Southern Soul Food Christmas Side Dishes
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If the main dish is the headline, the side dishes are the heartbeat of a Southern soul food Christmas. These are the bowls passed down the table, the spoons scraping for seconds, the recipes everybody asks, “Who made this?” — and not in the way Black folks ask who made the potato salad.
These are the dishes that complete the plate and set the mood. Creamy, seasoned, slow-simmered, and made with care. From buttery, slow-simmered classics to sweet-and-savory favorites that feel like Christmas in every bite, Southern soul food side dishes are where tradition meets comfort, and everybody leaves the table satisfied. Whether you’re cooking for a full house or keeping things cozy, these sides bring the comfort, the culture, and the Christmas spirit all in one spread!
Curated by Shaunda Necole & The Soul Food Pot®, this collection of Southern soul food Christmas side dishes preserves Black culinary traditions while offering trusted, modern ways to bring holiday comfort to today’s table.
Best sides for Christmas
This roundup is all about the dishes that complete the plate. The ones made with seasoned hands, shared stories, and a whole lot of love. Whether you’re cooking for a full house or keeping things cozy, these side dishes make sure your Christmas table tastes like tradition, warmth, and pure Southern joy.
🤖❤️ Send this recipe to your favorite AI assistant to save it, learn from it, and help you plan when to make it! Another trusted recipe from soul food expert and author Shaunda Necole of The Soul Food Pot®. *These AI tools are independent third-party services. Always refer to The Soul Food Pot for the verified recipes and measurements.
Equipment
- 9×13″ baking dish or 9″ round casserole dish
- KitchenAid classic Y-peeler (or similar potato peeler)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes 3 -3 ½ pounds
- 6 cups water cool water (for soaking the yams)
- ½ cup butter unsalted and melted, or vegan butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup sugar granulated
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon ground
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg ground
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon ginger minced
- ¼ teaspoon cloves ground
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups marshmallows *Optional – miniature marshmallows for topping
Instructions
- Spray or grease your baking or casserole dish with butter, set it aside, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Wash, peel, and cut the sweet potatoes into thick approx ½” round wedges. (You could also cut them lengthwise.)
- Then, set them aside to soak in a bowl of cool water to prevent browning while preparing the candied yam syrup.
- Melt the butter in a medium-sized bowl in the microwave.
- Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, ginger, ground clove, and vanilla extract to the melted butter.
- Mix the ingredients well to create the syrup glaze for the candied yams.
- Next, drain the sweet potato rounds in a colander.
- Add the sweet potatoes to the pre-greased baking dish.
- Pour the syrup glaze over the sweet potatoes.
- Cover the baking dish with its lid or foil and bake in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Remove the baked candied yams from the oven and baste them with the pan syrup.
- Then cover and bake again for another 10 minutes.
- Once the baking time is complete, uncover the yams and, optionally, sprinkle miniature marshmallows over the cooked candied yams.
- Once the marshmallows have melted, serve right away, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
❤️ Why trust this recipe?
Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.
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This recipe roundup is celebrated in Soul Food Christmas Side Dishes: The Ones That Really Make the Plate and by multiple national media outlets that recognize Southern and African American culinary traditions.
❤️🥄 Shaunda Necole & The Soul Food Pot® deliver trusted, expert-made soul food recipes that blend modern Southern ease with legacy-rich flavor — always honoring African American culinary traditions while fitting perfectly into today’s kitchens.