21 side dishes to add flavor and variety to your meals

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When it comes to elevating your dinner experience, we have the most flavorful side dishes to serve alongside your main course. From rich and creamy cheese dishes that melt in your mouth to a vibrant variety of salads and freshly baked breads, our selection is designed to complement your meals perfectly. Each side is crafted to enhance the overall dining experience, ensuring that every bite is as memorable as the last.

A colorful salad with various ingredients including mozzarella balls, chopped tomatoes, red bell peppers, corn, shredded carrots, black olives, and mixed greens, placed on a marble surface.
Rainbow Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

BBQ Green Beans

A white bowl with barbecued green beans and chuncks of ham.
BBQ Green Beans. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Say goodbye to boring side dishes with these BBQ Green Beans that add a smoky flair to any meal. Featuring tender beans, crispy onions, and a zesty sauce, this dish is bursting with flavor and sure to please everyone at the table. It’s an effortless way to elevate your meal without any fuss!
Get the Recipe: BBQ Green Beans

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Bacon ranch pasta salad in a clear bowl with a striped towel.
Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This Ranch Pasta Salad with Bacon is anything but boring, offering a creamy, crowd-pleasing side that’s always a hit at gatherings. With just 30 minutes of prep, every mouthful is full of flavor that will wow your guests. Perfect for potlucks and weekend dinners, this dish is a guaranteed favorite!
Get the Recipe: Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Caesar Salad with Bacon and Ranch

A white plate with two wedges of lettuce with bacon and dressing.
Caesar Salad with Bacon and Ranch. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Refresh your summer meals with this Caesar Salad with Bacon and Ranch, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Simple to prepare, it’s loaded with so much flavor that it enhances any main dish. This side dish adds a satisfying crunch to your dining experience, making it a must-have!
Get the Recipe: Caesar Salad with Bacon and Ranch

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries

A spoonful of sweet potato slices with apples and cranberries in a white dish.
Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Cranberries are so delicious they could easily steal the show at your dinner table. The combination of sweet apples and tart cranberries creates a healthy side dish that’s simply irresistible. Ideal for festive occasions, this recipe is sure to impress everyone!
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries

Cheddar Iron Skillet Cornbread

Iron skillet cornbread filled with vegetables and cheese.
Cheddar Iron Skillet Cornbread. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Cheddar Iron Skillet Cornbread is a delightful side that pairs beautifully with soups and salads. Made from scratch and filled with fresh veggies, it’s a quick and easy bread option that everyone will adore. Serve it warm for a comforting addition that’s anything but boring!
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Iron Skillet Cornbread

Caprese Garlic Bread

Slices of bread topped with melted cheese, tomato slices, basil leaves, and balsamic glaze, arranged on a wooden board.
Caprese Garlic Bread. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Caprese Garlic Bread is a standout side dish that combines fresh and classic flavors. With layers of mozzarella, basil, balsamic, and Roma tomatoes on crusty French bread, it’s a delicious treat that will impress your guests at any gathering. This side dish is sure to bring so much flavor to your meal!
Get the Recipe: Caprese Garlic Bread

Easy Homemade Biscuits

Two baked biscuits on a white and gold towel.
Easy Homemade Biscuits. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These Easy Homemade Biscuits are a must-have side that can be ready in just 30 minutes. Enjoy them warm from the oven with jam, scrambled eggs, or creamy butter for a delicious addition to any meal. This dish adds warmth and comfort, ensuring it’s anything but boring!
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Biscuits

Pickled Red Onions

A jar of pickled red onions on a kitchen counter, with raw red onion slices and a fork nearby.
Pickled Red Onions. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Quick pickled red onions add a tangy and sweet flair to tacos, salads, and sandwiches, making them a fun side dish. With just seven simple ingredients and minimal brining time, they’re incredibly easy to prepare. This flavorful addition is so delicious, you’ll want to keep it on hand for every meal!
Get the Recipe: Pickled Red Onions

Ham and Cheese Scones

Four ham and cheese scones on a piece of white paper.
Ham and Cheese Scones. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Ham and Cheese Scones bring a savory delight that offers a unique twist to any meal. With a tender texture and crisp edge, these scones are packed with cheddar, ham, and fresh herbs. They’re quick to make and perfect for brunch or as a flavorful side dish that’s anything but boring!
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Scones

Rainbow Salad

A rainbow salad with lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, olives, corn, and mozzarella balls is drizzled with dressing.
Rainbow Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Our Rainbow Veggie Salad is a vibrant and colorful side dish that delights both the eyes and the palate. Made with fresh garden produce, it’s filled with a mix of crisp veggies that everyone will adore. This salad is always a favorite, adding a burst of brightness and flavor to any meal!
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Salad

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

Bread and butter pickles in brine in a white dish.
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles provide a satisfying crunch with a perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors. Loved for their nostalgic taste, they are a delightful side that receives rave reviews. This recipe is often requested at gatherings, making it a must-try addition to your meal!
Get the Recipe: Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

Winter Fruit Salad

Cranberry fruit salad in white bowls.
Winter Fruit Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This Winter Fruit Salad is a vibrant burst of flavors that brightens up any holiday spread. Featuring fresh cranberries, juicy apples, tangy oranges, and pomegranate seeds, it’s a colorful and tasty addition. This side dish is so good, it will surely steal the spotlight at any meal!
Get the Recipe: Winter Fruit Salad

Stuffing Muffins

Stuffing muffins on a plate with apples, cranberries, sausage and sage.
Stuffing Muffins. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These stuffing muffins are filled with sweet Italian sausage, apples, cranberries, sage and pine nuts for a fun alternative to traditional stuffing in the perfect portion size.
Get the Recipe: Stuffing Muffins

Amish Macaroni Salad

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Amish macaroni salad is the perfect creamy & sweet side dish for your gatherings! With its simple yet delicious ingredients this salad is a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of brown butter garlic mashed potatoes on a table, next to a serving on a plate.
Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

These brown butter garlic mashed potatoes feature Yukon gold potatoes and a brown butter garlic and sage sauce. Perfect for holidays, special occasions, or any family gathering.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Wheather you’re throwing together a last-minute gathering or family meal, this German Potato Salad brings hearty flavor to the table. Made with tender Yukon Gold potatoes, crispy bacon, and a tangy, vinegar-based dressing with a punch from apple cider vinegar and mustard, it’s the perfect side for grilled meats. Ready in under an hour, it’s a simple dish that feels like you’ve put in a little extra effort, with fresh parsley or chives adding the final touch.
Get the Recipe: German Potato Salad

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Baked sweet potato slices on a cutting board with a spoon.
Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Soft and creamy on the inside with the spice of cinnamon and ginger on the outside, these oven roasted sweet potatoes are a lightened up take on candied yams and a must for your holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Glazed Roasted Carrots with Orange-Maple Glaze

Maple glazed carrots on white dish.
Glazed Roasted Carrots with Orange-Maple Glaze. Photo credit: Girls Can Grills.

Spruce up your side dish game with glazed grilled carrots finished with an orange-maple glaze, sliced toasted almonds and fresh herbs. Don’t wait for summer to grill this tasty side dish.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Roasted Carrots with Orange-Maple Glaze

Spring Onion Potato Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad. Photo credit: The Honour System.

This Spring Onion Potato Salad is a tasty and nutritious side dish that combines the crispness of fresh spring onions with the creamy goodness of tender potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

Roasted Broccolini

Roasted broccoli with garlic and lemon slices on a white plate.
Roasted Broccolini. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Roasted broccolini is delicious when cooked until just crisp with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. It’s a simple, versatile side dish perfect for just about any meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Broccolini

Carrot Citrus Salad

Carrot citrus salad on a metal platter with spoon.
Carrot Citrus Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted rainbow carrots paired with oranges and Meyer lemons make this salad both refreshing and vibrant. Tossed in a citrus mustard vinaigrette, it’s a perfect way to brighten up your winter table.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Citrus Salad

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