Looking back, it’s hard not to wonder how many meals could have been taken to the next level with the right side dishes. These 23 easy recipes are here to ensure you no longer have to wonder. Each one is a quick, simple way to add depth and variety to your meals, ensuring that the sides are as much a star as the main.
Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad
This salad is a refreshing side that packs a punch with its spicy and tangy flavors. It’s straightforward to throw together and adds freshness to any meal. The crispness of the cucumber and the heat from the Korean spices make it a dish you’ll wish you had started making years ago.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad
Dauphinoise Potatoes
A luxurious side dish, these thinly sliced potatoes baked in cream and garlic will make any meal feel more special. The top layer crisps up beautifully, while underneath, the potatoes become meltingly soft. It’s a simple yet elegant dish that’s always a hit, whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Get the Recipe: Dauphinoise Potatoes
Corn Casserole
This corn casserole is a creamy, comforting side that’s as easy to make as delicious. Its sweet corn flavor and soft, pudding-like texture make it a versatile dish that pairs well with just about anything. It’s one of those recipes you’ll find yourself returning to for its simplicity and crowd-pleasing taste.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole
Sweet Potato Cubes
Roasted sweet potato cubes offer a colorful, nutritious side that’s as tasty as it is easy to prepare. Their natural sweetness is enhanced when roasted, making them a hit for kids and adults. Plus, they’re versatile and can be seasoned in countless ways to match any meal.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Cubes
Egg Bites
If you’re looking for a protein-packed side dish or snack that is surprisingly easy to make at home, look no further than homemade egg bites. These bites can be customized with your favorite ingredients, making them perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a quick snack anytime.
Get the Recipe: Egg Bites
Air Fryer Glazed Carrots
Air fryer glazed carrots come out perfectly caramelized with a touch of sweetness, making them an irresistible side dish. They’re a healthy option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, and the air fryer ensures they cook up quickly. This is a side dish that proves eating your veggies can be a treat.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Glazed Carrots
Hash Browns
Homemade hash browns are a breakfast game changer. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they’re surprisingly simple to make and infinitely better than anything you can buy frozen. This side dish will make you a morning person.
Get the Recipe: Hash Browns
Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
This corn salsa brings the flavors of Chipotle home. It’s zesty and fresh, and it adds a tasty and versatile side dish to any meal. It’s straightforward to make, requiring just a few ingredients. Whether you’re scooping it up with chips or adding it to a homemade burrito bowl, it’s a recipe that will elevate your side dish game.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
Pizza Salad
Are you looking for a fresh and fun way to enjoy your favorite
Get the Recipe: Pizza Salad
Baked Sweet Potato
As a side dish, sweet potatoes are simple, nutritious, naturally sweet, and filling. They can be topped with anything from butter and cinnamon to more savory options, making them a versatile choice for any meal. The sweet potato shine through in this dish, making it a great option for those who want to savor the taste of the vegetable.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potato
Broccoli Casserole with Crackers
This broccoli casserole combines tender broccoli florets with a creamy cheese sauce and a crunchy cracker crust. It’s a comforting side that adds a bit of indulgence to your meal and is so simple to make. This dish will make you look at broccoli in a whole new light.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole with Crackers
Yellow Squash Casserole
Here’s a side dish that brings yellow squash’s mild, sweet flavor to the forefront, mixed with a creamy, cheesy base and a crispy topping. It’s a comforting, straightforward recipe but feels like a hug in casserole form. A great way to use summer squash, this casserole is a side you’ll wish you’d made sooner.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Squash Casserole
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries are a crowd-pleasing side that’s easy to make and devour. Baked or air-fried, they offer a healthier alternative to traditional fries with a sweet, savory flavor that’s addictively good. They’re the perfect side to step up any meal, offering a mix of crunch and sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries
Waldorf Salad
The classic Waldorf salad, with its crisp apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts in a light mayo dressing, is a refreshing side that combines textures and flavors. It’s surprisingly simple to make and adds a touch of class to any meal. This salad is a timeless recipe that you’ll regret not making sooner.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad
Southern Mash
This Southern-style mashed potatoes recipe brings a creamy, buttery side dish to your table with minimal effort. It’s comfort food at its best, making it the perfect complement to any meal. This is one of those classic recipes you’ll make over and over again.
Get the Recipe: Southern Mash
Copycat Chipotle Black Beans
These flavorful black beans are a simple way to add a protein-rich side to your meals. Simmered with spices, they’re a versatile and delicious addition to any Mexican-inspired dish. Making these at home is so straightforward you’ll wish you tried it sooner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Black Beans
Potato Casserole
This potato casserole is a creamy, cheesy delight that’s incredibly easy to assemble. The perfect comfort food side dish pairs well with almost anything. Once you try this recipe, it’ll become a regular in your meal planning.
Get the Recipe: Potato Casserole
Cilantro Lime Rice
For a tangy kick to your meal, you can’t go wrong with cilantro lime rice as a side dish. It’s light, fluffy, and packed with flavor, making it an ideal complement to a variety of dishes. Once you see how easy it is to make this restaurant-style rice at home, it’ll become a staple in your cooking repertoire.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Rice
Stuffed Peppers
A colorful, nutritious side dish that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Stuffed peppers are filled with a savory mixture that can be tailored to your liking, making them a versatile addition to any meal. This recipe is both simple and sophisticated, proving that great flavors don’t have to be complicated.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Peppers
Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes, with their crispy edges and tender inside, are a fancy yet surprisingly easy side dish to prepare. They turn ordinary potatoes into something special. Once you try this method, regular baked potatoes won’t cut it anymore.
Get the Recipe: Hasselback Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
The classic green bean casserole, with its creamy sauce and crunchy onion topping, is a must-have side that’s always a hit. It’s surprisingly easy to make from scratch and adds a comforting element to any meal. This is one of those beloved recipes you’ll wish you had in your arsenal sooner.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole
Air Fryer Asparagus
A quick and healthy side that cooks up in minutes. The high heat of the air fryer brings out the natural sweetness of the asparagus, making it a side dish that’s both nutritious and delicious. It’s a straightforward way to make veggies the star of your meal.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Asparagus
Fingerling Potatoes
Roasted fingerling potatoes are a simple, elegant side dish that’s ridiculously easy to make. Their naturally buttery flavor is enhanced with just a bit of olive oil, salt, and herbs. This is a go-to recipe for a side dish that’s both delicious and hassle-free.
Get the Recipe: Fingerling Potatoes
