The Best Fall and Winter Side Dishes for Gatherings and Family Dinners

Once the weather turns slightly cooler, my kitchen changes. The oven runs all afternoon, there’s a tray of something roasting on every rack, usually some kind of vegetable or something creamy and comforting to tuck into.

I’ve gathered my favourite Fall and Winter side dishes from the blog into one place. There are the turkey dinner classics, crispy and creamy potatoes, maple-glazed roasted vegetables, bubbling casseroles, and the bright, crunchy salads that balance it all out. Plus a few of the Greek and Caribbean dishes that are staples all year round in our home.

Whether you’re planning a full turkey dinner, hosting a crowd for Sunday supper, or just want something cozy next to a roast chicken on a chilly weeknight, there’s a side here for you.

Planning the whole meal? Start with my Turkey Dinner Planner for the timeline, the bird and everything in between. Then come back here to build out your sides.

The Turkey Dinner Classics

If you’re feeding a crowd around a turkey (or a roast chicken, or a ham), start here and build out from there.

Simple Creamy Mashed Potatoes Smooth, buttery and exactly what mashed potatoes should be, with no tricks and nothing unnecessary. A simple classic!

Skillet Stuffing With Sausage, Sage and Apples Savoury sausage, fragrant sage and sweet apples, all in one skillet. Crispy edges with a soft, herby centre.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce Easy from scratch recipe that is bright, tart and ready in minutes.

Green Bean Casserole The creamy, crunchy-topped classic with a from scratch approach.

Sweet Potato Casserole Creamy, sweet and golden on top. It’s that sweet-savoury side that everyone loves.

Candied Sweet Potatoes Tender sweet potatoes in a glossy, buttery glaze.

Corn Bread Golden, tender simple to make cornbread. No need for the boxed stuff!

Potatoes and Other Starchy Comforts

Crispy, creamy, smashed, scalloped or roasted with lemon: potatoes are always the perfect side dish that everyone loves. If you have the oven space, make two, one creamy and one crispy. You won’t regret it.

Baked Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes, loaded with cheese and baked until the top is golden and bubbling.

Cheesy Potato Casserole Creamy, cheesy and pure comfort in a baking dish. Diced potatoes boiled then baked in a rich cheese sauce.

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Thinly sliced potatoes baked low and slow in a rich, creamy sauce until they’re meltingly tender.

Easy Roasted Parmesan Potatoes Crispy, golden and coated in savoury Parmesan. They’re easy enough for a weeknight and good enough for hosting.

Garlic Parmesan Crispy Roasted Potatoes With Thyme Thinly sliced potatoes fanned out and roasted with garlic, butter, herbs and parmesan.

Greek Roasted Lemon Potatoes (Lemonates Patates) The potatoes roast in lemon, olive oil and oregano until they’re golden at the edges and soaked with flavour in the middle. They’re wonderful next to turkey and even better next to roast lamb.

Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Sour Cream and Chive Dip Crunchy edges, fluffy centres and a cool, creamy chive dip on the side. Half side dish, half appetizer, and irresistible.

Easy No-Fail Melting Potatoes Golden and crisp on the outside, impossibly tender inside. Restaurant quality with far less effort than you’d think.

Easy Greek Rice Not a potato, but it definitely belongs in this company. This is a simple, Mediterranean rice staple that goes with just about anything.

Cheesy, Bubbling Crowd-Pleasers

These are the crowd pleasing dishes that even the kids can’t get enough of. Warm, golden, cheesy and comforting!

Baked Mac and Cheese Creamy pasta under a golden, bubbling top.

Rich and Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese All the comfort of the baked version with no oven required. It’s the perfect side dish especially when every oven rack is spoken for.

Cheesy Corn Casserole Creamy sweet corn, bacon, jalepeno and melty cheese baked into a soft, scoopable side.

Caribbean-Style Corn Pie An aromatic, savoury corn pie from the Caribbean. A traditional staple at family gatherings.

Roasted Root Vegetables and Winter Squash

This is where the season really shines. Roasting brings out all the natural sweetness in carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. From the simplest sides to some that take a bit more effort but make a great centrepiece.

Brown Butter Garlic Maple Roasted Carrots Nutty brown butter, garlic and maple syrup turn simple carrots into something glossy, and caramelized.

Honey Roasted Carrots Tender, and lightly caramelized with honey. It’s a simple, staple that goes with everything.

Spiced Roasted Carrots With Sumac Whipped Feta Warmly spiced roasted carrots layered over a creamy base of tangy, lemony sumac whipped feta.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Bacon Crispy bacon and caramelized sweet potatoes are one of those combinations that we can’t get enough of. They roast up in one pan with garlic, herbs and shallots, then drizzled with maple syrup.

Roasted Hasselback Sweet Potatoes With Bacon Maple Brown Butter Thinly sliced and fanned sweet potatoes, roasted, then finished with a bacon, maple and brown butter drizzle that seeps into every slice.

Honey Roasted Delicata Squash Delicata is the easiest squash there is, with no peeling required. Roasted with herbs, honey garlic and olive oil then served with chopped pecans and feta. A low effort delicious and beautiful side dish.

Stuffed Acorn Squash With Bacon and Kale Bread Pudding Roasted acorn squash filled with a savoury bacon and kale bread pudding. A hearty, cozy, impressive side dish.

Easy Oven Roasted Vegetables (Fall/Winter) The most flexible recipe on this list: a colourful sheet pan of seasonal vegetables roasted until golden. This is on repeat all season for us.

Brussels Sprouts and Green Vegetables

Nothing boring about these green veggies! These are bright, crisp and full of flavour, even for all the Brussels sprout skeptics.

Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts Crispy, caramelized with tender centres, just the way they are meant to be enjoyed!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Candied Pecans and Bacon They start on the stovetop and finish roasting in the oven, served with caramelized pecans and bacon.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes With Bacon Roasted jammy grapes, caramelized brussel sprouts and bacon. A delicious unexpected pairing that we think you will love!

Sautéed Green Beans Quick, crisp-tender and full of flavour. This stovetop side dish frees up oven space when you need it most and goes with everything!

Lemony Green Beans Bright, fresh and full of lemon. It’s a lighter green side that cuts beautifully through all the rich, creamy dishes on the table. One of my fav pot luck dishes!

Creamed Spinach (Trinidadian Style) A creamy, comforting spinach dish with Caribbean flavors. Spinach sautéed in coconut milk and aromatics.

Miso Creamed Kale Creamy, greens with a savoury, umami-rich twist from miso.

Harvest Salads

A crisp, bright salad is the best way to balance a table full of rich, cozy dishes. I could make a meal out of these but they also make fantastic side dishes!

Apples, Pears and Citrus

Harvest Salad All the best flavours of the season in one colourful bowl. Roasted root vegetables, tossed with greens, chopped apples, candies nuts, goat cheese and pomegranate or dried cranberries, dressed with a simple vinaigrette.

Apple Walnut Salad Crisp apples and toasted walnuts in a fresh, simple salad that fits in with any menu. We love the quick candied walnut addition plus she’s got bacon!

Apple and Kale Salad Hearty kale and sweet-tart apples paired with cheddar cheese and some crunchy sweet add ins.

Apple Fennel Crunch Salad Thinly sliced apple and fennel make a crisp, clean, refreshing salad. It’s just what a heavy meal needs.

Waldorf Salad The crunchy retro classic with apples, celery and walnuts.

Pear Salad Sweet, juicy seasonal pears go well with the salty tangy sharpness of the gorgonzola/blue cheese, along with the fresh greens and delicious dressing - a classic elegant ‘pear-ing’ that we love and hope you do too!

Mandarin Orange Salad A bright beautiful salad with your favorite salads greens, mandarin slices, creamy avocado, and all the crunchy sweet add ins tossed in an orange honey dijon dressing.

Roasted Vegetable and Grain Salads

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad Caramelized roasted squash makes this salad warm, hearty and seasonal.

Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Farro Salad With a Za’atar Dressing Nutty farro, roasted squash and kale with a fragrant za’atar dressing.

Wild Rice Salad Nutty, chewy wild rice, salad greens loaded with sweet crunchy apples and celery, tart cranberries, pomegranate, creamy feta cheese, and my favourite candied maple bacon pecans tossed in an citrus dressing.

Beet Salad Earthy, sweet beets in a gorgeous jewel-toned salad. It’s one of the prettiest dishes you can put on the table. Roast the beets yourself or use store-bought, ready-to-eat, vacuum-packed cooked beets in a pinch.

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad Golden roasted cauliflower and chickpeas make a warm, satisfying salad that’s full of flavour.

Roasted Brussels Sprout and Chickpea Salad Crispy roasted brussel sprouts and chickpeas in a hearty salad with sliced almonds, creamy feta, apples, and cranberries - just to name a few, and a tangy maple balsamic Dijon dressing.

Green Bean Salad Blanched green beans tossed with salad greens and crunchy almonds, feta, loads of fresh herbs and dressed with a tangy sweet shallot infused vinaigrette.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many side dishes should I make for a turkey dinner?

That truly depends on how many people are coming over. For most family gatherings, four to six sides is plenty. Aim for a balance: one or two potato dishes, something sweet (like a sweet potato or squash dish), a green vegetable, stuffing or bread, a fresh salad and cranberry sauce. If you’re feeding a bigger crowd, double up on a potato or casserole rather than adding lots of small extras.

My tip: Share the load - balance out what you can actually make and have friends and family contribute a side where possible!

How do I manage oven space with so many sides?

This is always the dilemma especially when you are dealing with a smaller space, oven, or fridge for storage. Mix oven dishes with stovetop and no-cook ones. The Stovetop Mac and Cheese, Sautéed Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, mashed potatoes, and any of the salads free up the oven entirely. Casseroles and roasted vegetables can go in while the meats rests.

My tip: try to prep as much of the dishes or components of the dishes ahead - which leads to the next point below.

Which side dishes can I make ahead?

Cranberry sauce is best made a day or two ahead, and sturdy salads like the Wild Rice Salad and Apple and Kale Salad plus most salads can be prepped and stored undressed until ready to toss together and serve. Many casseroles can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving.

My tip: Check the notes on each recipe for specific make-ahead and reheating tips. Plan ahead so you can make the best use of your time and energy!

What are some lighter sides to balance a rich meal?

Try the Lemony Green Beans, Apple Fennel Crunch Salad, Mandarin Orange Salad or the Greek Roasted Lemon Potatoes or Greek Rice. A little acidity and crunch go a long way next to cheesy casseroles and creamy mash.

Whatever your table looks like this Fall and Winter, I hope a few of these become part of your family’s tradition. If you make something from this list, I’d love to know which one. Leave a comment on the recipe or find me over on Instagram.