21 Side Dish Recipes That Prove It’s What’s Next To the Main That Counts

Let’s face it—sometimes you show up for the sides. These 21 recipes are that kind of energy: comforting, colorful, and bursting with flavor. Think crispy edges, melty cheese, and fresh flavors that make every bite feel like a celebration. Whether it’s a holiday table or a casual cookout, these sides are ready to turn “just dinner” into the dinner.

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

Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower (Keto & Gluten Free)

Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower in a white bowl with a spoon, parsley, butter, salt, and black pepper. — Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower (Keto & Gluten Free). Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower is a great low carb alternative to potatoes! These Cauliflower mashed potatoes are deliciously buttery! Also, this mashed cauliflower recipe is low in carbs and is a healthy side dish!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower (Keto & Gluten Free)

Blackstone Green Beans

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

Zucchini on the Blackstone Griddle

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

Sauteed Cast Iron Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Sauteed Cast Iron Brussels Sprouts with Bacon in a white bowl with red pepper flakes, a spoon, and a fork. — Sauteed Cast Iron Brussel Sprouts with Bacon. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

Sautéed Cast Iron Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a quick and easy side dish that's full of flavor! With only 5 ingredients and a cast iron skillet, clean up and prep is a breeze!
Get the Recipe: Sauteed Cast Iron Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Green Beans with Garlic Butter

Green beans with pine nuts on a plate. — Green Beans with Garlic Butter. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Upgrade your veggie game with this easy garlic butter green bean recipe. Perfectly seasoned and full of flavor, it's a side dish you won't be able to resist.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic Butter

How to Rice Cauliflower

Cauli rice in a golden bowl with cauliflower head on the side. — How to Rice Cauliflower. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Learn How To Rice Cauliflower in Under a Minute using a food processor or a blender as the best tip one can give you. Making cauliflower rice that looks identical to regular rice will help you cook cauliflower recipes more often than you used to.
Get the Recipe: How to Rice Cauliflower

Coconut Cauliflower Rice

Try this delicious Coconut Cauliflower Rice recipe, perfect for those following a keto, low carb, paleo, or whole30 diet. This flavorful and healthy side dish recipe will quickly become a staple in your meal rotation using our cauliflower rice recipe, coconut milk, toasted coconuts, and a squeeze of lime juice.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Cauliflower Rice

Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower

Baked Riced Cauliflower in a bowl with a spoon. — Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Our Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower Recipe is a delicious low carb side dish that transforms ordinary cauliflower into a savory delight. This roasted cauliflower rice creates a nutty and caramelized flavor that complements any main course. It's a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional rice and makes for an excellent accompaniment to your favorite dishes.
Get the Recipe: Oven Baked Riced Cauliflower

Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Air fried red potatoes in an air fryer basket. — Air Fryer Red Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Air fryer red potatoes are almost effortless to make, healthy, delicious, and the perfect side dish for your next meal.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Air Fryer Acorn Squash

Acorn squash after air frying with some of the insides scooped up on a fork. — Air Fryer Acorn Squash. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Air fryer acorn squash is delicious & simple to prepare. Perfect fall side dish for anyone looking for simple, low effort dish. Ready in about 25 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Acorn Squash

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Plate of butternut squash in front of an air fryer with a blue napkin in the background. — Air Fryer Butternut Squash. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Air fryer butternut squash is a savory & healthy side dish! Cubes of squash are tossed with spices & roasted in the air fryer. Ready in 20 min.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

Air fryer baby potatoes are roasted until crispy perfection on the outside with a creamy and buttery tender middle.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Frozen broccoli florets roasted on an air fryer tray. — Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Keeping frozen broccoli on hand is a great option for an easy side dish but no one enjoys eating it as mush! This air fryer frozen broccoli recipe results in crispy seasoned broccoli florets everyone will love! It’s easy, quick and will instantly become a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Golden brown with crispy buttery edges, these hasselback potatoes made in the air fryer are the ultimate side dish. Seasoned simply with garlic, salt, pepper and fresh chives, they pair perfectly with almost any meal and couldn’t be easier to make!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes

Air Fryer Okra Fries

Air fryer okra is the BEST way to enjoy this often overlooked vegetable. The air fryer turns what many refer to as a “slimy” texture into crispy, crunchy okra fries. Seasoned simply but irresistibly, this recipe will have you falling in love with okra!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Okra Fries

Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant

Crispy cubed eggplant roasted in the air fryer on a plate with a serving spoon. — Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This simply seasoned air fryer eggplant comes out crispy and delicious. It’s an easy side dish everyone will absolutely love and goes with almost any main course.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant

Roasted Purple Sweet Potatoes

This purple sweet potato recipe uses Stokes sweet potatoes that are smashed, drizzled with melted butter and herbs then roasted until super crispy. The perfect potato side dish with a stunning appearance!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Purple Sweet Potatoes

Utica Greens

Hailing from upstate New York, Utica greens are a mouthwatering side dish starring escarole, prosciutto, pickled hot cherry peppers and finished with a cheesy breadcrumb topping. This side dish pairs wonderfully with everything from pizza to pasta and meat.
Get the Recipe: Utica Greens

Candied Maple Brussels-gf/v

glass bowl with roasted brussels sprouts and more sprouts on a baking tray behind it. — Candied Maple Brussels-gf/v. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

Candied Brussels sprouts need only 5 ingredients! These maple roasted Brussels are made without bacon, crispy and an easy win with kids.
Get the Recipe: Candied Maple Brussels-gf/v

Roasted maple root vegetables

Roasted carrots, beets and Brussels sprouts on a tinfoil lined pan topped with sesame seeds. — Roasted maple root vegetables. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

Tossed in a maple ginger dressing and roasted to caramelized perfection, these paleo-roasted root vegetables are the perfect side dish!
Get the Recipe: Roasted maple root vegetables