4 Surefire Holiday Dinner Side Dish Ideas [Vegan-Friendly]

Bringing a side to your next holiday dinner? If you’re like us, you’re not just trying to fill a spot on the table: you want to deliver that dish. The second helping superstar. The side that tastes incredible to everyone (and that your friends and family may be surprised to learn is 100% vegan).

Fortunately, with these four holiday dinner side dish ideas below, you can keep your side dish ideas simple, stress-free, and fully plant-based without sacrificing flavor or leaving anyone out. Each dish is built around Elmhurst unsweetened plant milks, so you score rich, creamy textures and big flavor from just a few simple ingredients. Whichever you pick, you’re sure to show up with a side that feels thoughtful, tastes amazing to vegans and non-vegans alike—and doesn’t require you to stress over every label at the store.

1. Creamy Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Smooth, silky, dairy-free, and 100% the side everyone wants seconds of. Start with these crowd-favorite mashed potatoes for a can’t-miss classic with a clean-label twist.

How to Make It: Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Make Sure to Use: Unsweetened Cashew Milk for luxe, buttery creaminess and a rich texture without added sugar or weird additives.
Pro Tip: Warm your Unsweetened Cashew Milk before folding it in for an extra-smooth finish.

Why this Dish Works for Holiday dinners: Nostalgic flavor so good that no one will miss the dairy.

2. Vegan Cheesy Potato Casserole

Embrace this cheesy casserole that’s so comforting, melty, and ridiculously simple that it basically serves itself.

How to Make It: Vegan Cheesy Potato Casserole
Make Sure to Use: Plant-Based Sour Cream gives this crowd favorite all its tang and body.
Pro Tip: If your mixture gets too thick, add 1 to 3 tablespoons of plant milk to thin it out. Unsweetened Cashew Milk works beautifully for a neutral, creamy finish that won’t overpower your spices, or Unsweetened Oat Milk to keep it nut-free.

Why this Dish Works for Holiday Dinners: Feeds a crowd, ooey-gooey deliciousness, and travels easily. You can bake it at home, reheat it when you arrive, and watch the dish come back empty.

3. Classic Vegan Mac and Cheese

Behold: our plant-based riff on a timeless classic that is just as rich and cozy as the original. Enjoy all the comfort, with none of the dairy.

How to Make It: Classic Vegan Mac a n d Cheese
Make Sure to Use: Unsweetened Cashew Milk is a must—it delivers dairy-like creaminess.
Pro Tip: Add a touch more Unsweetened Cashew Milk before baking for a looser mac. Check out our recipe notes for creamier or crispier variations.

Why this Dish Works for Holiday Dinners: Easy to customize, whether you add a crumb topping, herbs, spices, or go wild with your own ideas. It’s the kind of vegan side dish that feels familiar enough for picky eaters but fun enough for the foodies in the group.

4. Roasted Fall Veggies with Creamy Tahini

Enjoy a fresh, balanced counterpoint to all that coziness you’ve delivered so far, with roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash, topped with a flavor-packed tahini drizzle.

How to Make It: Roasted Fall Vegetables with Creamy Tahini
Make Sure to Use: Unsweetened Coconut Cashew Milk for the perfect creamy flavor counterpart to those roasted veggies & toppings.
Pro Tip: Finish with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds for a sweet, crunchy contrast and instant holiday vibes. It’s a simple way to add color, texture, and a little freshness to a heavier dinner spread.

Why this Dish Works for Holiday Dinners: A perfect counterbalance to richer dishes, these veggies bring fresh colors and major flavors to the table with minimal prep effort needed.

Planning Your Holiday Dinner Plates Is Easy with Elmhurst

Choose one of these tasty side dish ideas for a quick win—or pair a cozy, creamy dish with something roasted and crisp for balance. With Elmhurst Unsweetened plant milks, you get rich, holiday-worthy textures from just a few simple ingredients. And zero gums or fillers means what you bring to the table is exactly what you intended: real food, made for everyone to enjoy.

Ready to stock up? Build your holiday dinner lineup with our unsweetened plant milk favorites or find Elmhurst in a store near you and grab a couple of cartons for the big day.

Happy Holidays! Here’s to sides that steal the show and the memories made throughout the day.