Best Recipes For Christmas Side Dishes (Healthy, Easy and Delicious)

Discover 4 of the very best recipes for Christmas side dishes that are guaranteed to make your festive meals, with family or friends, a huge success!

These recipes are healthy, nutritious and incredibly delicious. You’ll be wanting Christmas to come more often, for an excuse to enjoy these again and again.

So why wait? These menu showstoppers are perfect for anytime of the year and are sure to be enjoyed by everyone invited to attend the feast.

So what are they?

Our content is reader-supported. When you buy through links in our posts we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We do not accept money for reviews. Learn More

The 4 Best Recipes For Christmas Side Dishes.

These truly are divine!

Portobello Mushroom And Lentil Stuffed Acorn Squash. Christmas Side Dishes.

acorn squash - best recipes for christmas side dishes
Stuffed Acorn Squash

This delightful acorn squash dish provides a wonderfully nutty and deliciously different dish.

The addition of crispy pancetta or bacon, the rich Portobello mushrooms, Sweet Dates, and herbal aromas of sage bring immense flavor.

No more soggy squash dishes! This will transform the way you view squash! A wonderful dish with deep flavor, and sure to be enjoyed by all!

acorn squash

Portobello Stuffed Acorn Squash

avatar for holisticjbHolisticJB
Our stuffed acorn squash provides a protein packed, healthy and tasty alternative to the usual or traditional Christmas side dishes. With the crisp pancetta, deliciously rich Portobello mushrooms, tangy and sweet dates along with aromatic sage you get fabulous, bold flavors with every bite.
And as an added bonus, the addition of the lentils and walnuts give depth and a truly nutty flavor. This dish is equally as good as a vegetarian option (simply remove the pancetta).
5
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Appetizers, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 355 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • acorn squash3 acorn squash
  • olive oil1 tbsp olive oil
  • olive oil2 tbsp olive oil
  • garlic4 cloves garlic
  • pancetta4 oz. pancetta
  • portobello mushrooms1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms
  • white onion½ yellow onion medium
  • green lentils1 cup green lentils
  • sage1.5 tbsp sage fresh
  • red wine¼ cup red wine dry
  • dates cup dates
  • walnuts¼ cup walnuts
  • parmesan cheese¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • sea saltsea salt to taste
  • black pepperblack pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Position your oven rack to the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F.
  • Spray a large baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Cut the 3 acorn squash in half. Scoop out any seeds or fibrous matter and place them cut side up in the baking dish. Brush the cut edges with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
    3 acorn squash, 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Place baking dish on a center rack in your pre-heated oven and roast for 40 minutes, or until the squash is fork tender.
  • In the meantime, heat the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced 4 cloves garlic and 4 oz. pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned, approximately 2-3 minutes.
    2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, 4 oz. pancetta
  • Add chopped 1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to brown, approximately 4-5 minutes. Add sliced ½ yellow onion and continue cooking, stirring once or twice, for another 3-4 minutes.
    1 ½ lb. portobello mushrooms, ½ yellow onion
  • Stir in the 1 cup green lentils, fresh 1.5 tbsp sage, and ¼ cup red wine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, approximately 8-10 minutes.
    1 cup green lentils, 1.5 tbsp sage, ¼ cup red wine
  • Remove from heat and stir in the 1/3 cup dates and toasted ¼ cup walnuts. Season with sea salt and black pepper, to taste. Set aside.
    1/3 cup dates, ¼ cup walnuts, sea salt, black pepper
  • When ready, remove cooked squash from oven. Let the squash cool slightly before filling each half with the Portobello mushroom mixture. Sprinkle each half with the freshly grated ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
    ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • Return the stuffed squash to the oven for another 5-10 minutes. Ensure the mixture is heated through and the cheese has melted. Remove from oven and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

Acorn squash seeds can be seasoned and toasted, just like pumpkin seeds. Reserve the seeds while preparing this recipe to enjoy as a healthy snack later.

Nutrition

Serving: 426gCalories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 54.86gProtein: 13.02gFat: 12.74gSaturated Fat: 2.348gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3.393gMonounsaturated Fat: 6.217gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 358mgPotassium: 1179mgFiber: 9.6gSugar: 10.92gVitamin A: 870IUVitamin C: 26.1mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 3.79mg
Keyword acorn squash, portobello mushrooms, squash
Did you try this recipe?We would love to see it. Mention @healthynatured or tag #healthynatured so we can all celebrate your brilliance!

Creamy Mashed Sweet Potato With Walnuts and Thyme. Christmas Side Dishes.

best recipes christmas side dishes - sweet potato mash
Creamy mashed sweet potatoes

These rich and creamy mashed sweet potatoes just have to feature in our best recipes for Christmas side dishes. In fact they would feature as one of the best recipes for just about any holiday meal.

They are so quick and easy to make, you’ll want to enjoy them throughout the year. And why not! Healthy, Nutritious and Delicious!

Cranberry and Pear Sauce With Ginger and Rosemary. Christmas Side Dishes.

cranberry pear sauce - christmas side dishes best recipes
Cranberry Pear Sauce

This gorgeous and delicious cranberry pear sauce is sure to be a hit this holiday season!

It is super quick and easy to make and has no refined sugar. Instead, it gets its sweetness naturally, from the ripe pears and a dash of real maple syrup.

Once you try this recipe, you’ll never look at store bought cranberry sauce the same. We guarantee!

Warm Garlic And Parmesan Shrimp With Roasted Garlic Dip. Christmas Side Dishes.

best recipes garlic and parmesan shrimp christmas side dishes
Garlic And Parmesan Shrimp

This warm garlic and parmesan shrimp is packed with wonderful flavors, but the absolute star of the dish is the versatile roasted garlic dip.

So there we have it! The 4 best recipes for Christmas Side Dishes! Please do let me know if you make these dishes and please share your thoughts with us. Happy Christmas!

best recipes for christmas side dishes (healthy, easy and delicious)
Photo of author
Author
HolisticJB
Educator and International Leadership Consultant with over 20 years experience, and still loving it! Qualified and Licensed Reiki Master Teacher, Hypnotherapist and Chakra Energy Health Body Worker. A traveler, a foodie and a knowledge seeker with a passion for all things healthy, herbal and energy holistic!

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating