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Best veggie side dishes for Christmas 2025
The tastiest trimmings to add to your festive menu, according to the Good Housekeeping Institute experts
Tested by JoJo AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
While traditional roast turkey (or a veggie alternative) may be the main event, we’re all for the veggie side dishes stealing the spotlight on Christmas Day.
From vibrant red cabbage braised in warming spices to sweet roasted parsnips and the ubiquitous (but, in our opinion, delicious) sprouts, they’re often what makes the festive feast (and, of course, that epic Boxing Day bubble and squeak!)
However, preparing an array of vegetable sides with all the tasty flavour combinations takes time – from shopping, slicing and simmering to serving. So, to ensure you’re not missing out on the charades and champagne, the Good Housekeeping Institute put 16 different side dishes to the test to find those guaranteed to minimise mess and prep, without sacrificing on flavour.
Best Christmas side dishes to buy
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Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Honey & Mustard Parsnips
Read review
How we test Christmas side dishes
We recruited a panel of experts and consumers to sample 16 sumptuous side dishes, assessing each for its aroma, flavour, and texture. Products were cooked and prepared according to the packet instructions and served blind to avoid brand bias.
These are the side dishes that deserve to take centre stage this Christmas.
Score: 85/100
This downright indulgent cauliflower cheese is bound to be the talk of the table. Made with two types of mature cheddar, cream, mozzarella, pecorino and emmental, it’s no wonder this luxurious side with its smooth cheese sauce was such a hit with our panel.
Score: 84/100
You’ll have them round the table in no time with Tesco’s enticing cheesy gratin. Warming and wintery, it’s an ultra-Christmassy combination of sprouts, leeks and creamy cheese sauce, finished with fresh chives.
Score: 83/100
If you need a little convincing about just how delicious sprouts can be, this is the dish to do it. The creamy, cheesy greens are topped with a garlic bread-inspired crumb. The shredded sprouts beneath are well seasoned with black pepper and mustard, and pair well with the crunchy top.
Score: 80/100
COOK’s ultra-convenient parsnips cook from frozen, and are prepared with maple syrup and thyme to create the perfect caramelised finish. We appreciate the UPF-free ingredient list, and they’re also available in a bigger 370g pack.
Score: 78/100
Alongside the mulled wine and mince pies, sticky roasted parsnips are one of our favourite components of the festive feast.
Even in a blind tasting, our panel easily picked out the hero flavours with these, though the mustard’s heat edged out the sweetness. Cooked according to the instructions, the parsnips stayed firm rather than turning soft or mushy.
Available 17 December 2025
Score: 77/100
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a vibrant pop of red cabbage on your plate, and this fuss-free dish was our best in test. The cabbage is bolstered with tangy sherry vinegar and port, warming festive spices, and we loved the addition of cranberries for sweetness and texture, too.
Available 26 November 2025
Score: 77/100
FieldGoods meals are delivered frozen and feature a short, recognisable list of ingredients sourced from British suppliers. The fatty bacon does an excellent job of flavouring the savoury sprouts, while the creamy chestnuts add to the overall texture.
Available 3 November 2025
Score: 74/100
If we can’t have Jamie Oliver in the kitchen with us, these prepared carrots are the next best thing. The frozen veg is glazed with honey and orange juice for a natural, fruity sweetness, and the crunchy carrots are finished with plenty of thyme, which had a nice char once cooked.
Score: 73/100
Had your fair share of sub-par sprouts? Opt for this decadent gratin instead. The divisive veg is balanced with salty bacon and a sweet and sticky maple butter glaze that’s sure to win the whole family over.
Score: 73/100
Chantenay carrots are an heirloom variety known for being short and sweet and they’ll look great on the plate. Iceland has ensured they taste delicious too, with rich maple syrup and lashings of salted butter added to create a glossy, caramelised glaze. A dish best suited for those with a super sweet tooth!
ASDA Sweet Buttery Sprouts with Pancetta and a West Country Roasted Onion Thyme and Sage Butter
Score: 70/100
Proving there’s no end of ways you can pep up sprouts, our testers loved the pancetta in this dish, which provided a long-lasting salty, smoky note. The onion, thyme and sage also added a stuffing-like flavour that made this side feel extra Christmassy. A worthy addition to the festive plate.
Available 5 December 2025
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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