Friendmas is Christmas dinner with the people you choose: no seating charts, no family drama, just good food and your favorite crew around the table. And let’s be honest, the side dishes are what everyone really comes for.
Whether you’re hosting the whole thing or signing up to bring “a side” to a potluck, this list has you covered. These 15 Friendmas side dishes include creamy potatoes, steakhouse-style copycats, festive salads, and air fryer shortcuts that free up oven space when the main dish is hogging it.
Every recipe below comes from Fork To Spoon, so you’ll find easy, tested methods for the air fryer, slow cooker, Instant Pot, and stovetop. Mix and match a few, assign the rest to friends, and you’ve got a Christmas dinner spread nobody will forget.
Quick tip: Aim for one creamy dish, one green dish, one crispy dish, and one “wow” dish. That balance keeps the table interesting from the first plate to seconds.
15 Friendmas Side Dishes
1. Easy Christmas Wreath Salad
Start the table with something that looks like a decoration. This salad is arranged in a wreath shape with fresh greens and colorful veggies, then finished with a tangy dressing. It’s the dish everyone photographs before they eat, and it adds a bright, fresh bite to a heavy holiday spread.
Get the recipe: Easy Christmas Wreath Salad
2. Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin (Copycat)
If you want a side that feels like a steakhouse splurge, this is it. Thin layers of potato bake in a rich cheese sauce until the top turns golden and bubbly. It pairs beautifully with prime rib, ham, or turkey.
Get the recipe: Ruth’s Chris Potatoes au Gratin
3. Easy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
Oven space is precious on Christmas Day. These scalloped potatoes cook low and slow in the crockpot, so they stay warm and creamy while you focus on the main dish. They’re also an easy one to carry to a friend’s house.
Get the recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
4. Easy Golden Corral Mashed Potatoes
Every Friendmas needs a big bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes. This copycat delivers the rich, buttery, buffet-style version people go back for again and again. Make a double batch; leftovers vanish fast.
Get the recipe: Easy Golden Corral Mashed Potatoes
5. Chili’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes (Copycat)
For the friends who think mashed potatoes need more cheese and bacon. These are baked with melted cheddar jack, crispy bacon crumbles, and fresh chives on top. They’re comfort food dressed up for a party.
Get the recipe: Chili’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes
6. Slow Cooker Ruth’s Chris Creamed Corn
Sweet, buttery, and ridiculously creamy, this creamed corn is a steakhouse classic made easy in the crockpot. Set it in the morning and it’s ready when your friends walk through the door.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Ruth’s Chris Creamed Corn
7. Copycat Ruth’s Chris Creamed Spinach
This is the green side for people who don’t usually love their greens. Rich, velvety creamed spinach feels elegant next to a holiday roast and brings a little steakhouse flair to your Friendmas table.
Get the recipe: Copycat Ruth’s Chris Creamed Spinach
8. Easy Cast Iron Skillet Green Beans
A holiday table isn’t complete without green beans. Cooking them in a cast iron skillet gives them a little char and plenty of flavor without the fuss of a full casserole. They’re quick, simple, and a nice fresh contrast to all the creamy dishes.
Get the recipe: Easy Cast Iron Skillet Green Beans
9. Air Fryer Copycat French’s Fried Onions
Making green bean casserole? Skip the can and make the crispy topping yourself. These homemade fried onions crisp up in the air fryer with no pot of hot oil. Sprinkle them over a casserole or set out a bowl for snacking (they’ll disappear either way).
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Copycat French’s Fried Onions
10. Easy Air Fryer Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Salty prosciutto wrapped around tender asparagus spears makes a side that doubles as finger food. It looks fancy on a platter but comes together fast in the air fryer, which is perfect when the oven is full.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
11. Air Fryer Steakhouse Sweet Potato
A steakhouse-style sweet potato brings a cozy, slightly sweet note to the plate. The air fryer gives the skin a nice texture while the inside turns soft and fluffy. Set out butter, cinnamon sugar, or brown sugar so friends can top their own.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Steakhouse Sweet Potato
12. Easy Air Fryer Steakhouse Potatoes
Want potatoes with crispy edges instead of creamy ones? These steakhouse potatoes come out golden and seasoned, right from the air fryer. They’re a great match for a Christmas roast or a big platter of ham.
Get the recipe: Easy Air Fryer Steakhouse Potatoes
13. Air Fryer Italian Baked Stuffed Shells
Lots of friend groups have someone who wants pasta at every holiday, and this one makes them happy. Cheesy stuffed shells are hearty enough to double as a vegetarian main, so they’re a smart pick if any guests skip meat.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Italian Baked Stuffed Shells
14. Grandma’s Homemade Pierogi (Potato and Cheese)
Pierogi are a Christmas Eve tradition in many families, and they make a fun, unexpected Friendmas side. Pillowy dough filled with potato and cheese is pure comfort. Serve them with sour cream and caramelized onions.
Get the recipe: Grandma’s Homemade Pierogi
15. Sugar Coated Grapes
End the list with some sparkle. These sugar-coated grapes glitter like ornaments and taste like candy. Pile them next to a cheese board or around the roast for a festive garnish that guests will snack on all night.
Get the recipe: Sugar Coated Grapes
Friendmas Planning Tips
The secret to a relaxed Friendmas is spreading the cooking across every appliance you own and every friend who offers to help.
- Use every appliance. Put potatoes or creamed corn in the slow cooker, let the oven handle the main dish, and save the air fryer for last-minute crispy sides like asparagus and fried onions.
- Assign by category, not by dish. Ask one friend for “something green” and another for “something cheesy.” You’ll get variety without a table of five mashed potato bowls.
- Make ahead what you can. Casseroles like au gratin and scalloped potatoes can be assembled the day before, then baked or reheated before dinner.
- Keep travel-friendly sides for guests. Slow cooker dishes are easy to transport and plug in when they arrive.
- Label dietary-friendly dishes. A small card noting vegetarian or gluten-free options helps everyone fill their plate with confidence.
Friendmas Side Dish FAQs
What is Friendmas?
Friendmas is a Christmas celebration with friends instead of (or in addition to) family. It’s usually a potluck-style dinner, a gift swap, or a cozy holiday get-together before everyone travels home.
How many side dishes should I make for Christmas dinner with friends?
For 6 to 10 guests, plan on 4 to 6 side dishes. Aim for a mix: one or two potato dishes, one green vegetable, one salad, and one fun extra.
What are the best Christmas side dishes to bring to a potluck?
Slow cooker dishes like scalloped potatoes and creamed corn travel well and stay warm. Salads and room-temperature sides like sugar-coated grapes are easy, too.
Can I make Christmas side dishes in the air fryer?
Yes. The air fryer is perfect for crispy sides like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, steakhouse potatoes, and homemade fried onions. It also frees up oven space for the main course.
What side dishes can I make ahead for Christmas?
Potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach can all be prepped a day ahead and reheated before serving.
