Side dishes can be the real stars of the dinner table, and we’ve got a lineup that’s perfect for giving your meals a serious boost. These 15 easy-to-make recipes are just what you need to break out of your usual routine and impress everyone at the table. It’s time to let those side dishes shine.
Baked Sliced Zucchini
For a quick and effortless addition to your dinner table, try these oven-baked zucchini slices. Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe transforms simple zucchini into a flavorful side with a tender inside and crispy Parmesan-coated exterior. Perfect for busy weeknights, this side dish is easy to prepare and a great way to round off a meal.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sliced Zucchini
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
This Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is made with sour cream and mayo, is crisp, light, refreshing, and can be made and served in only 30 minutes. It’s a perfect family dinner side dish when you need to quickly get dinner on the table.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Golden Baked Jicama Fries
Shake up your side dish game with these oven-baked jicama fries. Jicama is a root vegetable with a crisp texture and mild flavor and a great alternative to traditional potato fries. After a quick boil to soften them, these fries are seasoned and baked to achieve a golden, crispy finish. Ready in just a little over an hour, these fries make for a delicious side to any main course and a new way to add more veggies to your meals.
Get the Recipe: Golden Baked Jicama Fries
Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower
In this recipe, you’ll start by simmering the cauliflower in chicken stock and then popping it in the oven until roasted to a tender-crisp perfection. Ready in 30 minutes, this side is a budget-friendly and impressive addition to your meal, pairing perfectly with a variety of main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
If you’re looking for an easier take on the traditional risotto, this cauliflower risotto is a great pick. You’ll enjoy the same creaminess of risotto but with the health benefits of cauliflower and mushrooms. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a straightforward one-pot meal that’s perfect for both daily dinners and special occasions.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
For a side that’s both simple and impressive, try these oven-baked tomatoes. Slice up Roma tomatoes and top them with a mix of shredded Parmesan and mozzarella, herbs, and a drizzle of oil, and then bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is perfect for any gathering and is guaranteed to be a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
Halloumi Fries
In just 25 minutes, you can create this dish, perfect as a side dish alongside your main meal. Originating from Cyprus, halloumi is a cheese traditionally made from goat’s and sheep’s milk, sometimes blended with cow’s milk. Its high melting point lets you bake, grill, or fry it without losing shape, perfect for creating these crispy fries. They’re a great choice for adding a flavorful touch to your meals, easy to make, and delicious either solo or dipped in your favorite sauce.
Get the Recipe: Halloumi Fries
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
This impressive yet simple side dish takes less than an hour to prepare and uses ingredients you likely have in your kitchen. Perfect for pairing with a protein-based main course, these potatoes bake to a golden crispness on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy inside.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This easy one-skillet side dish takes simple ingredients like cabbage, bacon, and onion and turns it into a hearty and flavorful meal. Ready in 25 minutes, this side is perfect for those evenings when you need something quick but just don’t have the energy to spend hours cooking.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
This Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is a delicious, flavorful side dish that is made quickly and easily with straightforward ingredients. Serve alongside your favorite protein for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
In this recipe, mushroom caps are stuffed with seasoned sausage mixture and then baked in the oven until golden brown. Perfect for those who love a touch of creativity in the kitchen, they come together in under 30 minutes and are great as a side to a wide variety of main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
On those nights when you’re craving a cozy dish to add to your meal, this combination of butternut squash, cauliflower, and bacon is a winner. It’s a dish that requires minimal effort – just chop, season, and let the oven do the rest. The result is a sweet and savory dish, ready to complement your main course. Perfect for those evenings when you want a filling and nutritious addition to your meal without complicated steps.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Combining potatoes with the rich flavors of bacon, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, this casserole brings all the comfort of a twice-baked potato in a new way. Perfect for serving as a side for casual family dinners and larger gatherings, you can make it the day of or in advance and reheat it when you’re ready to serve.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Loaded Zucchini Boats
Take a lighter approach to a classic favorite with these stuffed zucchini boats. These boats are a creative, lighter alternative to traditional potato side dishes. Packed with cheese and bacon, they come together in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Zucchini Boats
Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
For a quick and comforting side, this creamy broccoli and sun-dried tomato dish is your go-to. Ready in 25 minutes, it brings together sun-dried tomatoes and broccoli in a creamy sauce with Parmesan cheese. This dish is a great way to add a pop of flavor and nutrition to any meal, especially when you’re short on time but still want something delicious.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes