Mashed potatoes are fine and polite, but Kimchi Mac & Cheese?? That’s the kind of Christmas remix that steals EVERYONE’S attention. This year, bring Christmas side dishes with big flavor and even bigger personality! If you live for whispers of “wait, HOW did you make this??”, you’ve wandered into the right Christmas-lit blog!
Side dishes are usually thought of as the supporting role to the entrees. Kinda like Santa and his elves… But these naughty elves got BIG personality and just might steal Christmas! We’re serving make-ahead’s (for easy heat-and-eat dinner), fiery one-pot recipes (for those of you who HATE doing dishes), and even a sprinkle of 10-minute recipes for the people in the back thinking they “still got time”.
Bring these potluck side dishes to any party or serve them at your own for an epic Christmas party! Make the rest of your Christmas menu easy with my Christmas recipes, like my mouthwatering Christmas Main Dishes and easy No-Bake Christmas Desserts! If you want to go all out, serve epic Christmas Appetizers that get the party started!
1. Cheesy Pull Apart Garlic Bread (with Miso)
Turn plain store-bought bread into an epically cheesy pull-apart no one can resist at Christmas dinner! This 25-minute Miso Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is warm and fluffy on the inside, soaked in garlicky miso butter, loaded with gooey mozzarella, and sealed in a golden, crunchy crust. This foolproof recipe is easy to prep ahead and always gets everyone excited 'round the table!
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2. Kimchi Mac & Cheese
This year's Christmas remix just dropped and it's this Kimchi Mac and Cheese! It's packed with gooey, melty cheese, vibrant bursts of kimchi, and a toasted sesame–panko topping for sprinkle of crunch! This isn’t your mama’s mac and cheese—and you’ll wonder why you ever ate it any other way!
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3. Green Mango Salad
Wake up your tastebuds with a spicy fruit salad! This Thai Green Mango Salad recipe is a deliciously BOLD salad that's perfectly balanced – sweet, salty, & spicy! It's faaaar from your boring pre-made bagged salad and perfect for mango lovers!
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4. Asian Garlic Noodles
Throw together the most irresistible garlicky, chewy noodles in just 15 minutes! These Asian Garlic Noodles are bouncy, buttery, and packed with those “secret” umami ingredients that make guests whisper, “Okay… how did you make this??” They come together in one pot, so cleanup is easier than unwrapping presents on Christmas morning!
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5. Chinese Garlic Green Beans Stir-Fry
This Chinese Green Bean Stir-Fry is wok-charred until blistered, smoky, and infused with garlicky flavor! It comes together in just 15 minute pairs perfectly next to any Christmas entrée you’re serving! Dig in because this vegetarian-friendly side is always the first veggie to disappear!
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6. Miso Butter Mushrooms
These easy Miso Mushrooms get sautéed till golden, then smothered in garlicky miso butter—turning them into tiny Christmas flavor bombs! They’re rich, savory, and the kind of side dish that makes both vegetarians and carnivores fight for the last spoonful like holiday shoppers!
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7. House Special Lo Mein
Feast on the holy grail of lo mein—loaded with all your favorite juicy meats and seafood in one delicious 30-minute Christmas meal! Craving steak? Chicken? Shrimp? Don’t choose… this Combination Lo Mein lets you have it all! It feels festive without blowing your holiday budget!
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8. Sauteed Spinach & Caramelized Onions
This quick Sautéed Spinach with caramelized onions turns pantry staples into a holiday side dish that quietly saves Christmas dinner! It’s budget-friendly, pairs with anything you’re serving, and hits the table in just 15 minutes! Plus, I betcha already have all the ingredients!
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9. Cheesy Tteokbokki
There's nothing merrier than a glorious cheese-pulls to kick off the Christmas meal! This 30-minute Cheese Tteokbokki has chewy Korean rice cakes smothered in a sweet & fiery sauce, then topped with a glorious amount of melty cheese. So, bust out the chopsticks and slide into your coziest holiday chair so we can dig in!
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10. Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken Fried Rice is the takeout classic that's budget-friendly and literally goes with anything! Throw it together in one pot in 15 minutes, so you can spend less time cooking and more time celebrating (and refilling your plate)!
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11. Kimchi Pancakes
Serve up irresistibly crispy Kimchi Pancakes with a tender, fluffy center that no one sees coming but everyone devours! This easy Kimchi Jeon uses simple pantry staples—so you can skip buying that savory pancake mix you’ll never use again. Just use what you already have to create this crispy & fiery crowd-pleaser!
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12. Eggplant Tofu Stir-Fry
This Eggplant Tofu Stir-Fry gives any Christmas entrees a serious run for their money! Charred, smoky eggplant gets tossed with crispy golden tofu in a sweet-savory sauce that turns even the loudest tofu haters into believers. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing stir-fry—and one of my most popular recipes—for a very good reason!
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13. Kimchi Bacon Fried Rice
Give your favorite Korean restaurant a run for their money with this easy Kimchi Fried Rice! Crispy bacon, refreshing bites of kimchi, and hot fluffy rice all come together in one fiery pot for the easiest 15-minute Christmas side dish ever! Cleanup is as easy as washing one pot!
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14. Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce
Whip up a restaurant-quality side dish using nothing but pantry staples! This Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce needs only 7 ingredients and comes together in under 15 minutes—perfect for those last-minute weeknight dinners or when you suddenly remember you promised to bring a side to Christmas dinner!
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15. Corn Cheese
Dig into gooey, melty Corn Cheese by the spoonful with this easy Korean corn cheese recipe! Make it with just 6 ingredients in under 10 minutes! 'Tis the season to ditch the “cutting corn off the cob” mess or kernels stuck in your teeth—corn is always better when it’s smothered in gloriously melty Christmas cheese!
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16. Korean Braised Potatoes
While everyone else is serving mashed potatoes for Christmas, this Gamja Jorim, or Korean braised potato side dish, is a no-peel, no-mess kind of dish that saves you time and plays nice with everything it's served with. Because what do potatoes NOT pair well with??
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17. 5-Minute Egg Fried Rice
This easy Egg Fried Rice recipe is the fastest Christmas side dish you'll ever make! It's a filling budget-friendly holiday side dish packed with soft fluffy scrambled eggs. It's the lazy cook's best friend!
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18. Blistered Shishito Peppers
Throw together this smoky side dish in 10 minutes or less! These charred Shishito Peppers are an easy and healthy option that's super customizable! Toss them in your favorite spices, bright spritz a little lemon, or keep it simple with salt and pepper. No matter how you season them, they always sleigh at the Christmas table.
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19. Korean Cucumber Salad
This easy Korean Cucumber Salad is the bright, zesty kick that snaps your taste buds awake at Christmas dinner! Crunchy cucumber slices get tossed in a sweet–tangy–spicy dressing that add a refreshing side to your holiday spread!
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20. Vegetarian Japchae
Jump into a jolly mound of noodles packed with a rainbow of crunchy veggies! This Vegetarian Japchae is filled with chewy glass noodles tossed in a sweet and savory sauce with all your favorite veggies! These noodles are festive Korean classic that both carnivores and vegetarians can enjoy!
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🎄 More Easy Christmas Recipes!
Relax and enjoy Christmas this year with these epic Christmas recipes you know everyone loves! They’re easy enough to feed a crowd, without spending all day in the kitchen!
hey homie! I’m Mikha!
…A fellow foodie! These quick & easy Asian recipes turn simple ingredients into drool-worthy meals – without spending all day in the kitchen! Now come in – Grab a seat & let’s eat!
5 days of easy AF dinners!
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Get your dinners planned for you – starting tonight!
