Some side dishes are just too good to pass up, even after the first helping. These 19 recipes bring big flavor without a lot of work, which makes them perfect for any meal. Whether you’re planning a big gathering or just filling up your plate, these sides are the ones everyone keeps reaching for. You will want seconds and probably thirds of every single one.
Buttery Crescent Rolls. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
This creamy risotto gets a pop of freshness from sweet green peas and a splash of lemon that brightens the whole dish. The texture is smooth and rich, and it pairs well with just about anything on the table. It’s one of those sides that makes you want to grab another spoonful as soon as you’re done.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
This creamy risotto gets a pop of freshness from sweet green peas and a splash of lemon that brightens the whole dish. The texture is smooth and rich, and it pairs well with just about anything on the table. It’s one of those sides that makes you want to grab another spoonful as soon as you’re done.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Harvest Quinoa Salad
Roasted squash, salty feta, and dried cranberries mix with fluffy quinoa for a side that’s both hearty and full of flavor. It’s sweet, savory, and satisfying without being too heavy or hard to make. It’s the kind of dish that makes you go back for just a little more every time.
Get the Recipe: Harvest Quinoa Salad
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Zucchini, squash, and tomatoes simmer with herbs until everything is tender and packed with deep flavor. It’s rustic, rich, and goes with everything from grilled meats to crusty bread. One bite leads to another, and pretty soon your plate is full again.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Buttery Crescent Rolls
These soft, golden crescent rolls flake apart easily and taste rich and buttery in every bite. They’re simple to bake, easy to share, and always the first thing to disappear from the bread basket. Grab one while you can, because everyone reaches for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Crescent Rolls
Cinnamon Apples
Sliced apples cook down with cinnamon until they’re soft, warm, and full of sweet flavor. They’re easy to make ahead and taste just as good on their own as they do next to something savory. Set out a bowl of these and you’ll see people going back for more than just one scoop.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Apples
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
This creamy mac and cheese is loaded with smoky bacon, juicy tomatoes, and a crunchy topping that adds just the right bite. It’s bold, rich, and full of comfort without feeling too heavy. Expect folks to ask for seconds and maybe even the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
French Baguettes
A fresh baguette brings a crisp crust and soft, airy center that goes with nearly everything on the table. It’s perfect for dipping, spreading, or just tearing and passing around. Bring one to the table, and it won’t last long before people come back for more.
Get the Recipe: French Baguettes
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Shaved Brussels sprouts stay crisp and crunchy even after they’re tossed in dressing, making them perfect for big meals. The nutty flavor and fresh texture bring something different without a lot of extra work. This is one salad that’ll have people coming back for second helpings without even realizing it.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Thin potatoes are baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce until everything is soft inside and crisp on top. Each bite melts in your mouth and brings that perfect mix of gooey and golden. Don’t be surprised if the pan’s nearly empty before dinner even starts.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Challah Bread
Tear off a piece of soft, fluffy challah with its golden crust and rich, homemade taste. It’s perfect for spreading with butter, dunking into soup, or simply enjoying on its own. Put this bread on the table and you’ll see people reaching for more before they even finish their first slice.
Get the Recipe: Challah Bread
Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
Golden roasted potatoes crisp up in the oven, then get tossed with wilted spinach and garlic for extra flavor. The crispy outside and soft middle make every bite satisfying, while the garlic brings boldness without going over the top. It’s a filling side that goes with anything and keeps people coming back for another scoop.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes with Spinach and Garlic
Soft Pretzels
These homemade pretzels bake up golden on the outside and chewy on the inside for a snack that feels a little special. Serve them with mustard, cheese dip, or plain, and they’ll still disappear fast. This is the kind of side that turns a regular table into something worth talking about.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pretzels
Crockpot Applesauce
Slow-cooked apples break down into a smooth and sweet sauce that tastes like something made with care. A little cinnamon gives it warmth, and the texture is soft enough to pair with anything. It’s easy to make, simple to share, and good enough to have people asking for more.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Applesauce
Lemon Kale Salad
Kale stays crisp and full of texture even after being tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes, and a tangy lemon dressing. Fresh herbs bring brightness, and every bite has a clean, refreshing taste. This is the kind of side that holds up on a picnic table and still gets people coming back for another helping.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Kale Salad
Sweet Potato Fries
These fries are baked until the edges are crisp and the centers stay soft, giving a perfect mix of textures. The natural sweetness and touch of salt make them hard to stop eating once you start. They’re easy to bring, quick to serve, and always one of the first things to go.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries
Baked Kale Chips
Kale leaves roast into light, crispy chips with just a sprinkle of salt for extra flavor. They’re crunchy without being greasy and make a great side or snack on the go. Toss a batch into a bowl and watch them disappear before you even get a chance to refill it.
Get the Recipe: Baked Kale Chips
Brazilian Cheese Bread
These little cheese breads bake up with crisp edges and soft, gooey centers that melt in your mouth. The cheesy flavor is rich without being too heavy, and they go well with almost anything on the table. Stack them up and don’t expect them to last long.
Get the Recipe: Brazilian Cheese Bread
Smoked Brie Potato Gratin
Layers of thin potatoes bake in creamy sauce with smoky brie until everything is rich, golden, and bubbling. The soft inside and crisp top make each bite extra satisfying. It’s a dish that feels special without being fussy, and it always gets cleaned out fast.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brie Potato Gratin