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Home » Trending

19 Side Dishes That Make Mains Look Like the Warm-Up Act

Published: Jul 19, 2025 by Lara Clevenger, Registered Dietitian This post may contain affiliate links - read my disclaimer for full details... Leave a Comment

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Let’s be honest—these 19 side dishes are the real reason people gather around the table. Bursting with bold flavors, perfect crunch, and creamy goodness, they’re not here to support—they’re here to shine. Serve them once, and you’ll never call them “just a side” again.

Air Fryer Radishes

Air Fryer Radishes with parsley, salt, and pepper in a white bowl with a spoon.
Air Fryer Radishes. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

These Air Fryer Radishes are incredibly easy to make and require only a few ingredients. They're a great low carb and low calorie side dish. They also spruce up your plate with color!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Radishes

Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts

Brussel Sprouts in a white bowl with a spoon.
Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Making frozen Brussel sprouts in the air fryer is so easy you won’t even believe it! In about 15 minutes from freezer to air fryer, you'll have perfectly cooked Brussel sprouts!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts

Asparagus on the Blackstone Griddle

Blackstone Asparagus on white plate.
Asparagus on the Blackstone Griddle. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Making asparagus on the Blackstone Griddle is insanely easy to do! Crunchy delicious grilled asparagus is a healthy side dish. Minimal ingredients of garlic, salt, pepper and oil, this dish is done in no time at all!
Get the Recipe: Asparagus on the Blackstone Griddle

Air Fryer Peppers and Onions

Air Fryer Peppers and Onions in an air fryer basket.
Air Fryer Peppers and Onions. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Air Fryer Peppers and Onions are so sweet and flavorful! They are incredibly easy to make and done in about 10 minutes! Cooking peppers and onions in the Air Fryer is so easy!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Peppers and Onions

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash on a white plate with parsley, salt, and pepper.
Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash is a delicious side dish and easy low carb recipe. It's a good low carb alternative to pasta and great for those following a keto or paleo diet! BONUS it's super easy to make and done in less than 20 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

Blackstone Green Beans

Blackstone Green Beans with pepper and salt in a white bowl with a spoon.
Blackstone Green Beans. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Making green beans on the Blackstone Griddle is incredibly easy to do! These green beans have just 5 ingredients and are made in just 10 minutes! Not only do they taste delicious, but they're a great low carb side dish!
Get the Recipe: Blackstone Green Beans

Blackstone Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Blackstone Brussel Spouts with bacon in a white bowl with a fork.
Blackstone Brussel Sprouts with Bacon. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Make delicious Brussel sprouts with bacon on your Blackstone Griddle. This is a delicious side dish that the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Blackstone Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle

Zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle on a white plate.
Zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Make perfectly cooked zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle. Quick and easy, these make for a healthy side dish! These Blackstone zucchini are low in carbs and great for a keto or paleo diet!
Get the Recipe: Zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle

Parmesan Potatoes

A plate of parmesan potatoes is served with a small ramekin filled with creamy dipping sauce.
Parmesan Potatoes. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Oven-roasted parmesan potatoes are proof that the best things in life come in small packages. These tender buttery baby potatoes inside a golden crispy, cheesy parmesan crust sound too good to be true, but you can actually whip them up in your kitchen in just 45 minutes. Proceed with caution, because these parmesan potatoes are totally addicting, especially when dipped in flavorful sour cream! 
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of garlic mashed potatoes with a wooden spoon resting on top.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

These garlic mashed potatoes are the absolute best you will ever taste. They’re creamy, dreamy, and just the right amount of garlicky - simple enough for weeknight dinners yet special enough for your holiday celebrations. With its perfect balance of fluffy potatoes, rich butter, creamy milk, and aromatic garlic, you won’t want mashed potatoes any other way ever again.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Honey Glazed Carrots

Honey glazed carrots in a white dish, garnished with chopped parsley.
Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Get ready to fall in love with these honey-glazed carrots! Enjoy sweet and tender carrot slices coated in a rich honey-garlic-butter glaze - a side dish perfect for adding a pop of color and a burst of flavor to your table. Made in just minutes with simple, everyday ingredients, this recipe is the easiest way to transform the everyday carrot into a crave-worthy dish!
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

Pumpkin Pasta

A plate of pumpkin pasta with creamy sauce and melted cheese, garnished with fresh basil.
Pumpkin Pasta. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

There’s nothing more cozy and comforting than this creamy pumpkin pasta! Made with pumpkin puree, cream cheese, heavy cream, and spices, then tossed with rigatoni pasta, this delicious fall-inspired dish will be your new family favorite. A sprinkle of mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves on top takes it to the next level! It’s got the season’s best flavors, all wrapped up in a simple, no-fuss pasta dish.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pasta

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes garnished with chopped parsley.
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

These slow cooker mashed potatoes are creamy, garlicky, and outrageously fluffy! This recipe takes the classic comfort food to a whole new level of ease with quick prep and cleanup, perfect for the busy holidays. The potatoes basically cook themselves while you join the festivities. No stovetop juggling, no last-minute mashing - just throw everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Worcestershire Green Beans

Overhead shot of worcestershire green beans in a white serving bowl next to a blue towel.
Worcestershire Green Beans. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Worcestershire green beans are fresh green beans sauteed to a perfect tender crisp in a flavor packed worcestershire and shallot sauce. An easy side dish recipe ready in 20 minutes for a weeknight, but impressive enough for a celebratory meal.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

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

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

A simple side dish that's impressive enough for a holiday table, these Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions are a great alternative to green bean casserole.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Screaming skillet green beans in a white bowl on a wooden table.
Screaming Skillet Green Beans. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Screaming skillet green beans get their name from the screaming hot skillet used to cook them. Laced with garlic and the fruity citrus notes of white wine, they make a great summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board.
Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots are a sweet and savory treat that can be enjoyed in just 25 minutes. The natural sweetness of carrots is enhanced with a honey glaze, accentuated by a touch of thyme. Their roasted texture is both tender and slightly crisp, providing a delightful balance to the palate.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

A dish of beets, sweet potatoes, and parsnips roasted in the oven with sprigs of sage.
Oven Roasted Root Vegetables. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables are a colorful and nutritious mix that takes about 35 minutes to cook. Carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes are tossed in herbs and olive oil, then roasted to bring out their natural sweetness and create a tender texture. This medley tastes earthy with a hint of caramelization, making it a comforting and versatile side dish.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus. Photo credit: Renee Nicole's Kitchen.

Oven asparagus will redefine "easy" in the kitchen. The result is a perfectly tender crisp asparagus side dish and no clean-up.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

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Hi, I’m Lara, a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer with a passion for food and travel.

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