The Best Low-Carb Holiday Side Dishes

Ask any low-carber, and they'll tell you that cauliflower is their BFF in the kitchen when it comes to churning out recipes that mimic the texture of beloved starches like rice, potatoes, and even tortillas and pizza crust. The key to most mashed or riced cauliflower dishes lies in the initial preparation of the cruciferous veggie, which must be drained of most of its natural water content before it can be deliciously riced or mashed.

For the simplest of recipes for mashed cauliflower, steam cauliflower florets for 15 minutes, drain all water, and mash as you would potatoes, adding cream, butter, salt, and pepper. For a more decadent, holiday-worthy treat, consider making a loaded cauliflower casserole, like this one from Real Housemoms. The cheesy sauce and crumbled bacon create a dish that will rival the best loaded baked potatoes. If you're looking for a particularly delicious cauliflower rice this holiday season, you can't go wrong with Jessica Gavin's low-carb cauliflower risotto. Her recipe is chock-full of healthy veggies and herbs like mushrooms, asparagus, and basil. Added bonus? Jessica also includes a super simple tutorial on how to properly prep riced cauliflower. If you want to skip this step, you can always buy it pre-riced.

Of course, if you're a cauliflower purist, nothing quite says it's a low-carb holiday like a whole roasted cauliflower. This one from the New York Times is served with an almond and herb sauce. Consider preparing it with an orange or purple cauliflower for a truly show-stopping presentation.

While creamed spinach may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to low-carb holiday side dishes, many recipes actually include white flour as a binder, which can quickly jack up the carb content of your dish. This traditional recipe for creamed spinach from Tyler Florence omits the typical flour and milk roux found in so many versions for a classic mix of heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter. For an even easier take, check out this recipe from Ruled Me that blends frozen, chopped spinach with cream cheese, sour cream, and spices.

You certainly aren't limited to spinach when it comes to creaming your veggies. Almost any leafy green you can imagine is elevated when hit with the creamy, cheesy goodness that is the hallmark of a decadent holiday side dish. Great ideas include creamed kale, creamed collard greens, and even creamed green cabbage.

So many vegetables enjoy a low enough carb count that they likely make up a large share of what you enjoy on a typical low-carb day. But don't the holidays call for something a little more special than your standard steamed broccoli or asparagus?

Brussels sprouts, those iconic veggies on so many holiday tables, are rendered positively divine over at Delish when roasted with bacon and garlic and finished with a balsamic vinegar and rosemary glaze. The New York Times suggests coating Brussels sprouts in a small amount of real maple syrup and topping them with freshly toasted hazelnuts for a toothsome holiday side sure to please almost any palate.

Roasted asparagus on its own is an everyday delight, but for the true holiday treatment, give it a salty and savory punch with the addition of crumbled prosciutto, freshly shaved Parmesan, and a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts, like Katya does at Little Broken.

While the classic French recipe is typically presented as a more rustic mixture of veggies, an artfully presented, layered ratatouille will provide a wow factor sure to impress any dinner guest. The garlicky combination of tomato, bell peppers, and eggplant offers a beautiful and lighter option alongside your heavy holiday meal.

Large, colorful salads are healthy for the body and also get a big thumbs-up from carb watchers. Added bonus: everyone at the table will welcome a lighter side on a day when the fare is typically heavy and rich. Here are a few ideas that will elevate your salad side beyond chopped iceberg lettuce with Italian dressing.

Cranberries, nuts, and blue cheese all work well with a low-carb diet, so try out this green salad with cranberry vinaigrette from All Recipes. The salad's colors will really pop on your holiday table. Another great salad featuring cranberries comes from Ina Garten and pairs roasted butternut squash with arugula and toasted walnuts dressed with a warm cider vinaigrette.

Holiday favorite Brussels sprouts shred beautifully for a refreshing addition to a chilled or room-temperature slaw. Consider Bon Appetit's Brussels sprout slaw with mustard dressing and maple-glazed pecans, which can be made a day ahead and dressed an hour before your meal. Fennel is another cold-weather vegetable that works well in a slaw, like this celery, apple, and fennel slaw from Epicurious that features a surprising kick of tarragon in the cider vinegar-based dressing.

Stuffing and bread. You know you want them, and you know you can't have them on a low-carb diet. Or can you?

Maria at Keto Adapted uses low-carb coconut flour, along with coconut oil and eggs, to make a mock cornbread that can stand alone or be used as the base for her sausage and mushroom-filled Paleo stuffing. All Day I Dream About Food brings us a low-carb, cheesy skillet bread made with almond flour and flaxseed meal that makes the perfect starter for spicy sausage and cheddar stuffing. You can even enjoy savory popovers while watching carbs, if you make them the way Scott and Tyo do at She Calls Me Hobbit, forgoing white flour for lower-carb arrowroot or chicory flour.

Want to enjoy stuffing this holiday without slaving over a homemade, low-carb bread recipe? There are plenty of low-carb, packaged bread options on the market, 11 of which have been reviewed over at Diabetes Daily. Pick your favorite to use in a traditional holiday stuffing recipe, and listen to the compliments roll in.