I love a good vegan turkey or ham for the holidays, but honestly speaking, I’m all in for the sides.
Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing, mac and cheese, cranberry anything, and rolls.
Yes please, and I’ll take seconds!
A few years back we wrote a full menu Holiday Guide E-book, including our favorite classic southern sides, desserts, cocktails, and a main dish. Be sure to check it out, but the website also has tons of sides, breads, and desserts for all of your holiday gatherings be it Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or whatever you celebrate in the fall and winter months.
Hopefully this list will help you find the perfect easy sides for your next gathering!
May your plates and bellies be full and you hearts be warm this season.
What’s a holiday without a classic green bean casserole? Well, we decided to take a holiday classic and bake it into cute little cups! This classic side is actually really easy to make vegan and sure to be a crowd pleaser.
The regional debate over dressing vs stuffing seems never ending, but in the south I grew up eating cornbread dressing. My husband’s MawMaw was known for her dressing. It was the side item my husband most missed after going vegan, so naturally I had to find a way to veganize it. You can use jackfruit or seitan chicken in this southern classic dressing, and either way, it is super delicious, flavorful, and taste like the holidays. Most importantly, its husband approved.
Can you make a vegan deviled egg? That is not the question. How many ways can you make a vegan deviled egg is! We love deviled eggs in this house and these vegan classic deviled eggs are actually really simple to make (we also make a mean pimento cheese stuffed deviled egg as well). The egg whites set in minutes and the filling is super convincing to even non vegans. It is one of those recipes that proves you can make just about anything vegan!
I am pretty sure my kids would disown me if I did not make some version of Mac and Cheese for the holidays. This version is my usual go to because its super cheesy, gooey, creamy and everyone normally loves it. Its quick and pretty fuss free to make, which when making a huge holiday meal, you can’t argue with quick and easy! It is cashew based but can also be made with sunflower seeds for an allergy friendly version!
What is a holiday without bread, heck what is any meal without bread? Carbs are my love language. So naturally when planning a holiday meal I am very focused on the bread side! One of my favorite things growing up was the day after the holiday turkey or ham sandwiches on a soft Hawaiian roll. Sadly the store-bought rolls are not vegan, but luckily we can make our own and truth be told I like the homemade ones even better!
If Mac and Cheese isn’t your thing (I think that is totally weird but I have a son who won’t touch the stuff) then maybe macaroni salad is more your speed. Creamy, savory, tangy, and a little sweet, this is hands down one of my all time favorite sides dishes any time of year!!! It is super quick and easy to make and so flipping good!
There is not a holiday meal at our house that does not include cranberry sauce. Homemade cranberry sauce is quick and simple to make and worth the time it takes to make it. We add a little orange to ours and normally toss in some pretty candied cranberries just to be a little extra, but even without the orange or garnish it is still super delicious.
I am always all in for anything carbs and cheese. These vegan cheesy scalloped potatoes are no exception. Thinly sliced potatoes baked up in a super gooey, homemade cheesy sauce. These potatoes are perfection for the holidays or anytime.
These may not be a traditional holiday side item, but let me tell you, if you make them once, they may just become part of your holiday table tradition. Battered in homemade vegan gorgonzola cheese sauce, and fried up super crispy, these little brussel sprout bites are addictive. Served as an appetizer or a side dish, they are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves brussel sprouts.
Check out our recipes for holiday main dishes and our favorite holiday desserts as well on the site, and also our full Holiday Menu E-book full of recipes not on the site and video content to help you along the way!
86Eats Holiday E-book
