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You are here: Home / Holiday / Holiday Side Dish Ideas and the Ultimate Potluck Hero

Holiday Side Dish Ideas and the Ultimate Potluck Hero

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Updated for the 2025 holiday season to add more recipes

The holiday season is in full swing, and that means one thing: gatherings, big and small, where the food takes center stage. Whether you’re heading to an office potluck or a cozy family dinner, having the right dish can make all the difference. That’s why I’m sharing some of my go-to side dishes that always earn a spot at the table, along with my ultimate potluck hero—my slow cooker jambalaya. It’s hearty, full of flavor, and the kind of dish that brings people back for seconds (and thirds). Let’s make sure your plate is the one everyone’s talking about this season!

Six side dishes from Red Beans and Eric - creamed corn, white bean salad, roasted carrots, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Holiday Side Dish Ideas:

  • Creamy Mac and Cheese
  • Creamed Corn Maque Choux​
  • Simple White Bean Salad​
  • Cajun Seasoned Roasted Carrots​
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes​
  • Creole Style Green Beans​
  • Creole Mac and Cheese​

Do You Need More Side Dish Ideas? Here are all the recipes I have posted.

Bowl of slow cooker jambalaya next to a plate of French bread and a container of seasoning.

The Potluck Hero: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

There’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of a slow cooker jambalaya simmering away, especially when it’s made easy in a slow cooker. Inspired by the bold, hearty flavors of Louisiana, this recipe brings the essence of New Orleans to your table with minimal effort. Perfect for a busy Wednesday, the holiday party, or any day you’re craving a taste of the South, it’s a dish that invites everyone to the table.

  • The Famous Forgotten Once Slow Cooker Jambalaya recipe

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Eric Olsson from RedBeansAndEric.com
Red Beans and Eric

Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.

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