18 Crowd-Pleasing Vegetable Sides for Your Holiday Table

Don't tell the prime rib, but sides are the true crowd-pleasers of any holiday meal. The choices are many: stovetop braises and sautés, purées, oven-roasted options, and baked vegetable casseroles.

The seasonal produce of late fall is a wonderful source of inspiration for stellar vegetable side dishes. We turn to hearty blond root vegetables like potatoes (in all their exciting variety), celeriac, and parsnips, that are so good at absorbing sauces and dressings, and retaining the flavors we pair them with. Bright carrots and beetroot bring natural sweetness and vibrance.

At this time of the year, brassicas are at their best: succulent cauliflower is a divine mashed potato substitute for anyone cutting back on carbs. No table would be complete without a dish of nutty green Brussels sprouts. Cool-weather greens like spinach, chards, kales, and chicories are versatile and healthy (and a perfect antidote to our tendency to overindulge at this time of year).

And don't forget the fruit when thinking about preparing vegetable side dishes. Late-season grapes and an endless selection of apple varieties are marvelous complements for everything from celeriac to winter squash.

You may decide there's enough delicious variety in this collection of our favorite holiday vegetable side dishes that you'll want to ditch the roast altogether!