Some sides are so good, they don’t stay on the table for long. People come back for more without thinking twice, and sometimes they skip the main dish altogether. These 33 side dishes are easy to make, full of flavor, and always the first to go. Keep a few of these in your back pocket whenever you need something everyone will want more of.
Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Tomato Quinoa Salad
This salad mixes fluffy quinoa with juicy tomatoes and crunchy cucumbers, then finishes with a light dressing that brings it all together. Every bite tastes clean and fresh, and it doesn’t get soggy if it sits out a bit. It’s the kind of side that gets scooped up fast, so bring a big bowl if you want it to last.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Quinoa Salad
Baked Kale Chips
These chips turn out light, crispy, and full of flavor with just a little oil and salt. They make eating greens feel more like snacking, which makes them an easy win for kids and grown-ups alike. Put out a tray and watch them disappear before the main course is ready.
Get the Recipe: Baked Kale Chips
Avocado Tomato Salad
Creamy avocado and sweet tomatoes pair up with a quick dressing that lets the natural flavors shine through. It’s fresh, colorful, and adds something smooth and cool to the plate without much effort. Set out a bowl and don’t be surprised when folks come back for seconds or thirds.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tomato Salad
Grilled Baby Bok Choy
Grilled bok choy picks up a smoky flavor on the outside while staying tender with a slight crunch in the middle. It’s a fast and easy way to add greens to the plate without heating up the whole kitchen. Stack a few spears on the tray and you’ll probably wish you made more.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Baby Bok Choy
Buttery Dinner Rolls
These rolls are soft in the center, golden on the outside, and full of rich, buttery flavor that goes with anything. They’re easy to bake, simple to serve, and perfect for soaking up sauces or spreading with jam. Don’t expect them to stay in the basket for long once people try the first one.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Dinner Rolls
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese brings creamy sauce, smoky bacon, and juicy tomatoes together in one comforting bite. A golden, crisp topping gives it just the right crunch to balance all the richness underneath. If you serve this at a gathering, someone’s going to ask you to share the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Sweet Potato Fries
These fries are baked until they get crispy edges and soft middles that taste sweet and salty at the same time. They’re easy to prep and can be tossed with a little seasoning to make them even better. They never stay on the tray long, so keep extras ready if you can.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries
Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roast until they’re browned on the edges and tender inside, then get tossed with crispy bits of bacon. The smoky, salty bite balances out the natural sweetness of the sprouts in every forkful. Set them out once, and people will ask for them again and again.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brazilian Cheese Bread
These little round bites bake up with crispy outsides and soft, cheesy centers that stretch just right when pulled apart. They’re full of rich, savory flavor and make a fun side for soups, meats, or even just snacking. If you see one left in the basket, grab it fast because someone else will.
Get the Recipe: Brazilian Cheese Bread
Harvest Quinoa Salad
This salad brings together roasted squash, salty feta, and chewy dried cranberries with fluffy quinoa in every spoonful. It hits the sweet, savory, and hearty notes all at once without needing much prep. The first serving is good, but it’s the second helping that always seals the deal.
Get the Recipe: Harvest Quinoa Salad
Soft Pretzels
These pretzels bake up with a golden crust and a chewy center that’s perfect for tearing, dipping, or just eating plain. They’re fun to make, easy to serve, and always get people talking at the table. Put out a batch and watch how fast they disappear before the main dish even starts.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pretzels
French Baguettes
A crusty baguette with a soft middle is one of those sides that fit in no matter what else is being served. Tear it up, slice it, or leave it whole and let everyone grab their own piece. It’s the kind of simple side that brings people back to the basket more than once.
Get the Recipe: French Baguettes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts
These Brussels sprouts come out of the oven with crispy edges and a tender bite, then get topped with toasted pine nuts for extra crunch. A sprinkle of parmesan gives them a savory finish that feels rich without being too much. Bring a dish of these and they’ll be one of the first to run out.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pine Nuts
Mashed Potatoes
Fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes are always a hit, no matter what else is on the table. They’re smooth, rich, and soak up sauces like a sponge, which makes every bite more satisfying. Make a big bowl because everyone will want a second scoop before the gravy’s gone.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes
Cinnamon Apples
These apples cook down until they’re soft, sweet, and coated in warm cinnamon that makes the whole kitchen smell good. They’re easy to serve warm or chilled and go well with breakfast, dinner, or even dessert. Once people taste them, they’ll ask for a second helping without even thinking about it.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Apples
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
This dish is full of zucchini, squash, and tomatoes that simmer with herbs until everything is soft and packed with flavor. It’s a hearty side that feels homemade but doesn’t take much to make. Serve it once, and it’ll end up on your regular rotation because it never sticks around long.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
These potatoes come out golden and crisp, then get tossed with wilted spinach and garlic for even more flavor. The crispy outside and soft middle hit the mark every time without needing anything fancy. Set this out and you’ll hear more than one person ask for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
Buttery Crescent Rolls
These crescent rolls bake up soft and flaky with a buttery flavor that’s hard to beat. They’re simple to make and fit right in with everything from soups to slow-cooked meats. Hand out a basket and get ready to watch hands reach back in for more.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Crescent Rolls
Crockpot Applesauce
Apples break down slowly in the slow cooker until they’re smooth, sweet, and filled with natural flavor. A bit of cinnamon makes it warm and cozy without needing any extra sugar. Make a big batch because this side always goes fast once people grab their first spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Applesauce
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts stay crisp even after they’re tossed in a light dressing that brings out their nutty flavor. The texture is fresh and crunchy, making it feel like something different without being complicated. Serve it next to anything and expect it to be one of the first bowls emptied.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Smoked Brie Potato Gratin
Layers of thin potatoes bake in a creamy sauce with smoked brie that melts into every bite. The top turns golden and crisp while the inside stays rich and soft, making it perfect for pairing with anything from roasted meats to simple greens. Set this on the table and you’ll see people scrape the dish clean.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brie Potato Gratin
Pulled Pork French Fry Nachos
Crispy fries get loaded with tender pulled pork, gooey cheese, and all kinds of toppings that bring bold flavor to the plate. It’s messy in the best way and feels like a fun twist on a regular side. Don’t expect leftovers when you serve this crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork French Fry Nachos
Corn Casserole
This casserole blends sweet corn, crispy bacon, and melted cheese into a creamy dish that’s full of comfort and flavor. Every bite is rich without being too heavy, which makes it perfect for group meals. Spoon some out early or risk missing your chance at seconds.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Quinoa gets mixed with cooked spinach and plenty of parmesan to make a side that feels filling but still light. It’s packed with flavor and has just the right amount of texture to keep it interesting. Bring it to any potluck and it’ll be one of the first things to go.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Dinner Roll Knots
These soft, buttery knots bake until golden and pull apart with ease for a warm, homemade feel. They taste great plain, with butter, or alongside just about any main dish you can think of. Stack them high in a basket, and you’ll probably need to refill it.
Get the Recipe: Dinner Roll Knots
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Thin slices of potato bake in a creamy cheese sauce until they’re tender and bubbling under a crispy, golden top. Every bite is rich, smooth, and full of flavor that sticks with you. Expect the dish to be empty before everyone’s even finished their first plate.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Soft, golden challah has a rich, slightly sweet flavor that’s great for pulling apart or spreading with butter. It feels homemade without needing much work and fits right in with almost anything on the table. Watch how fast the basket empties once folks tear into that first slice.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Challah Bread
Soft, golden challah has a rich, slightly sweet flavor that’s great for pulling apart or spreading with butter. It feels homemade without needing much work and fits right in with almost anything on the table. Watch how fast the basket empties once folks tear into that first slice.
Get the Recipe: Challah Bread
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Creamy risotto gets a fresh boost from green peas and a splash of lemon that lightens every spoonful. The texture stays smooth and rich without feeling too heavy, which keeps it from overpowering the meal. Put this out once, and it’ll become a regular request.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Lemon Kale Salad
Kale stays crisp even after it’s tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, and a tangy lemon dressing that wakes up the whole bowl. The herbs bring a fresh bite, and every forkful adds color and crunch to the plate. It’s one of those sides that holds up well and gets better the longer it sits.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Kale Salad
Aloo Gobi Masala
Potatoes and cauliflower simmer together in a spiced sauce until they soak up every bit of flavor. It’s bold without being overpowering, and the tender texture makes it easy to pair with rice, meats, or flatbreads. This is the kind of dish people keep scooping up until the bowl is empty.
Get the Recipe: Aloo Gobi Masala
Mexican Corn Salad
Sweet corn gets mixed with lime juice, creamy butter, diced jalapeños, chili flakes, and crumbled cheese for a side that hits every flavor note. It’s rich, tangy, and just spicy enough to keep it interesting without being too much. Set it out once, and don’t be surprised if it’s gone before the meal even starts.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Corn Salad
Faux Potato Salad
This version of potato salad swaps in turnip radish for a low-carb twist that still tastes rich and creamy. It’s tossed with a yogurt and mayo mix that adds a tangy bite without feeling too heavy. Bring this to any gathering and you’ll see folks come back for seconds even if they don’t know it’s a healthier take.
Get the Recipe: Faux Potato Salad