Our Favorite Vegetable Side Dishes for the Holidays
Don’t look now, but the holidays are here. For many of us, that means plenty of entertaining and cooking lots of different dishes for family, friends, and perhaps some distinguished guests — such as the significant others your kids might have met in college and are bringing over for a trial run. Just another example of how the holidays tend to involve coming up with dishes everyone will appreciate.
Whatever your reasons for celebrating, we know it can be difficult deciding what culinary direction to go in, especially if you are looking to save yourself some valuable time in the kitchen.
As always we’re more than happy to help. Below, you’ll find some picks of our favorite Taylor Farms products and recipes, which are perfect for your holiday cooking. Maybe you’re after a quick side, a time-saving trick, or you’re just ready to retire the same dishes you make every season. Either way, these ideas bring a little spark back to the holiday spread.
Happy Holidays from Taylor Farms!
For Easy Entertaining
If you’re having company over and need something to tide everyone over until the meal is ready, this classic snack tray has all you need to keep everyone from wandering into the kitchen and asking how long it’s going to be. Fresh grape tomatoes, carrots, broccoli florets, and celery are served alongside filling proteins like cubed colby jack cheese and snackable turkey sticks. The finishing touch? A creamy Hidden Valley Ranch dip that’s ready for dunking. And don’t forget the best part: No washing, cutting, or prepping necessary — just pop the top off the tray, and you’re all set.
Hey, we have plenty of all-veggie snack tray options if you want to leave the turkey for the table. This one is rife with familiar favorites and a few surprises: sweet mini peppers, sugar snap peas, carrots, celery, broccoli, and, of course, the most perfect dipping option on the planet: Hidden Valley Ranch. It may be the only fresh vegetables you see on the buffet table, so dig in.
(Take a look at our full lineup of veggie-based trays here.)
Ready-To-Eat Chopped Salad Kits
We think the holidays call for sides that bring a little color to the table, and this one shows up ready for the spotlight. Always one of our most popular salads, the Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit starts with sturdy greens like kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli stalks, and cabbage, then brightens everything with dried cranberries and roasted pumpkin seeds — two ingredients that hit any time of year, but even more so during the holidays. The creamy poppyseed dressing softens the edges just enough, giving the whole bowl that lightly sweet, crunchy, “oh that’s good” moment every holiday meal needs.
With just a few more ingredients, you can turn your Sweet Kale into a show-stopping Squash & Pistachio Sweet Kale Fall Salad. Let us show you how.
Fact: You can never have too many apples this time of year, and this Spiced Apple Chopped Salad Kit proves it. With cabbage, romaine, shredded broccoli, and green onion providing the ideal backdrop for the crunchy honey-roasted mini chips, cinnamon puffed apples, smoked gouda cheese, and our tangy apple cider vinaigrette, this salad kit is perfect for apple lovers and salad fans alike (and even better if you’re both!). And like all our other salad kits, it can be ready and on the table in just a few minutes, depending on how fast your tossing-to-serving speed is these days.
If you’re forgoing the turkey, or just need some extra protein on your holiday salad, you can use this salad kit to make a Spiced Chicken and Apple Salad in under 30 minutes.
Our Broccoli Crunch Chopped Kit is packed with familiar veggie favorites like broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, and carrots, and tops it off with a tantalizing combo of sunflower kernels, crumbled bacon, dried cranberries, and our tangy, slaw-inspired dressing. This versatile salad kit is right at home alongside any holiday meal and is sure to win over your crowd. Feel free to take credit when your guests compliment it — we won’t tell. Besides, you were (technically) the one to put it all together, so that counts, right?
It’s sometimes hard to combine whimsical and delicious, but this Broccoli Crunch Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe pulls it off while being perfectly social media-ready. In fact, these might end up as the star of the table. See for yourself.
Traditional(ish) Salads
For those looking for something a little more traditional, check out these timeless salad recipes:
- Classic Chef Salad
- Everyday Classic Salad
- Not the Everyday Italian Salad
- Classic Caesar Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing & Croutons
- Ultimate Greek Salad
Do you have your own salad ideas and holiday recipes, but merely wish to cut down on the prep time? Take a good, long look at our other Taylor Farms ready-to-go favorites, like our classic salad blends and vegetable blends.
Fall, Winter, and Holiday-Inspired Recipes
This list of innovative seasonal recipes all feature our super-easy chopped salad kits. Yes, they call for a few additional ingredients and a bit of prep work, but all of these easy recipes are ready in under an hour or less.
Recipes with Apples and Seasonal Fruit
Seasonal fruits like apples and pomegranates are an excellent surprise that can instantly level up a dish and provide a satisfying balance to savory flavors. These recipes have something for everyone and are all ready in a short amount of time.
Recipes with Squash
If you’re looking for some new ways to use what is arguably the trademark produce of the fall season, these tasty and innovative squash recipes have you covered!
Recipes with Sweet Potatoes
It’s just not quite the holidays without sweet potatoes, but it may be time for some strategic updates to your annual dishes. Tired of the same old casserole every year? Give one of these delicious recipes a try.
Other seasonal favorites:
Dust off the chef’s hat because these unique recipes are sure to earn you some culinary points at your next potluck.
About Those Leftovers...
The holidays are certainly a time of leftovers. Check out these recipes for some ideas on what to do with all the food still left in the fridge after everyone’s had their seconds (and their post-meal naps). All you need is a Taylor Farms salad and some leftovers!
