potato recipes, gravy, veggies, buns and more.
Are you tired of turkey or your usual holiday ham this holiday season? Then why not make a roast beef dinner instead? Beef is perfect for all special occasions, as those of us who grew up with a Sunday roast on the dinner table will remember! And the truth is, chicken and turkey are much more common on an everyday basis now than they used to be back in the day. At least, a succulent prime rib roast is far less common on my dinner during the year, making it seem extra special and worth the effort for my Christmas dinner table! In this post, I’m going to share my tried-and true easy side dishes that will complement your roast beef-centred holiday dinner to perfection. I’m even going to share one of my very favourite prime rib recipes to get your creative juices flowing!
So, let’s get started on your no-turkey dinner planning and pick the best side dishes for roast beef Christmas dinner!
Potatoes: a Simple Side Dish
A beautiful meat-and-potatoes meal like roast beef needs…well, potatoes! But potatoes don’t have to be boring. I’m sharing my favourite recipes for giving this staple vegetable some new pizzazz!
rich + delicious
Creamy Mashed Potato Gratin
If you love mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes, then you will absolutely LOVE this Creamy Mashed Potato Gratin! This dish combines the two and is made up of 2 layers: a creamy, cheesy mashed potato layer, and a potato gratin topping that’s buttery and Parmesan-cheesy. Absolute perfection with beef roasts!
A Classic
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
What’s so different about mashed potatoes, you ask? How about making them ahead of time and taking the pressure off on Christmas Day? I know that mashed potatoes are the easiest thing to make. But I find making them annoying, especially when I’m trying to pull together a big Christmas dinner. They’re just ONE MORE THING to do when you’re already busy (peeling, cutting, boiling). So, do all that hard work the day before and then add my butter-and-cream mixture the day of and watch your potatoes come back to life! You won’t be disappointed and you will have so much less to do on the big day!
A Holiday Potato Change-Up
Hasselback Potatoes
Do you find that you’re always making potatoes the same way, dinner after dinner? We all know about mashed, boiled, or roast potatoes. But what about Hasselback Potatoes? Potatoes prepared this way are crunchy, salty and delicious, almost like chips! And they’re a nice change from the regular potato routine. Cut them into thin slices, then fill the spaces between with butter or olive oil, salt and pepper, and whatever herbs you like. Then, bake the potatoes until they are wonderfully crispy! Your guests will love them!
creamy + flavourful
Leek Mashed Potatoes
Take classic mashed potatoes up a flavour notch with these Leek Mashed Potatoes. The addition of softened sautéed leeks and garlic makes these creamy mashed potatoes so flavourful, and absolutely delicious alongside a beef roast. These are such a great, flavourful option to regular mashed potatoes.
Potatoes that’ll Wow!
Whipped Mashed Potatoes with Black Truffle Cheese
Adding truffle cheese to mashed potatoes is a great way to turn an everyday side dish into something elegant that you can serve during the holiday season for a bit of a wow factor. Just boil your potatoes, whip them, then add the cheese. You won’t be disappointed! If you aren’t a fan of truffle flavour, you could add cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese as well, for more of a comfort-food feel. Either way, potatoes and cheese are a winning combination!
Delicious and Flavourful
Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes
You just can’t go wrong with this recipe for Oven Roasted Herb Potatoes! The key to soft-yet-crispy roasted potatoes is to boil them first. Then, coat the outside in olive oil and fresh herbs and roast to perfection. A perfect roasted potato is a welcome sight at any Christmas dinner table, especially when served alongside roast beef.
Vegetable Side Dishes
It goes without saying that vegetables are a must-have on the dinner table at Christmas! And just like potatoes, they don’t have to be boring. I’m sharing a few of my classic-with-a-twist easy vegetable options that are perfect side dishes for any Christmas roast beef dinner.
Creamy, easy + so good
Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
This Creamy Shallot and Chive Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is a simple and delicious side dish perfect for a holiday meal. This oven baked broccoli and cauliflower casserole is made with a full block of Shallot + Chive Boursin cheese, making it so creamy and flavourful! This side dish pairs perfectly with roast beef or prime rib. And you can have this ready and on the table in less than 1 hour, making it a perfect holiday side dish!
Quick, easy, And Delicious
Sage Butter Green Beans and Corn Medley
Fresh green beans and corn pair perfectly, so why not mix them together to make one quick and delicious side dish? It’s so easy to keep making the same steamed veggies for every meal, so it’s nice to try something different once in a while. Different, but NOT hard. All you need to do is mix all the ingredients together and sauté for a few minutes! This uncomplicated green bean and corn side dish is a nice addition to any meal, but the sage butter (use any other herbs you want instead!) elevates it to Christmas dinner status.
Cheesy, creamy and so good!
Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake
If you love Brussels sprouts and are looking for a new and delicious way to serve them, then you need to try this Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake! It’s creamy, cheesy and so flavourful. The sprouts are first sautéed and simmered in broth before being baked with cream and cheese. The flavour of the dish can change depending on the type of cheese you use. Swiss cheese or a sharp cheddar will be very different from a mild cheese like mozzarella or havarti. Both delicious.
So good alongside beef.
The perfect holiday side dish
Honey Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
These honey roasted carrots and parsnips are sweet and deliciously caramelized! This easy side dish is ready in less than 1 hour, and doesn’t have to be served immediately after it’s done. The perfect side dish for Christmas dinner! Some people like to use brown sugar or maple syrup for glazing vegetables. But for me, the simple, wholesome addition of honey and salt and pepper really makes these vegetables stand out. If you have a roast parsnips hater in your midst, you can just leave them out and do a carrots-only batch too.
Simple and Hearty
Grilled Harvest Vegetables
If you’re looking for a simple side dish for Christmas dinner, grilled vegetables are always a great option! Grilling veggies brings out all their natural sugars and makes them so flavourful! You can make this versatile recipe with any of your favourite seasonal produce. I find that hearty vegetables like farm-fresh carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, onions, beets and zucchini are perfect for grilling, especially when you toss them in a flavourful garlic and rosemary marinade. This is a beautiful dish that will add colour and interest to your holiday meal!
Cheesy creamy tasty
Creamy Gouda Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
I think cheese and cauliflower just GO together, don’t you? I created this Creamy Gouda Cheesy Cauliflower Bake because I think the world needs it! The sharp bite of the aged gouda tastes amazing in the cream-based sauce, and it’s a perfect complement to the subtle flavour of the cauliflower. This would be a delectable side dish with your roast beef Christmas dinner! I hope you make it.
A tasty kitchen fav
Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
If you’re looking for a really simple side dish, this Honey Roasted Butternut Squash is a delicious option! A whole butternut squash is roasted with honey, butter, rosemary and pecans. It looks gorgeous and no one will know it was the easiest part of your meal to assemble!
Perfect for any occasion
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Brussels sprouts bring up a lot of emotion. Either you love them or detest them, there is no middle ground! I personally LOVE them and I love trying different ways of making them. This particular recipe is definitely fancy enough for Christmas dinner! With the flavours of pancetta (or bacon) and balsamic vinegar, they are not just your run-of-the-mill boiled vegetable. You might even be able to convince the haters at your table to give them another chance!
A Holiday Potato Change-Up
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with a Creamy Sweet Dijon Dressing
Let’s stay on the subject of Brussels sprouts for a moment so I can share one of my favourite salad recipes! This Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is crunchy, creamy, tangy, and sweet all at the same time. Full of seasonal goodies like dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, chopped apple or pear, and pomegranate seeds and dressed in a creamy sweet dijon dressing, this salad is perfect for Christmas dinner. And just like the last recipe, it might convince the Brussels sprouts haters at your table to give them another try!
Breads
It wouldn’t be Christmas without some kind of bread on the table! I’ve got a few options for you that are sure to complement your prime rib dish perfectly.
The perfect holiday side dish
Bread Machine Parker House Rolls
These Parker House Rolls are the ultimate dinner roll! They’re so soft and buttery and a little bit salty. They would pair perfectly with roast beer or prime rib! Especially dipped into gravy…yum! So if you’re looking for a roll that everyone will love, this recipe is it. And bonus points for the ease of the dough being made in the bread maker!
A tradition
Popovers
These are very similar to Yorkshire pudding, but a purist would say they are not quite the same thing! Typically popovers contain butter, and Yorkshire puddings use beef drippings for fat. I love popovers best right out of the oven with a big ol’ dollop of butter in their hollow centres, but they are delicious smothered in beef gravy too. Just a few simple ingredients are needed to make them too! (Just make sure you plan your dinner so you don’t have to open the oven door while they are cooking. You don’t want to end up with flattened popovers, and this is exactly what opening the oven would do.)
The perfect holiday side dish
Homemade Bread Machine Dinner Buns
If you want the comfort of homemade bread on your Christmas table without all the fuss, try my bread machine dinner buns recipe! Some homemade bread recipes are a lot of work, but not this one. Let your bread machine do all the mixing and kneading! Then, shape the dough into dinner rolls and bake them in your oven. Easy peasy! As soon as the buns come out of the oven, rub their tops with butter so they are shiny and happy-looking. Your guests will have to remember to leave room on their plates for everything else! Fresh homemade bread is really the perfect way to complement any meal.
The Main Event
classic + delicious
Easy Sirloin Tip Roast
Roast beef like this juicy sirloin tip roast is a classic meal that’s perfect for any special occasion, and a really delicious alternative to turkey for holiday dinners like Christmas or New Years! This recipe makes a sirloin tip roast with an herb and garlic crust, cooked to medium rare (but you can adjust the times for medium to well done). Also included is a recipe for garlic butter roasted potatoes that are roasted alongside the beef roast. A delicious and easy combination!
a special holiday treat!
Prime Rib with a Horseradish Salt & Pepper Crust
I’m sharing my tried-and-true prime rib recipe that is sure to make your Christmas roast beef dinner a raving success. This prime rib has THE MOST delicious and flavourful crust made up of fresh herbs, fresh horseradish, and loads of salt and pepper… you’ll be fighting over the outside pieces! I fill a pan with Guinness beer and place it in the barbecue under the crusted beef, to add rich flavour and make the most delicious pan drippings that also make an incredible gravy. If it seems odd to you to cook a juicy roast beef on the barbecue, think of all the oven space and time you will save! This is the perfect choice for perfectly cooked beef and a delicious holiday meal!
Easy Gravy Recipe
Rich + yummy
Gravy From Scratch with Little or No Pan Drippings
ou can’t really call it a proper Christmas dinner menu without a good gravy! If you’re not a fan of pan drippings, or never seem to get enough from your meat to make it work, don’t worry. You don’t need them! This Easy Gravy Recipe is made from scratch and requires no pan drippings! Using simple pantry ingredients, this delicious and rich gravy is ready in minutes. All you need is consommé or broth, butter, flour and cream. So easy.
Well, that’s it: everything you need to make a good roast beef dinner! I’ve shown you how to put together a main course complete with gravy, potato side dishes, bread options, and a wide array of vegetables too. I hope I’ve given you plenty of ideas and proven you don’t need to serve turkey and boiled vegetables for Christmas this year! Let me know in the comments which side dishes you choose, I would love to know how your dinner turns out!
a complete guide
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I hope you find something delicious from this list of side dishes for roast beef Christmas dinner! Merry Christmas and happy cooking!
