Christmas Potluck Side Dishes to Take to a Holiday Get-together

Consider this list of holiday potluck side dishes for inspiration when planning to attend a Christmas get-together.
Deciding what to take to a Christmas potluck can be a challenge. Do you take green bean casserole or baked beans made from the same recipe you have already used many times? While your favorite casserole may be delicious, maybe you do not want to take the same dish you take to every other get-together. You can either go with tried and true dishes, or you can get creative. Your creative new dish may even become a new annual favorite.

Traditional Christmas Side Dishes

• Green bean casserole - This one has been popular at holiday get-togethers since the seventies. Toss a couple cans of green beans, a can of prepared mushroom soup, maybe some water chestnuts for texture, and some crumbled up fried onion sticks in the oven at 325 degrees for an hour and it's ready to go. This can be adapted for a crock-pot pretty simply; you just put everything except the fried onions in the crock-pot and set it on medium heat for about six hours. The fried onions go on right before serving if you are using a crock-pot.
• Baked beans - This one has been a standing favorite in some families even longer than green bean casserole. It is easy to prepare, too; a few cans of pork and beans, a hand-full of brown sugar, a squirt of mustard, and a squirt of ketchup mixed together in a casserole dish with fried bacon crumbled on top for about an hour in a 325 degree oven is all you have to do. Slow cookers also work great for baked beans in case you need to keep them hot for a while. Add the crumbled bacon right before serving if using a slow cooker or it will get soggy.
• Cheesy Potatoes - This variation on traditional scalloped potatoes is made in the crock pot or in a casserole dish in the oven. Put potato slices, your favorite cream soup, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon dried diced onion, 1/2 cup diced ham if desired, and a cup of milk in the crock-pot and let it cook on high for six to eight hours.

Non-Traditional Christmas Side Dishes

• Egg rolls - Egg rolls are a cross-over dish to take to a potluck, because they are both appetizer and side dish depending on when they are eaten. You can buy pre-made egg rolls and heat them when you reach your destination, or you can heat them at home if you have an insulated dish to keep them hot.
• Crockpot Kielbasa and sauerkraut - While this is a traditional New Year's Eve and New Years Day dish, Crockpot Kielbasa and Sauerkraut is easy to make, and easy to carry to a Christmas potluck.
• Lasagna - Lasagna makes a hearty dish, and it is easy to take if you have an insulated carrier for your baking dish; or if you can make it ahead and heat it when you reach your destination.

How to Pack a Busy Bag for Children on a Thanksgiving Road Trip

Children can get restless and fidgety on a long drive. Packing a busy bag can make the drive to a distant relative's home on Thanskgiving day easier.

Imagine heading out on a long drive to a relative's house on Thanksgiving Day. You have to drive, oh, let's say, over an hour to get there. Your children are in the back seat. They don't have anything to do other than look out the window, fight with each other, and whine, "Are we there yet?" By the time you reach your holiday destination you are tired, annoyed, and would really rather just go home.

A Way to Make a Thanksgiving Road Trip With Children Easier

Now imagine a second scenario. You are heading out on the same drive, and it is going to take over an hour just to get there. Your children are in the back seat. This time they have their busy bags beside of them and are anxious to see what you packed for entertainment. Is there a chance the children will still fight and whine? Sure there is, sometimes they just do that, but overall, the trip should go more smoothly. In this scenario you reach your destination needing to stretch, but not nearly as tired and annoyed as you would have been otherwise.

Grocery Bag, Tote Bag, or Back Pack?

While any kind of bag will work, if you use a tote bag or back pack to contain the activities there is a good chance the children will think it is special. A bag that seals with either a zipper or hook and loop closure will work best. Open bags can dump and send contents sprawling if they tip over.

Things to Pack in a Thanksgiving Road Trip Busy Bag

Consider you child's age, personality, and interests when packing a busy bag. Also, consider how long each packed activity might take. If you only pack enough to entertain your child for 15 minutes and the trip will take over an hour, the busy bag will not be very much help with easing stress on the trip.

• Coloring books
• Puzzle books
• Composition books
• Sketch pads
• Colored pencils and sharpener - Avoid packing basic crayons or markers because they can make a big mess in the car.
• Picture books, chapter books, or magazines
• Handheld electronics - A Leapster, Game Boy, DS, or any kind of handheld electronic will work.
• Travel games - Travel games are miniature, usually magnetic, versions of board games, such as Travel Scrabble, Travel Battleship, and others. Sometimes you can even find a generic version of these tiny travel games when shopping at dollar stores.
• Snacks - While you probably won't want to pack anything too filling if you are going somewhere for Thanksgiving dinner, having something to munch on can help keep a child calm. If you allow eating in your car, try packing one of your child's favorite snacks, a small pack of crackers, or a few carrot sticks.

While nothing can guarantee your trip will go smoothly, planning ahead and packing a busy bag can help take the stress out of a long road trip. While you are preparing a busy bag, you might also want to make sure your vehicle's emergency kit is well-stocked. You might also find ideas for main dishes and desserts that travel well helpful.