50 Best Christmas Dinner Sides with Beef Tenderloin

by: Jo

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50 Best Christmas Dinner Sides with Beef Tenderloin

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Every year, we serve a whole beef tenderloin for the main dish for our Christmas dinner, but it's the delicious side dishes that I really look forward to. Let's explore some classic and creative side dish recipes to complement this elegant main course.

Tips for Side Dish Success

Plan Ahead: Many of these side dishes can be prepared in advance, saving you time and stress on Christmas Day.
Balance Flavors: Consider the overall flavor profile of your meal when selecting side dishes. A variety of textures and tastes will create a more interesting dining experience.
Presentation Matters: Even the simplest side dish can look impressive with a little effort. Consider using decorative bowls or platters to serve your dishes.

Starchy Side Dishes (potatoes, rice, corn based)

Christmas dinner wouldn't be the same without mashed potatoes in our house. Here are recipes that are classic favorites as well as ones that might not be as familiar.

1 Southern Cornbread Dressing

Not sure any table in the south is without cornbread dressing. This version is a classic from "Southern Living".

2 Buttermilk Spoon Bread

I you haven't tried spoon bread before you are in for a treat! It's the perfect complement to the delicious meal of beef tenderloin.

3 Herbed Mashed Potatoes

The brown butter in this mashed sweet potatoes recipe adds a great depth of flavor.

4 Gratin Dauphinois (Potato Gratin)

Potatoes layered with cheese? You can't go wrong with gratin Dauphinois.

5 Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole is also a southern staple and works really well as a complement to the hearty beef tenderloin.

6 Twice-baked Potatoes

We often serve twice-baked potatoes anytime we have grilled steaks. They pair just as well with a roast beef tenderloin.

7 Smashed Potatoes

Crispy and cheesy, smashed potatoes have that perfect balance of soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.

8 Seafood Mac and Cheese

Add some seafood to a standard mac and cheese recipe to take it up a notch for Christmas dinner.

9 Butternut Squash Risotto

This gluten-free butternut squash risotto can be made ahead of time, making it one less thing you need to do on Christmas Day.

10 Orzo Pasta Salad

This orzo pasta salad is based on the one served at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's a light counterpart to the rich and heavy beef main course.

11 Muffin Tin Stacked Potatoes

Using a muffin tin makes these stacked potatoes even easier to prepare.

12 Boursin Cheese Stacked Potatoes

Boursin cheese makes these stacked potatoes quite decadent.

13 Fondant Butter Poached Potatoes

What could be more decadent than these butter poached potatoes?

14 Creamed Corn

This recipe for creamed corn really celebrates the sweetness of corn.

15 Corn Soufflé

Freeze that fresh corn from the summer and use it to make this light-as-air corn soufflé come Christmas time.

16 Sweet Potato Hash

A bit of bacon and a sprinkle of cumin give this sweet potato hash a tasty, smoky flavor.

17 Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Stuffed white potatoes are excellent but try these stuffed sweet potatoes for a change.

18 Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole

Wild rice gives this broccoli casserole a nice nutty flavor.

19 French Onion Baked Potatoes

All the goodness of French onion soup in a wonderful side. These baked potatoes make the perfect pairing with beef.

20 Chili Oil Smashed Potatoes

Add a little kick to your side dish with these smashed potatoes with chili oil.

21 Polenta Stuffed Peppers

Try adding a polenta stuffing to your red peppers instead of the beef making them a perfect side to pair with your beef tenderloin.

Vegetable Side Dishes

If you're looking for healthier options that are heavy on the veggies, or if you've got vegetarian diners at your Christmas dinner who need plenty of alternatives to the beef tenderloin, we've got you covered with these delicious vegetable side dishes.

22 Creamy Swiss Chard

Instead of creamed spinach, try creamy swiss chard.

23 Caramelized Pears and Red Onions

Sweet and savory sing with these pears and onions roasted together on a sheet pan.

24 Brocollini with Pepperoncini

Make a change from broccoli and serve crisp broccolini instead as a nice surprise.

25 Sautéed Mushrooms

Serves these caramelized mushrooms that only take minutes to make.

26 Garlic Parmesan Carrots

The parmesan combines with the sweetness of these roasted carrots to create a sweet and savory side that will quickly become a favorite.

27 Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts

The pepper added to these brussels sprouts makes them reminiscent of that famous pasta dish.

28 Caprese Asparagus

This asparagus dish is easy to make but seems fancy.

29 Smashed Brussels Sprouts

You don't have to force us to eat our brussels sprouts when they are roasted to a perfect crisp.

30 Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

Adding bacon to our brussels sprouts can never be a wrong decision, especially with the sweetness of maple!

31 Sautéed Cremini Mushrooms

Mushrooms and beef always pair well. These cremini mushrooms are delicious over a slice of beef tenderloin.

32 Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Cheese and zucchini combine beautifully to create this zucchini casserole .

33 Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

What an elegant and delicious way to present green beans. Each guest can have their own bacon-wrapped green bean bundle.

34 Broccoli Casserole

Another standard on our holiday table is broccoli casserole.

35 Creamed Pearl Onions

These creamed pearl onions are simple to make and go great with any meat dish.

36 Cauliflower Gratin

Save on the carbs and serve this cauliflower gratin instead of a potato gratin. You'll still get the rich and hearty feeling with this lighter alternative.

37 Caesar Salad

Homemade croutons set this caesar salad recipe apart and make it a classic and elegant side dish.

38 Roasted Root Vegetables

Roast some root vegetables with balsamic as a hearty and warm side dish.

39 Green Bean Casserole

Is there a holiday table in America that doesn't have a version of green bean casserole?

40 Roasted Delicata Squash

The worst part of making squash to me is having to peel it but delicata squash has an edible peel making it easy and perfect for roasting.

41 Cabbage Salad

You can make this cabbage salad in advance making it perfect for a Christmas dinner side.

42 Spinach Casserole

For those trying to stay low-carb, this cheesy spinach casserole is a perfect pairing for a beef tenderloin.

43 Stuffed Artichokes

If you want to look fancy without a lot of effort, try stuffed artichokes! Your guests will be impressed with one of these on their plate.

44 Creamed Spinach

This super-simple creamed spinach tastes great with beef tenderloin.

45 Quinoa and Mushroom Stuffed Acorn Squash

The mushrooms combine perfectly with the quinoa in these stuffed acorn squashes for a hearty and satisfying side dish.

Sauces and Toppings for Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin is fabulous on its own but these sauces or toppings can take it to the next level and make it extra special for Christmas dinner.

46 Estonian Onion Jam

We first tasted this on a trip to Estonia and had to recreate it when we got home. Our onion jam tastes great on bread but also works wonderfully on beef.