Potato Side Dishes for Christmas: 10 BEST Recipes!
Are you looking for the best potato side dishes for Christmas dinner, or to enjoy as a delicious treat over the festive period? You’re in the right place!
Whether you’re looking for something super quick and easy, or you want to dedicate a little extra time to make an accompaniment that’s extra special and luxurious, these are the very best options to consider…
What are the best potato side dishes for Christmas?
Some of the most delicious potato sides for Christmas include Marmite roast potatoes, creamy garlic mash, luxurious Dauphinoise, festive loaded hasslebacks (my personal favourite!), confit potatoes, and smashed potatoes with onion and sage.
Keep reading to discover more ideas, plus get the best recipes for you to make in your own kitchen…
1. Crispy, fluffy Marmite roast potatoes
These Marmite roast potatoes are a beautiful accompaniment for Christmas dinner. I think they work best with roast beef, but they’re just as delicious with turkey, chicken, gammon, or even nut roast. They’re easy to make, and the result is fluffy roasties with plenty of rich and golden crispy bits.
Add lashings of gravy, and this side dish will definitely be a talking point at the festive table!
Got some Marmite haters in the family? I urge you to give these a try anyway! You can use less Marmite than recommended if you’d like, though it’s worth noting that many people would never realise that this is the secret ingredient. The rich savoury taste is one that everyone will surely love.
2. Creamy garlic mashed potatoes
Mash is the ultimate in comfort food, and that reason alone makes it a great choice when it comes to potato side dishes for Christmas! You can really elevate the humble mashed spud though by making garlic mashed potatoes.
They’re infused with a simple homemade garlic butter, and they take around half an hour from start to finish. Try to make a little more than you need, as this mash is absolutely wonderful when used as part of a Boxing Day bubble and squeak!
3. Luxurious Dauphinoise potatoes
In my household, dauphinoise potatoes are a go-to side dish reserved for special occasions! They’re a wonderful choice of potato side dishes for Christmas, and they’re rich, indulgent, and super luxurious.
Though this recipe for dauphinoise potatoes really couldn’t be any simpler, it creates a show stopping side that will definitely be a talking point at the dinner table.
You’ll thinly slice potatoes, add fresh grated garlic and seasoning, pour over lashings of cream, and bake in the oven until tender, golden brown, and bubbling.
4. Fancy fondant potatoes
Fondant potatoes are popular with chefs are often found on the menu in fancy restaurants, so if you’re searching for potato side dishes for Christmas that will really impress your guests, this one could be the right choice for you!
The word ‘fondant’ comes from the French word for ‘melting’, and they have a fluffy interior and a crisp top and slightly chewy base.
Though they offer the wow factor, they’re easier than you might think to prepare. You’ll peel your potatoes and cut into squat cylinders, before browning in oil in a pan and then roasting in the oven in butter and stock.
5. Fun festive loaded hasselbacks
Hassleback potatoes may take more time to prepare than roasties, but these festive loaded hasselbacks are super fun to make, and they’ll be a great talking point for your Christmas celebrations!
They’re finished with homemade cranberry ketchup, melted cheese, bacon, and crispy onions, and they’re also a fantastic side for any buffets that you might be planning.
6. Earthy roast beetroot and sweet potato
This recipe for roast beetroot and sweet potato is colourful, flavoursome, and earthy. It works so well with more gamey meats such as duck and quail, though it can also be served with chicken.
If you want something a little unusual when it comes to potato side dishes for Christmas, this definitely fits the bill!
Though the result is impressive and will likely remind you of something that you might be served in a restaurant, you’ll only actually need a handful of ingredients. Beetroot and sweet potato, of course, as well as butter, salt, and olive oil. This dish is all about celebrating the beautiful flavours of fresh produce, so you need little else to help them to shine.
7. Delightfully savoury Oxo roast potatoes
If you love savoury, umami style flavours, you absolutely need to try these Oxo roast potatoes. They can be made in the oven or an air fryer, and they’re perfect for serving with a traditional Christmas lunch.
I like to use beef stock cubes, but you can easily replace these with chicken or even vegetable stock cubes if you prefer. Why not do a little experimentation ahead of the big day, and choose which option you like the best?
Make sure that you don’t skip the parboiling process. This is key to getting them lovely and fluffy on the inside!
8. Posh confit potatoes
If you really want to push the boat out this Christmas, you have to check out these confit potatoes! They’re classy, stylish, and though they require some extra care and patience, the results are undeniably delicious.
The process of layering, frying, and chilling means that you’ll need to be organised and get ahead with your planning, but it’s well worth the effort.
9. Warming, spicy Bombay potatoes
Do you want to try something a little unusual? If so, why not consider making Bombay potatoes to go with your Christmas dinner? They might be just what you need to get your guests talking for all the right reasons, and they’re a welcome change if you feel like you’re stuck in a culinary rut.
Make use of the leftovers the following day by serving with a curry using up any leftover meat that you might have. Nothing says Boxing Day quite like a spicy turkey curry!
10. Smashed potatoes with onion and sage
Squashing potatoes may not be anywhere near as popular as mashing or roasting them, but if you love crispy bits as much as I do, you really need to be introduced to this method! Squashing creates more surface area and lots of little edges, which are like a blank canvas for golden crispy goodness.
For a nod to the traditional flavours of the festive season that we all know and love, try these smashed potatoes with onion and sage.
Choosing the best potato sides for Christmas dinner
Whether you want something traditional, or something a little more unusual, there’s something for everyone when it comes to delicious potato dishes to serve with your Christmas dinner. These include:
- Marmite roast potatoes
- Creamy garlic mash
- Luxurious Dauphinoise
- Festive loaded hasslebacks
- Fondant potatoes
- Confit potatoes
- Smashed potatoes with onion and sage
